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Thunderwing (G1)

2011-08-13T08:40:19Z

96.13.49.23:

{{factions|decepticon|unicron}}
{{disambig3|Thunderwing}}
{{featured}}
:''Thunderwing is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:Thunderwing with matrix.jpg|right|300px|thumb|NOW, darken our lightest hour!]]

In a better world, '''Thunderwing''' would be the ideal Decepticon leader. He's fearless, ruthless, and immensely powerful, while uncommonly concerned about the welfare of his fellow Decepticons. For this mindset, Thunderwing gets a high approval rating from his peers, but, sadly, this is not the whole story.

Thunderwing's vice is, simply, obsession. When his mind sets its sights on a who or what that furthers his goals, he will stop at nothing to achieve victory. Slowly but surely, his esteem for his colleagues is replaced by single-mindedness, until finally Thunderwing awakens from his haze, potentially victorious, but either abandoned or surrounded by the bodies of the few friends who tried valiantly to snap him out of it. In these dark moments, the usually noble Thunderwing is as two-faced as any halfwit Decepticon.

But what separates Thunderwing from the rest is his sheer power. His [[Pretender]] shell is likely the most powerful ever built, and it forms impenetrable armor around his robot body. Every inch is covered in weaponry, from the electrostatic guns in his shoulders, to the hoses in his chest that emit dangerous gases, to even the rarely-used metal-eating laser beam that fires out of his forehead. In addition to this built-in arsenal, he carries around his signature cyclone cannon, the power of which is increased 50% by the powerpack his shell houses on its back. In jet mode, Thunderwing can unleash a never-ending torrent of plasma charges.

Because of all this, Thunderwing is almost always successful in hunting down his obsessions, though at regrettable costs.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
A handful of Transformers are born with a natural affinity to the [[Creation Matrix]]. Though these special few are usually Autobots, Thunderwing was an exception. Thunderwing felt that the Matrix called to him, and believed that he would become the first Decepticon to possess it. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}}

''Early on in the war, he served at [[Fort Scyk]]. He became a protege of Fort commander [[Megadeath (G1)|Megadeath]], who saw and encouraged the burning ambition within the lad, grooming Thunderwing as an asset and potential general for when he'd make a bid for leadership. For his part, Thunderwing thought Megadeath was utterly mental but also that he'd be his ticket to the top. He later soured on Megadeath when he viciously tortured the [[Magnificent Six]], which Thunderwing felt was ill-fitting for such valiant enemies, and then Megadeath let himself and the whole of [[Stanix]] get nuked to slag ''anyway''.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}

[[Image:Thunderwingisapretender.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Thunderwing is a Pretender? The hell you say!]]

''Four million years later, with a vacuum in Decepticon high command, a driven Thunderwing rose quickly from relative obscurity to a command position in the ranks. He made a bid for full leadership of the Decepticons to the [[Decepticon High Council|High Council]], and they decided to test him with a hunting mission: Three Autobot prisoners were released on Earth, and Thunderwing was charged with chasing down and executing them on his own. While [[Playback]] and [[Horsepower (G1)|Horsepower]] did fall before his cyclone cannon, the last runner, [[Hosehead]], was saved by his fellow Autobots [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Siren]]. The [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] exploded the fuel core in Playback's corpse at close range to Thunderwing, nearly cooking him alive inside his own impenetrable [[Pretender]] shell. Shrieking in agony, Thunderwing plunged into the nearby surf. {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}''

[[Image:AssaultontheArk-Thunderwing.jpg|right|thumb|300px|This is exactly how cable news pundits are hired.]]

''Thunderwing eventually rose from the waters, his still-cooling shell juxtaposed with the growing intensity of his rage at being beaten. Thunderwing lashed out at everything around him and very nearly destroyed a ship of his fellow Decepticons who had been sent to find him. As a duly appointed officer of the Decepticon High Council, [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] was sent to inform Thunderwing that his bid for leadership was not being rejected outright, but was still under review, and the Councilors had asked that he return to Cybertron. Instead, Thunderwing violently conscripted Ruckus and his team into joining him for an assault on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in order to get revenge on Hosehead and his ilk. {{storylink|Rage!}} Thunderwing single-handedly blasted his way into the Ark and confronted [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] directly before Ruckus convinced him to save the fight for another day. Returning to Cybertron, Thunderwing was surprised to learn that the Decepticon High Council was impressed by his initiative and the strength of his vendetta, and so granted him full leadership of the Decepticons of Cybertron. {{storylink|Assault on the Ark!}}''

''One of Thunderwing's first actions on taking over Decepticon leadership was to abolish neutral territories, making places such as [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] Decepticon-only establishments. {{storylink|Out to Lunch!}}'' Despite these movements, Lord Thunderwing became displeased with the growing success of the newly-rebuilt [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and their raiding of [[Decepticon fuel store|Decepticon fuel]] and ammunition depositories. Fearing the Autobot resistance movement was gaining momentum, he ordered [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Octopunch]] and [[Stranglehold]], the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], to find and kill the Autobot Pretenders. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

[[Image:Thunderwingmindleech.jpg|left|250px|thumb|This is probably the closest look we'll get at Thunderwing's unpublished character model. [[José Delbo]] was a copier.]]

When the Mayhem Attack Squad failed, Thunderwing became curious when teams of Autobots were subsequently ordered to search an area of space. Trailing a team on [[Pz-Zazz]] which included ''(again)'' Nightbeat, Hosehead, and Siren, he waited until the right moment to blast and capture them. {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}} As Thunderwing's Decepticons began trailing another team of Autobots on [[Cheyne]] ([[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]], [[Dogfight]], and [[Override (G1)|Override]]), he subjected the captured first group to his [[Mind Leech]] machine. He learned from these torture sessions that the Autobots were scouring the universe for the lost Creation Matrix. Unfortunately, the second group was no closer to finding the Matrix either, and he left them to their own devices. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}} His obsession with finding the Creation Matrix caused some concerns for the Decepticons under his command, and he even began attacking his own troops when accused of taking his personal quest too far. These outbursts began coming to a head when he found traces of Matrix energy in a [[Klud|sea monster]] on [[Pequod]]. Ruckus made the mistake of questioning his leader's growing obsession, and Thunderwing backhanded him into some equipment (unknowingly shorting out the Mind Leech which held their captive Autobots immobile). While his troops battled the Autobots searching there, he used his affinity for the Matrix to mind-link with the sea monster. Discovering that the Matrix was on [[Cameron]]'s third moon, [[VsQs]], he abandoned the battle, much to the growing frustration of his troops. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}}

[[Image:Thunderwingwhereisthecreationmatrix.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Obsessed much?]]

As it happened, between the revival of the Klud and the arrival of Thunderwing, the Creation Matrix had become warped. Thunderwing fought intensely with Bumblebee, Jazz, and Grimlock on VsQs, and they were overwhelmed not only by his vastly superior might, but by the strength of his desire to possess the Matrix. However, he and his troops were subdued by a [[Matrixspawn]], a darkly-evolved creature contaminated by the Matrix, allowing Bumblebee and the other Autobots to grab the Matrix and head for their ship. But when the Autobot shuttlecraft later arrived within the Ark, it was Thunderwing who emerged, in full possession of the Creation Matrix, enshrouded in its energies. {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

[[Image:AllFallDown-Thunderwingpossessed.jpg|left|thumb|200px|We are '''power incarnate!''' We are '''unstoppable!''' We are a '''really short Deluxe Class toy!''']]

On board the Ark, Thunderwing savagely beat Optimus Prime, the latter of whom was afraid to return the violence in kind, in fear that the Matrix would be destroyed and their race would be doomed against Unicron. Waves of Autobots stormed against Thunderwing, ending in [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] and others being killed or critically wounded. Quickly, the increasingly-evil Matrix took over Thunderwing, overpowering his thoughts and controlling his actions. After turning his power on his own troops, he had one final moment of clarity at what he had become, but it was too late. He was consumed. Nightbeat, Siren, and Hosehead, who Thunderwing had captured earlier, had escaped their constraints, and after releasing the bay doors, Thunderwing was harpooned to the shuttlecraft. The shuttle self-destructed and Thunderwing and the Creation Matrix were seemingly lost. {{storylink|All Fall Down (issue)|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:G1thunderwingthevoid.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Thunderwing displays that, yes, he has an alt mode just before showing up to die again.]]

The Matrix, however, was made of sterner stuff, and after some time reactivated alongside Thunderwing's body and the Autobot shuttlecraft on [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} As time passed, and though only the "barest [[spark]] remained," it healed Thunderwing's body, eventually allowing it to transform and escape the Moon. It (they) now hungered for revenge! {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

Thunderwing, completely controlled by the Creation Matrix, arrived on Cybertron just as Unicron had attacked. Through Thunderwing, the Matrix continued to manifest as a frightening demon, which blasted Unicron and buried its tendrils within him. Though Unicron was momentarily stunned, once the Matrix revealed that it was now attempting to be a force of Evil, Unicron ripped the manifestation apart. Unicron has no equal in the arena of evil. Thunderwing's body fell in tatters, and the Matrix casing dropped to the planet below. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
{{--}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic===
[[Image:Thunderwingg1worldscollide.jpg|left|150px|thumb|They weren't even trying to color me right!]]
Versions of Thunderwing, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] from various devoured universes were sent by their master, [[Unicron]], to prepare another universe for his coming. Porting into [[Decepticon Command Headquarters]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Galvatron left Thunderwing and the others on Cybertron to accomplish their task. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4|Worlds Collide, Part 1}} Though they destroyed all of the Decepticons in their headquarters and established a network of [[space bridge]] portals, this universe's [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] was not amongst their victims. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4|Worlds Collide, Part 2}}

Traveling to Earth's Decepticon headquarters (but leaving Bludgeon behind on Cybertron to guard the portal), they found it momentarily abandoned, so Thunderwing suggested they hunt down this universe's [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] to learn Megatron's location. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 3 of 4|Worlds Collide, Part 3}} However, Thrust knew nothing, and they quickly returned to Decepticon Earth headquarters when Thunderwing detected that their space bridge nexus on Cybertron had been breached. Ultimately, Thunderwing and the other servants of Unicron were destroyed when this universe's [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] detonated a bomb in Cybertron's Decepticon Command Headquarters, incinerating them all. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4|Worlds Collide, Part 4}}
{{--}}
===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:Thunderwingwhathaveyoudone.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Moral of Stormbringer: Pretenders [[Ruined FOREVER|ruined Transformers]].]]
Seven hundred years ago, during the height of the Autobot-Decepticon war on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Thunderwing was a Decepticon scientist who alerted both sides to the damage that the ongoing conflict was doing to their planet and the resultant danger of an impending catastrophic event. According to [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], his warnings were ignored, even by [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]].

[[Image:Thunderwing stormbringer.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Y'know, Thunderwing, Al Gore was content with just making a slide show.]]

Subsequently, Thunderwing took action on his own, subjecting himself to a "polydermal grafting" process of his own design, one that had previously been summarily rejected by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] as "unnatural" and "ill-conceived". This process of grafting tissue culled from living subjects onto a Transformer to create an armored symbiotic carapace somehow also appears to have made him the avatar of the very apocalypse he had warned against. The process drove Thunderwing insane but made him invulnerable; even the combined might of the Autobots and Decepticons couldn't stop him. In the end, he was swallowed whole by Cybertron itself, leaving the planet completely uninhabitable. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] went missing, Megatron assigned Bludgeon to dig into his research and find out what he'd been doing. An indeterminate time later, Thunderwing's resting place was discovered by a group of Decepticons led by Bludgeon, who planned to continue where Thunderwing left off. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} The project was completed in the present day, using a combination of "[[Ultra-Energon]]" (culled from Shockwave's research) and a set of imprinted commands. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 2|Stormbringer #2}} Thunderwing was thus resurrected and immediately departed for [[Nebulos]], following Bludgeon's plans to sacrifice that world to restore Cybertron somehow. There, Thunderwing was engaged by the Decepticon Infiltration team in place, which did not want to see Nebulos completely destroyed. After Thunderwing totaled [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]], [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]], [[Skullcruncher]], and [[Roadgrabber]], the survivors, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], [[Darkwing]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], abandoned the planet, leaving Thunderwing alone. However, after the destruction of Bludgeon's control harness, Thunderwing changed course—back towards Cybertron. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}}

[[Image:Thunderwingidwultramode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Ultra mode" puts all that wing kibble to use!]]
There, he was attacked by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], the [[Wrecker]]s, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], and reprogrammed [[Centurion droid|Centurion drones]]. Jetfire revealed that enough punishment would eventually cause Thunderwing to drain most of his [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] reserves. However, Thunderwing revealed a third "[[Super Mode|Ultra]]" robot configuration. Thanks to the Wreckers, the Decepticons, the instability of Ultra Energon, and a speech/salvo combination from Optimus Prime, he was stopped dead in his tracks. His inanimate form was taken into custody by the [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}

[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] would later steal Thunderwing's body from [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s detail of Autobots, in service of [[Nova Prime|his master]] in the [[Dead Universe]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} Since the Dead Universe Transformers can only spend a limited amount of time in the land of the living, they programmed Thunderwing to guard the cave entrance to the [[Nega-Core]] on planet [[Corata-Vaz]]. He easily batted away Hound's crew and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], but did not pursue them, as his programming seemed to keep him on a leash that only included the cave entrance. It did, however, allow [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] the time he needed to escape. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

The [[Wrecker]]s later attempted to penetrate Thunderwing's defenses and reach the Nega-Core, but apparently had no more success than Ultra Magnus and company. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

Jetfire came up with the idea to try and take control of Thunderwing using Bludgeon's (apparently repaired) control harness. This alerted [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], who activated Bludgeon (now under his control) to put a stop to it. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

While Jetfire managed to halt Thunderwing in his tracks for a brief time, a visit from the Jhiaxus-controlled Bludgeon forced Jetfire to focus on other, more pressing issues. While the Wreckers were successful in disabling the Nega-Core, Thunderwing once again began to advance on them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

{{Note|Due to the truncated nature of the [[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]] mini-series, the end result of this battle was not shown, but as all of the Wreckers appeared later on, Thunderwing was presumably disabled along with the other guardians when Jhiaxus was defeated.}}

===Wings of Honor===
Thunderwing was captured by the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s after being cornered and making an unsuccessful attempt to defend himself with what turned out to be a dud bomb. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 3}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Thunderwing toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You passed this up when you saw it in the stores. Then [[Simon Furman|Furman]] had to come along.]]
*'''Thunderwing''' (Mega Pretender, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Pretender shell, 2 heat-seeking laser blasters, cyclone cannon

:Thunderwing's inner robot transforms into a rather simple Cybertronic shuttlecraft. His [[Pretender]] shell also transforms into a starship mode of its own. The inner vehicle can be attached underneath the nose of the larger vehicle to create a combined starship mode. The inner robot is relatively generic in appearance (as with most Pretenders) while his outer Pretender shell resembles an alien warrior with Japanese [[wikipedia:Oni (folklore)|Oni]] influences. The inner robot carries a small "cyclone cannon" laser, while the shell is armed with two large laser blasters. All three of his guns can be mounted on his shell's vehicle mode. The large laser blasters can be mounted on the jet two different ways, either perpendicular or parallel to the wing undersides.

:Unlike fellow Mega Pretenders [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]] or [[Vroom]], parts do not need to be removed and rearranged in order for Thunderwing to achieve any of his modes.

: This mold was [[retool]]ed to make [[Black Shadow]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Decepticon/Thunderwing/thunderwing.htm More information on Thunderwing at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[Image:Generationstoy-Thunderwing.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Matrix obsession sold separately.]]
*'''Thunderwing''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories'': 2 missile launchers, 2 missiles, recon drone

:Part of the fifth wave of [[Generations (toyline)|''Generations'']] Deluxe class toys, Thunderwing's alternate mote is a fighter jet loosely based on an [[United States Air Force#F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor]], with different wings but retaining the F-22's characteristic zigzag patterns sculpted on the hull. He transforms into a robot that looks like the original Thunderwing toy's Pretender shell. The nose of the jet can detach and become a separate aerial drone, while the two missile launchers can detach from the wings and become handheld weapons or clip together into one massive gun. The middle section of the sculpted missiles on the sides of the guns are also compatible with [[C joint]] accessories. Thunderwing's colors seem to be inspired by his color scheme in the latter end of the Marvel run, considering his green arms. There is also an homage to [[Don Figueroa]]'s design in ''Stormbringer'' with Thunderwing's face and feet.

:At [[BotCon 2010]], the [[Hasbro]] design team noted that they had wanted to make the aerial drone unit transform into a robot but were unable to do so (presumably for budget reasons, though they didn't go into that detail).

:Thunderwing's instructions initially depict him with [[Black Shadow]]'s head and chest. A [[Variant|running change]] version of the instructions depicts Thunderwing's own head, but keeps Black Shadow's chest unchanged.

:The toy is slightly mistransformed in packaging, with the chest section that conceals his head in jet mode in its robot mode position.

:This mold was retooled to make ''Generations'' [[Black Shadow|Sky Shadow]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:Thunderwingisdeath.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Like that cannon he always carries around? Too bad, the toy ain't got it.]]
* Thunderwing only transformed out of his humanoid shell mode once in the entire United States run of the Marvel Comics series. Even then, it was into his non-combined shell-only jet mode, leaving no hint that he had an inner robot mode at all. The only time we see his inner robot mode is in his first appearance, the Marvel United Kingdom story, "[[The Big Shutdown!]]".
* Thunderwing's Marvel Comics appearances give him a four-barreled hand weapon that's completely fabricated, as it's not based on any of the toy's three guns. As with the melee weapons [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Stranglehold]], and [[Octopunch]] use in the comic, his four-barreled cannon likely originated from his unpublished [[character model]].
* A phenomenon [[Straxus (G1)|seen]] [[Circuit Breaker|often]] in the Marvel United States material, Thunderwing suffered from color scheme shift. At first, he appears in colors that approximate his toy's layout as best as the printing process allowed. Suddenly, in his biggest, most memorable appearances in [[Dark Creation|#65]] and [[All Fall Down (issue)|#66]], much of his blacks, grays, and blues were replaced by light greens. As a side effect of this phenomenon, since covers are colored in advance of the interiors, #66's cover featured a blue-armed Thunderwing with a green-armed Thunderwing inside.
[[Image:Thunderwingg1catalog.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Early Thunderwing was faaaabulous!]]
*Hasbro [[stock photo|photography]] of Thunderwing shows some plastic color differences from the final product. His shell's arms are the same purple as his guns instead of gray, and his inner robot's thighs are that purple as well, instead of the final toy's black. Black paint is applied to the shell's thighs differently, and the inner robot's forearms seem to be painted light gray. Additionally, the smaller robot is incapable of toting either of the larger guns in jet mode, as the peghole isn't large enough.
*Speaking of pegholes, both of Thunderwing's large guns have [[5mm post]]s with holes in the center that can function very much like [[Powerlinx]]able pegs, which means one can store [[Mini-Con]]s on them, if one so desires.
*Fitting with [[Don Figueroa]]'s method of making all of his robot designs able to be easily turned into toys (until [[The Transformers (IDW)|recently]], anyways), IDW Thunderwing's Ultra Mode is telegraphed by his kibble. An image in the [[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer's trade paperback's]] sketch section shows exactly how he transforms into it.

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Aérofoudre''' (Canada, "Aerolightning")

[[Category:Armada Decepticons]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]

Autobot Mini-Cassette

2011-08-13T08:32:31Z

96.13.49.23:

{{factions|autobot}}
:''The Autobot cassettes are a sub-group of [[Autobot]]s from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Spotlight-blaster-cover-color.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The yellow one is Steeljaw before he became one with the animal inside.]]
The '''Autobot Mini-Cassettes''' are [[Autobot]]s who, on [[Earth]], transform into analog audio cassettes. They can fit into [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s chest compartment, though their apparent relationship to Blaster varies depending on continuity.

{{quote|The Autobots have no choice but to strike back at these Decepticon techniques of stealth, building a force of cassette Transformers of their own, with Blaster as their guardian.|[[Teletraan II]]|"[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]"}}

==Known Autobot Mini-Cassettes==
===Generation 1===
*[[Eject]]
*[[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]]
*[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]] combine to form [[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]
*[[Playback]] (A comic-only character) {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*[[Rewind]]
*[[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]]
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
*[[Sundor]]
*The [[W Cassettebot]]s
**[[Dial]] and [[Saur]] combine to form [[Legout]]
**[[Graphy]] and [[Noise]] combine to form [[Decibel]]

*''Possibly'' [[Nightstalker]] (A prose-only character) {{storylink|State Games}}
*''Possibly'' [[Blackcat (G1)|Blackcat]] (A character based on [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]) {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 18}}

===Shattered Glass===
*[[Steeljaw (SG)|Steeljaw]]

==Fiction==
{{charstubfiction}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
During the attack on [[Autobot City]], Blaster attempted to radio Prime for reinforcements on [[Moonbase One]]. [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] detected the transmission and sent his Cassettes to prevent the broadcast. Once [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and the others breached the communications tower, Blaster ejected Ramhorn, Steeljaw, Rewind and Eject to match the Decepticon punks mano-y-mano. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

After [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] detected chronal energy emanating from an asteroid near Cybertron, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] sent a squad of Autobots with him to investigate, including Blaster with Ramhorn and Rewind. They encountered a [[Quintesson]] expedition and a school of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s, which Ramhorn relished in ramming repeatedly. During the fight, however, the Autobots accidentally passed through the Quintessons' [[Time Window]], arriving 11 milion years in the past. They met [[Beta (G1)|Beta]], and took up arms in the original Cybertronian revolution against the Quintessons. They held the line against the [[Dark Guardian]]s long enough for the Autobots of 2006 to return the revolution's leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]] from the future. As A3 turned the [[Coda Remote]] on the Guardians, the Autobots returned to the present through the time window. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

{{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}
{{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

During a Decepticon outbreak in Europe, Ramhorn and Steeljaw fought alongside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and the other Autobots against [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s forces. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} Ramhorn and Steeljaw were among the Primitives called to stop [[Primacron]]'s latest experiment. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====Scramble City====
{{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}
{{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}
{{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}}
{{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}
{{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}
{{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}}
{{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}
{{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
Playback was a prisoner of the Decepticons on Cybertron. Along with [[Hosehead]] and [[Horsepower (G1)|Horsepower]], he was released into the wild on Earth to be hunted down by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] as part of his initiation as a new Decepticon leader. He was the first of the trio Thunderwing tracked down and executed, leaving his corpse to rust on a shallow beach. {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}

====Marvel UK future timelines====
By 2008, Eject was stationed at Autobase on Cybertron, working communications for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].

Meanwhile on Earth, the [[Quintesson]]s invaded [[Autobot City]], devastating most of the base's population. Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn were stationed there, but got trapped inside Blaster's chest when he was blasted off-line and hung on the ramparts. A quick-thinking [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] realized where they'd be and managed to free them. The Mini-Cassettes joined Hot Rod and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] in retaking Autobot City from the Quints. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

====Generation 2====
Steeljaw was part of a squad of Autobots dispatched to Earth when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] learned [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was still alive and active. He was killed in battle by Megatron's hyper-velocity rail gun, a deadly weapon created by [[Cobra]]. {{storylink|Final Transformations}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
During the [[Age of Internment]], Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were allied with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and the remaining free Autobots against Megatron. Their twin goals were to bring down the legions of the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], and somehow locate the long-missing Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Millions of years later, the Mini-Cassettes joined Blaster as part of ''another'' rebellion, this time against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the corrupt Unified Cybertronian government. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}}

===G.I. Joe vs the Transformers===
{{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|Black Horizon Part 1}}
{{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2|Black Horizon Part 2}}

===''Shattered Glass''===
{{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 27|Steeljaw's ''Shattered Glass'' profile}}

Steeljaw was so vigorously dedicated to his napping that he couldn't spare the energy to swat away the annoying Decepticon, [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons|Recordicons #1}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
====Eject/Rewind mold====
*[[Eject]] (1986)
*[[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]] (2006)
*[[Rewind]] (1986)
*[[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]] (2006)

====Combiners====
*[[Dial]]/[[Saur]] (1987)
*[[Graphy]]/[[Noise]] (1987)
*[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]]/[[Raindance]] (1988)

====Others====
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (1986)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (1986)
*[[Sundor]] (2006)

==Notes==
* For the original draft of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', it was intended that the Autobot Mini-Cassettes would be "[[Steeljaw (G1)|CUBBIE]], a lion, [[Stripes|STRIPES]], a tiger, [[Stinger (G1)|STINGER]], a scorpion and [[Eject|BO]][[Rewind|LTS]], a small, tough robot."<ref>[http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/heritaage-auctions-transformers-movie.html TFTM script draft at Disciples of Boltax]</ref> This plan was maintained for a few revisions,<ref>[http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/transformers.html Early script for ''The Transformers: The Movie'' at dailyscript.com]</ref> until eventually Stinger and Stripes were scrapped, Cubbie was renamed to Steeljaw, Bolts was split into Eject and Rewind, and the rhinoceros Ramhorn was added to the mix.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cassettbot''' (カセットボット ''Kasettobotto'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Mini-Cassettes| Autobot]]
[[Category:The Headmasters subgroups]]

Matrix of Leadership

2011-08-13T08:25:52Z

96.13.49.23:

{{disambig3|Matrix}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}

[[Image:Matrix.jpg|right|375px|thumb|You put the life in the coconut.]]

The '''Autobot Matrix of Leadership''' (also known as the '''Creation Matrix''' or rarely, the '''Autobot Matrix of Power'''<ref>[[The Autobots Have a Special Mission for:]]</ref> or the '''Matrix of Light'''<ref>For the majority of the ''Transformers: The Movie'' sticker book (see right), though it is also referred to as the "Matrix of Leadership" once or twice.</ref>) is an [[sacred implement|artifact of great power]], traditionally carried by the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Although its appearance differs slightly from [[universal stream]] to universal stream, it generally appears as a glowing crystal sphere encased within a hollow metal shell, with a handle on either side.

By most accounts, the Matrix is a conduit for the power of [[Primus]], the creator-god of the [[Transformer|Transformers]], serving as a means of access to the [[Allspark]], the "afterlife" of the Transformer race, through which it can either bestow new Transformer life, or provide its wielder with a means of communicating with the deceased leaders who have come before them. These divine powers put it at the centre of much Autobot [[religion]], spirituality and prophecy; while many [[Decepticon]]s are less inclined to believe in its divinity, they certainly covet the increased physical power it is known to convey upon its holders, and several have made obtaining the Matrix one of their primary goals. As one of the embodiments of the power of Primus, the Matrix is antithesis to [[Unicron]], and one of the very few things the chaos-bringer fears.

{{quote|But one day... an Autobot shall rise from our ranks... and use the power of the Matrix... to light... our [[darkest hour]].|A [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|dying Optimus Prime]]|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Conceptual history==
[[Image:SecondGeneration prime gives buster matrix.jpg|left|thumb|250px|OK, it may be easy to mistake Kicker for a japanese schoolgirl,but Buster? Really,Prime.]]".]]
The Matrix and the concepts associated with it have continuously evolved over twenty-five-plus years, with different pieces of ''Transformers'' fiction creating new ideas centred on it, which have in turn influenced its representation in ''other'' fiction, and so on. The current nature of the Matrix as it is understood is beholden to quite a few different sources, and its development is described here to minimize confusion. For the specifics on the different interpretations of the Matrix in various continuities, see the "Fiction" section below.

The concept of the Matrix originates from the brain of [[Marvel Comics]] writer [[Bob Budiansky]] and is a result of the "no girls"/"no gender" policy enforced by [[Hasbro]] regarding their then-new robot brand. Because there were no female robots/the robots had no gender, Budiansky came up with an asexual method of reproduction in the form of the Creation Matrix, a computer program housed within the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that could bring new Transformers to life, which would also prove a helpful plot device when he was required to introduce new characters to the series.<ref>[http://www.bwtf.com/interviews/bb204/ Bob Budiansky Interview at BWTF.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.metalmachine.net/blog/2009/11/21/todds-take-with-bob-budiansky-the-architect-of-the-transformers/ Metal Machine interview with Bob]</ref><ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]</ref>

The appearance of the Matrix in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]] originated with early script drafts of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', which introduced the idea of "[[Life Spark]]s", very similar to the [[spark]]s that would later be introduced with ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. The Matrix was not present in the earliest known incarnation of the movie; instead, upon his death, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] transferred his own Life Spark to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], with the implication that this was standard practise among Autobot leaders. This idea was eventually discarded, replaced with a physical object known as the "Matrix of Leadership", which evidently derived its name from the Creation Matrix of the comic book. The episode "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" attempted to introduce the concept of the Matrix to the animated universe before the movie, but the dialogue containing the reference was deleted during production. The line, which dated the creation of the Matrix to 4.5 million years ago, would ultimately have conflicted greatly with what would be learned of the Matrix in the future.

[[Image:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Zeta Prime]] inherits the Matrix from [[Guardian Prime]] in the first recounting of the Prime lineage from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]].]]

Virtually nothing of the Matrix's nature was actually divulged in the finished film, where it was treated as simply a magic talisman of prophecy that was the antithesis of [[Unicron]]. The idea that had originated with the Life Spark concept—that of dying Autobot leaders merging their lifeforces with others—remained, albeit in a vague way, as Optimus Prime intoned upon his deathbed that he would soon be "one with the Matrix". The mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" fully expanded on the meaning of his line, revealing that the Matrix contained the lifeforces of all the deceased [[ancient Autobots|Autobot leaders]] who had previously held it, collectively known as the "Wisdom of the Ages," which could be consulted for aid in moments of need.

[[Image:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|left|thumb|200px|The dying [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] passes the Matrix to Optimus Prime in this flashback scene from "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]".]]

Having already cannibalized many of the movie's best elements for use in his comic book stories, writer [[Simon Furman]] contradicted Bob Budiansky's US comic book stories by presenting the Matrix as it had appeared in the film, as a physical object, in his own UK storylines, and carried this over to the US comic when he later began writing it. This alteration was also reflected in a ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Universe]]'' profile written for Powermaster Optimus Prime around the time, where Budiansky's "program" concept and the cartoon's "physical object" idea were merged with the explanation that the program was encoded in light patterns in the Matrix's crystal core. As Furman's run progressed, the "lifeforces of previous holders" concept was also adapted into the comics, with the Matrix possessing a genetic memory of those that had held it. Most notably, in both UK and US books, Furman crafted a story to explain the origins of the Matrix, why Unicron was vulnerable to it, and how it could create new life, ultimately revealing it to be the essence of the Transformers' creator-god, [[Primus]].

It was the [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|''Beast Machines'' animated series]] which made the next big addition to the growing mythology of the Matrix when it introduced the [[Allspark]], the extradimensional source of all Transformers sparks living or dead, which was also known as "the Matrix." Although it did not explicitly make any callbacks to the Matrix as seen in the Generation 1 cartoons or comics, the implication was obvious—rather than ''contain'' anything, the physical Matrix object from those continuities was a ''gateway'' to the Allspark. Where the animated "Matrix of Leadership" and the comic book "Creation Matrix" had previously seemed incompatible, this revelation united them conceptually—the lifeforces of the dead from the cartoon and the ability to bring new life from the comics could now both be tied to the features of the Allspark dimension. [[Dreamwave Productions]]' comics proceeded to cement this concept, depicting a Matrix of Leadership that possessed both these traits, and explicitly identifying it not as a holder of Primus's power, but a ''conduit'' for it.

The Matrix took something of a back seat in major fiction in the latter years of the 2000s, effectively replaced in the worlds of the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' by the [[AllSpark]]—a mystical object that, while physically distinct from the Matrix, possessed its life-giving powers and record of Transformer history. Before long, however, both these continuities reintroduced the idea of the Matrix: In both universes, the AllSpark was destroyed and its knowledge and power was reincarnated in an object either specifically named, or designed to look like, the Matrix, thereby bringing the whole concept full-circle.

Finally, the recent revelation (implied in the movies, confirmed by [[Fun Publications]]' "[[Crossing Over]]" and reiterated in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'') that the energy that is the basis of Transformer life is actually the rarefied form of the Transformers' fuel, [[energon (fuel)|energon]] itself, suggests that the energy of the Matrix is also (a form of) energon. This had actually been portrayed as the case in some formerly-questionable pieces of fiction such as the [[Keepers Trilogy]] novels, which retroactively makes sense now.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Prima.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Intel Inside!]]

When Primus created the Transformer race, before entering voluntary systems shutdown, he bestowed upon them a genetic matrix containing his essence and the majority of his power, which could be used to give life to more Transformers so that the race might grow without his direct involvement. {{storylink|Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream}} Later named the "Creation Matrix", this divine gift took the form of a program encoded in intricate patterns of light within a crystal,<ref>[http://ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime_PM Powermaster Optimus Prime's Marvel comic profile]</ref> which was passed from leader to leader down through the millennia. The first holder of the Creation Matrix was the first Transformer, [[Prima]], then subsequently [[Prime Nova]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and in the modern era, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The Autobot leaders evidently elected to keep the true nature of the Matrix a secret, since most other Transformers were shown to believe it was a program stored within the mind of Optimus Prime himself, rather than housed within a separate physical object. This mistaken belief gave rise to a legend that claimed that the program was encoded into a new Autobot leader once every ten millennia. {{storylink|The New Order}}

[[Image:WhoseLifeforce prime and longtooth.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]

''At one point during his tenure as Autobot leader, Optimus Prime came across [[Longtooth]] struggling to save the life of a fallen comrade on the battlefield after a particularly ferocious conflict. Mistakenly believing he was witnessing a great show of Autobot spirit (when in actuality, Longtooth was simply terrified of being the last one left alive), Prime extracted a tiny portion of the Creation Matrix's energy and gave it to Longtooth, telling him to use it wisely. Once Prime had left, however, Longtooth gave into his fear and kept the Matrix energy for himself, to serve as a "spare life" that allowed him to be daring and brave on the battlefield without fearing death.'' {{storylink|Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?}}

[[Image:DisintegratedCircuits buster uses matrix.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]

When the Transformers' war moved to [[Earth]] in 1984, current Decepticon leader [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] elected to increase his forces by creating new Transformers with the power of the Creation Matrix. Capturing the [[Autobot]]s and decapitating Optimus Prime, Shockwave tapped the energies of the Matrix and brought the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to life. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}} Prime was able to transfer the Matrix into the mind of the Autobots' human ally, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} thereby preventing Shockwave from animating his newest construct, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], but the presence of the Matrix within Buster's mind gave the boy incredible powers over machinery. {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}} {{storylink|Brainstorm!}} Deducing that Buster possessed the Matrix, Shockwave programmed the unliving Jetfire to capture the boy, but Buster used the Matrix to bring Jetfire under his control and used him to thwart Shockwave's plan and save Optimus Prime. With Prime and the Autobots rescued, Buster transferred the Creation Matrix back to the Autobot leader, {{storylink|Prime Time!}} and Prime subsequently used the Matrix to give Jetfire true life. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

''Residual energy from the Matrix that lingered in Buster's brain soon began to give the youth nightmarish visions, causing him to black out and create strange images of previously-unheard of Transformers.'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} ''Seeking to help Buster, the Autobots hooked him up to equipment that would allow them to monitor his dreams, and discovered that the Matrix was showing them all them a vision of the future, and the creation of the [[Special Teams]].'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[Image:Matrixflame.jpg|left|thumb|275px|If the Autobots were Jewish, it would have burned another six days.]]

''The Matrix was also known to have an analog on Cybertron, the [[Matrix Flame]], which burned constantly as long as the Matrix still existed, no matter where in the universe it was. It could also be used to channel the energy of the Matrix, which the Autobots on Cybertron did to bring life to their new warrior, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].<ref>Ultra Magnus profile page in Marvel UK [[Target: 2006#Defeat!|#81]]</ref> Not long after, however, the Matrix Flame flickered out when Optimus Prime was shunted into [[limbo]] by time-travelling Decepticons, leading the Autobots on Cybertron to send Magnus to Earth to investigate. Prime was returned in due time, and the Matrix Flame re-ignited.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Following the earlier vision from the Matrix,'' the Autobots created the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], and Optimus Prime used the Matrix to bring them to life. Little did the Autobots realise, however, that [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] had deduced a way to usurp the Matrix's power, using a [[cerebro-shell]] previously planted in Prime's body by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to siphon off some of the life-giving energy, which he employed it to animate his own new creations, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

[[Image:DarkCreation_we_would_know_more.jpg|right|thumb|275px]]

When Optimus Prime died following a video-game duel with Megatron a short time later, {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}, the Autobots loaded his body into a funeral bier and launched it into space in accordance with Cybertronian tradition. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Unfortunately, having been unaware of the existence of the physical Creation Matrix crystal within the corpse's chest, this meant that they unwittingly set the sacred lifeforce of their race adrift in the sea of stars. After some time, the craft eventually crashed on the distant moon of [[VsQs]], where it lay undisturbed for a time. Left in solitude, the rudimentary consciousness of the Matrix formed from the genetic memory of its past holders began to desire new sensations. {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

It got its chance when a [[Deathbringer (species)|Deathbringer]], a medical mechanoid created to painlessly end the life of the terminally ill, crashed on VsQs. Critically wounded, the dying robot reached out to touch the Matrix, and in its hunger for new experiences, the talisman used its powers of creation to disassemble and rebuild the Deathbringer, inadvertently warping its programming and transforming it into a powerful being who sought to destroy ''all'' life. A trace of its energy remaining in its body, the Matrix revelled in its first experience of "evil" as the Deathbringer cut a swathe of destruction across the galaxy, ultimately finding its way to Earth. ''Sensing the Matrix's power within the creature, Optimus Prime—since resurrected by the technology of [[Nebulos]]—was hesitant to destroy the only link they had discovered to the lost Matrix, but [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] solved the problem by convincing the Deathbringer that since the Matrix's power was eating away at it, it should destroy itself.'' {{storylink|Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer}}

[[Image:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|left|thumb|210px|The Creation Matrix was the Leader-1's-head of the Marvel comic. Can't be drawn the same way twice.]]

Back on VsQs, the Matrix's curiosity found new expression when an insectoid creature crawled into Prime's corpse's chest cavity and became the next recipient of the Matrix's power. Dissecting and studying the beast, the Matrix was fascinated that the creature seemed to be meant to do nothing but destroy, so it re-created the thing into a [[Matrixspawn|larger, more powerful predator]]. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The monster attacked a team of astronauts that had set up a research station on VsQs, killing nearly all of them, but at least one escaped and crashed in the seas of the nearby planet [[Pequod]]. His body infused with Matrix energy from the beast that had attacked him, the astronaut was swallowed by a [[klud]], which ingested the energy. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}}

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime became aware of the threat of Unicron, and, realizing that the Matrix would be necessary to defeat the Chaos-Bringer, arranged for search parties to scour the cosmos for any trace of it. ''Longtooth was among the Autobots recruited for the search mission, and was forced for the first time to truly confront the selfishness of what he had done with the Matrix energy Prime had given him millennia before. In hopes of redemption, he loaded the energy fragment into a pod and sent it back to Optimus Prime.'' {{storylink|Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?}} [[Image:Thunderwing with matrix.jpg|right|thumb|215px]] ''Prime agonized over how to best use the Matrix energy, knowing that it had the power to revive only one of the deactivated Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and ultimately, elected to disperse it the Earth's atmosphere to rejuvenate damage done to the ecosystem by the Transformers' warring on the planet.'' {{storylink|The Greatest Gift of All!}}

In the meantime, the search parties seeking the Matrix had piqued the curiosity of new Decepticon leader [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], who possessed an affinity with the Matrix and a desire to possess its power for his own. As the opposing teams dodged each other, they eventually set their sights on Pequod, where the klud had been attracting attention because its species was supposed to have been extinct. Thunderwing used his Matrix affinity to psychically link with the Matrix-infused beast and see the memory of swallowing the dying scientist. Recognizing the "VsQs" stamp on his equipment, Thunderwing set out for that moon. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}} Once there, both sides battled the creature the Matrix had created, which had grown to enormous size, with Thunderwing ultimately killing the beast and taking the Matrix. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The Decepticon immediately attacked the spaceborne [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], manifesting the Matrix power in the form of a giant, vaguely humanoid energy field around himself. Soon, however, the Matrix began to speak through Thunderwing, delighting in the firsthand experience of evil, and the Decepticon realized he was being possessed. Thunderwing tried to mentally battle the Matrix, to no avail, but the Autobots exploited his erratic behaviour to impale him with a harpoon and blow him out the Ark's airlock into space. {{storylink|All Fall Down (issue)|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:EdgeofExtinction-sothatallmaylive.jpg|left|thumb|275px|It cures what ails ya.]]

Thunderwing's body came to rest on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]], where the Matrix began to heal his battered frame. Repairs took time, but once completed, the Matrix set out for Cybertron, coincidentally arriving just as Unicron was trying to destroy the planet. The Matrix-creature fought Unicron, but Unicron soon realized that the Matrix had been tainted with evil, and that it was no longer a threat to him, given the infinitely greater magnitude of his own evil nature. Thunderwing was destroyed by Unicron's attack and Optimus Prime was able to recover the Matrix, cleansing it of the taint of evil and restoring its purity. Rocketing into Unicron's gaping maw, Prime released the Matrix's energy within the planet-eater's body, destroying him. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} The explosion should have killed Prime as well, but his devastated body was saturated with Matrix energy, keeping it alive long enough for the suffering Prime to pass on leadership of the Autobots to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Still Life!}} Prime's consciousness, however, was transferred to his [[Nebulan]] partner, [[Hi-Q]], who was later recreated into a new Optimus Prime by the [[Last Autobot]], complete with a reconstructed Matrix. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}
=====Marvel UK future timelines=====

[[Image:MatrixCoconut1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Will I become a great Autobot leader?" "All signs point to no."]]

''In the alternate future timeline of [[Earth-120185]], a dying Optimus Prime passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus in 2006. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}} It was then used by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] to destroy Unicron, in the process transforming the young Autobot into Rodimus Prime. {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}

''In the year 2008, Unicron attempted to engineer his resurrection by mentally controlling the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] into building him a new body. Drawn into the conflict by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], Rodimus Prime used the power of the Matrix to battle Unicron on his own mindscape, while [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] set explosives to destroy the portion of Unicron's body that had been constructed. The explosion tore Unicron's body apart, but did not destroy him; instead, with no physical shell to inhabit, his essence wound up trapped within the the Matrix.'' {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

[[Image:MarvelUK-187.jpg|left|thumb|215px]]

''Later in 2008, the [[Quintesson]]s invaded and conquered [[Autobot City]] while Rodimus Prime was absent, and set a trap for the Autobot leader by leaving the wounded [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] at the city entrance. Arriving to find the one-time object of his affections in dire straits, Rodimus opened his chest cavity in order to heal Arcee with the energy of the Creation Matrix, only to be blindsided by the Quintessons and have the Matrix plucked from him, transforming him back into Hot Rod. The Matrix wound up the hands of Quintesson [[Ghyrik|General Ghyrik]], who was able to harness its power and boost his strength for a throwdown with Hot Rod. A bout of impromptu ventriloquism from the young Autobot distracted Ghyrik, allowing Hot Rod to rip the Matrix from his body and transform back into Rodimus Prime, handing Ghyrik an ignominious defeat. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

''When disruption to the fabric of space and time forced Rodimus and several other Autobots to travel back in time from 2009 to 1989 in order to discover the source of the disturbance, the presence of the Matrix within his body required that Optimus Prime once again be shunted into limbo in order to maintain balance. Rodimus was able to use the power of the Matrix they shared to allow Optimus to communicate with the other Autobots, and when Rodimus was then defeated in battle, Optimus risked the security of the space-time continuum by using the Matrix as a stepping stone to return to reality for a final battle with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].'' {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}

[[Image:WhiteFire kup yanks matrix.jpg|right|thumb|160px|I honestly can't tell if it's the Matrix, or a weird kind of saucepan...]]

''Returning to Cybertron after their time-travel adventure, Rodimus and the Autobots found that the disruption of space and time had altered their future, and that Galvatron was waiting for them. Galvatron attempted to force Rodimus Prime into a savage battle, hoping to force him to unleash his basest, most violent impulses, and by extension, lead them to corrupt the Matrix. Fortunately, Rodimus realized his plan and stopped.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} ''However, it soon became apparent that the Matrix required no external corruption; Unicron's essence, still trapped within the talisman following the events of 2008, slowly began to take hold of Rodimus Prime's mind, forcing him to sabotage the guidance systems of the Autobots' craft when they were on a hyperspace trip to Earth in 2010.'' {{storylink|The Void! (UK)|The Void!}} {{storylink|Edge of Impact}} ''Rodimus battled within Unicron inside the Matrix in an attempt to win back control of his mind and body, but it took [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] deducing what was going on and wrenching the Matrix from Rodimus's chest to free him from the chaos-bringer's influence. But now, Rodimus knew that the evil of Unicron would be waiting for him within it...'' {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} {{storylink|White Fire}}

''Alas, later in 2010, Unicron's essence succeeded in taking over Rodimus's body, transforming it into a duplicate of his own and attacking Cybertron once more, until Rodimus was able to defeat him from within and re-seal him within the Matrix.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

''When last seen, in the far future of 2356, Unicron's essence remained sealed within the Matrix, causing Rodimus's body to steadily wither and weaken.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

{{-}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:G210 starscream warworld.jpg|left|thumb|180px]]
Requiring the Matrix to bring the new warriors created by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to life, Megatron defeated Optimus Prime in battle and tore the Matrix from his body with an energy siphon. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} The Matrix's energy was then used to give life to the [[Laser Rod|Laser Rods]] and [[Rotor Force]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

Subsequently, Prime and Megatron were forced into an uneasy alliance against the massed forces of the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]], and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] exploited the chaos of the huge battle to take the power of the Matrix for himself. Using it, he merged his mind and body with the Decepticons' [[Warworld]], becoming a colossal living weapon able to reshape himself at will. {{storylink|Total War!|Tales of Earth, Part Seven}} However, unlike with Thunderwing, Starscream found his own evil being subverted by the Matrix's goodness, {{storylink|Dark Shadows!|Tales of Earth, Part Eight}} and he returned the Matrix to Prime, for fear of being changed beyond recognition.

Soon after, when Prime was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], he channelled the Matrix's energy into the dark force, enlightening and completing it with the purity of Primus's vision. Suddenly transformed from a destructive force into a force for life, the Swarm re-created Prime and departed into space. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:OracleMatrix.jpg|right|225px|thumb]]

The origins of the Matrix of Leadership are almost entirely unknown. The only hint of its beginnings was given in an account from near the dawn of time, soon after the ancient genius [[Primacron]] and [[Oracle (G1)|his assistant]] created the colossal robot, Unicron. Unicron turned on his creators and destroyed the assistant's body, but seen to rise from his remains and disappear into space was an object that appeared identical to the Matrix. If this was truly the Matrix, it is wholly unknown how it came to be held by the Autobots and how it was elevated to the position of power it became known for. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

However it came to be in Autobot hands, the Matrix came to be at the centre of the robots' belief system and was safeguarded by each successive generation of Autobot leaders. Upon the passing of its holder, the Matrix became a receptacle for the deceased Autobot's lifeforce, which cumulatively became known as the "Wisdom of the Ages", a storehouse of knowledge and experience stretching back to the dawn of Cybertronian history (and potentially beyond) that could be consulted by the Matrix's living wielders in times of need. The spirits of many Autobots have been seen within the Matrix, but the names of only a select few are known: The oldest entity within the Matrix is known only as "[[It]]" {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}; [[Image:Matrix 5faces4 7.jpg|left|225px|thumb|My preciousssss!]] following this entity, the next oldest known was [[Primon]], who possessed the Matrix in the early days of the Cybertronian race around twelve million years ago; [[Prima]] bore it at the height of their oppression by the [[Quintesson]]s about a million years later; [[Prime Nova]] was its wielder during the eventual rebellion against the five-faced aliens; [[Guardian Prime]] and his successor [[Zeta Prime]] carried it during the first war between the Autobots and Decepticons, before it was passed to Sentinel Prime, under whose leadership the war came to an end.

Around nine million years ago, the Autobot/Decepticon war was reignited by the creation of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who killed Sentinel Prime as one of his first actions. In his death throes, Sentinel entrusted the Matrix to the ancient Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], who kept it hidden until a damaged young robot was brought to his workshop, another victim of Megatron's wrath. Trion recreated him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], new leader of the Autobots, and gave him the Matrix. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[Image:Optimusg1passingthematrix.jpg|right|thumb|225px]]

Fatally wounded by Megatron in the year 2005, Optimus Prime passed the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots to his chosen successor, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Before passing away, Prime spoke of a prophecy—that one day, a "Chosen One" would rise from the ranks of the Autobots, and use the power of the Matrix to light the Transformers' darkest hour. When Prime's strength faltered at the last moment and he dropped the Matrix, the young Autobot Hot Rod stooped to catch it before it hit the floor. The Matrix glowed brightly in response to his touch, signifying what none of the Autobots present would realize until later: that Hot Rod was the Chosen One.

[[Image:Tftm1986e.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]

When word of Unicron's approach on Cybertron reached the Autobots on Earth, Ultra Magnus believed (and Hot Rod agreed, based on nothing more than a feeling) that the Matrix might be able to stop the world-eater. Knowing that this was indeed the case, Unicron recreated Megatron as Galvatron and dispatched him to steal the Matrix, leading to a confrontation on the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]] in which Ultra Magnus tried in vain to open the Matrix and use it to fend off the attacking Decepticons. Galvatron bested him and took the Matrix, believing he could use it to subjugate Unicron himself, but he had no more luck opening it than Magnus did. Unicron swallowed Galvatron whole as punishment, and it was within Unicron's body that the Decepticon leader engaged Hot Rod in the battle that saw the young Autobot claim his destiny. Seizing the Matrix from around Galvatron's neck, Hot Rod was transformed by its power into Rodimus Prime, then proceeded to fulfil the prophecy by opening the talisman and releasing its power, which tore Unicron apart from within. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Later, when injured in battle, Rodimus's consciousness briefly entered the Matrix itself and witnessed a vision that led him to believe that the answer to the mystery of the alien Quintessons currently plaguing the Autobots was held within it. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} To find his answer, Rodimus deliberately short-circuited himself and entered the Matrix a second time. Guided by the ancient Autobots within, Rodimus was shown the history of Cybertron and discovered the Quintessons' role in the creation of the Transformers. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[Image:Darkawakening_matrix_pain.jpg|right|225px|thumb|The zombified Optimus Prime reacts in pain to the light of the Matrix.]]

The burden of leadership weighed heavily upon Rodimus, and he was all too eager to return the Matrix to Optimus Prime when it seemed that the Autobot leader had returned from the dead in 2006. It transpired, however, that Optimus had only been reanimated as a robotic zombie by the Quintessons, with the intent of luring the assembled Autobot forces into a trap. Fortunately, with the Matrix now back within him, its energies overrode the evil intentions the aliens had programmed him with, and he returned it to Rodimus before apparently sacrificing himself again to trigger the Quintessons' trap alone. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]

Still struggling with leadership, Rodimus tried to forget his woes with a bout of drag-racing in the hills of [[Japan]], only to be ambushed by [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. The two Stunticons stole the Matrix and brought it back to Galvatron, but when the Decepticon leader attempted to use its energy to power his cannon, he was instead tormented by the spirits of the Autobots within it. The terrified Galvatron instructed [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to dispose of the Matrix, but Scourge grasped the true nature of its power where his leader could not, and instead placed it within his own chest. The Matrix's energies warped his body into a powerful, misshapen hulk, increasing his power to the point that he was able to oust Galvatron and take control of the Decepticons himself. Scourge proceeded to lead the Decepticons in an attack on Earth, only to be bested by Hot Rod, who had since learned the importance of "the burden hardest to bear", and reclaimed the Matrix once more. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

[[Image:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG|right|thumb|225px]]

When Optimus Prime was at last truly resurrected, he was forced to battle the [[Hate Plague]]-infected Rodimus in order to reclaim the Matrix from him, in hopes of consulting the Wisdom of the Ages to find a cure for the disease. Communicating with the mysterious It, he learned that the only way combat the madness of the plague was with wisdom, and opened the Matrix, expelling all of the wisdom within it to extinguish the disease (in the process claiming that this was also the Autobots' "darkest hour"). Although the Matrix was emptied, leaving only a shell, Optimus claimed they would have to start filling it with wisdom again, from that moment on. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, Optimus Prime used the shell of the Matrix as a substitute key to access [[Vector Sigma]], where he consulted Alpha Trion on the mystery of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}
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====Madman ''The Transformers'' comic====
[[Image:Madman comic PrimeHotrod.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Optimus's proposal to Hot Rod.]]
The significance of the Matrix to the Autobots was such that when Optimus Prime prepared to lead the Autobots in an evacuation of Cybertron in the year 2001, he hid the Matrix in a bunker at the construction site of the future Autobot City. Unfortunately, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] had monitored the Autobot leader's meeting with Ultra Magnus, and moved to steal the Matrix for the Decepticons. Fate intervened in the form of Hot Rod, who defeated the Decepticons and took back the ancient Autobot relic, and at the same time received a vision of his future as the Autobot who would light Cybertron's darkest hour. {{storylink|The Transformers (Madman)|The Transformers}}
====Rodimus vs. Cyclonus====
After their adventure on [[Quintessa]], while Hot Rod, Kup and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s were searching space for Ultra Magnus's team, they were attacked by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. A flash of ancient knowledge he had received from the Matrix upon catching it when Optimus Prime had passed it to Magnus inspired Hot Rod to invoke the [[Challenge of Aria-Bellum]]. {{storylink|Rodimus vs. Cyclonus}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
{{note|The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in Japanese animated continuity as described above, except that the events of 2006 are moved forward to 2010, and "The Rebirth" does not occur. A 2007 [[retcon]] built upon the original cartoon's confusing hints to create a full origin for the Matrix in this continuity.}}

When Primacron and his assistant (also known as the "Oracle") were attacked by the rebelling Unicron, the assistant's body was destroyed, but his lifeforce persisted. Sealed within a protective shell, the Oracle's lifeforce fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which the Oracle used his powers to transform into a lush, green world. In time, however, the alien Quintessons came to the Oracle's world and were able to bring him under their power, transforming him into the mega-computer, Vector Sigma. Using the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], the Quintessons cyber-formed the Oracle's world into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and the Oracle's life-giving powers were harnessed to produce a race of robotic slaves. The shell which had contained the Oracle's essence became the Matrix, but precisely how it came to be held by the Quintessons' consumer goods robots (later known as the Autobots), or even why the Quintessons would ''allow'' their creations to possess such a powerful item, is unknown. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|2007 TakaraTomy Transformers timeline}}

=====''The Stargate Battles''=====

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

In the mid-1990s, Optimus Prime put the power of the Matrix to an unconventional use when a battle in space forced him to team up with Megatron in order to stop the rampage of Starscream, who had fused himself with the space station known as the [[Warp Gate|Trigger]]. With Megatron in gun mode clutched in his arms, Prime summoned up the Matrix's energy and channelled it through his body, into the Decepticon leader, who unleashed it all in one colossal shot of cosmic proportions. The blast obliterated Starscream's new Trigger-body, but the backwash of the explosion was so great that it sent Prime, Megatron and all the Transformers observing the battle on a fiery plummet into Earth's atmosphere. {{storylink|The Stargate Battles (issue)|The Stargate Battles}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
In a parallel timeline that diverged off from this one thanks to the flow of history being altered by the time-tossed [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], Optimus Prime did not die in 2005, and was prepared to confront Unicron himself. However, after sustaining serious injuries in the opening salvo of the battle with the chaos-bringer, Prime passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus. Despite knowing he was not the Chosen One, Magnus bravely petitioned the Matrix to allow him to wield its power anyway, as otherwise, the Autobots' destruction was assured. The Matrix granted Magnus his wish, and its energy was used to destroy Unicron. {{storylink|Binal Time}}
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=====''Kiss Players''=====
After inheriting the Matrix in 2005, Rodimus Prime was horrified to discover that when he threw Galvatron out of Unicron, the Decepticon leader had wound up crash-landing on Earth, destroying [[Tokyo]]. Seeking to atone for his sins, Rodimus returned the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and became Hot Rod again, leaving both the talisman and the role of leadership in Magnus's hands for five years until he returned to his post in 2010. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|A Big Catch Tonight?!}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====

After emptying the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, Optimus Prime sought to restore the lifeforce that had been lost by filling it with energy drawn from the lifeforce of [[Earth]] itself. To this end, the Matrix was secreted away in the lower levels of one of many Autobot energy-gathering facilities on Earth, where Prime hoped it would steadily recharge. Whether or not this odd-sounding plan would have ''worked'' is an area of some debate, but ultimately, a different set of circumstances soon came into play...

[[Image:DoublePrime matrix recharged.jpg|left|260px|thumb|Alpha Trion's spirit re-enters the Matrix, recharging it.]]

In the year 2011, a catastrophic side-effect of the Matrix's energy being released became apparent—without the Matrix to act as a controlling force, Vector Sigma began to destabilize, putting all of Cybertron in great danger. The Decepticons took this opportunity to invade the planet, hoping to take control of the unstable computer and by extension, the planet itself. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} During the battle that followed, Optimus Prime headed for Vector Sigma's chamber to try and bring the computer back under control, but without the Matrix—which remained hidden on Earth, its location known only to Prime himself—the only recourse would be to give up his own life. To stop Prime from making this sacrifice, Hot Rod led the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in a methodical search across Earth, checking every Autobot energy facility. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} After successfully locating the Matrix in the last possible hiding place and evading his pursuers, Hot Rod returned to Cybertron, arriving in Vector Sigma's chamber just as Optimus Prime was facing off against the Decepticons. The ghost of Alpha Trion, who had survived the emptying of the Matrix and who had led Prime safely to the computer chamber, merged with the Matrix, restoring its lost lifeforce and giving it the power to once again transform Hot Rod into Rodimus Prime. The two Primes dispatched the Decepticons, but before Rodimus could use the Matrix to stabilize Vector Sigma, Optimus Prime sacrificed himself by merging with the computer to bring it back under control. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}

Some time later, when Cybertron was subsequently devastated thanks to the machinations of Decepticon Headmaster leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Rodimus Prime voyaged into space to search for a new homeworld for the Transformers, taking the Matrix with him. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}
{{-}}

=====''The Headmasters'' comic=====

On his many travels through space, the Matrix gave Rodimus Prime courage to face every challenge that presented itself. In addition to the teachings of the ancient Autobots, the energy of Earth's lifeforce that now dwelled within the Matrix as well truly opened Rodimus's eyes to the beauty of Earth and humanity. Believing that Transformers should aspire to be more like human beings, he returned to Earth and announced his desire for humans and Transformers to live and work together to move forward and evolve. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 8|The Headmasters #8}}

=====''G-2'' story pages and mini-comics=====

[[Image:G2StoryPageReconfigurationMatrix1.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]

Presumably, Rodimus Prime must have returned the Matrix to Optimus Prime when he was restored to life as Star Convoy, since Prime had the talisman back in his chest when he adopted his "Hero" body at the beginning of the renewed war against Megatron some number of years after 2025. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 1}} A research team led by [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] later discovered new properties of the Matrix, which prompted Megatron to duel Optimus Prime in the [[Mirtonian constellation]] in order to steal the Matrix for himself. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 4}} Megatron fatally wounded Prime, but the ancient Autobots within the Matrix were able to restore him thanks to the newly-discovered power Jetfire's team had learned of: the [[Reconfiguration Matrix]], which repaired and restored Prime in a new Laser Rod body. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 5}}

=====e-Hobby storyline=====
Having briefly held the Matrix, Ultra Magnus's spark was among the chosen few which retained autonomy within the Allspark. Sensing the threat [[Galvatron II]] posed to the universe with his fleet of [[Warworld]]s, Magnus used the powers of the Reconfiguration Matrix to resurrect himself in a new body based on Prime's Laser Rod form so that he could battle the Decepticon leader. It didn't go very well. {{storylink|Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version}}
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===Start Your Own Decoy Collection===
[[Image:Decoy_comic_matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]
Through unknown means, the Decepticons were able to steal the Creation Matrix and holed it up in their headquarters. In order to stage a recovery, the Autobots created an army of [[Decoy]]s to distract the Decepticon forces, while Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Kup and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] secretly penetrated the base. Fighting their way through a slew of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], the team discovered the Matrix in a transparent case. Blurr blasted it open at Hot Rod's direction, and the Autobots successfully escaped with the talisman back in their possession. {{storylink|Start Your Own Decoy Collection|The Decepticon Deception}}
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===Beast Era===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Image:OptimalSituation_spark_holder.jpg|right|thumb|The similarity between Prime's "spark holder" and the Matrix was a source of some confusion.]]
Several enigmatic references were made to the Matrix by the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Warriors]] at various points, though it is never precisely clear if they are referring to the Matrix of Leadership, the Allspark dimension, [[Matrix (facility)|the protoform production facility on Cybertron]] that also goes by that name, or some theoretical conglomeration of any of the above that they only speak of out of misconception.

When the body of Optimus Prime was fatally wounded by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], Optimus Primal opened Prime's chest compartment in order to take the Autobot leader's spark into his own body for safety. Prime's spark was shown to be contained within a holder shaped just like the Matrix of Leadership, and Rhinox remarked that Prime's spark had "the Matrix with it". {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}
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====3H comics====
While experiencing a swirl of visions from throughout history, the [[Covenant]] witnessed the Matrix being torn by the [[Liege Maximo]] from the body of the enigmatic [[Primon]], its first holder. {{storylink|Reaching the Omega Point}}

[[Image:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Matrix, beneath Prime's "spark holder".]]
The confusion surrounding the Matrix-like "spark holder" in Prime's chest and its relation to the actual Matrix of Leadership was clarified when it was revealed that the Matrix was actually concealed in a compartment beneath Prime's own spark, a deception specifically designed to protect the Matrix and keep it from those who would misuse its power.
[[Image:Primevaldawn2 tarantulas matrix.jpg|right|215px|thumb]]
Following the end of the Beast Wars, the deceased [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] was resurrected, having harnessed the powers of the alien [[Vok]] with the intention of stealing the Matrix and delivering it to his master, Unicron. Seeking to keep the Matrix out of Tarantulas's hands, the Vok took the talisman from the sleeping Optimus Prime and used its power to transform the discarded control suit the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] had previously used to manipulate Optimus Primal into [[Primal Prime]]. Primal Prime was made guardian of the Matrix, and filled with all the wisdom of the past leaders within it. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}} Unfortunately, the Vok had miscalcuated: While it was within Optimus Prime, the Matrix had been safe, but once they had broken the forces that had bound it to Prime in order to transfer it to their creation, it had become vulnerable. This was proven in drastic fashion when, in the following battle, Tarantulas was able to overpower Primal Prime and rip the Matrix from his body. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 2}} The shock threw Primal Prime into a comatose state, while Tarantulas took the Matrix back to his lab to await the completion of the [[Transwarp]] portal that would take him and his prize to Unicron. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 3}}

{{note|"Primeval Dawn" was never finished as a result of [[3H Productions]] losing the Transformers license. Obviously enough, its finale would have seen our heroes recover the Matrix from Tarantulas and replace it in Optimus Prime's chest.}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Ancients.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The Matrix-shaped platform above the Oracle Tank.]]
Most modern Cybertronians eschew the mythology of the Matrix as set out by the [[Council of Ancients]], which claims that it is a conduit for the energies of Primus, choosing instead to believe in [[atechnogenesis]]. Despite this, Transformer society still holds the Matrix itself in great reverence, as, product of a deity or not, it is indisputably the most effective source of new Transformer life. Many conflicting stories and rumors swirl about the Matrix's true nature, born of claims that the Council actively prevented Alpha Trion from telling the general public more about it, but what ''is'' known about the talisman is that it is a virtually limitless source of energy. Only those with an affinity for the Matrix can wield its power; these Transformers are typically those chosen to be the next Prime, who often receive physical augmentation when the Matrix is taken into their bodies. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye #8}} The Ancients claim that the Matrix contains the wisdom of all sparks that return to it after death, though they do keep a more tangible version of that sort of thing in the form of a [[Golden Disk (council)|golden disk]] that holds the knowledge of past Primes. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}
[[Image:TWW1 prime gets matrix.jpg|right|225px|thumb]]

The earliest known bearer of the Matrix was [[Primon|Alpha Prime]], who was succeeded by Guardian Prime, and then Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye #8}} Around 8.2 million years ago, seeking to use the Matrix to power the planetary turbine engines he had discovered beneath Cybertron's surface, Megatron attacked and killed Sentinel Prime, only to discover upon tearing his victim open that the Matrix was gone, having already been given by Sentinel Prime to the Council of Ancients for unknown reasons (perhaps having foreseen his own death). The Council subsequently chose a data archivist named Optronix to be the new bearer of the Matrix, and brought him to the [[Oracle Tank]], in which both he and the Matrix were immersed. Optronix was enlarged and strengthened by the Matrix, and transformed into Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

Soon after, Megatron attacked Prime in the catacombs beneath Cybertron and cracked open his form, exposing the Matrix. A blinding flash burst from the Matrix, showing Prime and Megatron visions of future conflicts on Earth and [[Nebulos]], but it was implied that Optimus somehow used the Matrix to force Megatron to forget these visions. How much knowledge he himself retained is unknown. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}}
[[Image:PrimeDirective2 spike replaces matrix.jpg|left|300px|thumb]]

Millions of years later, after their war on Earth, the Transformers were set to return to Cybertron aboard the [[Ark II]] in 1999, at which point Optimus Prime gave [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] a piece of the Matrix as a promise that he would be back. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} The Ark II proved to have been sabotaged, however, and exploded in mid-flight, leaving the world to believe that the Transformers were dead until 2002, when the terrorist [[Lazarus]] recovered several of their bodies and reprogrammed them for use as weapons that he would sell on the black market. The American military recovered the body of Optimus Prime and [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] drafted Spike to help in bringing him back to life, {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} which Spike accomplished by returning the portion of the Matrix Prime had given him. Thus restored, Prime revived the other surviving Autobots by casting the light of the Matrix across the Arctic landscape where their bodies lay, melting away the ice that held them and bringing them back online. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}
[[Image:G1 Vol.2 Issue6 2.jpg|right|thumb]]
When the Autobots and Decepticons were finally able to return to Cybertron, a chain of events ultimately led Optimus Prime into a confrontation with Shockwave in Vector Sigma's chamber. Knocking Prime out and blasting his chest open, Shockwave harnessed the energy of the Matrix and used it to access Vector Sigma's databanks in an attempt to learn all of the dark secrets at the heart of Cybertron. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Before Shockwave could complete his dark experiments, enemy forces converged on his lab, so the Decepticon logician tore the Matrix from Prime's body, intending to flee, only to be stopped and defeated by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Grimlock recovered the Matrix and returned it to Prime, {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}} but the trauma of its forceful removal necessitated that Prime spend an extended session in a CR chamber to recover. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

====Keepers Trilogy novels====
Captured by the enigmatic aliens known as the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] and imprisoned inside their giant techno-organic bodies, Optimus Prime found himself forced into a suicide ploy, using a torrent of energon from the Matrix to destroy the creatures from within, willing to take himself with it. The gateway back to Earth was opened by Spike at the last moment, allowing Prime to hold off on his sacrifice, but unfortunately, the Keepers came through the portal as well. {{storylink|Hardwired}} During the battle that ensued against the Keepers in [[Las Vegas]], a pool of pure energon was uncovered beneath the city, which Prime combined with the energon of the Matrix to temporarily imbue himself with incredible power. Simultaneously, the American government launched a nuclear missile at Las Vegas in order to destroy both the Transformers and the Keepers, but the super-charged Prime was able to capture the missile's explosion in a net of Matrix energy, hurling it at the Keepers and blasting them through their portal. {{storylink|Annihilation}}

Following the Keepers' apparent defeat, Megatron called Prime in on a favour he had extracted from him in order to ensure his co-operation when they had been captives of the Keepers: Prime was to hand over the Matrix itself. Prime complied, partially out of honor, and partially due to the fact that he knew Megatron, as a Decepticon, would be unable to use the Matrix's power. Unfortunately, Prime had not reckoned with Megatron's giant soldier, [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]], who was actually a reprogrammed Autobot whose non-Decepticon circuitry could interface with the Matrix to some extent. Omega Sentinel used his new Matrix-powered strength to destroy the White House, but the talisman's effect on his systems was immediately apparent by the fact that no life was lost in the attack. When the Sentinel refused to kill the Keeper-controlled [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and Starscream on Megatron's orders, the Decepticon leader realized that the Matrix was influencing the giant and had him remove it from his body. The Matrix was recovered by the Keepers' agent [[Franklin Townsend]] and brought to the pocket-dimension into which the aliens had been transported, but Optimus Prime pursued Townsend and recovered the Matrix, once again intending to use it to destroy his alien enemies by collapsing the pocket dimension, at the cost of his own life. And once again the portal opened, leaving Prime content to force the Keepers back with the Matrix's light while he himself returned to Earth. However, Prime was unable to shut the portal off, required as he was to devote his attention to using the Matrix to keep the creatures from passing through the gateway. Salvation came in the form of the Omega Sentinel, the Matrix's effect on his systems persisting even after its removal: the giant threw himself and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] into the portal just as Prime shut off the Matrix, collapsing the gate and sealing the Keepers away forever. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[Image:ArtofWar1_matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]
Optimus Prime was formerly a simple data archivist until the Matrix chose him to be the new leader of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

Renegade military artificial intelligence [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] learned about the Matrix whilst downloading information on the history of Cybertron from Soundwave, and ''really'' liked the bit about "bestowing great power". {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} He subsequently captured Optimus Prime and tried to convince him to give up the Matrix peacefully. From Serpent O.R.'s point of view, he was a great and respected leader too, so surely the Matrix would deem him a worthy bearer. In addition, he was sure the ancient relic would provide him with a spark so he could finally understand what life and death really meant. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}}
[[Image:ArtofWar5 hawk serpentor matrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
Unfortunately, Prime disagreed, so Serpent O.R. ended up having to take the Matrix by force. As he had planned, the Matrix did deem him worthy and did give him a soul, all while transforming him into a new form to boot. However, with his newfound wisdom, "Serpentor Prime" quickly saw the error of his ways, and would've committed suicide if it weren't for [[Cobra Commander]] hijacking his body. In order to stop the commander, [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] tried to take the Matrix away from him, and was deemed worthy of it as well. This caused a power feedback that destroyed Serpent O.R., fried Cobra Commander's mind, and imbued Hawk with all the knowledge of the Matrix. While artifact was unharmed and was returned to Optimus Prime when everything was over, the knowledge that now filled Hawk's mind gave him visions of future conflicts to come. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

In addition to vision, the Matrix also gave Hawk the ability to control machinery with his mind, converse with Transformers telepathically, and force enough information into Transformers to incapacitate them with a single touch. Unfortunately, it also gave him recurring nightmares about an [[Unicron|angry god]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}
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===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[Image:DWTFJoe3 cobra commander matrix.jpg|left|thumb|125px]]
As the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth lay deactivated among the [[Fera Islands]], the Matrix was discovered by local [[human]]s, and became the sacred relic of a group of monks, who built it into the chest of a statue. Unfortunately, a rumour spread that the glowing blue orb possessed by the monks was an "ultimate weapon", and in 1938, [[Cobra]] massacred the monks and stole the Matrix. When [[Major Bludd]] touched the relic, the Decepticons who laid dormant on the island were reactivated. {{storylink|The Line}}

The Matrix subsequently came into the possession of [[Cobra Commander]], who learned that he could use it to hurt and weaken [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Using this method, he blackmailed the Decepticons into serving him. {{storylink|Trial by Fire (issue)|Trial by Fire}} In the end, Cobra Commander was killed, and [[Snake-Eyes]] grabbed the Matrix. By this time, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] were under attack by the unstoppable [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], so [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] urged Snake-Eyes to smash the Matrix, in hopes that the destruction of the life-giving artifact would take away Bruticus's lifeforce. Snake-Eyes complied and let Bruticus crush the Matrix with his wildly swinging fists, causing a flash of blue light that killed all Transformers present. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
{{spoilers|Chaos Theory Part 2|August 24}}
The Matrix is carried by each successive generation of Primes, stretching back to the days of the legendary [[Knights of Cybertron]], who claimed it could create life, and so called it the "Creation Matrix". {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} For reasons unknown, the cruel supremacist [[Nova Prime]] did not take the Matrix with him on the fateful space voyage that ultimately led him to the [[Dead Universe]]. There, Nova was found by the [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]], a mysterious dark energy that ruled the Dead Universe that served as a kind of "anti-Matrix", {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} an evil counterpart of the Matrix from this dark dimension that was driven to seek out Matrix-bearers. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

{{note|Author Simon Furman has strongly implied that in his original plans for this story, Nova ''did'' take the Matrix into the Dark Universe (Optimus Prime is never shown to carry it in Furman's stories) and that it "became" something while there—presumably, the Darkness itself, which would not have been a separate entity.<ref>[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/another-quick-qa/ December 2007 Q&A on Simon Furman's blog]</ref> These plans were cut short and wrapped up when Furman left the series, and subsequent writers established that Optimus had indeed been carrying the Matrix all along.}}
[[Image:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
The Matrix came to be held by [[Nominus Prime]], and although some Autobots like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] remained sceptical of its touted divinity, most embraced the religion surrounding it—Orion's co-worker [[Springarm]] even had an image of the Matrix "tattooed" on his helmet, and claimed that in moments of stress, he tried to calm himself by channelling the talisman's wisdom.

When rebel factions within the [[Senate]] arranged for an attack upon Nominus Primein order to orchestrate the security lockdown of the planet that became known as the "[[Clampdown]]", they also moved Nominus into hiding so that they would have unfettered access to the Matrix, hoping to unlock the life-giving secrets the Knights spoke of. Learning of the corruption within the Senate, Orion Pax was imprisoned for speaking out, but an anonymous Senator, aware of the misdeeds of his fellows, arranged for his release. Moved by Orion's speech and realizing that greatness lay in his future, secretly had a chamber built within Orion's chest to contain the Matrix. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} It was not long after the initiation of the Clampdown that tensions exploded in the outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]; {{storylink|Megatron Origin}} when reflecting back on this time, Kup would claim that the Matrix was responsible for the outbreak of the conflict. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} The Matrix passed from Nominus to Sentinel Prime, then to Zeta Prime. The precise circumstances under which Orion Pax received the Matrix and became Optimus Prime are unknown, but years later, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] would comment that to say Optimus was "given" the Matrix wouldn't be quite the right way to describe it. Prime admitted to experiencing great pain upon taking the Matrix into his body. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

After the Transformers' conflict moved to Earth in the present day, Megatron determined to separate Optimus Prime from the Matrix. He was unaware of what the Matrix was actually capable of, but viewed any unknown element as a potential threat, and rationed that even if he could not use it himself, it would still be safer in his hands than in those of his enemies. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon}} To this end, Megatron staged a trap for the Autobots with the aid of the traitorous [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], catching them off-guard with his newly-created gestalt Devastator. Defeated, the Autobots were dumped via space bridge in the ruins of Cybertron, but not before Megatron tore the Matrix from Prime's chest himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}
[[Image:IDW13 hotrod starscream matrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
When Megatron was defeated a year later and his forces were routed off of Earth, Starscream took up the role of leader and "inherited" the captive Matrix. Frustrated by his failure to find any "ultimate power" within it after several cycles of study, he decided to throw it away, only to be caught by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] just before blowing it out an airlock. Scrabbling for an explanation as to why he had the Matrix and reminded by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] of its massive symbolic importance to the Autobots, Starscream claimed he had been "chosen" by the talisman and now wielded its power. He went on to make this declaration before all the Decepticons, boosting morale and rallying them beneath him, but immediately regretted the decision. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}} And rightfully so: with the Matrix hung around his neck on a chain, its subtle influence on his mind over the next three years made the Decepticon air commander subdued and withdrawn, lost in contemplation of its mysteries, lashing out violently at any Decepticons who tried to touch it. This left him open to a brash attack by Hot Rod, who infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base in order to recover the Matrix. Hot Rod actually ''shot'' the Matrix to cause a discharge of energy that knocked Starscream out, then attempted to escape with the Matrix in hand, but was confronted by the newly-repaired Megatron. He proceeded to blast both the Matrix and Hot Rod through the base wall, setting them adrift in the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}} Starscream's possession of the "potentially threatening" Matrix had previously made Megatron hesitant to take back leadership of the Decepticons, but with the artifact lost in space, he had nothing to fear and quickly reclaimed his position. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon}}
[[Image:IDW19_matrix_in_chest.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
As they drifted through space together, the Matrix fused itself to Hot Rod's chest, keeping him alive and healing the damage Megatron had done. Eventually, Hot Rod crash-landed on the planet [[LV-118]], where he was taken captive by the [[Ilxian]] "[[Admiral]]", a stranded alien who sought to use the Matrix as a power source for his ship. With help from [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], another Autobot stranded on the planet, Hot Rod was able to seize control of the Admiral's ship, and allowed Wheelie to tap the energy of the Matrix to get them off the planet. {{storylink|Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination}} Knocked unconscious by the process, Hot Rod awoke some time later to find that Wheelie had been able to remove the Matrix from his chest, and had piloted the ship to Cybertron. Knowing that the planet was overrun by the [[Insecticon swarm]], Hot Rod tried to convince Wheelie that they needed to leave right away, but that proved impossible, as the Matrix had ceased providing power to the ship. Things on Cybertron turned out to be better than Hot Rod had thought, though, as they met up with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], who provided a fuel cell for their ship. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet}} The entire group returned to Earth, where Hot Rod made his first duty the return of the Matrix to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix}}

Departing for Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] with Megatron a captive, Prime removed the Matrix from his chest in order to prove to himself that even without its wisdom, he still had the ability to make rational judgements under his own power. Ratchet watched over the talisman while Prime deliberated on Megatron's fate, and was holding it while he examined the damaged [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whose ability to walk was suddenly restored by its power. Although Prime ultimately concluded that Megatron's fate should be left for Megatron himself to decide, he did expierence one disquieting revelation: Hot Rod revealed that when the Matrix had bonded with him, he had experienced not pain, as Optimus had felt, but unbridled elation. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun'' comic===
[[Image:Henkei11 matrix.jpg|thumb|left|IT BURNS!!]]

When the demented [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun comic|Galvatron]] went on a rampage in [[Hoshinochō]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun comic|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots were forced to abandoned the secrecy with which they had been operating on Earth in order to confront the villain and save the human lives he was threatening. Just as Galvatron targeted the Autobots' human ally [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]], Optimus Prime threw himself into the path of the villain's attack, and was knocked unconscious by the force of the attack. In addition to rendering Prime insensate, however, Galvatron's blow had also shattered his chest, exposing the Matrix of Leadership that was kept within. Responding to Wataru's ability to manipulate [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], the Matrix surged to life, restoring Prime and boosting his strength. The light of the Matrix also revealed an unexpected deception: the Autobots were not merely fighting Galvatron, but [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun comic|Cyclonus]], possessed by Galvatron's disembodied spark! {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} Summoning up the Matrix's energy, Prime struck Cyclonus with one almighty Matrix-powered punch, utterly obliterating his body and causing Galvatron's spark to dissipate. {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[Image:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|right|thumb]]
The Matrix is a glowing crystal that gives the Autobots knowledge. It was created by the first Transformer, Primus, who gave it to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}
<hr>
===''Robots in Disguise''===
====''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon====
[[Image:PowerToBurn_prime_matrix.jpg|left|225px|thumb]]
[[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] was chosen by Vector Sigma to be leader of the Autobots and to carry the Matrix. Less a physical object and more an energy that suffused his form, Prime could call on the power of the Matrix in moments of great emotion, at which point his body would glow with its green light. {{storylink|The Test (episode)|The Test}}
[[Image:TwoFaces magnus matrix.jpg|right|215px|thumb]]
Unfortunately for Prime, his brother [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] was furious at being passed over for the leadership role, and about halfway through Prime's campaign against [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] on Earth, Magnus arrived on the planet with the intent to take the Matrix for himself. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (episode)|Ultra Magnus}} When he attempted to absorb the energy of the Matrix from Prime's body, however, a bizarre fusion occurred instead, merging the two brothers into [[Omega Prime]] and revealing that the intention had always been for them to ''share'' the energy of the Matrix between them. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}} Magnus later inadvertently used this link to channel the energy of the Matrix into the [[Autobot Brothers]], supercharging them. {{storylink|The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus}}

In the final battle against Megatron—now Galvatron—at the Earth's core, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] channelled all his energy into Omega Prime to give his leader the power boost that he hoped would ensure triumph. The extra energy combined with that of the Matrix and it burst forth, coalescing into the colossal [[Matrix Blade]], which Omega Prime used to claim victory. {{storylink|The Final Battle (RID)|The Final Battle}}
{{note|In ''Car Robots'', the original Japanese version of ''Robots in Disguise'', Prime does ''not'' possess the Matrix of Leadership, instead carrying an [[Energon Matrix]].}}
{{--}}
====''Cybertron'' comic====
[[Image:OptimusPrimeRIDprimuschamber.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
Teleported into the midst of a battle in another universe, Prime and Magnus found themselves on Cybertron, where the evil [[Nemesis Prime (Universe 2003)|Nemesis Prime]] was attempting to use his [[Dead Matrix]] to destroy Primus. The brothers took him down, then separated so that Optimus could use his own Matrix to negate the evil energies released by the Dead Matrix. Opening the chamber in his Super Mode chest, he projected a beam of the Matrix's pure light into the Dead Matrix's swirling darkness, eliminating it. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}
{{note|This was the first fictional use of the detail sculpted into the ''Robots in Disguise'' Prime toy's Super Mode chest as the Matrix; the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon had opted to portray it as a power socket, and treated the Matrix as an energy, as noted above.}}
{{-}}
<hr>

===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
{{note|Plot points derived only from the original Japanese versions of the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, lost to the slipshod dubbing that plagued the series, are in italics.}}
====''Armada'' cartoon====
[[Image:Crisis_Hot_Shot_Matrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
When [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] threatened to destroy the Earth with the [[Hydra Cannon]], [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], not expecting to survive the battle ahead, tried to pass the Matrix on to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] before entering the conflict. Hot Shot refused, not feeling himself worthy, and Prime subsequently died throwing himself into the path of the Hydra Cannon blast meant for Earth. Prime's body was reduced to ashes, and the Matrix was all that remained, clung onto by his [[Mini-Con]] partner [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], floating helplessly until rescued. {{storylink|Crisis}}

[[Image:Miracle sparkplug and matrix.jpg‎|right|thumb|''in your eyes, the light, the heat 
''in your eyes, I am complete]]

Not long thereafter, as the Autobots and Decepticons battled in space on their way back to Cybertron, Sparkplug and [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]] presented the Matrix to the large armada of Mini-Cons who had joined the Autobots on their journey. Many Mini-Cons plunged themselves into the Matrix, using their powers to recreate Prime's body and restore him to life. {{storylink|Miracle}}

Some time later, in the midst of the Transformers' battle with Unicron, Optimus Prime was confronted by the evil demi-god with the suggestion that, on some level, he enjoyed the thrill of combat as much as Megatron did, ''and that the only difference between the two leaders was the Matrix in Prime's chest.'' {{storylink|Origin}} Following Unicron's defeat, when Megatron (now Galvatron) challenged Optimus to one final battle, these words led Prime to discard the Matrix, that he might battle Galvatron not as the leader of the Autobots, ''but as an individual, and the equal of his foe''.

[[Image:ArmadaMatrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A Unicorn designed this. (See the pretty rainbows?)]]

Prime flung the Matrix through Unicron's hide, out into space, where it later drifted by the two combatants as their fight moved to Unicron's surface. Soon, however, it became apparent that Prime and Galvatron's fight was sustaining and re-energizing Unicron, and Galvatron allowed himself to die into order to destroy the chaos-bringer. As the battered Prime hung in space afterwards, the Matrix floated past him. Prime turned to look at it, but, having revelled in his battle with Galvatron and in a way proven Unicron correct, shifted his glance away, pronouncing himself unworthy to carry it.

Prime did not return to his fellow Autobots immediately, as Cybertron was now at peace. Instead, he apparently embarked on some sort of soul-searching space voyage, seeking to find worthiness once again. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
[[Image:MysteriousMercenary matrix generates blaster.jpg‎|right|thumb]]
Prime returned to reclaim the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots at some point over the next ten years. ''Despite the talisman being back in his hands once more, its power was employed but once during the war for [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] of 2020, when Prime was badly injured by [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] during a battle on Earth's moon and fell unconscious. When Prime was infused with a massive jolt of Energon in an attempt by the [[Omnicon]] [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] to revive him, the interaction of the element with the Matrix brought forth the [[Energon Blaster]], which coalesced out of a sphere of light that burst out of Prime's chest. Prime considered the weapon a gift from the previous commanders within the Matrix and fended off the Decepticons with it, then proceeded to never use or even mention it again.'' {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}
{{-}}
====''Cybertron'' cartoon====

[[Image:Cybertron matrix of leadership.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Good grief, Prime! There are KIDS present!]]

A further ten years later, during the quest to stop the [[Unicron Singularity]] in 2030, Optimus Prime used the Matrix of Leadership in concert with [[Vector Prime]]'s [[Rhisling|sword]] to open dimension gates to the various colony worlds that held the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. It was only through the stabilizing powers of both objects that safe transit through the gates was made possible. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}} The Matrix influenced Optimus Prime's [[Cyber Key]], giving it a unique shape that mimicked the Matrix's own as opposed to the standard design shared by the other Autobots. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}}

[[Image:Unfinished matrix glow prime.jpg‎|right|thumb|225px]]

After the Autobots had obtained the Cyber Planet Keys from [[Velocitron]], [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]] and Earth and placed them in the [[Omega Lock]] on Cybertron, Optimus Prime substituted the energy of the Matrix for the still-missing fourth key. This proved enough to initiate Cybertron's transformation into the body of Primus, but without the key from [[Gigantion]], the god's power remained at an ebb, unable to close the black hole. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Before departing for Gigantion to obtain the final key, the Autobots were able to develop a method that allowed Primus to use the energy of the three keys and the Matrix to at least halt the singularity's growth, giving them the time the needed to complete their mission. {{storylink|Titans}} In order for the Autobots to safely traverse the tunnel in space-time that led to Gigantion, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] created a "vaccine" program based on the stabilizing properties of the Matrix and Vector Prime's sword. {{storylink|Family}}

The Matrix would often glow with energy when Prime poised himself to unleash powerful combat moves; during his final battle with Galvatron, the golden glow of the Matrix surrounded Prime's entire body. {{storylink|Unfinished}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
Vector Prime claimed to have held the Matrix in Cybertron's past, during its [[Golden Age|golden age]]. He led for many years until he received a higher calling to become the protector of space and time. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}

===''Galaxy Force'' comic===
[[Image:GFmanga_matrix.jpg|left|thumb|RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAH!]]
With the Earth besieged by the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s under the command of [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and the treacherous air commander himself transformed into a skyscraper-sized giant by the power of Primus, things were looking grim for the Autobots. Taking a direct hit from the giant Starscream, Optimus Prime's chest was smashed open, exposing the Matrix within. Reviving after only a few moments of unconsciousness to find that [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] had arrived on the planet with news that Primus had reawakened, Prime doubted how important he was to the battle if their god was now restored. Wing Saber pointed to his open chest, telling him that the Matrix within him signified him as the true leader of the Autobots, and Prime, his resolve restored, plucked the talisman from within himself and called upon its power to initiate his and Wing Saber's combination into Sonic Wing Mode for the first time. {{storylink|Galaxy Force Mission.9}}
{{-}}
<hr>

===Live-action ''Transformers'' film series===
[[Image:Tf2009 mol.jpg|thumb|250px|Now...how do you open this thing, dammit?]]
Created by the [[Dynasty of Primes]], the '''Matrix of Leadership''' is required to operate the [[Star Harvester]]. It can only be properly utilized by one who shares the lineage of the Primes.

====Sector Seven ARG====
The Matrix was mentioned in passing.{{fact}} {{storylink|Sector Seven (game)|Sector Seven}}

====Titan Magazines====
According to [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] carries the Matrix of Leadership. Not quite yet, he doesn't, Screamer! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 8|Star Screams #2}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' film====
[[Image:ROTF Matrix crumbles.jpg|thumb|left|250px|And Unicron breathed a sigh of relief.]]
The [[Dynasty of Primes#Revenge of the Fallen movie|Seven Primes]] had agreed never to use a [[Star Harvester]] on a [[Sun]] that fed intelligent life. But in 17,000 BC, [[the Fallen]] chose to activate it on [[Earth]], for he hated [[human]]s, so the other Primes fought him and stole the Matrix. They sealed it away in a [[Tomb of the Primes|tomb]] made of their own bodies in a secret location. In 2009 AD, following the death of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the last Prime, the Fallen had returned to Earth and was seeking the Matrix to finish what he'd started.

[[Image:TheFallen-ROTFMatrix.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hot Rod's gonna have trouble gettin' his fingers in this one.]]
[[Sam Witwicky]], having deciphered the only clue to the tomb's location, found the Matrix in [[Petra]], but it crumbled to dust. He stuffed its remains into a sock and took it to the [[Pyramid]]s of [[Egypt]], where he still hoped it could resurrect Optimus, who was being protected by the human-Autobot alliance [[NEST]]. The Fallen's pupil, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], shot and killed Sam, but the [[spark]]s of the Primes came and revived him. They also revealed the Matrix could not be found but only earned, and they restored its shape. Sam then used the Matrix to resurrect Optimus by shoving its sharp end into his chest. Almost immediately afterward, the Fallen teleported in and stole the Matrix, then used it to activate the harvester. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{Note|The [[Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|novelization]] reveals the Matrix was created by the AllSpark to help the Primes in their search for energon. After Sam Witwicky conversed with the Dynasty of Primes in the afterlife, the intent was that the power and knowledge of the AllSpark moved from his mind into the remains of the Matrix, reconstituting it; ''this'', then, was why it was able to bring Prime back to life. In turn, this essentially transforms this universe's version of the Matrix (initially entirely distinct from the other depictions of the object seen in this article) into the same life-giving, knowledge-holding object from other Transformers fiction. Additionally, Prime was to recover the Matrix from the sun harvester and carry it within himself in traditional Matrix fashion. While none of these events were seen to play out explicitly on-screen, the Matrix's continued presence in ''Dark of the Moon'', within Prime's body, and the reverence it receives suggests that these events still "happened" within the continuity of the films, even if they didn't explicitly talk about them.}}

====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
[[Image:DOTM-SentinelOptimusMatrix.jpg|left|300px|thumb]]
After the dormant body of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] was retrieved from the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], the Autobots' former leader was brought to [[NEST]] headquarters on Earth. Optimus Prime removed the Matrix of Leadership from his chest (which he was able to manipulate as it hovered through the air) and inserted it into Sentinel Prime's chest, similarly to how Sam Witwicky used it to resurrect Optimus three years prior.

Optimus later offered it to Sentinel, as he felt that Sentinel was the rightful leader of the Autobots. Sentinel refused it, citing that he was the wiser on their own homeworld, but on this strange new planet, Optimus was the more experienced. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
{{-}}

----

===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Image:Tfanimated_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
Following [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]]'s successful reconstruction of a substantial portion of the shattered [[AllSpark#Animated|AllSpark]], [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] used the [[Magnus Hammer]] to forge a new containment vessel for the crystal sphere. He termed the resultant holder the "[[AllSpark Matrix]]", and wore it on a chain around his neck upon the Autobots' return to Cybertron. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Alamanc II}}
{{-}}
<hr>

===''Exodus'' novel===
[[Image:TransformersVault-Prima.jpg|left|thumb|Prime lucked out. Feel bad for the guy who has to carry that blade around in his chest.]]
Originally the jewel in the hilt of Prima's [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] sword in the distant past of Cybertron, the Matrix had been missing for billions of cycles by the time data clerk [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]] met the charismatic gladiator named [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. Unbeknownst to Orion, Megatron plotted revolution, and, desiring the Matrix's power to fuel his ambition, had [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] send [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]] to search for the Matrix in [[Crystal City]] to no avail.

[[Image:PrimeMatrixboxart.jpg|thumb|"By the Power Of... have we done this joke yet?"]]
Later, when the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] appointed Orion as Cybertron's leader, Optimus Prime, they ordered him to find the Matrix, and Megatron's true motives stood revealed as he also declared it would be his. War erupted across Cybertron and raged for millions of years, until, during the conflict's dying days, Optimus purged Cybertron's [[core]] of a [[Dark Energon]] infection that Megatron had wrought upon it. Speaking directly into Prime's mind, the core explained that Prime's predecessor, [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] had been unworthy of the Matrix, but as long as he had survived in [[Kaon]]'s prisons, Optimus was technically not [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] and could not receive it. With Sentinel's death and the core's purification, however, the time had at last come: the Matrix emerged from the core, and Optimus accepted it into his body. Subsequently, the Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', but Optimus knew that the Matrix would guide them home one day, where it would act in concert with the core to fully restore their ravaged homeworld. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[Image:TFPS2_matrix.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
The quest for the [[Zel Quartz]], a powerful crystal upon which the fate of the future hinged, led groups of Autobots and Decepticons from both the present day and time-travellers from the near-future to converge on the planet Zel Samine, culminating in a two-way showdown between Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime and Megatron and Galvatron in the complex housing the planetary power generator [[ELTA]]. When the battle threatened to cause the computer to overload, it appeared that all four Transformers were doomed, until the twin Primes opened both their Matrices, using their power to bring the computer under control and win the day. {{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Battle Universe''===
[[Image:Netjetmatrix.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The Matrix would appear following the successful defeat of an opponent. Picking it up would initiate the next round of combat, accompanied by a burst of music from ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
[[Image:WFC Matrix of Leadership.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
Though [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots helped purge the [[Core|Core of Cybertron]] of the [[Dark Energon]] infection, its spark had been corrupted and had to shut itself down completely if it was to survive. For the millions of years that this process would take, Cybertron would be left cold and barren, meaning the Transformers would be forced to take to the stars. However, the Core bestowed a portion of its spark within the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus Prime, leader of the free Autobots. For as long as the Matrix survived, Cybertron's spark would remain. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
{{main|Matrix of Leadership/toys}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G1toon matrix strings.jpg|right|thumb|Strings connect the Matrix's core to its holder in the Generation 1 cartoon.]]
*Bob Budiansky's original pitch for the Transformers comic book included an event known as the "[[Ceremony of the Unending Circuit]]", held by the Autobots every ten millennia to commemorate the passing of the Creation Matrix from one Autobot leader to the next, according to Autobot Law. Although the "ten millennia" bit made it into the comic, the ceremony itself was never realized.
*When asked about the visual design of the Matrix in an interview, [[Floro Dery]]'s reply was, "The inspiration for the Matrix of Leadership is a thermonuclear bomb."<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref> "Light our darkest hour", indeed.
*Blink and you'll miss it—the crystal core of the original Generation 1 cartoon incarnation of the Matrix is connected to the two halves of its holder by a string! This oddity of design is visible during the two instances the Matrix is opened in the cartoon, in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2".
* The body-mod shop "[[Swindle, Swindle & Swindle]]" has empty Generation 1 Matrix containers for sale, as seen in an illustration from the prose story "[[I, Lowtech]]".
*The Matrix of Leadership [[:Image:The Arrival 4 Lockdown's cabinet.jpg|makes a cameo]] as one of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]]'s possessions in "[[The Arrival issue 4|A Few Loose Strands]]".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Matrix''' (マトリクス ''Matorikusu''), '''Matrix no Leader''' (''Revenge'', リーダーのマトリクス, "Matrix of Leader")
*''English:'' '''Power Pack''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''German:'' '''Hauptprogramm''' ("Core Program", used once in fiction), '''Matrix der Führerschaft''' ("Matrix of Leadership")
*''Polish:'' '''Matryca Przywództwa''', '''Matryca Przywódcy''' (''War for Cybertron'' PC)
*''Portuguese:'' '''Matriz da Liderança'''
{{--}}

==Footnotes==
[[Image:DiamondStickerbookMatrixOfLight.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Not shown: Anything in the caption.]]
<references />

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Classics]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Generation 1 objects]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei!]]
[[Category:Interjections]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Matrices]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010)]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]

Autobot Mini-Cassette

2011-08-13T08:22:05Z

96.13.49.23:

{{factions|autobot}}
:''The Autobot cassettes are a sub-group of [[Autobot]]s from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:Spotlight-blaster-cover-color.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You might see Eject and Rewind,but don't plan on seeing the yellow guy or those guys on the building again.]]
The '''Autobot Mini-Cassettes''' are [[Autobot]]s who, on [[Earth]], transform into analog audio cassettes. They can fit into [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s chest compartment, though their apparent relationship to Blaster varies depending on continuity.

{{quote|The Autobots have no choice but to strike back at these Decepticon techniques of stealth, building a force of cassette Transformers of their own, with Blaster as their guardian.|[[Teletraan II]]|"[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]"}}

==Known Autobot Mini-Cassettes==
===Generation 1===
*[[Eject]]
*[[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]]
*[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]] combine to form [[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]
*[[Playback]] (A comic-only character) {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*[[Rewind]]
*[[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]]
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
*[[Sundor]]
*The [[W Cassettebot]]s
**[[Dial]] and [[Saur]] combine to form [[Legout]]
**[[Graphy]] and [[Noise]] combine to form [[Decibel]]

*''Possibly'' [[Nightstalker]] (A prose-only character) {{storylink|State Games}}
*''Possibly'' [[Blackcat (G1)|Blackcat]] (A character based on [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]) {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 18}}

===Shattered Glass===
*[[Steeljaw (SG)|Steeljaw]]

==Fiction==
{{charstubfiction}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
During the attack on [[Autobot City]], Blaster attempted to radio Prime for reinforcements on [[Moonbase One]]. [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] detected the transmission and sent his Cassettes to prevent the broadcast. Once [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and the others breached the communications tower, Blaster ejected Ramhorn, Steeljaw, Rewind and Eject to match the Decepticon punks mano-y-mano. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

After [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] detected chronal energy emanating from an asteroid near Cybertron, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] sent a squad of Autobots with him to investigate, including Blaster with Ramhorn and Rewind. They encountered a [[Quintesson]] expedition and a school of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s, which Ramhorn relished in ramming repeatedly. During the fight, however, the Autobots accidentally passed through the Quintessons' [[Time Window]], arriving 11 milion years in the past. They met [[Beta (G1)|Beta]], and took up arms in the original Cybertronian revolution against the Quintessons. They held the line against the [[Dark Guardian]]s long enough for the Autobots of 2006 to return the revolution's leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]] from the future. As A3 turned the [[Coda Remote]] on the Guardians, the Autobots returned to the present through the time window. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

{{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}
{{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

During a Decepticon outbreak in Europe, Ramhorn and Steeljaw fought alongside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and the other Autobots against [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s forces. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} Ramhorn and Steeljaw were among the Primitives called to stop [[Primacron]]'s latest experiment. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
====Scramble City====
{{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}
{{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}
{{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}}
{{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}}
{{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}
{{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}}
{{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}{{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}}
{{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
Playback was a prisoner of the Decepticons on Cybertron. Along with [[Hosehead]] and [[Horsepower (G1)|Horsepower]], he was released into the wild on Earth to be hunted down by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] as part of his initiation as a new Decepticon leader. He was the first of the trio Thunderwing tracked down and executed, leaving his corpse to rust on a shallow beach. {{storylink|The Big Shutdown!}}

====Marvel UK future timelines====
By 2008, Eject was stationed at Autobase on Cybertron, working communications for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]].

Meanwhile on Earth, the [[Quintesson]]s invaded [[Autobot City]], devastating most of the base's population. Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn were stationed there, but got trapped inside Blaster's chest when he was blasted off-line and hung on the ramparts. A quick-thinking [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] realized where they'd be and managed to free them. The Mini-Cassettes joined Hot Rod and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] in retaking Autobot City from the Quints. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

====Generation 2====
Steeljaw was part of a squad of Autobots dispatched to Earth when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] learned [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was still alive and active. He was killed in battle by Megatron's hyper-velocity rail gun, a deadly weapon created by [[Cobra]]. {{storylink|Final Transformations}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
During the [[Age of Internment]], Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were allied with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and the remaining free Autobots against Megatron. Their twin goals were to bring down the legions of the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], and somehow locate the long-missing Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Millions of years later, the Mini-Cassettes joined Blaster as part of ''another'' rebellion, this time against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the corrupt Unified Cybertronian government. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}}

===G.I. Joe vs the Transformers===
{{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2|Black Horizon Part 1}}
{{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2|Black Horizon Part 2}}

===''Shattered Glass''===
{{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 27|Steeljaw's ''Shattered Glass'' profile}}

Steeljaw was so vigorously dedicated to his napping that he couldn't spare the energy to swat away the annoying Decepticon, [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons|Recordicons #1}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
====Eject/Rewind mold====
*[[Eject]] (1986)
*[[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]] (2006)
*[[Rewind]] (1986)
*[[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]] (2006)

====Combiners====
*[[Dial]]/[[Saur]] (1987)
*[[Graphy]]/[[Noise]] (1987)
*[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]]/[[Raindance]] (1988)

====Others====
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (1986)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (1986)
*[[Sundor]] (2006)

==Notes==
* For the original draft of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', it was intended that the Autobot Mini-Cassettes would be "[[Steeljaw (G1)|CUBBIE]], a lion, [[Stripes|STRIPES]], a tiger, [[Stinger (G1)|STINGER]], a scorpion and [[Eject|BO]][[Rewind|LTS]], a small, tough robot."<ref>[http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/heritaage-auctions-transformers-movie.html TFTM script draft at Disciples of Boltax]</ref> This plan was maintained for a few revisions,<ref>[http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/transformers.html Early script for ''The Transformers: The Movie'' at dailyscript.com]</ref> until eventually Stinger and Stripes were scrapped, Cubbie was renamed to Steeljaw, Bolts was split into Eject and Rewind, and the rhinoceros Ramhorn was added to the mix.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cassettbot''' (カセットボット ''Kasettobotto'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Mini-Cassettes| Autobot]]
[[Category:The Headmasters subgroups]]

Rampage (BW)

2011-08-13T08:03:59Z

96.13.49.23:

{{factions|predacon|maximal}}

{{disambig3|Rampage}}
:''Rampage is a [[Transmetal]] [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Triple Changer]] from the [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:BWRampage Badspark.jpg|right|400px|thumb|You owe me your spark, Depthcharge,and it's time to pay up. ]]
'''Rampage''' (also known as '''Protoform X''') is the awful result of scientific experimentation gone awry. He is a serial killer and cannibal, with an immortal [[spark]] that ensures his twisted brand of horror and misery will live on as long as he does (forever, presumably). Rampage detects and draws strength from the emotions of others, literally feeding on the pain and suffering he causes. As an unwilling conscript of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], he is contemptuous (at best) of the rest of his team, typically bored and uncooperative on missions, and he frequently sneaks off for his own purposes to try to relieve his boredom in the most cruel and horrible ways possible.

{{bigquote|Is that fear you are feeling, Maximal? Yes... my spark, it feeds on terror. Let it grow! Let it consume your circuitry! Feel it, yes, feel it! Feel the fear!|Rampage|"[[Bad Spark]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Toy Bio===
If Rampage's titanic size and psychopathic tendencies weren't horrifying enough, he is also capable of generating tidal waves, inducing earthquakes, triggering landslides and unleashing deadly electrical discharges. With this immense arsenal available to him, he prefers to use his gatling cannon as a way to finish off his opponents. {{storylink|Rampage (BW)#Toys|Rampage toy bio}}

===Cartoon Continuity===
====Dawn of Future's Past====
[[Image:Protoformxcargo.jpg|left|200px|thumb|The Maximals should consider making their scandalous super-secret projects a little smaller.]]
While preparing for a deep-space exploration mission, the Maximal crew of the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' stopped for a few weeks at a space station. Here, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] helped acquire a mysterious complement to their cargo, a very large [[protoform]] branded with an X. The ''Axalon'' was ordered to dispose of "Protoform X" on a barren moon somewhere in the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. However, before its captain, [[Optimus Primal]], was able to explain the circumstances fully to his crew, they were suddenly under even newer orders to pursue a stolen [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] ship, the ''[[Darksyde]]''. Subsequently, the ''Axalon'' followed the ''Darksyde'' through a [[transwarp]] portal and crash-landed on a mysterious planet. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past|Dawn of Future's Past}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Campbell Lane]] (English), [[Nobuyuki Hiyama]] (Japanese), [[Gilberto Baroli]] (Portuguese), [[Alfonso Mellado]] (Latin American Spanish)

[[Image:BWRampage Badspark thepast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This is a great way to work out.]]
Protoform X was a [[Maximal]] experiment to recreate [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s mutant, immortal [[spark]]. Though arguably successful in this regard, the creation was unstable. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} In point of fact, he was criminally insane. He destroyed [[Colony Omicron]], killing all of its inhabitants save a lone security officer, [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], who eventually tracked him down and captured him - but not before Protoform X destroyed [[Starbase Rugby]] and ''devoured'' an unknown number of the inhabitants. {{storylink|Deep Metal}} The [[Maximal Elder|Maximal Elders]] had Protoform X placed into a [[stasis pod]] aboard an exploration vessel, the ''Axalon''. They instructed its commander, Optimus Primal, to dump him on some barren world in deep space.

Protoform X was among the stasis pods jettisoned by Optimus when the ''Axalon'' was damaged by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron's]] Predacons, and only fell out of orbit far into the Beast Wars. Battle near his stasis pod shocked him into activation, and he promptly set out to terrorize all nearby Transformers, rending [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] limb from limb and stalking [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. (All right, whose bright idea was it to allow the homicidal maniac to keep his weapons!?) X seemed unstoppable at first, but when one of Silverbolt's missiles jammed his tank treads as he climbed up a mountainside, he lost his grip and tumbled down the rock face in pieces.

[[Image:CodeofHero Rampage tankmode.jpg|thumb|left|260px|Attack my weak point for massive damage.]]
As Protoform X lay immobilized, Megatron arrived and, using a blade of pure [[Energon (fuel)|energon]], removed a portion of his indestructible spark. Megatron then had him brought back to the Predacon base and repaired. When X attempted to turn his weapons on his "savior", Megatron revealed that he held half of X's spark in a special cage lined with energon crystals, allowing him to torture the beast at will. Megatron thus welcomed him into the Predacon fold, dubbing him "Rampage". {{storylink|Bad Spark}}

Rampage made no secret of his hatred for his new "master", anticipating the arrival of Maximal reinforcements from Cybertron, and the demise Megatron would surely receive as a result. Megatron had other plans in motion, using Rampage's weaponry to destroy a mountain, proving that the future recorded on the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] was mutable. Rampage's services were further pressed into use when the Predacons assaulted a valley full of [[protohuman]]s, however his contribution came to an end when [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] forcibly inserted [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] into his main gun with predictable results. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}

{{quote|None shall hurt you now. Come with me, come. I will protect you... I am your friend. Your only friend.|Rampage convinces Transmutate to follow him, "[[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]"}}

[[Image:BWTransmutate Rampage mourning.jpg|right|280px|thumb|"Alas, poor Transmutate..."]]

Though a violent sociopath, Rampage was not without compassion. After an attempt by him to regain his spark fragment failed, Rampage encountered a twisted protoform which he dubbed [[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]]. He quickly befriended it and attempted to have it inducted into the Predacons. Though Megatron ordered the creature destroyed, Rampage persevered with trying to make it a useful addition to the Predacon forces. He became possessive enough to viciously fight with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] over it. When Transmutate was killed by this fight, Rampage bellowed in grief. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

Rampage was a major component of the assault on the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' when it appeared as though the Maximals were going to receive reinforcements from Cybertron. The Predacons were driven off by an invisible force — the cloaked [[Transwarp cruiser]] flown by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]. The cruiser would later be a part of a strike on the Predacon base, during which Rampage unleashed a barrage of missiles on it. Ravage judged the attack "impressive", and responded by using the ship's weapons to blow Rampage to pieces. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Rampage, of course, survived to lead yet another attack on the ''Axalon''. [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] rode triumphantly into battle on back of Rampage's tank mode... until an auto-gun knocked him off, and Rampage uncaringly drove straight over him. The battle ended when [[Rattrap]] took out the Transwarp cruiser — Rampage managed to outrun the crashing ship and laughed in triumph... only for the still-armed missile on top of the ship to launch in his face. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

At Megatron's call to arms, a badly-charred Rampage managed to pull himself together and began trying to pull the ''Axalon'' from its perch, with the aid of a large number of [[arachnoid]]s. He finally met his match in battle when the newly-reformatted Optimus Primal attacked him. The huge Maximal leader simply shoved him aside, but Rampage had the last laugh as his deflected missile sent the Maximal base plunging into the lake. Cackling, Rampage disappeared into the lake after it. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

[[Image:Changing Guard Rampage Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Oh, BABY!]]
Later, Depth Charge arrived on prehistoric Earth with the single-minded goal of destroying Rampage. Rampage was beside himself with joy, eager for revenge on his old "playmate". Depth Charge's loss at Colony Omicron had embittered him, and Rampage used this emotional wound to torment the Maximal. In the end, Depth Charge got the upper hand, and may well have ended the feud then and there, but for the intervention of Quickstrike, which allowed Rampage to sneak away and destroy Depth Charge's ship. {{storylink|Deep Metal|Deep Metal}} Rampage soon met his old enemy again when Rattrap descended to the bottom of the lake to retrieve the [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] module from the wreckage of the ''Axalon''. Depth Charge had the upper hand in the battle, but Rampage escaped death when [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] argued with Depth Charge over his commitment to the Maximals. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

When Megatron created [[Dinobot II]], he used Rampage's spark fragment to form the core of the new Predacon, who likewise retained the ability torture Rampage into continued loyalty with it. Naturally, Rampage was filled with fury and disgust at sharing his spark with a '[[Relatives|half brother]]'. Dinobot was able to use the spark fragment to keep Rampage in line, and the two "brothers" took part in the interrogation of Depth Charge after the [[Transmetal driver]] went missing. When they were attacked by a [[Cheetor (BW)|strange feral beast]], Rampage and Dinobot inadvertently blasted each other. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}}

[[Image:BWNemesisPt1 DepthCharge Rampage.jpg|right|250px|thumb|THERE CAN BE ONLY...NONE!]]
Rampage would go on to have a second clash with Silverbolt, targeting him when he was filled with grief and rage over Blackarachnia's death; he'd have killed him easily if Blackarachnia hadn't suddenly become alive again and beaten him up. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}} He almost got his revenge when Megatron deliberately gave Blackarachnia to him, and was clearly having fun torturing her before she was able to overpower him. {{storylink|Master Blaster}} Following [[Tigerhawk]]'s destruction of the Predacon base, Rampage and Dinobot were blown away by one strike from the [[Vok]] emissary. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

While Megatron was retrieving the submerged [[Decepticon]] craft ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', Depth Charge met Rampage in battle one last time on the ocean floor. At the battle's climax, Rampage allowed Depth Charge to kill him with a shard of raw Energon, resulting in a fantastic explosion which destroyed both. Rampage won even in death, laughing maniacally in triumph as Depth Charge made the final, stabbing blow. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}
{{--}}

====''Tales from the Beast Wars''====
{{Note|This fiction takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]."}}
A temporal distortion drew the attention of both the Maximals and Predacons to a remote canyon, where Rampage and his fellow Predacons met their foes. The Maximals were losing, having been fought into a corner, when suddenly the battle was interrupted. The [[Dark Essence]], the source of the temporal distortion, had possessed the newcomer [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] with the life force of [[Unicron]]. Rampage and the others were immobilized by Windrazor/Unicron's psionic force blasts, and the merged creature advanced on the Maximals. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox}}

These events would soon be retroactively erased from Rampage's timeline with the efforts of the legendary [[Covenant]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
He's a Frankenstein's monster-like thing.
He ate Primal's head. It's okay, Primal had a spare.
One more thing. The head Rampage ate had a bomb in its mouth. Idiot.

==Games==
===''Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals'' video game===
{{Note|Rampage is only a playable character in the Playstation version of this game.}}
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
Rampage participates in a extensive one-on-one beatdown involving nearly every active participant of the Beast Wars. {{storylink|Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[Image:BW Rampage toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A [[Seafood Louis]] eater's worst nightmare.]]
*'''Rampage''' (Ultra Transmetal, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-41'''
**''Accessories:'' Spring-loaded triple barrel missile launcher, 3 missiles and 1 rifle

:Rampage transforms into a Transmetal king crab with a tank mode that includes rubber treads. In beast mode, he features fully articulated crab legs and pincers that can open, close and be posed in a variety of angles through the use of ratcheting joints. His triple-barreled Gatling missile launcher is stored on the underside of the beast mode, with its barrels flipping to the front during vehicle mode. In this tank mode, the crab legs fit together to form a road wheel network for Rampage's rubber treads to fit over so he can roll upon them. Rolling the tank activates the wheel in the missile launcher, firing any or all of the three missiles that can store in it.

:In robot mode, Rampage is an imposingly large figure with a decent level of articulation due to his ball joints, but because he wears most of his beast mode as a sort of backpack, he is quite back-heavy. His (very) small laser rifle and his triple-barreled launcher can be held in both of his hands. There were two releases of the toy, one with face colors accurate with the show and another with an orange colored face (seen to the right).

:The location of four of the crab legs in the show is not accurate to the toy; the show has the legs on the shoulder pads, whereas the toy situates the legs on Rampage's arms (which mean they are rather cumbersome).

[[Image:Rampage-backofthebox.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Despite the terror claws, not a gangsta.]]
:Back-of-the-box art for Rampage gives technical designations to some of his robot mode parts; they include "terror claws", armor plating, and the ever-dreaded [[Galva-conductor|galva-conductors]].

:The Japanese version features noticeably different colors, including a more extensive use of silver deco on the robot chest and head, a deeper and more intense red "X" on the crab carapace, and most impressively, the robot head and limbs are now made from translucent blood-red plastic instead of opaque orange.

: This toy was later [[Redeco|redecoed]] into the [[BotCon 2000]]-[[exclusive]] [[Shokaract]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Rampage/rampage.htm More information on Rampage at TFU.info]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
* According to the series background materials published in the ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]'' guidebook, Rampage's body was supposed to have been constructed out of leftover G1-era [[Reproduction|technology]] seen in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] due to the lack of know-how for protoform technology. How this jibes with his status as "Protoform X" is anyone's guess.
* In some episodes, Rampage's robot-mode mouth is animated as an actual hole in his face; in others the external mouthplates are shown to be in front of a greenish solid construct that looks like an extension of his eyes.
* Some fans are split on how to interpret Rampage's death; he is clearly shown to let go of the energon shard that killed him prior to being stabbed with it, to which Depth Charge reacted in surprise. Because of this, some fans feel this means Rampage, knowing he couldn't win the struggle, allowed himself to be impaled in order to end his torturous existence (and laughing in the giddy euphoria of oblivion), while others believe he deliberately let go to test whether or not Depth Charge would go through with his threat of ending his life, his laughter instead being taken as solace in the knowledge that Depth Charge's obsession with him had successfully corrupted him into the same kind of monster he wanted to kill. Or, Rampage could just be '''batshit insane'''.
* No explanation is ever given for why energon suddenly kills Rampage, even though Megatron's been poking his spark with it ever since he appeared. Although the fact the energon was unstable may have had something to do with it.
* Also, the difference between the splitting (and subsequent torturing) of Rampage's spark, and Depth Charge's fateful blow may be seen to be the same as the difference between surgery and hacking at someone with a sword.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Rampage''' (ランページ ''Ranpēji'')
*''French:'' '''Furibo''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Granchior'''
*''Mandarin:'' Kuáng Hsìeh (Taiwan, 狂蟹, "Mad Crab") / Ace (Taiwan, 艾斯 ''Aì Ssū'', for Protoform X)
*''Polish'': '''Pieniacz''' ("Litigant")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Violência''' (Brazi, "Violence")
*''Spanish:'' '''Rampante''' ("Rampant")

[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]

Megatron (BW)

2011-08-13T08:01:27Z

96.13.49.23:

{{factions|predacon|vehicon|decepticon}}

{{disambig3|Megatron}}{{suite}}
:''Megatron is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]], a [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]], and a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He's also briefly known as [[Noble|Savage and Noble]] and, um, "[[Bee in the City|Joe]]". He's a busy villain, yesss.''

[[Image:MegatronBWsourcebook.jpg|right|300px|thumb|That's the problem with heroes, really. Their only purpose in life is to thwart others. They make no plans, develop no strategies. They react instead of act. Without villains, heroes would stagnate. Without heroes, villains would be running the world. Heroes have morals. Villains have work ethic.]]
'''Megatron''' began with one goal: restoring glory and power to the Predacon race, with himself at the helm. What distinguishes Megatron from the countless others who share this goal is his chutzpah. This is a guy who [[Megatron (myth)|named himself after his faith's equivalent ''of the Antichrist'']]. He is willing to risk ''everything''—time, space, himself—if need be. He's willing to commit omnicide if it will further his goals. And there were times he would have won were it not for [[Optimus Primal]].

Megatron is skillful at orchestrating vast schemes by manipulating others into doing them for him—an idle suggestion here, a conspicuously-planted object of interest there. He knows his enemies, and these include [[Tarantulas (BW)|some]] [[Blackarachnia (BW)|minions]], inside and out and exactly how to provoke them. He has no friends, only pawns, or occasionally, [[Inferno (BW)|pawns that are too reliable to risk losing]]. Because of this attitude, this superiority complex, he despises working with the very troops he needs to carry out his plans. His hubris does not make him very popular, and so he must rely on power and fear to rule them. In fact, he prefers [[Vehicon (BM)|mindless drones]].

Megatron is a gambler and can sometimes be a ham. (His manner of saying "Yesss..." is practically vaudevillian.) He has a twisted sense of humor and an over-developed sense of drama which rule everything he conceives, both long and short term. When he destroys you, he wants you to know that it was he who did this, and just how badly you were had. This is his greatest weakness. Like a Bond villain, he'll gladly boast to the hero at length about how smart and clever he was, giving his victim time to formulate a counterattack (he admits the Predacons sometimes gloat too much). He often sabotages himself by neglecting the quick and easy solutions for the bigger, meaner, and more complex.

Prior to the signing of the [[Pax Cybertronia]], Megatron was a field commander in the Predacon army, where he learned much about strategy and tactics. Upon ratification of peace with the [[Maximal Imperium]] most Predacons laid down their arms. Megatron refused and went rogue.

{{quote|The universe cowered once at the name of Megatron and it shall do so again!|Megatron|"[[Optimal Situation]]"}}

==Fiction==
{{note|There are many ''Beast Wars'' continuities, but most use the ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'' cartoons as a basis.}}

===Toy bios===
[[Image:PrimavsMegs_toycomic.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Look out Batman, it's Killer Croc!]]

Megatron believes that the Predacon way of life is to prosper or perish, and that the Maximals must be wiped out if the Predacons are to prosper. As for Optimus Primal, he plans to ''eat'' him! {{storylink|Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Megatron bio (basic alligator mold)}}
The Maximal's "[[bio-genetic morphing process]]" allowed them to fuse organic musculature and Transformers technology... so Megatron and his Predacons did the same thing, with the DNA of Earth's most vicious predators! When the Maximals tried to destroy the Predacons' lab, Megatron was waiting in his ferocious alligator form. Mistaken for a harmless Earth creature, he was able to get to the drop on Optimus Primal and summoned in his soldiers [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]].

[[Image:Optimusprimalvsmegatronmegandlab.jpg|left|thumb|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_Hn0yM00Fo I drive a Chevrolet movie theatre.]]]
The battle was still lost, leading to Megatron destroying the lab so his enemies couldn't get its secrets. He then fled, vowing to return with new forms and new plans when the Maximals least expected it. {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

Megatron eventually succeeded in obtaining Tyrannosaurus Rex DNA, stolen from human research labs, and subsequently used it to re-engineer his body into a powerful new form. Amongst his artillery he boasts "poisonous paralyzer fluids blasts" that emanates from his beast mode's mouth, while his tail is configured into a "powerful pincher claw" capable of slicing an enemy in half. {{storylink|Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Megatron bio (ultra T-rex mold)}}

{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[bio]]s of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. They seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}

===Cartoon Continuity===
====''Beast Wars II'' catalog====
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]".}}

[[Image:MegatronGalvatronBW1.jpg|200px|thumb|Pwned.]]
On planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron once disagreed with [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] over opinions on galactic conquest, and engaged him in battle over it. At the time, Megatron momentarily let his guard down, and was defeated. Galvatron declared "Your era is over, Megatron!"

Later, Megatron noted that while Galvatron was ambitious, he cared for his underlings—and although he was loathe to admit it, he acknowledged that Galvatron probably had all the regal bearing of a new [[Emperor of Destruction]]. {{storylink|Catalog#Beast Wars II|The next stage of battle advances to the Second War... ...Beast Wars, Transform!}}
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====Timelines====
=====Theft of the Golden Disk=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English)

{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]".}}

[[Image:Megatronbwtheft.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Megatron steals sacred Maximal cup coaster.]]
Megatron was the star pupil of the crimelord [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], and successfully carried out his plan to steal the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]]. Cryotek loved him like a son—which didn't stop him setting up Megatron to take the fall for the crime, knowing he'd betray him some day anyway. Unfortunately for Cryotek, "some day" was today—Megatron had everyone on the mission who wasn't loyal to him killed, had the data for the location of the Disk secretly decoded by [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], and then kept it for himself while directing the Maximals to his tutor. This was the first known time that Megatron would co-opt the plan of someone who thought they were the ones being manipulative and backstabbing, but [[Other Voices, Part 2|wouldn't]] [[The Agenda (Part 2)|be]] [[The Agenda (Part III)|the]] [[Nemesis Part 1|last]]. {{storylink|Theft of the Golden Disk}}
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=====Dawn of Future's Past=====
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]".}}

[[Image:Megatronbwsuit.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Megatron's technicolor dreamcoat.]]
On Cybertron, Megatron wore removable transformable armor, which transformed into a missile-launching armored platform, over his basic bodyframe (which transformed into a hovertank). This quickly-discarded outer shell was possibly used to comply with the ratification of the [[Pax Cybertronia]], which required Predacons to lay down their arms. A Predacon field commander before the peace, Megatron refused to comply with these new regulations and struck out on his own to destroy the [[Maximal Imperium]].

With some [[Cryotek (RID)|help]] from [[Divebomb (G1)|various sources]], he assembled a crew of ragtag criminals and miscreants for the purpose of stealing the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] and using it to find [[Earth]]. Succeeding in stealing the disk, he, [[Dinobot (BW)|his lieutenant]], and [[Scorponok (BW)|another accomplice]] fought their way past security, eliminating [[Nitrostreak|one guard]] and dodging [[Tigatron|another]]. They were picked up by the ''[[Darksyde]]'', a ship stolen by the rest of their crew.

Megatron instructed [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] to study the disk for the coordinates of Earth while the ''Darksyde'' battled its several pursuers. Although they were followed by the Maximal ships [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']] and the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', the ''Darksyde'''s mission was also aided by a third ship crewed by the Predacon agents [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. Though the ''Chromia 10'' and the Predacon ship were destroyed, the ''Darksyde'' was still followed by the ''Axalon''. Megatron removed his transformable armor and patched a video feed through to the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s captain, [[Optimus Primal]]. Declaring himself the leader of the Predacons, Megatron opened a [[transwarp]] portal through which both ships travelled. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}
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====Dreamwave Generation 1====
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]".}}

[[Image:Dw theft.jpg|thumb|left|150px|"This artistic error shall grant me control over time and space itself!"]]

After stealing the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], Megatron broke into [[Vector Sigma]] along with [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and reviewed historical files on many of the Autobots and Decepticons from the era of the Great War. He told Dinobot to refer to him henceforth as Megatron. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets the Eye #8}}

{{note|The Golden Disk was wrongly drawn as the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Alien Disk]]. This two-page story is contradicted by many other versions of the story—specifically Megatron's spontaneous renaming of himself—possibly placing it in a version of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] that occurs only in Dreamwave's Generation 1 continuity. Of course, Dreamwave chose that time to [[Pat Lee|fold]] before this could be explained.}}
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====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English), [[Shigeru Chiba]] (Japanese), [[Antônio Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Hans Sievers]] (German) [[Tony Fuochi]] (Italian), [[Alejandro Villeli]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Claudio Rodríguez]] (Castilian Spanish)

[[Image:BWPart1 preformatting Megatron.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Priority one: finding out where the light switch is.]]

After stealing the Maximal relic, the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], and [[Darksyde|a ship]], Megatron and his crew were followed through a [[transwarp]] portal by the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']]. After crashing on a planet that was supposed to be [[Earth]], yet seemingly wasn't, both the [[Maximal]]s and the Predacons took organic beast forms to protect themselves against the massive amount of energon radiation. Megatron now transformed into a purple ''Tyrannosaurus rex''.

[[Image:Megatronbwtrex.jpg|right|230px|thumb|Today is a beautiful day to be stomping on things!]]
[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] chastised Megatron, accusing him of leading the Predacons to the wrong planet and challenged Megatron for leadership of the Predacons. Megatron simply ignored the challenge and had [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] dispose of him. A short time later, [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] tangled with [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], allowing Megatron to deliver his first speech to the Maximals, though it was cut short by a "sneaky, underhanded" attack by Cheetor, which impressed Megatron greatly. Though the Predacons appeared to have the Maximals on the run, they began to suffer from energon build up, and were forced to return to their beast modes. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} They followed the Maximals, catching up with them as Dinobot was dueling with [[Optimus Primal]] for leadership. Megatron took the opportunity for a sneak attack of his own, and during the destruction, some Predacon missiles uncovered a large quantity of energon located on a nearby mountain. Both teams reached the mountaintop at around the same time, but the ambient energon radiation forced them to fight in their beast modes. Despite biting a chunk out of Primal's leg, Megatron found himself on the losing end of the engagement, and out of desperation transformed to robot mode to fire a missile. The missile was deflected from its path by Dinobot, causing the energon to explode and hurling Megatron from the mountain. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 2)}}

Megatron and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] cornered Cheetor when the Maximal was transported into their base by a freak sequence of events, but were forced to cooperate with him when the other Maximals sent a bomb through. After the bomb was successfully disposed of, Megatron attempted to do the same to Cheetor, but only succeeded in destroying the teleport effect between the two bases. {{storylink|Equal Measures}} After the discovery of a cache of energon in the [[Standing Stones]], Megatron led his men in an attempt to gain it, but was furious when Terrorsaur intentionally blasted the energon mid-battle, destroying it. The Standing Stones triggered the arrival of an [[Vok probe|alien probe]], but when Megatron and Waspinator attempted to claim it, it zapped them and absorbed Optimus Primal. Believing Primal to be dead, Megatron mounted an attack on the Maximal base, but after a lengthy fight with Dinobot, Megatron was forced to call a retreat. The Predacons pursued the Maximals to the stone circle, but retreated once more when Primal was freed from the probe. {{storylink|Chain of Command}}

[[Image:Power Surge Megatron down.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"...Waspinator! I've got a role to delegate!"]]
While Megatron was demonstrating the Predacons' new defense systems, Terrorsaur discovered a [[flying mountain]] topped with a cache of super-energon. The power this afforded Terrorsaur allowed him to challenge Megatron and blast the Predacon leader clear off a cliff, leaving him in several pieces. Scorponok and Waspinator set about repairing Megatron behind Terrorsaur's back, and by the time the usurper returned, defeated, an outraged Megatron was waiting for him. {{storylink|Power Surge}}

When the first of the Maximal [[stasis pod]]s crashed to the ground, Megatron had Waspinator and Terrorsaur ambush Optimus with only limited success. Though annoyed at their failure, he dispatched them to reach the pod while he and Scorponok headed for the Maximal base. There, he was able to distract Dinobot long enough for Scorponok to administer a slagging, before the [[autogun]]s drove them off. Megatron proceeded to the pod and held the Maximals at bay by threatening a couple of nearby white tigers, only to discover that the stasis pod was already empty. As it turned out, one of white tigers was the new Maximal, [[Tigatron]], who transformed and fought the Predacons off. {{storylink|Fallen Comrades}}

The Predacons finally managed a victory in stealing a stasis pod and creating [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. However, again Terrorsaur tried to usurp Megatron, this time using an apparently-turned [[Rattrap]], who used a device to paralyze Megatron. The Predacons argued over who would be leader, but agreed to put Rattrap and Megatron away for the time being. Megatron was able to easily escape using his secret voice commands, leaving Rattrap to his fate. Revealing himself to have escaped, Megatron allowed Terrorsaur to lead the Predacons in battle with the Maximals. Terrorsaur failed miserably, showing his ineptitude to the Predacons, which was Megatron's plan all along. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}}

[[Image:GorillaWarfare Megatron's bomb problem.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb.]]
Megatron sent Blackarachnia, Waspinator and Terrorsaur on a plan to blow a hole in the bottom of the ''Axalon''. They failed. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}} On another occasion, Scorponok used a [[Cyberbee]] to infect Optimus Primal with a venom to turn the Maximal leader into a coward. The first Megatron knew of its failure was when Cheetor radioed the Predacon base to warn them that an enraged Optimus was on his way. Confronted by Primal, Megatron offered to give him the cure if he submitted to Predacon rule. Optimus responded by ripping the Cyberbee from his own chest and sticking it on Megatron's beast mode back. Unable to reach the device, Megatron managed to have Scorponok remove it, but it promptly exploded in their faces. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

When a Maximal [[temporal probe]] neared the planet, Megatron and his Predacons successfully destroyed a communications tower which the Maximals were setting up to try to signal it. {{storylink|The Probe}} Formulating a new plan to get off the planet, Megatron had the other Predacons act dissatisfied with his leadership, causing a battle that apparently destroyed the Predacons, using a Maximal spy camera that he was aware of to play out the trick. Then, the Maximals scavenged the ''Darksyde'' for parts to repair the ''Axalon'''s stardrive. At the eleventh hour, Dinobot discovered the deception and rushed to warn the leaving Maximals. In the scuffle, Megatron snuck aboard. In the ''Axalon'', he managed to knock out every Maximal on the ship but Rattrap, who he started crushing to death. An angered [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] woke up and threw Megatron off the ''Axalon''. However, Megatron's tail weapon was stuck in the console, causing the ''Axalon'' to crash. Again. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

Following a Predacon defeat attributed mostly to [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], Megatron had [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] capture the Maximal and used his latest invention, the [[Transmuter (BW)|Transmuter]], to turn Rhinox into a Predacon. Unbeknownst to Megatron, evil Rhinox was a schemer and disrupted the other Predacons. Megatron eventually found out the truth, which was the signal for the Maximals to mount an attack to rescue their friend. Megatron fought at length with Optimus, losing an arm. Ultimately Rhinox was returned to normal, and an errant shot from Waspinator destroyed the Transmuter, so that was the end of that. {{storylink|Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs}} Yet another plan had Megatron create a [[Clone One|clone of Dinobot]] which he sent to infiltrate the Maximal base. It backfired when the real Dinobot first defeated the clone, then masqueraded as it and used the bases defenses on Megatron. Megatron was at least happy that it turned out his clone hadn't betrayed him, as the real Dinobot had. The other Maximals turned up to chase Megatron off. {{storylink|Double Dinobot}}

[[Image:Megatronbwspidersgame.jpg|left|300px|thumb|I thought I told you NO MORE BARNEY JOKES.]]
Detecting another stasis pod crash, Megatron sent Scorponok and Blackarachnia to capture it. They failed. {{storylink|The Spark}} After a skirmish with Tigatron, Terrorsaur and Waspinator reported back to Megatron that they'd found a [[Brigadoon|flying island]], and Megatron sent Blackarachnia and Scorponok to claim it. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} Tarantulas used a [[magna pulse]] to knock out power in both the Maximal and Predacon bases to allow him to recover a stasis pod himself. By the time Megatron caught up, a new Predacon was online — [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]. Megatron was impressed with Inferno's fighting spirit, helping him to attack Tigatron, until Primal arrived and ruined things again. Megatron ordered Scorponok to salvage Inferno. {{storylink|Spider's Game}}

The next cunning plan Megatron would come up with involved stealing the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> [[rectifier coil]], forcing the Maximals to stay in their beast modes at all time. Once the Maximals had succumbed to their beast instincts and wandered into the jungle, Megatron assembled a hunting party, complete with drums. Despite shooting at some of the Maximals, they were unable to make any kills before Tigatron helped the Maximals integrate their beast instincts with their programming. The Maximals subsequently easily fought back, Optimus even lifting Megatron over his head. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}} After Scorponok and Waspinator reported destroying four of the Maximals, Tarantulas reported that he'd detected walking energon. Megatron concluded that the Maximals had survived the energon explosion and were contaminated, and sent Terrorsaur out to deal with them. Terrorsaur failed. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}}

During a violent storm, Waspinator was possessed by the immortal [[spark]] of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and ingratiated himself into Megatron's good books. With Starscream's help, Megatron led the Predacons to victory and captured the ''Axalon''. Megatron left Starscream in charge, returning to the ''Darksyde'' with Waspinator, Terrorsaur and Tarantulas, only for Starscream to later use the Maximals to attack the Predacon base in a double cross. In the aftermath of Starscream's defeat, Megatron put Waspinator back together and was only mildly convinced by Blackarachnia's explanation for her betrayal. {{storylink|Possession}} Yet another plan backfired badly. After Tarantulas infected Rhinox with an [[energon discharge virus]], Megatron attempted to use the counter virus as a bargaining chip, only for a massive fart from Rhinox to blow all of the Predacons away and leave them dangling from a tree. {{storylink|The Low Road}}

{{quote|This is certainly the most humiliating defeat of my entire career. Yess...|Megatron|"The Low Road"}}

[[Image:Before the Storm Megatron disc.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Yeessss...]]
Later, Megatron detected a strange energy pulse and sent Inferno to investigate. The result was the discovery of a second [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]], resulting in Megatron calling a ceasefire between the two factions, realizing he had more important things to worry about. Tigatron broke into the ''Darksyde'', learning about the new Golden Disk, and escaped, however this was merely part of Megatron's plan, which required the Maximals to learn about the approach of the [[Vok]]. {{storylink|Before the Storm}} After the arrival of an alien artifact — an organic dome — Megatron allowed Optimus to go in first, later listening to the sounds of the Maximal being tortured and wishing he had a recording of it to lull him to sleep at night. The beginning of an ignition sequence provided the distraction the other Maximals needed to fight Megatron and his goons off. As one of the planet's moons opened into the [[Planet Buster]], Megatron mused to himself that there was still another hand to be played. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}} Retiring to the Predacon base, he monitored events within the ''Axalon'' via the scanners, learning that Optimus intended to use a stasis pod turned into a spaceship by Tarantulas to destroy the Planet Buster. Megatron was able to override some of the pod's systems, preventing Primal from ejecting before the pod and the Planet Buster exploded. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

[[Image:Megs transmetal.JPG|left|270px|thumb|Gimme fuel Gimme fire Gimme that which I desire BOOM!]]

The [[quantum surge]] from the Planet Buster's destruction bathed Megatron in quantum energies, upgrading him into a [[Transmetal]] and giving him the ability to fly. Megatron quickly rallied his forces and attempted an all-out attack on the leader-less Maximals. He unfortunately had to retreat once he realized most of his troops were incapacitated. {{storylink|Aftermath}} The discovery of two more downed stasis pods provided Megatron with two new men, the [[Fuzor]]s [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]]. Megatron immediately led them into combat against Cheetor, and they headed for the ''Axalon''. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} Battling their way to the Maximal ship, the Predacons were confronted by a resurrected and upgraded Optimus Primal, who drove them all off. Later, Megatron discovered that the two golden disks had been stolen by Dinobot, and the data on them destroyed. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

Megatron sent Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Quickstrike to secure a cave full of energon. They later reported back that it had been [[Tarantulas's lair|destroyed in a fight]] with the Maximals. Megatron was not pleased. {{storylink|Tangled Web}} Captured by the Predacons, Dinobot opted to defect back to their side. Megatron forced him to prove himself by staging a fight between him and Quickstrike, and the original [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] was soon back in Megatron's hands. Unfortunately, Dinobot ultimately opted to remain a Maximal. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}}

[[Image:Beast Wars Metalhunter Face.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Castle GrapeSkull.]]
The discovery of another alien site gave Megatron the opportunity to take a shot at retrieving the alien Golden Disk. He distracted Rhinox long enough for Inferno and Blackarachnia to incapacitate the Maximal, and managed to take the disk back into his possession. Returning to base, Megatron encountered Tarantulas, who declared himself no longer under Megatron's command, but was willing to cooperate. As the Predacons put their new plan into effect at the alien site, the Maximals arrived, only for a [[Metal Hunter|domed spaceship]] to appear. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} After using a force field to prevent the Maximals getting in, Megatron ventured into the spacecraft and was able to use the alien Golden Disk to take control of it. His first act was to bring aboard the other Predacons (bar Tarantulas, with whom the alliance was terminated) and Optimus Primal, the latter as a prisoner. Installing [[Transwarp]] cells into the ship, Megatron intended to take it back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and conquer the world. Tarantulas arranged for a Maximal attack, infiltrating the ship and causing it to self destruct. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Megatron GoldenDisk.jpg|left|210px|thumb|History is mine, yessss.]]
After another stasis pod was found, Megatron bugged Blackarachnia and sent her and Waspinator out to find it. He soon learned that the pod contained Protoform X, a powerful [[Transformer]] with an indestructible spark, made during a Maximal experiment. With this information, he used an energon blade to cut out a piece of the creature's spark using it to control the beast, which he renamed [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]. {{storylink|Bad Spark}} Using the Golden Disk, Megatron discovered the location of a valley full of [[Protohuman|early humans]], who would someday evolve into the humans who helped the [[Autobot]]s defeat the [[Decepticon]]s in the great war. Determining by empirical experimentation that the future could be altered, Megatron mounted an attack on the valley. The Predacons were prevented from razing it entirely by the interference of Dinobot. After defeating all of the Predacon troops singlehandedly, Dinobot knocked the disk from Megatron's hand, and destroyed it. Megatron ordered a retreat as the rest of the Maximals arrived. {{storylink|Code of Hero}} Though fascinated at the discovery of a [[Transmutate (character)|badly-mutated Transformer]], Megatron wasn't impressed when it failed to transform, and ordered it destroyed, but Rampage successfully convinced him to let Transmutate prove itself. It didn't go so well. {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}

[[Ravage,when I get out of this chair, Primus help you! jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
Calculating that the [[Transwarp wavefront]] would soon reach Cybertron, alerting the [[Maximal High Council]] and resulting in a rescue ship being sent, Megatron realised he would have to implement a potentially final gambit. The Predacons attacked the Maximal base, but were fought off when help arrived in the form of Predacon covert agent [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], sent by the Predacon [[Tripredacus Council]] to apprehend Megatron. Returning to the Predacon base, Megatron sent Waspinator on a secret mission, while the other Predacons attempted to increase the fortifications. The impending attack went off without a hitch, however, and Megatron was captured. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Megatron was placed in a cell, and was informed by Ravage that Tarantulas was a member of the [[Predacon Secret Police]]. Megatron didn't seem too surprised by the news, and still had a hand to play — using a fragment of the Golden Disk which Dinobot had destroyed, he played back a recording on it left by the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], convincing Ravage to side with him. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Agenda3 MegatronOptimusPrime.jpg|left|250px|thumb|A little off the top, sir?]]
Megatron and Ravage subsequently led an assault on the ''Axalon'', which only failed through some extremely daring work by Rattrap.
Megatron fled, not back to the Predacon base, but the [[Mount St. Hilary|a volcano]] housing the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the massive ship containing the stasis-locked Autobots and Decepticons, waiting to be awoken in 1984 when they would continue the Great War. Using the access codes which Blackarachnia had taken from the Golden Disk, Megatron was able to enter the ship and attempt to alter the course of history by assassinating [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], as the Autobot leader sat unconscious in the command chair. This done, he confronted the Maximals outside, taking the opportunity to gloat that with Optimus Prime gone, history would change, and they would no longer be a part of it. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

After Megatron was forced out of the Ark by Blackarachnia, the Maximals were able to use [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to repair Optimus Prime, while Primal took the Autobot's spark into his own structure, transforming his body into a more powerful form. Confronted by the new "Optimal Optimus", Megatron beat a retreat, but not before shooting Blackarachnia. Heading for the ''Axalon'', he, Inferno and Waspinator were attacked and downed by Primal and Cheetor, however Megatron radio'd ahead to Rampage, who was able to destroy the Maximal ship. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}

Rampage disappeared while supposedly on a mission to attack the Ark with Inferno, and Megatron's scanners were unable to locate him. {{storylink|Deep Metal}} Monitoring the Maximal attempt to salvage [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]], Megatron sent his men out to retrieve the device. The mission was surprisingly a success, and Megatron later installed Sentinel in the Predacon ship. {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}} Megatron had also developed [[Cyber raptor]]s, which were sent out occasionally to harass the early humans. When he spotted Blackarachnia and Cheetor accompanying two of the humans, he sent Waspinator and Tarantulas out with three of the raptors to attack them. It didn't go too well for the Predacons, but Megatron was brewing a new plan. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}}

[[Image:FeralScream1 Megatron greets clone.jpg|230px|thumb|right|Ah, there's always time for a speech.]]
Having obtained a [[Transmetal driver]] through unknown means, he embarked upon an experiment, the fruition of which was the creation of a [[Transmetal 2]] [[Dinobot II|clone of Dinobot]]. However, thanks to the interference of [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] and Cheetor during the experiment, the Transmetal driver was lost, and the Predacons captured Depth Charge in order to interrogate him. Before they could extract the information, they were attacked by a strange feral beast, which eliminated them one by one. Megatron accidentally slagged Waspinator before being attacked by the creature himself, and sent flying off a cliff. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} Returning back to base, Megatron detected the beast roaming in the night, and realised that Cheetor had been exposed to the Transmetal driver's energies and upgraded into a new form. He dispatched Dinobot and Waspinator to capture Cheetor, but unsurprisingly they failed. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

Megatron had his men build a new weapon — a [[disruptor cannon]] constructed in a cave on a mountain top. Unfortunately due to the bi-polar energon source that the weapon used, the Predacons were unable to get close enough to install the shielding. Megatron sent Waspinator and Inferno out to capture one of the early humans, and they came back with [[Una]]. With great difficulty, Megatron instructed her on installing the shielding and installing the stabilizer crystal. After the Maximals had rescued her, the Predacons fired the cannon, only to discover too late that Una hadn't installed the stabilizer after all. The cannon exploded in their faces. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}} Alerted by Taratulas that the Maximals were attempting to remove Blackarachnia's Predacon [[shell program]], Megatron assigned Inferno, Rampage and Quickstrike to help Tarantulas disrupt the Ark's power, and hopefully terminate Blackarachnia. It even mostly worked, except for the part about Blackarachnia dying instead of ending up with a new Transmetal 2 body. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:Megatrontm2render.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Two Megatrons for the price of one.]]
On a later occasion, Megatron had Waspinator attack the Ark as part of a diversion. Tarantulas was able to place Optimus Primal under Quickstrike's control, enabling the Predacons to defeat the Maximals easily, and allowing Megatron to enter the Ark once more. There, he deliberately took the spark of the original Megatron and placed it in his body. Before he could do anything more, Quickstrike used Primal's body to dump in him the nearest pit of lava — a double-cross engineered by Tarantulas. Megatron did not die, but was upgraded into a new form, with a dragon as his alternate mode. After slagging Tarantulas, Megatron fought at length with Primal, only being fought off when Blackarachnia freed the other Maximals. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

[[Image:Megs tm2.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Red dragon, without Hannibal Lecter.]]
His attempt to put Quickstrike on trial for treachery was interrupted by the news that something was incoming. [[Tigerhawk]], emissary of the Vok, obliterated the Predacon base before defeating Megatron in battle. Tigerhawk prepared to deliver the killing blow, but was interrupted, first by Optimus Primal, and then by Tarantulas. By the time Megatron recovered, Tigerhawk had been captured by Tarantulas, and Megatron flew off. Tarantulas was eventually destroyed by his quest for power, and Megatron could only watch as the Maximals welcomed Tigerhawk into their ranks. {{storylink|Other Victories}}

Desperate once again, Megatron dispatched Inferno, Waspinator and Quickstrike to find a new base, while he took the competent Predacons to search the remains of Tarantulas's lair. There, Dinobot found a hatch leading to an undersea tunnel and Megatron realised the enormity of what Tarantulas had discovered. The Predacons followed the tunnel to the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', the Decepticon flagship which had crashed at the same time as the Ark. Megatron and Dinobot entered the ancient ship, successfully powering it up and raising it out of the ocean, intending to take back to Cybertron so that Megatron might conquer the planet. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}}

[[Image:Nemesis2 Megatron on shuttle.jpg|left|200px|thumb|How To Restrain Your Dragon.]]
First, however, he planned to annihilate the ''entire'' Ark rather than simply Optimus Prime: drunk on power and reciting religious scripture that he believed concerned ''him'', he was declaring himself "alpha and omega" and that time itself was now his bitch.

Heading for the Ark, Megatron stopped the ship momentarily to fire on a Protohuman settlement, despite Dinobot's objections, inadvertently killing Inferno and Quickstrike in the process. Of course, this meant that when the ''Nemesis'' arrived at its target, the fusion cannon was still recharging. Megatron instead turned a tractor beam on the Autobot ship. Primal infiltrated the ''Nemesis'' and began fighting Megatron. Though Optimus was no match for the Predacon leader, he bought the Maximals enough time to find an Autobot shuttle, which Rhinox piloted into the bridge of the ''Nemesis'', taking Megatron out. The ''Nemesis'' crashed a second time and thus preserved history. After returning the original Megatron's spark to its proper body, the Maximals headed back to Cybertron with the incarcerated Megatron shackled to the outside of their ship. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{--}}

====''Tales of the Beast Wars''====
{{note|This fiction takes place during the first season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.}}

[[Fractyl]] briefly daydreamed about impressing Megatron with his new discovery, the energon armor producing [[furmanite]]. When he failed even in his dreams, however, Fractyl reconsidered alerting Megatron just yet.

In reality, Megatron was summoned by Blackarachnia when the Maximal [[Packrat]] stole some of Fractyl's furmanite. He arrived on the scene in time to see Fractyl bravely chasing off the Maximal pack, after recovering the dangerous furmanite. Well done, Fractyl! (Oh, if only he knew...) {{storylink|Ground Zero}}

{{note|This fiction takes place during the second season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. The Shokaract events ended with them being paradoxed out of existence.}}
[[Image:Antagony megatron.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Kinky.]]
[[Antagony]], future-born [[Herald Maximo]] of [[Shokaract]], arrived on prehistoric Earth to protect the Dark Essence of [[Unicron]]. She attempted to terminate Megatron, who quickly conned her into fighting Optimus and then took her captive when she went into stasis lock. {{storylink|Visitations}}

He began patiently (and happily) torturing her for information on the future she came from, and when that failed he hacked into her mind using a [[mind-drill]] "borrowed" from [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. That triggered a safety-against-betrayal device that erased her mind before he could gain any information; Megatron was left with no information, beyond that her master would surely try again. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Herald}}

{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]".}}

[[Image:TM2_Megatron_shoots_Unicronessence.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
Almost immediately after his transformation into dragon form, Megatron detected a temporal breach. Having his troops ambush the Maximals (who had also detected), he attempted to reach the time-traveller ([[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]]) and gain access to the future, not caring what would happen if he took the original Megatron's spark with him. In the process, he encountered the Dark Essence and almost became a willing vessel for it, until it realised Windrazor would be easier to control. When the Fuzor fought the influence off, Shokaract himself emerged. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox|Paradox}}

Megatron's reaction to a horrifically powerful spark-devouring demigod, and time and space being shattered into a chaotic maelstrom... was to stride through the reality soup and blackmail said demigod by opening fire on the Dark Essence of the Chaos-Bringer, demanding knowledge of the future or he'd cause the erasure of Shokaract's entire timeline. Megatron is ''hardcore''. He failed, but this was a crucial distraction that helped bring about Shokaract's defeat. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars Diorama Story''====
[[Image:BWDiorama Megatrons.jpg|thumb|left|]]
Some time after Starscream fled from prehistorical Earth, Megatron and a group of Predacons, including [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], a time-displaced [[Archadis]], and [[Wolfang (Predacon)|Wolfang]], battled a contingent of [[Maximal]]s comprising [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Cohrada]], and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] in a forest. After all the Transformers transformed into robot mode, Megatron attacked Optimus Primal with the jaws of his T-rex head-hand. Primal blocked the attack with his dual Cyber Blades and then fought Megatron off with his Mega Blasters. {{storylink|Beast Wars Diorama Story|Convoy Chapter}} Though Primal blocked his "Tyranno Fang" attack, Megatron was able to counter by shooting a "Laser Buster" from the mouth of his T-rex head-hand. {{storylink|Beast Wars Diorama Story|Megatron Chapter}}

Some time into the battle, a warp opened, bringing with it [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], who were [[Decepticon]]s and [[Autobot]]s from another [[Movie (franchise)|universe]]. [[Tigatron]] and [[Gimlet]] also joined the battle, and, after being defeated by the Maximals, Starscream joined the Predacons. {{storylink|Beast Wars Diorama Story|Tigatron Chapter}} [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] later appeared and joined the Predacons, as well. As the battled raged, the [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] from the other universe came in through the warp. {{storylink|Beast Wars Diorama Story|Gimlet Chapter}}

The Decepticon Megatron brought along [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], and the two Megatrons combined their troops into a fearsome force against the Autobots and Maximals. The Predacon Megatron battled Optimus Primal in the ensuing skirmish. The Maximals' savior came in the form of [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]], who then went on to battle [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]]. Megatron battled Primal again, and the two factions then took formation against each other with the intention of combining their energies to attack the opposing side. The Predacon Megatron led the combined Predacon/Decepticon force. With Motorarm leading the charge, the Maximals and the Autobots attacked first. {{storylink|Beast Wars Diorama Story|Motorarm Chapter}}

====''Beast Wars II'' cartoon====
{{note|This fiction takes place during the first season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.}}
[[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] tried to summon a Megatron to [[Gaea]] using a time machine. [[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!|Maybe this one. Maybe not.]]

When his brother [[Megastorm|Gigastorm]] screwed up the wavelength calculations and instead summoned the titanic [[Majin Zarak]], Galvatron was pleased and declared, "We obtained a weapon far superior to Megatron". {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!}}
{{-}}

====Transformers Legends====
{{Note|This takes place after "[[Other Voices, Part 2]]"}}
Two time-displaced versions of Megatron were waiting in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]] with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], when the equally time-displaced versions of Optimus Primal emerged from a meeting with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Prime Spark}}
{{Note|This takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]"}}
Having taken the spark of the original [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] into his body, Megatron found himself talking to his Decepticon counterpart, who goaded him into attempting a new plan. Quickstrike kept the Maximals busy while Megatron burned his way into the Ark. There, he implanted a fragment of the original Megatron's spark into the stasis locked body of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], allowing the two Megatrons to control the Seeker's body. He realised too late that the original Megatron's plan was to return the Decepticon leader's spark to his original body using Starscream. A battle of will ensued, which the beast Megatron ultimately won, subduing the older Megatron before himself being forced to flee the Ark by the Maximals. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}
{{note|This fiction takes place during "[[Spark of Darkness]]".}}
When Megatron was defeated by Nightscream, the spark of Rhinox attempted to act as a spirit guide and redeem the tyrant. Megatron proved to be a lost cause. While briefly tempted to move on, his inherent hypocrisy manifested and—despite fervently advocating the eradication of individuality—refused to relinquish his own identity. Rhinox’s attempts at enlightenment were misconstrued, and his efforts only strengthened Megatron’s desire for apotheosis. Repeated returns to Cybertron convinced him that godhood was still within his reach and as he charged his particles with “purity of purpose”, erased Rhinox's spark from existence. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}
{{-}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
Upon his arrival on prehistoric Earth, the Darksyde's computer suggested that Megatron take on a crocodilian alt mode. Unimpressed, Megatron chose instead to reformat himself with the genetic material of a Tyrannosaur Rex. {{Storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Changing of the Guard]]".}}
[[Image:IDW Megatron Magmatron.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Go back to anime, Magmatron!]]
In Lio Convoy's opinion, Megatron was a simple wild card, no real threat when compared with [[Magmatron]]. This drives home the fact that Cybertron had no idea of the damage Megatron had and would inflict, or the lengths he would go to becoming arguably the most powerful Transformer since the Great War.

After dispatching [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] to oversee the installation of [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] into the [[Darksyde]], Megatron was attacked by Magmatron, who had been assigned to arrest him by the [[Tripredacus Council]]. Although Megatron proved more than a match for the experienced Predacon general individually, he was ambushed and paralyzed by [[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] and [[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]]. Magmatron intended to use a [[transwarp shunt]] to transport his prisoner back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 3|The Gathering #3}} Thanks to the intervention of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Optimus Minor]], and [[Razorbeast]], Magmatron was sent home empty-handed. Razorbeast was tempted to dispatch the prone Megatron, but released him instead, due to his desire to avoid interfering with the timeline. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 4|The Gathering #4}}

{{note|This fiction takes place during and after "[[Nemesis Part 2]]".}}
[[Image:MegatronAscending4.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Oh, we are so dead]]
Ravage attempted to free Megatron after his capture, but didn't progress very far in his plans. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 1|The Ascending #1}} Despite this, Megatron arrived to a battle-damaged Cybertron, having finally completed his transwarp journey, and having arrived long before the Maximals responsible for his defeat, thanks to Shokaract's suicide, with little else to stand in his way. Yessssss... {{storylink|The Ascending issue 4|The Ascending #4}}
{{-}}

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English), [[Shigeru Chiba]] (Japanese), [[Francisco José]] (Portuguese), [[Jan Spitzer]] (German) [[Giorgio Locuratolo]] (Italian), [[Armando Rendiz]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Juan Diéguez]] (Castilian Spanish)

[[Image:Megatron for life.jpg|left|250px|thumb|"If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear. If you've something to hide, you shouldn't even be here..."]]
Breaking free from his constraints on the Autobot shuttle while it traveled through transwarp space, Megatron arrived back home on Cybertron well before the Maximals did. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} He used the window of opportunity for maximum effect, releasing a [[Transformation virus|virus]] across the planet that quickly incapacitated the population. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} He then began extracting the victims' [[spark]]s and storing them in a citadel, planning to one day absorb them into his own spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}} Meanwhile, he used factories to rebuild the bodies into mindless [[drone]]s he called "[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]." {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Eventually, he had almost every spark on Cybertron in his possession.

When the Maximals arrived in their shuttle, they found the planet empty, aside from Vehicons who immediately attacked them with canisters of a gas that infected them with the virus. The fully-Transmetal among them "devolved" into their original beast modes but were able to keep moving and escape. The remaining two, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (who never received any form of upgrade on Earth), were instead paralyzed and quickly overtaken. Their sparks soon joined Megatron's collection. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}}

[[Image:MasteroftheHouse Optimus grabs Megatron's head.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Time for a noogie!" "NOOOOOO!!!"]]
The escaped Maximals would have succumbed to the virus eventually if not for the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] [[reformatting]] them. Megatron observed their first battle against the Vehicon drones, vowing to destroy the impurity in his technological paradise. {{storylink|The Reformatting}} He would not have to wait long before a confrontation with [[Optimus Primal]], gloating to the Maximal leader that Cybertron now belonged to the technological. The strain of controlling the Vehicon drones while attacking three targets was telling, and Primal was able to goad him into losing control, causing an overwhelming urge to transform and revealing Megatron's dragon form, now in a ragged patchwork state as a result of failed attempts to excise his organic mode. Megatron was able to quickly recover, pointing out Primal's own failure had led to the downfall of Cybertron, before reconnecting to his [[control harness]] and taking control of the drones once again. Defiant, Primal had to be dragged from the [[Council Citadel]] by the other Maximals. {{storylink|Master of the House}}

[[Image:FiresofthePast Megatron closeup.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Sorry, but we've reserved pretty much the rest of our Hannible Lector jokes for [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]].]]
Though the [[Diagnostic Drone]] insisted that Megatron's organic side had been purged, another failed battle between the Vehicon drones caused him to revert in rage to his dragon mode yet again. In order to make his drones more flexible in capturing the Maximals, he imbued three Vehicons with captured sparks so they could think on their feet in battle. The original personalities of these "[[Vehicon general|generals]]" were deeply buried under shell programs, which allowed Megatron to use sparks of the Maximals' former allies. Thus, if the Maximals discovered who they really were, they would be reluctant to destroy them. The recently-captured Silverbolt and Rhinox were made into [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] and [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], respectively. The third general, [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], was created from the Predacon [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] for reasons that remain unclear. During the generals' first engagement with [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Rattrap]], Megatron became aware that Blackarachnia was trying to access the computer of the Autobot shuttle they'd arrived in, and he made an attempt to access her memory while she did so. Rattrap was warned of this via a transmission made to Jetstorm, and was able to cut the link before Megatron could learn the location of the Maximal base. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

[[Image:MercenaryPursuits Megatron medium shot.jpg|thumb|right|250px|My stomach is rumbling. Diagnostic Drone, bring out the Energon Brownies.]]
After raging at the three generals for their failure, Megatron sent them out, promising great rewards for whoever captured the Maximals. This paid off when Tankor returned with all four of the Maximals. Unfortunately while Megatron was getting ready to give Tankor his reward of oblivion, the Maximals escaped, and Primal was able to speak directly to Tankor's spark, turning him against Megatron. Once they'd escaped, Megatron was able to restore his control harness and remotely erase Tankor's memory of the last 20 cycles, turning him against the Maximals once more. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} The Diagnostic Drone continued to attempt to formulate ways to excise Megatron's organic side, suggesting they wait until after the Maximal problem was dealt with, however Megatron was determined to put a swift end to the matter in question. During a battle between the drones and Maximals in a Vehicon factory, Megatron retook control of the drones out of frustration over his generals' failure, only for feedback from a computer to overload his systems.

While in this weakened state, he was approached by Rattrap, who offered to defend Megatron for the night in return for weaponry. Though the other Maximals turned up, Rattrap fought them back. Megatron encouraged him to use the weapons to terminate the Maximals, but Rattrap refused, pointing out that the sun was coming up and their agreement was at an end. In return, Megatron let him go free. {{storylink|The Weak Component}}

[[Image:Survivor Megatron dragon.jpg|left|270px|thumb|Just don't call him "Patches" or he'll scorch your ass.]]
The attempts to remove Megatron's organic form continued, with little success, and he turned down the Diagnostic Drone's suggestion to simply build a new body for himself, as it would require leaving his spark unprotected for a short period of time. Instead they implemented a new plan: attempt to capture [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] and work out how to reverse the process the young Maximal used to acquire an organic mode. During the mission, the Diagnostic Drone was reprogrammed by Tankor, whose Rhinox personality had resurfaced, and was now actively working in competition with Megatron to create a technological utopia. When the next attempt to purge Megatron's dragon mode failed (as Tankor instructed), the Diagnostic Drone suggested that the failure was caused by Megatron himself. {{storylink|Survivor}}

After Tankor's apparent destruction, Megatron demanded the Diagnostic Drone find out what happened. The Maximals, meanwhile, attempted to attack a Vehicon factory, with the intent of stealing a [[Vehicon Mole|mole drone]], and Megatron demonstrated his power over Cybertron by moving the very buildings themselves around in an attempt to crush the Maximals, and elevating the factory in an attempt to tip them out. {{storylink|The Key}} Megatron questioned Thrust and Jetstorm over Tankor's whereabouts prior to his demise. Unknown to any of them, the "death" had been a trick on Tankor's part, and the real Tankor had the Diagnostic Drone take the opportunity to reveal the discovery of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], capable of transforming organic matter into [[technomatter]], to Megatron. Though Megatron was encouraged by the idea it could purge Cybertron of organic life, he was suspicious of the Drone's inadvertent slip of the tongue regarding what the Key would do to him, and ordered the Key be loaded on to select drones only. Tankor's plan to force Megatron's hand by providing the Maximals with a catalyst to make their vines grow faster eventually paid off, and Megatron ordered the key loaded onto all of the [[Tank drone]]s. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

[[Image:EndoftheLine Megatron swirlingenergies.jpg|thumb|right|220px| No! The hurricane is separating me from my action figures! Curse you, Mother Nature!!!]]
Of course, Megatron also made sure the Tank drones were under his sole control first. Tankor then provided Primal with the whereabouts of the [[plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]], capable of purging all technology from Cybertron, in an attempt to force Megatron to use the keys. Megatron did not believe that Primal would actually go through with opening the chamber, and, distrustful of the Diagnostic Drone's motives, destroyed it. During the Maximal's last push for victory, Megatron found himself confronted by Optimus Primal once more, and crowed over his opponent as the other Maximals were transformed into technomatter. However Primal was able to provoke another appearance by Megatron's beast mode, and attempted to reformat him. The attempt was interrupted by Tankor, who prepared to zap Megatron with a Key, but was promptly restrained. Megatron announced that having a free agent was part of his plan, and had handed him the key to victory. Optimus, finally determined to win at any cost, opened the Plasma Energy Chamber, and Megatron responded by triggering the key weapon, causing a maelstrom of clashing energies. {{storylink|End of the Line}}

[[Image:SavageNoble Noble with wings.jpg|left|230px|thumb|]]
When the Maximals entered the Council Citadel, all they found of Megatron was his body, which disintegrated. Despite this the evidence of Megatron's influence remained — following Optimus Primal's resurrection, the Maximals found themselves face-to-face with a giant ship, resembling a stylised version of Megatron's own head, which rose above the city. {{storylink|Fallout}} The ship did not contain Megatron's [[spark]] though; The combined energies had actually succeeded in separating his organic half from his body—unfortunately, his spark went with it and become trapped in a purely organic Transformer. He took the identity of "innocent" Maximal [[Noble]] and, preying on [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] survivor guilt and Optimus's inherent goodness, attained the confidence of the Maximals. {{storylink|Savage Noble}} With their help, he was able to gain entry back into the Council Citadel, and attempted to access the control harness, only to discover it would not interface with his organic form. Using a [[spark extractor]], he ripped his own spark out and flew into the giant floating head, possessing it and reactivating Cybertron. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}

[[Image:InDarkestKnight Grand Mal.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Tremble before the might of MODOK!]]
Intent on gaining access to the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], Megatron seized Primal and Cheetor, bringing them aboard the ship in preparation to tear the information from them. He was able to communicate with them by appearing as a hologram of moving [[Cybertronix]], announcing that the procedure would be terminal. Before it could be completed, Silverbolt, who had been reformatted from Jetstorm by Blackarachnia, arrived and freed the two Maximals. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}} Unwilling to admit defeat, Megatron deployed his own variation of the [[Hate Plague]], infecting all of the Maximals but Primal. Optimus instead was scooped up by a tentacle and taken aboard the floating head for a frank discussion about free will versus universal harmony. As it turned out, Optimus was able to help the Maximals overcome their anger and reformat their neural pathways, though Megatron was amused by Primal's afterthought that not all of their issues came from the virus. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}} Following [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]]'s arrival, Megatron used the giant head's spaceship mode to destroy the rampantly-growing plant life she'd brought with her.

[[Image:Megatron Sparkwar Search.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"We've been expecting you, Mr. Anderson."]]
With the Maximals numbering seven, and Thrust increasingly incapable of keeping up, Megatron used the sparks of famous generals [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] to replace them. Though they subsequently failed to destroy the Maximals, Megatron thanked them for keeping his enemy busy while he finalised his plans for the collection of sparks. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} He gave his generals orders to find the Maximals and take Optimus alive. Primal had ventured down into the lost city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] with Nightscream, giving Megatron the opportunity to strike. Tricking the Maximal leader with a huge hologram of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], Megatron was able to extract the codes to access the Oracle. On the other hand, Primal was able to use the link to determine the location of the lost sparks without Megatron knowing. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}}

[[Image:Giant megatron spark.jpg|right|200px|thumb|It feels weird, being a ball of energy just eating up ''other'' balls of energy.]]
Megatron began preparing for his "grand ascension", separating his spark from the giant head and starting to consume the many sparks he had captured. The Maximals managed to get a team onto the ship, but were immediately seized by metal tentacles and forced to watch as Megatron continued to devour the sparks, intending to unite every spark on the planet into one perfect being — himself. Rising out of the head, Megatron began to draw the Maximals' sparks from their bodies. He was forced to pause to destroy his organic half, Noble, which had continued to roam Cybertron after his spark had left it. Anguished at the loss of his friend, Nightscream used his sonic attack on Megatron's spark, apparently dispelling it. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

Depolarized, Megatron's spark drifted through the streets of [[Cybertropolis]], attempting to possess bodies but unable to stay in them for any period of time, and only able to operate them in the barest, zombie-like fashion. After attacking the Maximals in a seemingly-random pattern, his spark was captured by Rattrap in a spark extractor and repolarized. The net result — Megatron was able to possess a new body, however he soon realized that he was trapped in the shell of a Diagnostic Drone. This didn't hinder him from capturing the Maximals and attempting to reformat Primal's spark, and, though Botanica swiftly came to the rescue, Megatron still escaped thanks to the loyalty of his three generals. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

[[Image:BMEndgame2 Optimal megatron.jpg|left|230px|thumb|They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.]]
While working on a new plan, Megatron had his generals attack the Maximals, who had holed up in the giant head. He was able to use a frequency from a device inadvertently provided by Rattrap, to help the Vehicons successfully bring down the ship. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Though the Maximals fought back, eliminating the Vehicon generals, Megatron had constructed a new body for himself — a copy of Primal's old "Optimal Optimus" form, though without its beast mode. Seizing control of the Cycle drones, he was able to rip the Maximals' sparks from their bodies, leaving himself and Primal as the last two functional mechanisms on the planet. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}}

[[Image:BMEndgame3 Megatron dies.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Dude, I'm stroking out over here!]]
There followed an all-out battle between the two mortal enemies, which raged across the city. Primal was seemingly beaten when he found the remains of the [[technorganic orchard]], devastated by Megatron's drones, and Megatron took him back to the surface. There, Megatron claimed his giant throne, and absorbed the rest of the sparks, growing in size. Preparing to use the Key to Vector Sigma to reformat Cybertron's organic core, Megatron severed Primal's connection to the Oracle. However Primal received encouragement from the spirits of his Maximal comrades, and by reformatting Megatron's throne, was able to dislodge him. They plummited together into Cybertron's core, where Primal was able to trigger the reformatting of the entire planet, destroying himself and Megatron completely, but freeing all the lost sparks to repopulate their newly-redecorated Cybertron. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

{{--}}

====''Universe''====

{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]".}}
[[Image:MegatronBW-BWXart.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Guess who traveled with Primal to the [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]?]]

When [[Optimus Primal|Optimus Primal's]] spark was revived from the within the Matrix to protect the [[multiverse]], this action freed Megatron's spark as well. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}} Megatron did not visibly resurface, however, until a dark chapter in the [[Universe war]], amidst "the [[Culling]]," when the [[Maximal High Council]] and a great portion of Cybertron's population itself was snuffed out by the [[Minions of Unicron]]. It is not known exactly how, but when the chaos of this genocide settled, Megatron had taken a powerful position within the remaining Predacon military. At first, Megatron began antagonizing Primal as he had before, but Megatron quickly learned that he and Primal would do better to first team up against Unicron. He and Primal traveled to several universes, preparing them for the coming battle and winning new allies. But now with Unicron disappeared into the [[Unicron Singularity]], Primal fully expects Megatron's insane ambition to resurface. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 9|BWX Optimus Primal's profile}}

Prior to the Universe Conflict an alternate dimension's Megatron was killed by a [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Tigerhawk]] who was corrupted by the Vok. Yet another dimension's Megatron was killed by its reality's [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. All three Megatron-murderers were eventually promoted to the rank of [[Unicron's General]]. It seems that killing Megatron may be part of Unicron's criteria for choosing a General.
{{-}}

====''Beast Wars Reborn''====
{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]".}}
[[Image:BeastWarsRebornMegatronArtwork1.jpg|right|233px|thumb|Reborn on the wagon of a travelin' show, Primal used ta dance fer the money they'd throw! Megatron would do whatever he coooouuuld!]]
Both Megatron and Optimus Primal awoke inside a bizarre temple-like spaceship which was hurtling through space. Neither had any memory of who they were or how they got there, only their own names and a feeling of discomfort between one another. The pair went about investigating the ship in search of answers. While Megatron's memory was lost, his personality remained mostly intact: he was more concerned with seizing control of the ship before Primal did in order to gain the upper hand.

They eventually found a data log and discovered that their sparks had been taken and they were reborn into new bodies (unbeknownst to them, bodies identical to their original Earth forms). However, their memories were intentionally not uploaded into their new bodies. While searching the log they discovered that the ship's main power source was a [[Golden Disk]] lodged within a giant pillar. Megatron immediately raced to obtain the Disk and Primal followed him. The closer they got to the disk the more the ship attempted to thwart their advance by manipulating its atmosphere conditions.

Once they reached the chamber the ship's environment suddenly morphed to that of a decaying planet littered with the corpses of robots. The corpses came to life and began shambling toward them, intent on eating their sparks. They made short work of the zombies, leaving Megatron to obtain the Golden Disk and Primal with a feeling that he shouldn't entirely trust Megatron.

From another dimension beyond time and space, [[Primus]] recognized that something was amiss and sent [[Vector Prime]] to meet Primal and Megatron within the spaceship.

Primal found his suspicions confirmed after Megatron discovered that part of the ship let him convert any object into antimatter, effectively giving the ability to turn anything- or anyone- into a particle-annihilating bomb. Their subsequent battle was quickly interrupted by a strange being calling itself [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]], who informed them that the ship's power over space and time was his own- and wished to give this power to Megatron.

{{storylink|The Mysterious Temple in Space}} {{storylink|Master of the Game}} {{Storylink|Planetfall (BWR)|Planetfall}} {{Storylink|Miraculous Reformat}}
{{Charstubfiction}}

====Bee in the City====
{{note|This takes place after ''Beast Wars'', but its placing beyond that is unknown}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English)

Somehow ending up at the multiversal hub of [[Axiom Nexus]], Megatron hid out under the alias "Joe". When he ran into [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and learned of the [[AllSpark Key]], he pretended to be a heroic character and helped rescue Bumblebee's friends, only to steal the Key. Using his experience with MacGuffins, he swiftly learned how to power himself and create an army. Unfortunately, his army turned on him after learning of bureaucracy and the amount of forms they'd have to fill in now that they were alive. However, before being carried away by his former minions, Megatron promised that he would be back, and that he would get his extremely overwrought and melodramatic revenge. {{storylink|Bee in the City}}

===''Robot Masters''===
====Pack-in comic====
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The New Battle Begins!}}

====Cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Toshitsugu Takashina]] (Japanese)

{{note|This fiction takes place after ''[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!]]''.}}
Taking advantage of the [[Blasty Zone]] as a means of time travel (and apparently size-enhancer), Megatron journeyed to a point in history where the original Megatron had gone missing, leaving the [[Decepticon]]s without a leader. "Beast Megatron" took command of the Decepticons, leading them on a quest to collect a powerful element, [[solitarium]], from within the Earth. Beast Megatron's plans were quickly thwarted by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and a troop of time-displaced Autobots and Maximals, including [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], [[Victory Leo]], [[Lio Convoy]] and Beast Megatron's arch nemesis, [[Optimus Primal]]. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

Beast Megatron later discovered a large deposit of solitarium beneath a large city, and along with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Smokesniper]], [[Gigant Bomb]] and [[Wingstun]], laid waste to the city. The Autobots, accompanied by [[Reverse Convoy]], arrived and dealt with Beast Megatron's forces quickly. However, Reverse Convoy revealed himself to be the original Megatron in disguise and betrayed them. Now going by the name [[Megatron (G1)|Rebirth Megatron]], he teamed up with Beast Megatron and the pair made trouble for the Autobot commanders. However, the Autobots were able to defeat the two Megatrons, sending the villains into retreat. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}

====Online comic====
{{charstubfiction}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
{{note|This fiction takes place after an altered version of the first season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.}}
After killing Optimus Primal in a Transwarp explosion, Megatron was mutated by the resulting Quantum Surge into a Transmetal, as was every other Transformer on [[Earth|Energoa]]. With their leader dead and their forces scattered, Megatron wasted no time in plotting an immediate counter-attack on the Maximals. Quickstrike and his drone forces were sent to attack the Maximal base while, with Tarantulas's help, Megatron recovered and resurrected Primal's body as a mindless killing machine.

Through a strange voodoo ritual, Megatron attempted to use his mutated blood to put Primal's body under his everlasting control. However, with the intervention of Rhinox, Primal's spark was retrieved from Transwarp Space and returned to his body. Primal swiftly defeated Megatron in battle. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

===Fire in the Dark===
The Predacons crashlanded in [[Mexico]] around 1,000 BC. A time into their war with the Maximals, Megatron found the village in which the [[Natiltec]] tribe dwelt. After the Predacons had asserted their dominance, Megatron ordered Tarantulas and Waspinator to enslave the male villagers and use them to mine energon. {{storylink|Fire in the Dark}}

==Games==
====''Beast Wars: Transformers'' video game====
{{note|This game takes place during the first season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.}}
{{Note|Megatron is a playable character in the Predacon mode of this game for normal gameplay.}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{Note|Due to the nature of this game, a player may select various individual characters to perform the feats required in every level, and complete the game's narrative. Thus, any playable Maximal can fill the role of protagonist in Maximal Mode, and any playable Predacon can fill the role of protagonist in Predacon Mode. As such, each character's page only lists said character's actions when they fill the role of antagonist during gameplay. To view the various feats Megatron can accomplish throughout gameplay in Predacon Mode, it is told on the pages of the [[Optimus Primal|several]] [[Cheetor (BW)|Maximals]] [[Rattrap|included]] [[Dinobot (BW)|as]] [[Rhinox (BW)|opponents]] in this game, as well as the game's main antagonists, the [[Skriix]], wherein Megatron fills the role of the nameless Predacon. To view the plot as a whole view the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)]] page.}}
{{-}}
====''Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals'' video game====
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
[[Image:N64Megatrons.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Tyrannosaurus Jhiax]] and ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]], apparently.]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English), ??? (Japanese)

Megatron has been captured by the Maximals. Unknown to his captors, however, Megatron sends a message back in time through transwarp in a last-ditch effort to change the outcome of the Beast Wars; back in the past, Megatron participates in a one-on-one beatdown involving nearly all of the other active beast warriors. At the end, he confronted his mysterious doppelganger, [[Megatron X]].

[[Image:N64_Megatron.jpg|frame|left|"Dear me: Forget the grand scheme, just walk over and punch Optimus in his ****ing FACE. Yours sincerely, me."]]Knowing fully that the planet where their war was taking place was in actuality prehistoric Earth, Megatron decided to make the ultimate gamble after gaining the upper hand in a grueling battle against the Maximals. Breaking into the Ark, Megatron murders Optimus Prime while he slumbers, securing victory for both Decepticons and Predacons. However, in the year 2005, the Decepticons, having conquered both Earth and Cybertron, face Unicron. As the Matrix died eons ago, along with Optimus Prime, how can the Decepticons defeat the devourer of worlds?
{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the Nintendo 64 version of the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Megatron's fate in those outcomes.}}
{{-}}

===''Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle'' video game===
Megatron battled several other Maximals and Predacons in an attempt to obtain a super-powerful [[Energon crystal]] recently discovered on [[Earth]]. He was capable of summoning his lackeys, Waspinator, Terrorsaur, Tarantulas, Inferno and Scorponok in order to aid him in this task.

Megatron could also partake in various other tasks, such as a mission to break a boulder to reveal an energon crystal hidden within before sundown, using a block in a mission to defend himself against various incoming projectiles, and missions to run across a pit-riddled field, sometimes involving hideously large bacteria he had to fend off.

The series of one-on-one battles that ensued ended in a strange duel, when Megatron had to battle his double as a final opponent. Once he defeated himself, he gained possession of the crystal, setting out to defeat his eternal nemesis, [[Optimus Primal]]. {{storylink|Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle}}
{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Megatron's fate in those outcomes.}}
{{-}}
===3D Battle-Card Game===
Megatron, in his original Tyrannosaurus Rex body, leads a ragtag group of Decepticon warriors from various backgrounds (and/or universes) against Optimus Primal and his Autobot allies. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{-}}
===Transformers Battle Universe===
{{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
:''Main article: [[Megatron (BW)/toys]]''

==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Merchandise|Merchandise]]''

==Notes==
[[Image:Dinobot Clone.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A picture can tell lots without words.]]
* Hasbro originally intended [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] to be the new body for Megatron. According to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview conducted by fan HooksX], [[Bob Forward]] stated: "For a while there Hasbro was planning to make the Inferno toy the new Megatron. We were going to kill Megatron and bring him back as Inferno."
* Megatron's pre-beast body, seen almost entirely during "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]", is actually the body of the Giant Robot from Mainframe's ReBoot series, with Megatron's head attached and some purple colors. Sadly, no Disrupto-Matic was to be seen.
* Throughout the series, Megatron seems to have a mild obsession with creating [[Cloning|clones]] of Dinobot, as seen with the [[Clone One|purely biological clone]], the [[Cyber raptor|Cyber raptors]], [[Dinobot II]], and [[Dinobot (Transmetal)|that one prototype that was scrapped]]. Some people never know when to let a relationship go.
[[Image:BWRConcept35.jpg|right|200px|thumb|TM2 Megatron's control art. Look! Spark figure! Painful amounts of detail!]]
*The Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'' chose to interject humor at every available opportunity. Due to this, Megatron's personality and character were taken on a complete U-turn. Instead of being a smooth and charismatic leader, he was a screaming maniac and a bumbling oaf. His most notable character-trait in Japan was that whenever he was fired-upon or startled he would let out a high-pitched shriek like a [[Scorponok (BW)|little girl]].
* During the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon, Megatron said "yesss..." 166 times, and "no..." 54 times. Someone was clearly bored, yesss.
* He was once seen [[Humanization|brushing]] his Rex head/hand's teeth.
* Several times in the series, while he is in Beast Mode, Megatron is seen touching his hands, as many megalomaniacs would. However, this would be physically impossible for a real T. rex.
* During audio commentary{{fact}}, [[Bob Skir]] revealed that the idea for Megatron's spark inhabiting a Diagnostic Drone came from [[David McDermott]]'s comment that "no matter ''what'' form Megatron's in, he will go out and kick ass".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Megatron''' (メガトロン ''Megatoron''), '''Megaligator''' (alligator, メガリゲーター ''Megarigētā''),<ref>This particular [[romanization]] was used on a Japanese ''Beast Wars'' [http://www18.tok2.com/home/jackhama/transformers/bwtcard_1/img/024.jpg trading card]. As the card otherwise spelled "alligator" correctly in English, it is assumed the single "L" in "Megaligator" was intentional.</ref> '''Beast Megatron''' (''Robot Masters'', ビーストメガトロン ''Bīsuto Megatoron'')
*''European:'' '''Metal T-Rex''' (Transmetal), '''Dragone''' (Transmetal 2)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bawang Lung''' (China, 霸王龍, "Tyrannosaur"), '''Kǔng-lúng Wáng''' (Taiwan, 恐龍王, "King Dinosaur")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hJkvwoddxY All of Megatron's Yeeeessss's and No's in Beast Wars on YouTube]

[[Category:Beast Machines Predacons]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Emperors]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Predacon leaders]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Decepticons]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Universe Decepticons]]
[[Category:Vehicons]]

Razorclaw (BW)

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{{factions|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Razorclaw}}
:''Razorclaw is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] from the [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Bwrazorclaw.jpg|right|249px|thumb|Know that I am Video Razorclaw.]]

The quick attacker of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]], '''Razorclaw''' lies in wait under sand, waiting for unsuspecting prey to come by. Once close enough, Razorclaw strikes at the poor [[Maximal]] and crushes him in his claw's loving grip.

==Fiction==
=== 3H ''Universe'' comics===
[[Image:Ravageiguanusrazorclawpd2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]
After the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] came to an end, Razorclaw was activated on Earth by the duo of [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], along with other programmed Predacons [[Spittor (BW)|Spittor]] and [[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]]. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 2}} He was sent into battle with [[Primal Prime]] and his [[Vok]]-backed warriors, {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 3}} but probably did not survive the climax — the other known Maximal and Predacon survivors made their way back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and Razorclaw was nowhere to be seen. Unless of course he was later part of the crowd that beheld the wayward Autobots exiting their spaceship. (It might have been Razorclaw having acquired new coloration, similarly to [[Ramulus|another character]]. But it also might have been [[Rockbuster]]. Those crazy crabs both look the same!) In any case, all he did was silently stare at [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] next to his fellow Predacon [[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]]. {{storylink|Abduction}}
{{-}}

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
Razorclaw was originally one of the Maximal protoforms held in stasis pods aboard the [[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]. However, his fallen pod was remotely reprogrammed as a Predacon by the time-travelling [[Magmatron]] and his forces, along with more than a dozen other Maximal protoforms. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 1|The Gathering #1}} He joined Magmatron, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and the other Predacons in their battle against the traitor [[Razorbeast]] and his Maximal compatriots. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 4|The Gathering #4}Ravage,shoot those Maximals or your fired!}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
*'''Razorclaw''' (Basic, 1997)

: Razorclaw transforms into an orange and transparent blue fiddler crab. His large claw hides three spikes that can be shown by pushing a lever back. His other claw hides a small non-firing "blaster rifle". His [[rubsign|energon chip]] is located on the underside of his left shell-half.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Predacon/Razorclaw/razorclaw.htm More information on Razorclaw at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|video}}
[[Image:BW-BWN-toy Razorclaw-Rockbuster.jpg|right|thumb|300px| Craaaab people, craaaab people. Taste like crab, talk like people. Craaaab people, craaaab people.]]
*'''Razorclaw''' (Basic with video, 1998)

:Razorclaw was [[redeco]]ed into a teal and maroon color scheme and released with a VHS tape containing the episodes "[[Aftermath]]" and "[[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]".

:This toy was released in Japan (with a different rubsign) as the [[Maximal]] [[Rockbuster]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Razorclaw/razorclaw.htm More information on Video Razorclaw at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Pinceur''' (Canada, "Pincher")
*''Italian:'' '''Granchius'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Cangrejon'''

[[Category:Beast Wars Predacons]]

Starscream (Movie)/toys

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{{suite}}

Hoo hey, [[Starscream (Movie)|'''Starscream''']] has a buttload of toys!

{{charstubtoys|Pics, details, etc.}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:Movie Legends Starscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|A gold paint job can't hide the lameness.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2007)

: Legends-class Starscream is a highly simplified, low-cost version of Starscream in his F-22 Raptor body. As such, he has a greatly compromised transformation sequence due to the smaller parts count, with limited articulation and detailing. He's also the bronzest F-22 Raptor Starscream toy there is.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]].

{{-}}
[[Image:Movie Allspark Legends pack.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Tiny toys are tiny. And they don't do Starscream justice.]]
*'''Battle for the Allspark''' (Toys'R'Us exclusive multi-pack, 2007)

: A Toys R Us exclusive, this six-pack of Legends class figures contains unmodified toys of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], Starscream and [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]].

{{-}}
{{anchor|Allspark2pack}}
[[Image:Movie-toy_Legends_StealthStarscream.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Back in black!]]
*'''Nightwatch Optimus Prime vs. Stealth Starscream''' (Legends Allspark Battles two-pack, 2008)

: The previously released Legends-class Starscream toy is redecoed predominantly black and silver, somewhat resembling ''Generation 1'' [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Oddly enough, the paint applications are identical to the regular toy. He comes with a redeco Legends-class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] in his Nightwatch color scheme.

{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:MovieProtoform Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Gold Plastic Syndrome just waiting to happen.]]
*'''Protoform Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MD-05'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun with missile and flame attachment

:Based upon the "Protoform" (Cybertronian) appearances of the Transformers in the movie, Protoform Starscream transforms into his "entry" mode Cybertronic rocket thing. This mode somewhat resembles a Cybertronic spaceship, with a visible bridge between the two dorsal fins. A flame decoration piece fits onto the back of the "vehicle" over the missile projectile, creating the illusion of a flaming comet's tail . The bottom of the vehicle has small wheels to roll the toy across smooth surfaces.

:In robot mode, Starscream marginally resembles previous Starscreams, mostly G1 Starscream, with the large turbines on his chest, wings and vents on his legs. Due to his extensive use of ball joints, he has excellent articulation. Starscream is armed with a spring-loaded missile launcher that fires the previously mentioned projectile cast in the same bronze color as his body. Alternatively, the flame decoration can be fitted onto the end of the barrel.

:This toy also has an [[Automorph Technology|Automorphing]] feature, as most of the figures in the main line do. Pushing his head back during transformation will move his shoulder pieces back into place, while moving the shoulders forward will make the head pop back up. While either the missile or the flame can be placed into the gun, the flame can be placed onto the missile, using both at once. However, in some cases, the flame does not have a snug fit on the missile and falls off easily. This makes firing the missile rather awkward and makes the gun look extremely goofy.

: It's also entirely possible that this figure will eventually suffer from [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|GPS]], as the bronze plastic it is cast in has the same characteristic swirling exhibited by older figures that rapidly deteriorated. However, newer materials and processes may prevent the toy from ever seeing a single crack form. It is highly suggested that this toy not be painted or altered in any way to maximize its lifespan.

{{-}}
{{anchor|Fusioncluster}}
[[Image:FusionClusterOptimusStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|Great Cybertron! I look '''delicious!''']]
*'''Protoform Starscream Fusion Cluster Edition''' (C3xHobby Convention exclusive Deluxe, Japan 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Gun with missile and flame attachment

:An extensive redeco of the Protoform Starscream mold that was exclusively available at the Japanese C3xHobby Convention in August of 2007, and later offered by [[e-Hobby]] in limited quantities. Most of the body is made out of transparent orange plastic, while orange and yellow paint are used on the front end of the "entry" mode, mimicking the heat effects of sudden atmospheric entry. The flame attachment is made out of clear ''blue'' plastic, with the tail end being covered in ''gold'' paint.

{{-}}

{{anchor|LuckyDrawProtoform}}
*'''Gold Protoform Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' Gun with missile and flame attachment

:This gold [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum metallized]] Protoform Starscream figure was featured as a [[Lucky Draw figure|Lucky Draw]] giveaway (along side similarly gold vac-metal versions of Voyager class Optimus Prime and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#LuckyDrawProtoform|Protoform Optimus Prime]]) in the December 2007 issue of ''TV Magazine''. Released in 2008, only 5 pieces were made.

{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

====Voyager Class toys====
[[Image:Movie Voyager Starscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Shake hands with danger.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Voyager, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MD-08'''
**''Accessories:'' Six missiles

: The Voyager-class version of Movie Starscream transforms into an officially-licensed [[wikipedia:F-22|Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet]], albeit in beige.

:Pushing the fighter along a smooth surface causes the missile-launching barrels to rotate and fire their projectiles, which can also be stored in the black flip-up braces on the launchers. During transformation, pushing up upon the canopy fuselage piece activates Starscream's [[Automorph Technology|Automorphing]] gimmick, which pushes panels out of the torso, wings and stabilizers. In robot mode, Starscream is mostly faithful to his movie CGI model, except for being bulkier around his chest, lacking engines on his back and having the very large Gatling cannons serve as his arms (a facsimile of his much slenderer weapons from the movie). Interestingly, his projectile missiles are sculpted to resemble fingers, should users choose to keep them loaded while Starscream is in robot mode. An interesting note is that [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle's]] (or Camshaft's) hands, when detached, make a snug fit in between the three main cannons; if you're feeling sillier, ''Legends'' [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] shoulder does, too. Go on, try it yourself, yes, we'll wait...

:This toy was later retooled and [[Redeco|redecoed]] into Movie [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]], ROTF [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]] and, ROTF [[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]].

{{-}}
*'''Battle damage three-pack''' (Sam's Club exclusive three-pack, 2007)

:A three-pack, exclusive to Sam's Club stores, consisting of redecos of Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and Deluxe Class [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], both with a battle damage deco, and an unchanged Voyager Class Starscream.

{{-}}
[[Image:Starscream target.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"The first G1 fan who complains gets a minigun... to the face."]]
*'''Starscream''' (Target exclusive Voyager-sized toy, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Six missiles

: An extensive redeco of Voyager class Starscream available only as a Target [[exclusive]], this version is [[Redeco|redecoed]] in a color scheme based upon ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. This version of Starscream shares the retooled version of this mold with Movie Thundercracker, giving Starscream a new, vaguely G1-ish head sculpt. The packaging for this toy explains that Starscream altered his appearance following his escape at the end of the film in order to avoid detection.

{{-}}
[[Image:Starscream Vardia red.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Who wants to go shopping? Knock Out: Me! ]]
*'''Starscream Vardia Red Model''' (Toshiba exclusive Voyager-sized toy, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Six missiles

: In a joint venture by Paramount Home Entertainment Japan and electronics giant [[wikipedia:Toshiba|Toshiba]], Starscream Vardia Red Model is an exclusive redeco of Voyager Starscream only available with Toshiba's new ''Vardia'' RD-A301 HD DVD recorder. The package also comes with an HD-DVD copy of ''Transformers'', five HD DVD-R and five DVD-R discs.

:Starscream Vardia Red Model is '''extremely''' red, with some gold, a little black and Toshiba ''Vardia'' markings on his hull. With the player costing 100,000 yen at the time, this may be the most expensive ''Transformers'' exclusive to be released in relatively large quantities.

{{-}}
[[Image:Movie DeepSpaceStarscream toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I'm Starscream, and I can breathe in space. ]]
*'''Deep Space Starscream''' (Target exclusive "Premium Series" Voyager, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' Six missiles

:A Target exclusive (But appeared in European retail in 2009), Deep Space Starscream is a redeco of the first version of Voyager class Starscream, based upon the colours used by [[Industrial Light & Magic]] on Starscream's CGI model (instead of the totally made up and inaccurate tan colouring on the previous release). As such he is metallic silver with complementary greys in fighter mode, including the 'First Fighter' (FF) squadron markings indicating he is an F-22 Raptor from [[wikipedia:Langley_Air_Force_Base|Langley Air Force Base]]. In robot mode reveals gold paint inside his chest detailing and red for circuitry detailing. His eyes are painted film-accurate red, but the rest of the [[Light-piping]] that makes up the back of his head is left uncolored, making the glowing eye effect no longer work while STILL retaining the miscolored bronzed glass color that the clear plastic was molded in. If one wanted to restore the light piping, though, the paint is fairly easy to remove.

: Deep Space Starscream is presented in 'Premium Octagonal' packaging very similar to Robo-Vision Optimus Prime. Even though Hasbro officially considers him as part of the Premium Series, this is not indicated anywhere on the packaging.

====Fast Action Battlers====
[[Image:Movie FAB Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You are the Dragon Booster Artha!]]
*'''Battle Blade Starscream''' (Fast Action Battler, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''QC-02'''

: [[Fast Action Battler|Fast Action Battlers]] "Battle Blade" Starscream transforms into a somewhat superdeformed F-22 Raptor, simplifying the overall design to the point of his feet noticeably sticking out the aft of the fighter, and has a truncated transformation sequence reminiscent of past Transformers such as ''Generation 1'' [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and ''Cybertron'' [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]]. Rather than having a separate weapon, he only has a claw-like blade that flips over the right hand (hence "Battle Blade") and non-removable missiles in the palms of his hands.

: This toy was later redecoed as [[Ramjet (Movie)|Claw Slash Ramjet]].

: There is a Korean [[Knockoff|fake]] of this model going around, under the name of "Latent Spider". Fortunately no real spiders have been found latent inside the toy.

{{-}}

====Other toys====
*'''Starscream''' (Little Red Rooster Meal, 2007)

:One of five toys that was available at Red Rooster, an Australian based fast food chain. This kids meal toy is a black F-22 Raptor with a silver canopy that transforms by simply flipping the jet around to reveal the gray robot mode underneath, pulling down the landing gear and legs, and standing him upright.

{{-}}
{{picsneeded}}

===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:Starscream ROTF Legends toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|So I wake up with a hangover and find all these tattoos all over me. Damn parties.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''EZ-04'''

:Legends class Starscream is a redeco of [[#Legends Class toys|2007's Legends class Starscream]], the main difference being a mostly single main colour scheme (compared to 2007's rather random colour choices) and the ''Revenge of the Fallen''-specific Cyberglyph tattoos.

:For some odd reason, his card back depicts how to transform him from his alt-mode to his robot mode; as all Legends are packaged in robot mode, wouldn't robot-to-vehicle work better?

::*''[http://tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/LegStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Revenge of the Fallen Legends Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VsSmokescreen}}
[[Image:TargetLegendsROTFStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron all got new Legends molds for the sequel, but me? No, not STARSCREAM. *sob*]]
*'''Smokescreen''' vs. '''Starscream''' (Legends 2-pack, 2010)

:Starscream is a redeco of 2007's Legends class Starscream. He came packaged with [[Smokescreen (Movie)#Legend|Smokescreen]] as a [[Target]] [[exclusive]] as part of the [[NEST Global Alliance]] [[subline imprint]]. His paint scheme appears to be inspired by the [[Kmart]] exclusive Voyager class [[#Nebular|"Nebular Starscream" redeco]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/LegStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Target Legends Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

====Voyager Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF Voyager Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|At long last, I have fingers! And tattoos! Odd.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Voyager, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 projectiles

:''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Voyager class Starscream is far more accurate to the movie model in both modes than the previous movie's Voyager mold. ''Revenge'' Starscream has two arm-mounted, spring loaded missile launchers sculpted to resemble his [[wikipedia:M61_Vulcan|M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannons]]. Starscream's [[Mech Alive]] gimmick is linked between his head and chest; when you turn his head, the gears in his chest spin. He has amber light piping for his eyes, but they've been painted over in red.

[[Image:ROTFtoy-StarscreamVoyager-popoutlaunchers.jpg|left|thumb|150px|I had more joints!]]

:According to the [[stock photography|stock photos]] of the hand-painted [[prototype]] (seen at left), Starscream's hands originally had a joint down the middle of his palms, possibly to facilitate in hiding them in fighter mode. His arm-mounted cannons were also originally separate parts from his forearms, jointed to move back and forth, again possibly to hide them in fighter mode. However this was [[design change|changed]] for the final toy, with the hands now molded as one piece and unable to be hidden in vehicle mode, and his cannons' details (including the joints) simply molded directly onto his arms. His knee caps were also originally a separate movable piece and not joined to his upper leg. It is assumed this was done for cost cutting. His packaging call-outs (excepting Europe) still claim that he has "pop out missile launchers," despite this gimmick's removal. The toy's [[instructions]] include a superfluous "flip down hands" step, and depict the missile launchers extended with partially-folded hands when describing the missile-launch action.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm More information on Revenge of the Fallen Voyaget Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Nebular}}
[[Image:KMartROTFNebularStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|A redeco of Starscream as Starscream? Well, that's novel.]]
*'''Nebular Starscream''' (Voyager, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 projectiles

:A [[redeco]] of the new-mold ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Voyager class Starscream, Nebular Starscream is a "powered up" version of Starscream (with his packaging going so far as to promote his "exclusive powered-up paint job"). He was [[exclusive]] to [[Kmart]] stores in North America.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/NebularStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Nebular Starscream at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

====Fast Action Battlers====
[[Image:Starscream ROTF FAB toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Kids, tattoos are awesome, get some NOW!]]
*'''Sword Slash Starscream''' (Fast Action Battler, 2009)

: Sword Slash Starscream is a redeco of the 2007 Battle Blade Starscream, with the plane parts colored gray and covered in cyberglyphics and the robot parts colored bronze. His flip-out blade is now purple.

{{-}}

====Gravity Bots====
[[Image:ROTF GravityBots Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Some toys have hands or maybe a head sticking out of their alternate modes, but Starscream has WHOLE LEGS.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Gravity Bot, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GB-03'''

: As a [[Gravity Bot]], this Starscream features no articulation at all, but relies wholly on a gravity-based [[autotransformation]] gimmick. When laid down on a flat surface, Starscream will transform into a [[super deformed]] F-22, while standing him on his feet again will switch him to robot mode.
{{-}}

====Robot Replicas====
[[Image:ROTF RobotReplicas Starscream.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Hey guys, like my tattoos?"]]
*'''Starscream''' (Robot Replica, 2009)

: Starscream sacrifices transformation for the sake of accuracy. The figure about 5 1/2" tall and features multiple joints based on the revoltech design.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:TF2010toy-VictoryofTheFallen.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Starscream finally gets what he always wanted- validation from Megatron.]]
*'''The Victory of The Fallen''' (Kmart Exclusive Legends 5-pack, 2010)

:Starscream is a redeco of the original 2007 mold in a gunmetal color with a yellow cockpit canopy. He comes with redecos of [[The Fallen]], [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|Megatron]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Optimus Prime]], and [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]].
{{-}}

====Voyager Class toys====
[[Image:TF2010_Starscream'sAssault_toys.jpg|thumb|300px| The [[Shelfwarmer| shelves need warming]], and that's where we come in!]]
*'''Starscream's Assault''' (Figure two-pack, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 projectiles

:This [[Walmart]]-[[exclusive]] two-pack is based upon the scene in ''Revenge of the Fallen'' where Starscream pursues [[Seymour Simmons]], [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] and [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] in Egypt. The Voyager class Starscream toy features a much brighter plastic colour and has "battle damage" scorch mark paint decos. Mudflap features a weathered, sandblasted deco.
{{-}}

====Leader Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF-toy leader Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"NO ONE DEFEATS [[Bill Rawley|BILL RAAAWLEY"]]]]
*'''Starscream''' (Leader, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, 2 missiles

:Like the various figures released earlier, Leader-class Starscream transforms into an officially licensed Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet, decoed in a gunmetal-like gray and covered in Cybertronian tattoos to more accurately reflect his on-screen appearance in ''Revenge of the Fallen'' than his Voyager-class toys. In robot mode, either of Starscream's hands can fold down to accommodate a spring-loaded missile launcher that fires one of two included projectiles; both missiles and the missile launcher can be stored via pegs on his back. In Raptor mode, the launcher stores in a space on the underside, and can be flipped out to fire his missiles from underneath. Starscream also features two flip-out, non-firing weapons on his forearms: a cannon resembling an M61 Vulcan on the right, and two generic missiles on the left.

:Starscream's primary gimmick in this size is the addition of electronic lights and sounds. Pulling down on his canopy in robot mode opens chest panels and his mouth and produces one of two phrases: "Decepticons will crush the Autobots!" and "No one can defeat Starscream!" in the version released in the United States, and simply "Decepticons!" and "Starscream!" in the version released in rest of the world, including most of the version released in Canada, Mexico, and Latin America. Additionally, the canopy activates LEDs which light up Starscream's clear, red eyes and various other portions of clear, amber plastic in his chest. During transformation, a button is activated, causing the toy to play a four-note version of the transformation noise. In Raptor mode, Starscream's lights and sounds are activated by a Decepticon sigil-covered button on the top of the jet. In addition to lighting the canopy and turbines, this button plays two sounds: either generic jet engine noises or Starscream's voice saying either "No one can defeat Starscream!" (US) or simply "Starscream!" (International).

:An important step was left out of the instructions concerning how to transform Starscream to robot mode. A flap attaches from the fuselage to the cockpit section. To disconnect this part, the cockpit window has to be lifted using notches on the side. Otherwise, you cannot flip the front of the jet forward.
{{-}}

====Activators====
[[Image:Activators_MovieStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px| Starscream, you're "kawaii" now, so I have to warn you about the [[fandom| fangirls.]]]]
*'''Starscream''' (Activator, 2010)

:[[Activators]] Starscream is a small toy with cutesified proportions in both robot and F-22 modes. His transformation is greatly simplified, with most of the jet parts just hanging off his back in robot mode. Like all Activators, Starscream features button-activated [[autotransformation]] from jet to robot. While the card's photography shows Starscream as having rolling wheels for landing gear, the final has the landing gear molded in one piece with the legs, probably due to budget cuts.

{{-}}

===Masterpiece===
[[Image:Masterpiece_Movie_Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|I took a bath!]]
*'''Starscream''' (2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MPM-1'''
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, 2 missiles

:''[[Masterpiece]]'' Starscream is a redeco of Leader Class ''Transformers'' (2010) Starscream without the Cybertronian glyphs on his body, and instead has an extensive, detailed paint scheme that matches his appearance in the [[Transformers (2007)|first live action movie]] and the F-22 Raptors of the [[United States Air Force|USAF]] First Fighter Wing from [[wikipedia:Langley_Air_Force_Base|Langley Air Force Base]]. Starscream comes with a mini-comic by [[Simon Furman]] and [[Guido Guidi]], titled ''[[Unite for the Universe issue 1|Unite for the Universe]]''.
{{--}}

===Dark of the Moon===
====Cyberverse====
{{anchor|CyberverseActionSet}}
[[Image:DOTM_CyberverseActionSet_Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|I shall call him...MINI-SCREAM!]]
*'''Starscream / Orbital Assault Carrier''' (Cyberverse Action Set, 2011)
**''Series:'' '''1'''
**''Number:'' '''002'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''CV03'''
**''Accessories:'' missile launcher, missile
:A brand-new [[Cyberverse]] Legion-class mold, Starscream comes with an [[Orbital Assault Carrier|“Assault Craft”]] similar to the kind the Decepticons use in the film. It can convert into a “Battle Station” for Starscream to stand or sit on, and a “Space Cruiser” for Starscream’s jet mode to rest on. There are molded wheels on Starscream to nestle into the groves on top of the carrier. Sadly, a cavity on the back keeps multiple planes from being able to rest on it. All three modes sit on small wheels, and there is an additional platform below for Starscream to rest in jet mode, although he has to face backwards.

:Like the previous movie's Voyager figure, Starscream's hands stick out of the back of the vehicle mode. Also, while landing gear is molded on both the undercarriage and the nose of the jet, due to the odd layout of robot parts in vehicle mode, they can't all rest on a flat surface at once.

:Several [[MechTech]] ports are available on the craft, and the removable missile launcher has a handle for it to be held by smaller Cyberverse figures as well as a 5mm post for it to attach to larger figures.

:There is an included cardboard backdrop for display, depicting Chicago under siege.
{{-}}

{{anchor|BeeStarscream}}
[[Image:DOTMCyberverseBumblebeeStarscreamPack.jpg|thumb|300px|This only serves to painfully reinforce how much better a toy the ''Cybertron'' figure is.]]
*'''Bumblebee / Starscream''' (Cyberverse 4-pack, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

:[[Exclusive]] to [[Toys"R"Us]], this four pack contains two Bumblebee and two Starscream Cyberverse Legion toys. Cybertronian Starscream is a redeco of [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'']] [[Legends Class]] [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], while the other Starscream is a redeco and retool of the 2007 [[Movie (toyline)|''Transformers'']] Legends class toy, partially cast in translucent plastic and painted with grid lines, presumably to simulate a [[trans-scan]] effect. This Starscream also comes with ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' [[R-Blade]]'s gun, which can be held in his newly retooled left hand.

:The Starscreams come packed with a retool of [[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|''Revenge of the Fallen'']] Legends Class [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BeeStarscream|Bumblebee]] and a redeco of ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Legends Class]] [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Bumblebee]]

{{-}}

{{anchor|CyberverseLegion}}
*'''Starscream''' (Cyberverse Legion, 2011)
**''Series:'' '''1'''
**''Number:'' '''013'''
**''Japanese ID number:''

:This is a redeco of the ''Dark of the Moon'' Legion class Starscream that was first available in the Orbital Assault Carrier Action Set. The deco on this release does away with the Cybertronian tattoos and replaces them with a normal F-22 Raptor colour scheme, much like Starscream's appearance in the 2007 ''Transformers'' live-action movie.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:DOTMtoy-StarscreamDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I brought a knife to a shrink ray fight.]]
*'''Starscream''' (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''DD02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 MechTech Null Ray Cannons/Swords

:''Dark of the Moon'' Starscream is a brand-new sculpt, transforming into a surprisingly accurate F-22 Raptor. In spite of being at a much smaller scale than previous Voyager-class Starscreams, his parts hide much better into his vehicle mode. His incredibly flexible arms have joints at the shoulder, in the middle of the upper arm, elbow, and wrist, allowing them to neatly fold up for transformation, as well as scratch his own back. His null rays combine to form a double bladed weapon that's way taller than he is. He is also one of the few Deluxe figures to have a MechTech weapon that can remain locked in both modes.

:This mold was later redecoed into [[Thundercracker (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (ROTF)|Skywarp]].

{{-}}

====Voyager Class toys====
[[Image:Starscream_DOTM_Voyager_Target.jpg|right|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (Voyager, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' 2 projectiles

:A [[Target]]-[[exclusive]] redeco of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Starscream, he is now grey with red detailing and more subdued, silver tatoos. Early assortments had the red parts cast in solid plastic, but a [[running change]] shortly there after corrected this, and replaced all the red parts with translucent plastic.

:He comes packed with a comic book by [[IDW Publishing]], ''[[Transformers: Starscream]]''.

{{-}}

====Robo Power====
=====Activators=====
{{anchor|DOTMActivators}}
[[Image:DOTM_Activators_Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|i wanna played leader ''i wanna play leader waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa'']]
*'''Starscream''' (2011)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

=====Bash Bots=====
[[Image:DOTM_BashBots_OptimusPrimeVsStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Optimus Prime Vs Starscream''' (2011)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

=====Robo Fighters=====
[[Image:DOTM_Robofighters_Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (2011)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers'' 3D Battle-Card Game===
*'''Protoform Starscream''' (3D Battle-Card, 2007)
**''Card number'': '''22'''

: Protoform Starscream is a 24-point "Uncommon" piece in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]. Constructed of punch-out pieces from plastic cards, he can be assembled into either a robot or a [[transition form]]. The card uses the same construction as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Protoform Bumblebee]].

{{picsneeded}}

{{-}}
[[Image:3DBattleCard_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Children's Card Games On Jets, In 3D!]]
*'''Starscream''' (3D Battle-Card, 2007)
**''Card number'': '''24'''

: The second Starscream card can be converted into his jet mode, and is a 43-point "Rare" piece. This card construction was first used by live-action movie [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]] in the original set, and later Generation 1 [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in the "Energon Wars" expansion.

{{-}}

===Transformers (2007)===
[[Image:Starscreambarrelrollblaster.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Eat your heart out, Peppy.]]
*'''Starscream Barrel Roll Blaster''' (2007)
**''Accessories:'' 4 Nerf N-Strike foam missiles

:This version of Starscream's altmode turns into not a robot, but a robot '''fist''' holding a two-barreled blaster. The guns in this form fire [[Nerf]] N-Strike-sized foam missiles.

{{-}}

====Lunchables====
[[Image:Starscreamlunchables.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I come with crappy chicken.]]
* '''Starscream''' ("Pocket Transformers" toy prize, 2007)

:Free inside specially marked boxes of Oscar Meyer Lunchables dinners, Starscream is one of six "Pocket Transformers" toy prizes. Molded in green, his tablet unfolds to reveal a picture of his robot mode inside. His name is also spelled out, across his feet in this mode.

: This mold was also used to creatre the lunchables figure for [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. A similar mold was used to creature the Lunchables figure for [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], though with the Autobot symbol sculpted in instead of the Decepticon one. Each itiration of this mold was made with a different color of plastic.

:The Lunchables website code engraved on his back is "MISLEAD."

{{-}}

====Radio Shack====
[[Image:Movie_StarscreamMicroFlyer.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Starscream Micro Flyer''' (2007)

:The radio controlled Starscream Micro Flyer was made by Interactive Toy Concepts for Radio Shack, and consists of a foam F-22 Raptor with two small battery-powered propeller engines which allow the little plane to soar relatively high into the air. This toy can operate on 3 channels.
{{-}}

===Burger King===
*'''Starscream''' Burger King free toy (2007)

:A non-transformable version of Starscream, cast primarily in chalk-grey plastic. It can rotate its arms at the shoulder. The toy's main gimmick, though, is the wheel in his chest. Striking the wheel causes it to advance to the next slot, revealing damage to Starscream's torso. A second tap reveals even more damage. Despite being a free pack-in toy, the figure is surprisingly well molded, having well defined head parts and the twin afterburners on his back that even the Voyager version lacks. It even has six fingers (or rather, four fingers and two thumbs) on each hand!

{{picsneeded}}

{{-}}

====Basic Fun====
*'''Articulated keychain''' (2009)

: Produced by [[Basic Fun]], this keychain is a likeness of Starscream's robot mode with articulated arms, legs, head, waist, and a keyring sticking out of his ass.

{{picsneeded}}

*'''Mini Figural Clip-Ons''' (2009)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Rhstarbee.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Packaged with Bumblebee holding the Allspark. TWICE.]]
*'''Armored Bumblebee vs. Starscream''' (2007)

:Robot Heroes Starscream is sculpted in a crouching pose, possibly inspired by his landing when talking to Megatron in the film. He has the standard Robot Heroes articulation of both shoulders and his neck, however the pre-posed nature means his right arm is really more useful as a support than a usable joint.

{{-}}
[[Image:RH Movie Bumblebee Starscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|It's my turn to use the Rubik's Cube, Bumblebee!]]
*'''Bumblebee vs. Starscream''' (2008)

:This version of Starscream is almost a prelude to the previous one, as he's now sculpted in a touching down pose as opposed to a full land. Like the previous mold, it has articulation at the shoulders and neck. Unfortunately, the left arm is lifted straight out to side, allowing him to rotate the arm but not pose it.

{{-}}

[[Image:Robotheroesspringerstarscream.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Who's ''that'' dude?]]
*'''Autobot Springer and Starscream''' (2009)

: Starscream is part of the first wave of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen]]'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'' figures and is packaged versus [[Springer (ROTF)|Springer]]. A [[redeco]] of the first Movie-style Starscream, he still has articulation at the shoulders and neck, and now sports [[Cyberglyphics]] tattooed on his body.
{{-}}

[[Image:RobotHeroes_BattlefortheAllspark.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Bumblebee... the cube... he just can't get away!]]
*'''Battle for the Allspark''' (2009)

:Packaged in a set depicting the battle in [[Mission City]] with [[Brawl (Movie)|Decepticon Brawl]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Autobot Ratchet]], [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], plus new figures of [[Sam Witwicky]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] in truck mode and Bumblebee in vehicle mode, this is the first Starscream Robot Heroes figurine in vehicle mode.

{{-}}

===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Missile Mania Board Game====
*'''Starscream'''
: Starscream is one of eight characters featured in the [[Missile Mania]] board game, represented by a small standee adorned with artwork of the character.

{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

====RPMs - Robot Powered Machines====
[[Image:ROTF-toy_RPM_Ironhide_vs_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Slim-hide vs. Stomach Arms]]
*'''Ironhide VS Starscream''' (2009)
**''Series:'' '''Battle Series'''
**''Number:'' '''07 of 08'''

:As a ''[[Robot Powered Machines]]'' "Mini-Vehicle", Starscream is a small, super-deformed F-22 with wheels underneath. His robot mode is also sculpted on the plane's underside, with his chest-canopy rather cleverly acting as a third wheel. Starscream was only initially available in a two-pack with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]].

*'''Starscream''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Combat Series 2'''
**''Number:'' '''01 of 04'''

: "Mini-Vehicle" Starscream is a single-packed identical release of the version released with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] described above.
{{-}}

====Figure Collection====
[[Image:ROTF-Merchandise Figure Collection Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|150px]]
*'''Starscream''' (2010)
**''Accessories:'' Stand
:The [[Figure Collection]] edition of Starscream is based on his [[#Fast_Action_Battlers|Fast Action Battlers toy]].

{{-}}

====McDonald's====
*'''Starscream''' (Happy Meal, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 3 cardboard discs

:Part of the 2010 [[McDonald's]] Revenge of the Fallen promotion, Starscream does not transform but is able to shoot three cardboard discs stored in his back instead. Starscream features red [[light-piping]], an unexpected feature for a fast food promotional toy, and can move his arms up and down. He was only available during week 4 of the promotion, and came with an instruction sheet that doubles as an ad for [[McWorld]], featuring an exclusive code for the website.

{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

===Christmas Ornament===
*'''Starscream''' (2010?)

:This Christmas ornament has a picture of Starscream on one side. When you split apart the onament, red Autobot and purple Deepticon symbol candies are inside.
{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_RoadAssault_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (2010)
**''Series:'' '''Road Assault'''
**''Number:'' '''01 of 04'''

: Like the RPM toy, ''[[Speed Stars]]'' Starscream is a non-transforming vehicle with the character's robot mode sculpted on the underside. It's a new mold with more realistic F-22 proportions than RPM Starscream, and has joints in its wings to fit into the packaging better. Starscream is colored in tan desert camouflage with his black ''Revenge of the Fallen'' markings.

{{-}}
[[Image:SpeedStars_CyberHunt_Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (2011?)
**''Series:'' '''Cyber Hunt'''
**''Number:'' '''0? of 04'''

: "Cyber Hunt" Starscream is a redeco of the previous Road Assault toy in purple and black with red stripes along his wings. This toy was given away free as part of a Daily Mirror promotion in the UK.

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

====Stealth Force====
=====Mini Changers=====
[[Image:SpeedStars_StealthForce_MiniChangers_OptimusPrimeVsStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Optimus Prime Vs. Starscream''' (2011)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

[[Image:SpeedStars_StealthForce_MiniChangers_SideswipeVsStarscream.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Sideswipe Vs. Starscream'''' (2011)

{{charstubtoys}}
{{-}}

=====Deluxe???=====
*'''Starscream''' (2011)

{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:ProtoformStarscreamProto.jpg|thumb|250px]]
* The card back of Protoform Starscream's packaging features a completely different, earlier head sculpt. What's more, this head design is featured on his protoform body in IDW's movie prequel comics. It's since become Starscream's standard "pre-Earth" face, likely out of consistency.

[[Category:Cyberverse]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kmart exclusives]]
[[Category:Masterpiece]]
[[Category:Movie Decepticons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Sam's Club exclusives]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Wal-Mart exclusives]]

Starscream (Movie)

2011-08-13T07:46:59Z

96.13.49.23:

{{factions|decepticonfilm|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Starscream}}{{suite}}

:''Starscream is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:RevengeOfTheFallenStarscream.jpg|right|350px|thumb|I got yer AllSpark, ''right here''.]]
'''Starscream''' is a hero on the wrong side. Over the centuries he's come to believe both [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] have lost sight of what is best for the Cybertronian race, and simply pursue their own agendas. At some point, he came to the decision that, for the good of the species, a new leader must emerge, and he would be that leader. However, over time, he became as corrupt in his own way as Megatron, although he prefers subtlety and deception to Megatron's brute force. Now, what may once have been noble goals are buried under layers of self interest, transforming Starscream into that which he supposedly despised.

{{quote|Truly the universe favors those who persist.|Starscream|''[[Ghosts of Yesterday]]''}}

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Many years before civil war broke out on Cybertron, Starscream was guarding a [[hatchling]] school trip when they were attacked by a [[Driller|subterranean monster]]. He was saved by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]], much to his irritation, but Megatron liked Starscream's "feisty" attitude, and saw a place for him in the future of Cybertron he hoped to shape. He later joined Megatron's [[Defense Force]], and was very much at home, killing a [[malcontent]] that challenged the new order in spite of surrendering. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}}

[[Image:Defiance1_Starscream_Ratchet.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Someone is praising Starscream!? Stop the presses!]]

Later, he was patrolling the [[Eshems Nebula]] when he encountered the fourth alien scout ship he had spotted in the same [[Units of time|cycle]]. As he related this to first officer [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] of the [[Science Division]], this time the alien ship did not maintain a safe distance, forcing Starscream to attack, and he was damaged in the subsequent battle (and was late for a meeting with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]] and [[Lord High Protector]] Megatron). Soon afterwards, these same aliens attacked Cybertron, and Starscream commanded the aerial forces in the defense of the [[Simfur Temple|temple]] in [[Simfur]]. After Megatron was injured in battle, Starscream rushed to his side to enquire about his condition and to ask for further orders. He was informed to keep Optimus's team out of the military's way. {{storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}}

Megatron was influenced by [[The Fallen|the mysterious relic]] found outside [[Simfur]] to wage a vengeful war against the aliens. Starscream attended a war rally at [[Trypticon (Movie)|Trypticon]] where Megatron assumed dictatorship of Cybertron and its armed forces. After destroying much of the enemy fleet and eliminating its leader, Megatron ordered Starscream and his fellow fliers to destroy the alien flagship and conquer the surrounding systems. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 2|Defiance #2}} Underground opposition to the new regime came in the form of Optimus and his science division, something Lord Megatron would not stand for. While [[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] and security officers arrested Optimus on trumped-up charges of treason, Starscream's squadron was given orders to capture Optimus alive and leave no living witnesses. Unfortunately, Optimus ''Prime'' proved more than a match for Starscream's entire unit, bringing down the ruins of a city upon them. The group survived, and were used by Megatron as "proof" that there were enemies within Cybertron as well as without, to rally his army into a new faction: the Decepticons. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 3|Defiance #3}}

During the launch of the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', Starscream believed Megatron's propaganda that [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] was a liar, and expressed disdain for Optimus's claim that he was a Prime too. {{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}} During the subsequent civil war, Starscream blindly followed Megatron's orders, murdering those who did not bow to his Lord's will, even those who did not choose sides. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}} During the Autobot assault on Simfur Temple, Starscream noticed [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] reaching the [[AllSpark]] and activating Sentinel's "[[pillar|torch]]". He pursued her but she escaped into the tunnels. Despite Megatron's desperate command to stand down, Starscream attacked Sentinel when he arrived on the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]], causing the ship to disappear in a tremendous explosion. {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}}

Starscream was inside [[Lord High Protector citadel|Megatron's citadel]] when Optimus launched another attack in revenge for Sentinel's death. While Optimus and Megatron faced off, Starscream and Shockwave fought their former captain, [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. When the sky darkened, Optimus emerged and blasted both of them, allowing them to escape. The attack had actually been a distraction from [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]]'s theft of the AllSpark after the first assault had exhausted Simfur's Decepticons. {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}} Later, Starscream was leading an assault on the Autobots at [[Tyger Pax]] when [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] arrived to reinforce them. They witnessed the launch of the AllSpark into space, a desperate gambit by the Autobots, and immediately Starscream and Blackout began to bicker over their next move. Seeing Megatron leave the planet in pursuit of the AllSpark, Starscream decided that so would they. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}}

[[Image:Planetfall Starscream yesweare.jpg|200px|thumb|"Hey, what's that?" "I'd call it a TARGET!"]]

Starscream was concerned over the Autobots who still posed a threat, but Megatron ordered him to gather a crew to pursue [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Ark (Movie)|ship]]. Unfortunately, [[Nemesis (Movie)|Starscream's ship]] was led into a trap and crippled by [[concussion pulse]] weapons, throwing them off the chase, for now. Humiliated, Starscream and his crew limped back home for repairs. Sometime later, they followed the AllSpark's trace energy pulse and the wake of Prime's ship to a solar system galaxies away. Landing on the [[Mars (planet)|fourth planet]], they destroyed [[Beagle 2 Rover|a primitive lifeform]] that seemed to have been created from the AllSpark, and felt the tag of the life-giving object on the third planet. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

Starscream's team made planetfall on [[Earth]] in Afghanistan, quickly attracting the attention of a nearby US military base, which sent out an armoured personnel carrier to investigate. After it was destroyed, the Decepticons attacked the base itself. During the rather one-sided assault, a human agent of Sector Seven was impressed by the alien invaders' ability to adapt to Earth's finest weaponry. Starscream agreed that they were impressive, and killed the fleshling. After Blackout left the group for another nearby base, Starscream told his fellow Decepticons that their mission wouldn't always be this easy, as the Autobots were bound to turn up. {{storylink|Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall}} {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

{{note|The events of Planetfall are inconsistent with the events of IDW's own [[Movie Prequel|prequel comic]]. However, the depiction of the Decepticon arrival in Afghanistan was later used in [[The Reign of Starscream]].}}

In 2003, Starscream's infiltration team, consisting of [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and Blackout, touched down on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] and destroyed the [[Beagle 2 Rover]]. Starscream was disgusted with the rover, but Blackout and Barricade warned that there was an obviously intelligent species nearby, so they would need to be cautious. Starscream agreed, as long as they got to kill something. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 3|Movie Prequel #3}}

[[Image:MoviePrequel4 Starscream youcangonow.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Top this one, Samus.]]

Splitting up, they headed to Earth, where Starscream scanned an F-22 Raptor fighter jet being tested by the [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]] at [[United States Air Force#Facilities|Nellis Air Force Base]]. He destroyed it, then adopted the vehicle form for himself. Leaving the scene of destruction, he radioed his fellow Decepticons to report in on their hunt for new disguise forms, which they did. He reiterated that their mission was to find the AllSpark, to which Blackout responded with a reminder that the mission was also to find Megatron. Starscream dismissively replied, "Yeah, right... him too."

Later, Starscream and Blackout detected the unique radiation of the AllSpark and investigated, but Starscream soon realized it was a trap by Sector Seven. Starscream destroyed several AH-64 Apache helicopters while Blackout attacked Sector Seven's bunker and attempted to hack into their mainframe. When the humans severed the connection, the Decepticons broke off from the battle and linked up with Barricade, who was in pursuit of the Autobot [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Movie Prequel #4}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Beginnings''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Patrick Hallahan]]

Starscream led the Decepticons to Earth while following the beacon signal used by Bumblebee to call the Autobots. In typical Starscream fashion, he seemed more concerned about collecting the AllSpark to further his own goals than to rescue [[Megatron (Movie)|Lord High Protector Megatron]]. Attracting the attention of a nearby military installation, they were attacked, but easily overpowered the humans, after which he and Blackout took their [[alternate mode]]s from vehicles on base. Starscream, along with Blackout, followed Bumblebee as he fled from a losing battle against Barricade.

Later, when Sector Seven tried to use a false energy signature to attract Bumblebee to their location, the Decepticons picked up on it and followed. Realizing the signal was fake, Starscream pulled the troops out and waited for the Autobots to arrive and flush out the AllSpark for them. {{storylink|Transformers: Beginnings}}

{{note|Transformers: Beginnings is a condensed, flash-animated retelling of the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] [[Movie Prequel]] that is detailed above this section.}}

===''Ghosts of Yesterday'' prequel novel===
Starscream had ascended to Decepticon leadership in the absence of their former lord, and though he had to ''seem'' to carry on the long search for the lost Megatron and the [[AllSpark]] to keep his position as leader, his greatest hope was that Megatron would NEVER be found. Some loyal Decepticons, especially [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], strongly suspected this and sought to frustrate Starscream's species-serving plans. [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] buddied up with him, but he did like to trick people. [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] hated him, but one shouldn't really read too much into that. [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]'s opinions are unknown, but Frenzy's a complete lunatic and nobody cared what the pet thought.

During a search of an abandoned solar system, the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]'' came across ''[[Ghost 1|a vessel]]'' that bore a resemblance to Megatron's [[alternate mode]]. Starscream went to investigate it, intending to destroy it. After chasing off [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], he communicated with the creatures aboard the vessel, who called themselves [[human]]s. Starscream claimed that his people once lived with the [[Autobot]]s, and that their treacherous leader, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], started a war for the AllSpark. The humans told him of a robotic creature that they had found on their world, and Starscream, recognizing it as Megatron, told them it was an Autobot scout. While communicating with them, he downloaded all the information on their computers, learning that the AllSpark was also located on Earth. He offered to help the humans to return to their world if they helped Starscream's group attack the Autobots, hoping that Prime would destroy them and be guilt-stricken in the process. The humans attacked Optimus and Bumblebee, but the two Autobots escaped. After their ship sank into a cavern, Starscream revealed his true nature and abandoned them. As a result, the humans concluded neither faction could be fully trusted. Way to make first contact there, Starscream.

Returning to the battle, he lied to his fellow Decepticons, claiming that the two Autobots were dead and that he'd been unable to communicate with the humans. Blackout, unconvinced by the story, challenged Starscream to single combat. Starscream won, and the Decepticons launched an attack on the ''[[Ark (Movie)|Ark]]''. Unfortunately for Starscream, Optimus, Bumblebee and the human vessel showed up. Starscream, fearful of the information that the ship contained, ordered the Decepticons to destroy it. Unfortunately, Starscream experienced a minor mutiny when Bonecrusher and Blackout demanded answers, and even Barricade wanted to know why. As the battle drew to a close, Starscream was in a position to terminate Prime but came under fire from the humans' weapons. Seriously damaged, Starscream finished them off with a single plasma blast, then ordered the Decepticons to retreat, despite the advantage they had over the Autobots. The Autobots figured that Starscream would not risk traveling to [[Earth]] for fear of losing power, but Prime figured that it was only a matter of time before the desire for vengeance and the lure of the AllSpark brought the Decepticons to that world. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

===''Transformers'' (2007 film)===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Tadashi Miyazawa]] (Japan), [[José Sant'anna]] (Brazil), [[Axel Lutter]] (German), [[Luigi Scribani]] (Italian), [[Germán Fabregat]] (Latin American-Spanish)

[[Image:Movie2007_Starscream_HooverDam.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Starscream without the [[null-ray]]?! But... how can the fans possibly ''survive'' such a wanton desecration of their childhoods??]]

Starscream was lying in wait at a [[United States military|US]] air base when covert agent [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] reported that the [[AllSpark]] had been located, along with Megatron, underneath [[Hoover Dam]]. Though he had long feared this day would come, Starscream ordered the rest of the Decepticons to mobilize. The others responded, with Blackout rallying in the name of Megatron.

[[Image:Starscreammovieheadshot.jpg|right|250px|thumb|It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... a bird-legged freak that transforms into a plane.]]

The first to arrive, Starscream attacked the hydroelectric power plant attached to the dam to cause havoc to [[Sector Seven|Sector Seven's]] operations and to speed the thawing of Megatron. With Frenzy's sabotage, Megatron quickly broke free of his icy restraints and escaped the facility. He almost immediately met with the waiting Starscream, who repledged his loyalty to Megatron. Demanding to know what had happened to the AllSpark, Megatron was told by his [[second-in-command]] that it was now in the possession of the humans. Furious, Megatron berated his lieutenant for yet another failure. What a warm reunion.

During the assault on a [[Mission City|nearby city]], Starscream fooled [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox's]] unit by posing as an [[wikipedia:F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor]] providing cover. Starscream launched an attack that crippled [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] as [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] realized too late who the fighter really was. As [[Sam Witwicky|ladiesman217]] ran with the AllSpark, Starscream swooped down, blocking his path, only to be attacked by both Ironhide and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. After fighting without much effort, but still besting them, Starscream took to the skies again, instead of securing the AllSpark from the now-defenseless ladiesman217.

[[Image:Starscreammoviestillrobot.jpg|left|250px|thumb|How do you feel, mighty traffic? Yah!]]

While Megatron attempted to retrieve the AllSpark from ladiesman217, Starscream perched on nearby buildings and shot down an Army Blackhawk helicopter when it attempted to help the human evacuate the Cube. Eventually, real F-22 Raptors from the US Air Force arrived, and Starscream disguised himself. Pretending to be a part of their squadron, Starscream surprised the human pilots by transforming in mid-air and destroying three of the Raptors before he was fired upon. He transformed back into his disguise and fled, and was not seen in the closing moments of the battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron. (Or was he?)

[[Image:Starscream bails.JPG|right|250px|thumb|I will rule the sequel, Megatron! Even if I am the only one ''in'' the sequel!]]

Most of the Decepticons were defeated, and their bodies cast into the deepest part of the ocean. Ultimately, Starscream retreated from Earth to parts—and with intentions—unknown. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers}}
{{-}}

===Toy bios===
{{notemoviebio}}

Fleeing from the Mission City fiasco, Starscream repaired and reenergised himself from a nearby power plant, then fled into deep space to find Decepticon reinforcements. {{storylink|Starscream (Movie)/toys#Voyager Class toys|Deep Space Starscream}}

He eventually decided this was too time-consuming, and went back to Earth in a new stealthy form to wait for the Decepticons, alerted by the energy signature of the AllSpark's destruction, to come to ''him''. He succeeded in building a small army, and had them distract the Autobot forces while he launched a surprise attack on a lone Optimus. {{storylink|Starscream (Movie)/toys#Legends Class toys|Nightwatch Optimus Prime vs. Stealth Starscream}} The battle ended with Optimus still alive and the Decepticons beaten on Earth. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Fast Action Battlers|Fire Blast Optimus Prime}}

===Beast Wars Diorama Story===
At some point, Starscream and multiple Autobots and Decepticons traversed dimensions and found themselves on a different [[Earth]], in the distant past. They crossed paths with new Transformer factions, the [[Maximal]]s and the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s, who were engaged in a conflict called the [[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]. A battle broke out between the four factions and Starscream found himself pitted against the Maximal [[Tigatron]]. He attempted to blast the Maximal from the high ground, only to get shot int he face, instead. [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] then double-teamed Starscream, defeating him. With the battle over, the Autobots and the Decepticons returned to their home dimension, leaving the Maximals and Predacons behind to settle the Beast Wars. {{storylink|Beast Wars Diorama Story}}

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{Note|The following event is unique to the Titan Magazines comic continuity and thus doesn't occur anywhere else.}}

Within seconds of Megatron's defeat, Starscream dubbed himself the new Decepticon leader, with the main problem being that he didn't actually have any troops to lead. To amend this slight impediment, he attacked several [[AllSpark Mutation]]s and removed the energy from their bodies, which he then proceeded to implant into the corpses of [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]]. With his former comrades reanimated in this [[Zombie|rudimentary manner]], he directed the shambling husks to attack the Autobots, who were still recovering from their battle that had just finished. While the Autobots eventually destroyed the zombies, Starscream had escaped with several AllSpark energy fragments still in his possession. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

{{notetitantlg}}

[[Image:Tf mag 10 2008.JPG|left|150px|thumb|So evil, boats spontaneously explode rather than face him.]]
Starscream remained on Earth serving under Megatron—and taking orders from [[Dropkick]], who's got a higher rank. In secret, however, he was using [[Insecticon (Movie)|Insecticons]] to implant cerebro-strips in the heads of useful humans; at will, he could control their minds, paving the way for a more subtle conquest when he finally got Megatron out of the way. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 14|Aftermath Part 1}}

He became aware of the moon-based Autobots and while ordered to join [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] in beating up [[NATO]], {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1}} he got bored during the mission and left as soon as he could to attack the moon-based Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 2}} He beat them up and viciously taunted them, forcing them to take the initiative and go to Earth—just as he wanted. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 11|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3}} As he hoped, the Autobots eventually won, killing Megatron, destroying the AllSpark and halting the cyberforming of Earth... leaving him free to take command of the Decepticons!

On top of that, he got his hands on the nanovirus the Autobots used on Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}} He also took the AllSpark interface module from Megatron's corpse and assimilated it. He started hearing Megatron's voice in his head some time after this... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

[[Image:InsecticonMovie.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Hey, Starscream's ''bugging'' us lolololololol]]

One of his first acts as leader was to begin a bombing campaign against any human attempt to rebuild infrastructure or regain a foothold in the United States. He then organised an attack that would get all the Autobots together so a NATO tank regiment (its commander under cerebro-strip control) could wipe them all out. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 14|Aftermath Part 1}} While this failed, Starscream has still ensured the new [[President of the United States]] is under cerebro control—and the Autobots have no idea he's in command... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|Aftermath Part 2}}

As well as secretly overseeing scorched-earth strategies and attempted Energon grabs, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}} he also gained [[Mikaela Banes]] as a cerebro-controlled slave. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 18|Return to Cybertron: Part 2}} When the bulk of the Autobots prepared to briefly leave Earth and had Mikaela watch over their [[Savannah]] base, Starscream just waited until they'd gone and effortlessly seized the place. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}} As a result, the six hundred square miles around the Autobot base were swiftly seized as an autonomous Decepticon nation, with all resistance smashed easily. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 20|Return to Cybertron: Part 4}} This means, shockingly, he actually ''is'' a better leader than Megatron. ''[[Jesus]]''.

[[Image:Starscream Titan22.JPG|left|210px|thumb|"Stop looking at me ''stop looking at me!''"]]
He sadistically taunted Mikaela, hoping there was part of her that was screaming for help, before dispatching [[Jazz (Movie)|the corrupted Jazz]] and [[Kullt]] to assassinate Optimus. It didn't work. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|Hard Target}}

While preparing an ambush for the Autobots who he knew would come for Mikaela, he ranted to the Megatron in his head how he'd been a ''far'' better leader and how he was about to kill all the Autobots. His ambush almost worked too, and he almost killed Prime himself—only for the Autobots to turn out to have had a better plan all along, and escape. Admitting to the voices that he had failed and demanding a strategy from then, he realised to his horror that Megatron's mind had wanted him to take the interface module and had downloaded his brain into it; The voice ''really was'' Megatron and he was demanding to be released! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

He didn't release him, though Megatron did feed Starscream a strategy—blackmailing America into booting the Autobots out, then having Allen nuke their ship. This plan was a success, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Revolution Part 1}} and a jubilant Starscream despatched his armies to seize the United States, all the while having his mind-controlled humans hamper ''any'' military counter-offensive. He was ''this'' close to total victory when [[Stockade (Movie)|''Stockade'']] turned up, turning a third of the drone armies and possibly two generals to his side, sparking a [[Decepticon Civil War]].

Watching everything collapse around him, a gibbering Starscream was visited by Megatron's voice again, telling him once again that the only way out was to release him and allow Megatron to live again... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Revolution Part 2}}

[[Image:Starscreamseesthings_Titan25.jpg|right|350px|thumb|"I'm as sane as the [[Thunderwing (G1)|next]] leader!"]]

...and this time, desperate and pressured, Starscream ''did''. With his mind now his own again, he realised to his horror what he'd done... but it was too late, he was now a minion again, and tasked to strafe Stockade's forces while Megatron took on the rebel himself. It all was for naught, however: the Autobots (surprisingly ''not'' dead!) intervened and forcibly teleported all the Decepticons to Cybertron, leaving Starscream trapped there ''forever''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part Three}}

====Star Screams====
{{Note|The following details Starscream's tenure as letter-answerer on the Star Screams letters page.}}

{{bigquote|You could mark [your letters] 'All Hail Starscream' so long as you make it clear this is in no way a reflection on our glorious leader or a prelude to some sort of coup. Just so that we're clear on that.|Star Screams}}

[[Image:Star Screams logo.JPG|left|150px|thumb|Hate mail!]]
As of issue 7, he runs the letters page (renamed Star Screams from the original Mech Mail). He hates the letters, the readers, the comic, the editorial team, and probably the baby [[Jesus]]—but he's still got nothing on ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream's]] [[Armada (Panini comic)|letter-answering stint]]. The source of his misanthropy appears to be that nobody ever sent in fan-art of him (#8). The few things he does like are recycling and environmental measures (#14), girls becoming Transformers fans (#19), and [[To sell toys|humans collecting his action figures]].

Autobot sympathisers are hunted down to be exterminated, especially those who dress up as Autobots (#8, #12 and #17), and even the Prime Minister isn't safe (#24). That said, Starscream appears to have a soft spot for his own fans—in #11, when a female reader complained her mum and aunt kept telling her she was too old for Transformers, he announced that the offending relatives had been shortlisted to spend forever polishing his armour with their own spit, bless.

In #8, he revealed he hates the movie because his best scenes and lines were cut out, and #13 confirmed the Decepticon army loathes [[Michael Bay]] for producing pro-Autobot propaganda. This still hasn't prevented him from shilling Bay's second documentary ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', as he believes it will depict a Decepticon victory (#10) and is going to ignore the script if it says otherwise (#18). Since then, however, he has come under the sway of an unknown higher power in regards to the film, one Starscream fears (#22)...

In #7, he expressed concern that this "[[Simon Furman|Fur-Man]]" was a [[Maximal]] agent, and warned that Titan Magazines would be destroyed if they continued to produce Autobot propaganda. By #13, the Decepticons appear to have taken over Titan and have imprisoned the staff and creators in cages, forcing them to work merely for food—it is surely no coincidence that during this period, Starscream became a successful leader of the Decepticons in the comic strip and that Starscream began wanting more issues brought out. This mistreatment is causing severe physical trauma to [[Steve White]] and [[Den Patrick]] (#19) though Fur-Man is still a free agent and is evading Decepticon capture (#21). Writer [[Robin Etherington]] appears to have angered him, as Starscream is believed to have deliberately miscredited one of his stories in #24. [http://www.studioblinktwice.com/announce.php?Year=2009]

He has incredible hate for [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], gleefully recounting the guy's horrible death and going berserk in #9 at the idea of Jazz answering the letters.

While he has said he talks to himself to get intelligent conversation and doesn't trust anyone (#9), he has shown some signs of wanting company: he hoped the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]] jets would all be reunited in the next film (#9), is trying to convince [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] to be in it too (#15), and wishes Ironhide would join the Decepticons (#16). Despite wanting to re-unite with Thundercracker, he shows contempt for the guy's lack of drive (#11). He views [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and Soundwave as potential successors if anything ever happens to him (#21). He also appreciates [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout's]] work (#23) and while he's annoyed the helicopter is more popular than him, he did go to the trouble of giving the guy a proper burial. (#25)

Starscream appears to have had several "off the record" adventures. He has revealed he once had an [[Starscream (G1)|F-15 mode]] and liked it (#9), openly confirming he was [[:Image:Starscream 1982.jpg|active in 1982]] and the impetus for the [[Hungry Dragon]] cover-up. He also refers to [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] also being an F-15 (#11), implying both were active in [[1982]]. He has also had some experience with and knowledge of [[Unicron]] (#12), something [[Transformers Comic issue 19|no other Transformer had]] and something that terrified him (#17), and in which he apparently witnessed Unicron trying to devour Cybertron (#19)...

He maintains that his voice is not [[Chris Latta|scratchy]] in any way.

Eventually, however, the constant stress of the letters drove him to a nervous breakdown, and he was sent to a very special home (or "on a mission of great importance", according to his cover story). He still produces a regular horrorscope. (Vol.2 #1) [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] has wondered about Starscream's ongoing absence, noting the home must have better security than the Decepticons first thought! (Vol.2 #12)

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie comics===
{{bigquote|My plan failed, or was it my troops that failed me? I can only process the situation and hope for a conclusion. There are allies on Earth, and more scattered across the Galaxy. I will seek them out. By my side they will join, and in time, I '''will''' have my kingdom... regardless of the location.|Starscream|[[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|The Reign of Starscream #5]]}}

Starscream assumed the role of [[Decepticon leader]] on Earth following Megatron's defeat and the destruction of the AllSpark. Though tempted to exact revenge on the humans, he realized he might be the last functional Decepticon on the planet, so he escaped Mission City to recover the badly-damaged Barricade. Starscream gave him orders to continue his reconnaissance of the Autobot once he was able, and headed for Hoover Dam to retrieve Frenzy. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}

Starscream made his way to Hoover Dam, taking out masses of human soldiers and a [[Landmine (Movie)|less-than-functional attack drone]]. Starscream took a [[Salazar|human captive]] along with Frenzy's body, but the fleshling didn't survive the Decepticon's trip to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. However, the trip, combined with the damage from the battle took its toll and upon finding his starship, he had to be helped inside by [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]]. The pair discussed Thundercracker's progress with the space bridge terminal, the physiology of humans and the abilities of Starscream's new form. While recharging, he ordered Thundercracker to download the information from Frenzy; however, an Autobot scouting party interrupted their efforts. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream #2}}

[[Image:ROSWannabet.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Let's hope that Dreadwing isn't revived by Unicron.]]
Starscream ordered Thundercracker and the drones to deal with them while he prepared for take off. After recovering, he made short work of the Autobots and dragged a damaged Thundercracker inside the ship, before activating the terminal and warping to Cybertron. He handed Thundercracker over to [[Ramjet (Movie)|Ramjet]], and ordered construction of a [[replica AllSpark]], based on Frenzy's data. Approaching Megatron's citadel, Starscream, still impressed by the power his new form gave him, destroyed the former leader's figurehead. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 3|The Reign of Starscream #3}}

A [[Units of time|quartex]] later, Starscream ruminated about ruling over a Cybertron free of war or factions, as well as bringing certain [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|war criminals]] to justice. He arrived at the AllSpark construction yard, busted [[Crankcase (Movie)|Crankcase]]'s vocal processor for whining too much, and chained him up along with [[Elita-One (Movie)|four]] [[Warpath (Movie)|enslaved]] [[Signal Flare (Movie)|Autobot]] [[Grindcore (Movie)|prisoners]] on the new AllSpark, ready to offer up their lives in exchange for a new life for Cybertron. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 4|The Reign of Starscream #4}}

[[Image:StarscreamandWreckageAlliance2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Yes, it is!]]

Things sort of went downhill from there, though. First, the AllSpark replica didn't work; then [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] rebelled. Then they saw that Arcee had snuck aboard Starscream's ship, led an Autobot attack on [[Simfur]] and destroyed the new AllSpark. In the ensuing chaos, Starscream, along with his few remaining loyal subjects, fought off the army of Dreadwing drones and assorted other traitors. Starscream tracked Dreadwing to the space bridge as he took a starship through it. By the time the ship arrived on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], it was damaged by Starscream's attack, but Dreadwing survived. However, Starscream also survived, revealed himself, and ripped out Dreadwing's spark core. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 5|The Reign of Starscream #5}}

After Dreadwing's betrayal, Starscream relocated to Earth, his aspirations for leadership and his faith in his fellow Decepticons shattered. As he brooded and carved AllSpark runes onto his exo-structure, he picked up a transmission from [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], informing Starscream of Optimus Prime's forthcoming journey to a Sector Seven facility where Wreckage was held. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance #1}} Starscream recorded a message chronicling Megatron's death, the destruction of the Cube and Wreckage's betrayal before he left Mars. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] found the message upon his return to Earth, and deemed it a suicide note. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 4}}

Starscream arrived on Earth not long after Wreckage escaped. The two engaged in a heated battle, each accusing the other of betrayal. Wreckage managed to gain the upper hand, but the timely arrival of Bumblebee gave Starscream the chance to kill Wreckage. He thanked Bumblebee by blasting him, but was contacted by Soundwave before he could finish the job. Shocked that Soundwave was still alive, Starscream left with renewed vigor, believing Soundwave held the key to making a new army. Rendezvousing on Mars, Starscream informed Soundwave of Megatron's death and the AllSpark's loss, and was pleased when he was told a number of troops were headed for Earth, with more in stasis. After receiving co-ordinates to Soundwave's ship, a more enthusiastic Starscream left for the ''Nemesis'', aiming to bring the troops aboard out of stasis while Soundwave carried out "[[Star harvester|other orders]]". {{storylink|Alliance issue 2|Alliance #2}}
{{-}}

===''The Veiled Threat'' prequel novel===
{{Note|The events of ''The Veiled Threat'' take place during [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Alliance (comic)|Alliance]]'' comic.}}
Starscream was in [[Zambia]] where he gained control of the rebel [[Human Accessory Force]] by synthesizing [[gold]] coins with his own body. He sent [[Macerator]], [[Dropkick]] and [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] to blow up a series of dams along the Zambezi River. Although the three Decepticons were stopped by [[NEST]], Starscream intercepted them and killed [[Beachbreak]], who was hoisting [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] up Victoria Falls. He then oversaw the Decepticons attack on a dam along the Zambezi, but the action saw the loss of Macerator and Payload. With their plan in ruins, Starscream ordered Dropkick to retreat.

Little did Starscream know that not all of the troops Soundwave had brought were so eager to serve him for merely succeeding to the Decepticon throne. A number of Decepticons were working in secret to amass vast quantities of energy to locate Megatron and jump start his spark. Upon discovering the existence of this faction, Optimus surmised that Starscream would be hard pressed to withstand a coup, and the only way to secure his claim would be to destroy Optimus and the Autobots quickly.

Starscream flew to [[Italy]] where he allied with criminal mastermind [[Bruno Carrera]], promising him rule of Europe once Starscream ruled Earth if he helped kill Optimus Prime. [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]] and [[Jolt (Movie)|Deadend]] drew NEST to Rome, where Starscream challenged Optimus to one-on-one combat in the Coliseum: it was a trap, and Optimus fell through a hidden door into a set of restraints in an underground tunnel built by Carrera. The humans helped Optimus escape though, and Starscream flew off to pay Carrera back for his failure. {{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

[[Image:Titan1_FallenStarscream.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hey! C'mon on outa there you!]]

With Megatron dead, Starscream found himself as one of [[The Fallen]]'s proxies and was not too happy with the idea of working for another guy ''again''. He organised <strike>his</strike> the Fallen's Decepticon army and took them to Cybertron on the Fallen's orders. Unfortunately he was spied on by [[Mudflap (ROTF)|two]] [[Skids (ROTF)|Autobots]], and failed to exterminate them before they fled to Earth. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.1|Training Day}} News of this made the Fallen ''very unhappy'', who ordered Starscream to remain on Cybertron and ''not fail again''. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.2|Dogfight!}}

After the Twins' bumbling on Earth, they were suspected of being double agents and were to be sent into orbitary exile. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ordered Starscream to take out the Twins' military escort in an effort to make them defect. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}}

[[Image:Titan8_Starscreamlastwords.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Are my eyes blue?]]

Later, after the Decepticons had captured the lost [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]], Starscream sat in on Soundwave's interrogation of the old fogey. However, Ransack refused to tell them, and Starscream had to step in to stop an angry Soundwave from killing the guy. He volunteered to interrogate the ancient Seeker himself, but Ransack found the whole thing laughable: he knew the Decepticons were operating their ''own'' agenda while the Fallen was incapacitated, but they'd soon learn their freedom was just an illusion.

A few seconds later, the twins arrived to bust the base up. Starscream and Soundwave soon put an end to ''that'', and Starscream gleefully prepared to exterminate Mudflap at long last... Whoops, that gave Ransack the chance to shoot Starscream in the back and leg it! Desperate to keep the Fallen from knowing they'd been up to anything, Starscream and the other 'Cons chased after the Seeker. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}

{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[José Sant'anna]] (Portuguese), [[Tadashi Miyazawa]] (Japanese), [[Axel Lutter]] (German), [[Luigi Scribani]] (Italian), [[Germán Fabregat]] (Latin American-Spanish)

[[Image:ROTF Megatron choke Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"We really shouldn't fight in front of the chil—" "SHUT UP!"]]
Starscream was unconcerned with reviving his leader Megatron, choosing to spend his time as acting commander on the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'' engineering a new army. His plan was failing miserably, as without [[energon (fuel)|energon]] the [[hatchling]]s were dying. After [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] successfully executed his plan to resurrect Megatron, Starscream (who may or may not have known of said plan) attempted to welcome his commander with open arms, only to be criticized for leaving him for dead. Starscream defended his actions by saying [[The Fallen]] decreed the spawning of a new army, and that in Megatron's absence, someone had to take command. This was a bad choice of words on Starscream's part, as Megatron slammed him into a hatchling sack and told him the simple truth: even in death, there is no command greater than Megatron's.

Megatron noted the plight of the hatchlings though, and sought the advice of the Fallen, whom Starscream had kept on life support, on another source of energon now that the [[AllSpark]] was destroyed. The Fallen revealed there was another source, and that the key to attaining it was through the boy who had killed Megatron. But first, The Fallen commanded that they kill [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the last of the [[Dynasty of Primes]], so that he would be safe. Since Optimus would come to protect Sam, it would be a simple matter to capture him. Starscream arrived and announced that they had [[Alice|an agent]] within sight of the boy. He was eager to get that energon, as the hatchlings would keep dying without it.

[[Image:ROTF Starscream Sam Mikaela.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Damn things are everywhere.]]
Starscream aided in [[Sam Witwicky]]'s capture by cutting open the car [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] had captured him in, and watched as Megatron and [[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]] threatened to dissect him for the information in his mind from the AllSpark regarding the energon source. Optimus and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] arrived to rescue Sam: Starscream let Megatron do most of the fighting in the factory, before Optimus blasted him through the wall and drove off with Sam to a forest.

[[Image:ROTF Prime Starscream arm.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"MY ARM!" "Oh, you want it back? HERE!"]]
Starscream arrived, immediately going for the boy, but Prime ran interference, grabbing Starscream, suplexing him, and kicking off part of his mouth, leading the three Decepticons to gang up on him. Surprisingly, it went quite poorly for the Decepticons: Prime was able to take on all three, using Starscream as a shield and sending his artillery flying at Grindor. After stabbing Megatron multiple times, Optimus ripped off Starscream's arm. Starscream could only cry out in horror as Optimus then used it as a club against the Decepticon. Although Optimus managed to kill Grindor, Megatron eventually managed to kill Optimus, but before they could retrieve Sam, the rest of the Autobots arrived while Bumblebee spirited Sam away. Megatron and Starscream were forced to retreat.

[[Image:ROTF_movie_MegatronStarscream_roofchat.jpg|thumb|right|300px|25 years later and I'm still your punching bag!]]

Starscream and Megatron flew to the top of a [[New York City]] skyscraper, where Starscream revealed that they had lost track of the boy. Megatron berated Starscream and hit him with the detached arm he was trying to stick in, furious that he lost track of a single insect. Starscream countered that there were seven billion insects on the planet, and that he could be anywhere at this point. Megatron decided to reveal the Decepticons' presence to the world: Starscream stood openly atop a skyscraper during the rejuvenated Fallen's announcement to the world.

After Soundwave learned that the boy was in [[Egypt]], Starscream flew to investigate. Locating the boy, he fired upon Bumblebee, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], who had Sam, [[Mikaela Banes]], [[Leo Spitz]] and [[Seymour Simmons]] as their passengers, bombing them to no avail. Bumblebee, Simmons, Leo, and the Twins drew Starscream's fire while Sam and Mikaela fled to the NEST soldiers. During his flyby of the NEST team, he released an electromagnetic pulse that took out the humans' communications, but saw Prime's body. Meeting Megatron atop the pyramid which hid the harvester, Starscream informed Megatron of his discovery, and Megatron ordered the [[Operation: Firestorm|assault]] to begin.

[[Image:ROTF Starscream grab.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Ceiling Seeker is watching you masturbate. And he will no longer tolerate it.]]

As Sam and Mikaela tried to reach Optimus to revive him with the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Starscream led several [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] and [[Protoform]]s in a search for Sam. It wasn't going very well, to the point that Starscream literally started shooting the ground in anger. An [[Insecticon (Movie)|Insecticon]] managed to find them, and Starscream tore the roof off the building they were in, but the two humans managed to lose them again. Starscream then ordered [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] to hold Sam's parents [[Ron Witwicky|Ron]] and [[Judy Witwicky|Judy]] for ransom: Sam was ready to exchange the Matrix, but Bumblebee rescued them and killed Rampage. Starscream was soon drawn into the battle with [[NEST]], and was unable to search for Sam any longer.

[[Image:ROTF Starscream cowards survive.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"Not to call you a coward-Oh heck, you are a coward!"]]
Starscream watched from the sidelines as Optimus was resurrected by the Matrix, and combined with [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]]. Although the Fallen had obtained the Matrix and activated his star harvester, as he had predicted, the last of the Primes killed the Fallen and destroyed the harvester. Starscream stood next to Megatron, who had lost his right arm and had half his face blown off thanks to Optimus Prime, and advised that they should flee (cowards do survive after all), something that Megatron acknowledged. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}
{{-}}

===Cyber Missions===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Bronco D. Jackson]] (English), [[Andrés García]] (Latin American-Spanish)
[[Image:CyberMissions10 Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Toy accuracy wasted on a fiction no one even knew existed.]]
Starscream watched from the air as [[Mindwipe (ROTF)|Mindwipe]] interrogated [[Jack (ROTF)|Jack]]. As the other Decepticon announced the Energon would be his, Starscream corrected his obviously erroneous statement. When they found the convoy, Starscream dropped mines on the road in front of [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]], knocking loose the trailer-load of energon. While Mindwipe turned his hypnotic abilities on the two Autobots, Starscream landed behind them. The two Decepticons' bickering allowed Sideswipe to break Mindwipe's concentration, and he began grappling with Starscream while Ratchet went for the energon. Starscream quickly got the better of Sideswipe and threatened to rip his spark out, but Ratchet responded by throwing the energon and Mindwipe off a nearby cliff. Starscream dived after it, ignoring Mindwipe's pleas for help, and grabbed the energon. Ratchet shot the energon which exploded, but Starscream subsequently streaked from the flames in his jet mode, and the two Autobots decided to find somewhere safe to take cover. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 10}}

Starscream met up with Megatron in the Arctic sometime later, but it was far from a pleasant reunion - Megatron was pissed that Starscream openly defied him, and once again reminded him of his absolute power. Optimus arrived, and a two on one duel ensued. Soon, the Autobots arrived, and Starscream broke off to leave the duel to be leader-to-leader. Starscream took on Ratchet, Ironhide, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe all at once, and eventually was defeated. Starscream quickly fled the scene. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 12}}

Later, Megatron led Starscream, Barricade, Mindwipe, and Bludgeon to rescue the imprisoned Soundwave from the Autobots. However, Soundwave was only a hologram, and Optimus confronted the Decepticons. Megatron once again dueled Optimus, and Starscream told the others to wait until Megatron wore the Autobot leader down, then attack Optimus... only for Ratchet, Ironhide, and Bumblebee to arrive. In the ensuing battle, Starscream tried to flee, but was fired at by Ironhide, and Starscream retaliated by tackling and grappling with Ironhide on the ground. The Autobots' human allies arrived, and outnumbered the Decepticons a hundred to one, and Megatron was once again defeated by Optimus. The Autobot leader gave the Decepticons a choice: leave Earth or fight and die. Starscream, naturally, was the first to leave and abandon his leader, and Mindwipe and Bludgeon followed. {{storylink|Decepticons Attack}}
{{--}}

===Titan Magazines post-''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===

[[Image:Titan17_Starscreamstatue.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Hasbro's just losing the battle against copyright infringement...]]

Starscream wanted to create his ''own'' Decepticon army and assumed there had to be some Energon sources and artifacts still on Earth to enable this: after all, why else would the Autobots stay? He tore through [[Peru]]'s Amazon rainforest looking for Energon and, in the process, a local tribe began worshipping him and erecting statues in his honour. He briefly thought about recruiting them.

When an Autobot/human team arrived, Starscream briefly engaged them in combat and shrugged off claims that they ''hadn't got'' an ulterior motive for being on Earth. To cover his retreat, he set fire to the rainforest so the Autobots would have to put it out rather than follow him. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.17|The Kingdom of Starscream}}

{{-}}

===IDW ''Dark of the Moon'' comics===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Starscream}}{{storylink|Rising Storm issue 1}}{{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2}}{{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler]] (English), [[Tadashi Miyazawa]] (Japanese), [[Germán Fabregat]] (Latin American Spanish)

Oh, how it pained Starscream to see his poor master Megatron in such a weak, damaged state at Decepticon High Command in Africa when he arrived back from an unknown venture. Megatron told Starscream to stuff it, and that he only knew what he was told. Starscream watched as [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]] reported to Megatron that the Autobots had discovered the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]] on the planet's moon and returned with an unknown, special, cargo.

Later in Washington, D.C., as [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] summoned a Decepticon army to Earth via Space Bridge, Starscream was surprised to learn that Sentinel had been leaving to defect all those many years ago. Starscreeam noted the brilliance in Megatron's scheme, and asked if Sentinel was now his partner, and Megatron retorted that Sentinel was his greatest achievement, and explained that they were to meet up on Earth, but both were waylaid by fate.

[[Image:DOTM - StarscreamSaw.jpg|left|thumb|300px|The film is in 3D? Great! Now I can kill real life Humans!]]Later, when the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' departed Earth, Starscream had been lying in wait for such a moment, and swooped in for the kill, destroying the ship and presumably all eleven Autobots on board. Starscream subsequently helped take Chicago for the Decepticons, and stood by his leader as they worked on their plan to bring Cybertron itself into Earth's atmosphere with Sentinel's Space Bridge. He attacked the Ospreys carrying [[William Lennox|Lennox's]] team as they tried to sneak into Chicago using wing suits. Although Starscream took out most of the aircraft, Lennox and many soldiers managed to jump to safety.

[[Image:Dotm_Starscream_BOOM.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I know I don't have a head, but can I still become a ghost?]]

Later in the battle, Starscream took several potshots at [[Robert Epps|Epps]]'s team, separating [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] and [[Carly Spencer|Carly]] from the soldiers. Starscream relished a chance to be alone with the fleshling once again, and toyed with the human while trying to kill him. However, Sam had a "boomstick" and a grappling hook from [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]] on hand, and stabbed the grappling hook into Starscream's optic, partially and painfully blinding the Decepticon; and later stabbed the boomstick into his remaining optic. Starscream began to lose it, flailing and screaming in panic and pain, to the point of trying to scrape it out of his eye on the ground, all the while cursing at the vile human filth. Moments later, [[William Lennox|Lennox]]'s team arrived on scene and began firing on him. Lennox attempted to free a dangling Sam from the grappling wire, but the panicked Starscream flew up to the top of a nearby building, taking them both with him. Just as he swore to kill the two humans the boomstick finally went off, blowing Starscream's head apart and causing parts of his chest to explode, leaving only his lifeless body to fall to the ground. Lennox and Sam were saved from the fall by [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] and Sam nervously assured everyone Starscream was dead. {{storylink|Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}} or was he?

{{-}}

==Games==
{{picsneeded|Game screen shots, cut scenes, whatever}}
===3D Battle-Card Game===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game}}

===''Transformers'': The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Daniel Ross]]

====Autobot campaign====
Starscream, Blackout, and a pair of [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] drones took on [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] during the battle of [[Mission City]], but the smaller Autobot managed to beat all four of them. Guess he finally got to fight the big ones. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

====Decepticon campaign====
Starscream coordinated the missions for Blackout and Barricade while hiding in a military base. After receiving information from Barricade that Megatron had been located, Starscream ordered him to proceed to Hoover Dam, while he himself went to locate [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]. However, the humans were aware of the three Decepticons and used drones, weapon platforms, and fighters based on Cybertronian design. Starscream was forced to move back and forth between Bonecrusher and Brawl, rescuing them from human attackers, all to background music far too heroic for someone of Starscream's character. After taking a moment to enjoy the ruin he had made of the base, Starscream proceeded to Hoover Dam. Blackout informed him that the structure was blocking their scans, so Starscream ordered him to tear it down piece by piece to find Megatron and the AllSpark. When Megatron emerged, Starscream bowed before his [[Lord High Protector|Lord]].

At [[Mission City]], Starscream took a moment to [[Ramjet (G1)|ram]] Optimus Prime during the latter's duel with Megatron, and tried to go head to head with Optimus Prime but was knocked away. After Megatron absorbed the AllSpark and Earth was decimated, Starscream stood at his master's left side as the Decepticon leader declared their business on Earth was concluded.

There is an unlockable skin for Starscream that gives him a G1 paintjob. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

===Transformers: Autobots (DS)===
:''Voice actor'': [[Daniel Ross]]

While on a mission in the Arctic to find and destroy Megatron and recover the AllSpark, [[Create-A-Bot (Autobot)|Create-A-Bot]] and Ironhide ran into the air commander during their escape. Making Create-A-Bot run for cover, Ironhide took on Starscream and his lackeys (despite mentioning he's "getting too old for this"). Once defeated, Starscream took off into the atmosphere, never to be seen again. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Autobots}}

{{Note|Starscream is the only Decepticon in this version of the game who is not definitively destroyed. (Bonecrusher isn't included, since Prime cut off his head on his way in. Bonecrusher hates this game because of that.) Starscream's body type appears as Skydive, unlockable with 2500 WiFi Tokens. In the US, this feature is also unlockable by downloading the ''Transformers'' preview movie from a Target DS Download Station.}}

===Transformers: Decepticons (DS)===
:''Voice actor'': [[Daniel Ross]]

After the disappearance of Megatron nearly a million years ago (yeah, we know), Starscream took over the Decepticons as their high commander. Arriving on Earth, he instructed [[Create-A-Bot (Decepticon)|Create-A-Bot]] to follow Barricade until he arrived. However, none of the other Decepticons would trust him, and he confided in Create-A-Bot a great number of secrets, including the location of the AllSpark and the identity of the lost Decepticon they were retrieving: [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Starscream reasoned that he hid these things because revealing them would lead to a power struggle, but no one bought it except the naive rookie.

Soon, though, the other Decepticons revealed the reason for their lack of faith (which Create-A-Bot found disturbing): Starscream was a morally ambiguous backstabber. Of course, Megatron wasn't much better, since he was a treacherous, black-hearted face-stabber, but at least he let you know where you stood with him. Once the Autobots returned the AllSpark to Tranquility, he gave chase after a now-AllSpark-empowered Bumblebee (in the single most frustrating level of the game), caught the "babbling fool", and destroyed a meddlesome Blackout, until Barricade got in the way.

After threat of execution for treason, Starscream proceeded to show the smaller Decepticon WHY Megatron picked him as his second-in-command: his brute strength and incredible battle strategy. After a severe thrashing, Create-A-Bot arrived with intent to kill. However, Starscream now had the AllSpark and was nearly unstoppable. They proceeded to battle over the Casino Strip, where Create-A-Bot took the AllSpark from him and smashed it into his chest. Create-A-Bot was knocked back and severely damaged by the blast, but Starscream remained as powerful as ever, perhaps more so now that the AllSpark had merged with his body. However, as was quickly proven, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscreams]] who receive [[Starscream (Armada)|ungodly power]] tend to explode, as Megatron found him and proceeded to chase and tear him apart. In his last breath, Starscream spat on Megatron's name, saying there would always be those who would question his power. Megatron simply replied by smashing his face in. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Decepticons}}

{{note|Starscream's body type is available in two forms, the regular Starscream playable in certain missions (unlocked by beating the game) and G1 Starscream, based on the Target exclusive retooling/redeco. The G1 body is unlocked by earning 2500 WiFi tokens, or by downloading the preview movie for the game from a Target DS Download Station.}}

===Transformers: The Game (PSP)===
Starscream attacked Hoover Dam to free Megatron from his "tomb". Afterwards, he battled [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] over the leadership of the Decepticons back on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)|Transformers The Game}}
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===Autobot Stronghold===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Autobot Stronghold}}

===Transformers: Battle for the Matrix===
{{Note|Battle for the Matrix is a simplified retelling of the events of [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]. It can be played from the perspective of either Bumblebee or Optimus Prime. Starscream is a recurring foe.}}
[[Image:Starscream battleforthematrix.jpg|thumb|200px|left |Basically the same thing as attacktix]] {{storylink|Transformers: Battle for the Matrix}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler]]

====Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC====
=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTF_360PS3PC_Starscream_AerialbotScout1.jpg|thumb|250px|Starscream demonstrating hardware accelerated graphics including particle effects, dynamic lighting, shinemaps, and Autobot-smashing.]]
Starscream served as the main aerial assault unit, utilizing his rapid-fire Gatling cannon and his homing missiles. He could also activate a [[Null Reactor]], which slowed enemies down and increased the damage he dealt to them.

After the Decepticons lost possesion of Mikaela, Starscream decided to seek out [[Theodore Galloway|NSA chief Galloway]], and force the location of the other remaining AllSpark shard, and Megatron's location, from him. The fleshing was known to be visiting one of several buildings around the canals of Sam and Mikaela's hometown, and Starscream destroyed each in turn, looking to flush out his target. Galloway was soon located, and Starscream took him for extraction.

The information gained from Galloway lead to the Decepticons capturing an AllSpark shard, and armed with this artifact, a team was sent to revive Megatron. Whilst other Decepticons descended into the sea to attend to their leader, Starscream and several Constructicons attacked the carrier group on the ocean surface. Seeking to eliminate their defense, Starscream destroyed the AA guns mounted on the larger craft, and then sank the small control boats in the area. Before long, Megatron rose from the ocean, and the Decepticons left the area.

When Sam and Bumblebee travelled to an east coast museum to meet with Jetfire, Starscream was ordered by Megatron to destroy the building and retrieve the boy. Although, under heavy fire from Autobots, Starscream collapsed the museum, Sam, Bumblebee and Jetfire escape via space bridge. After Megatron defeated their master [[The Fallen]], who was monotoring the progress of the [[star harvester]], Starscream immediately reported to Megatron that Optimus had deactivated the machine. Megatron took this reply well, and went off to activate The Fallen's hidden army of protoforms. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

=====Autobot campaign=====
Following Sam Witwicky's flight to Egypt with Jetfire, Starscream fled with his minions to the abandoned foundry where the Decepticons had previously held Sam. Locating him, Optimus Prime battled it out with Starscream, forcing the Air Commander to retreat.

Later, Starscream joined Megatron in attacking Optimus Prime and Jetfire in Egypt. As leader fought leader, [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]] fought [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]], with Jetfire holding his own against Starscream until Optimus defeated Megatron and helped defeat Starscream. As Jetfire held the Air Commander at his mercy, Megatron snuck up and ran Jetfire through with his sword, allowing the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

===Starscream Showdown===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Starscream Showdown}}

===Hunt for the Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Hunt for the Decepticons}}

===Revenge of the Fallen (mobile game)===
[[Image:ROTFMobile Starscream.jpg|thumb|84px|left]]
[[The Fallen]] sent Starscream to [[Shanghai]] to find a fragment of the [[AllSpark]]. He succeeded, but was found by [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]. Though the Autobot leader beat him, Starscream managed to escape and return to The Fallen with the AllSpark shard he'd found. He apologized to his master for failing to kill Optimus, but The Fallen was pleased with the AllSpark fragment, and sent Starscream to attack NEST HQ as a diversion. Starscream attempted to reach the central core before [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] but lost the race and was locked out. Furious, he fought Bumblebee but began losing badly, so he zapped Bumblebee with his [[null-ray|null ray]]. He was shortly afterward contacted by the resurrected [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and flew off back to the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Glu)}}
{{--}}
===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Steve Blum]]

====(Xbox 360/PS3)====

{{comingsoon}}

==Toys==
''See [[Starscream (Movie)/toys]].''

==Merchandise==
''See [[Starscream (Movie)/toys#Merchandise]].''

==Notes==
[[Image:ProtoformStarscreamProto.jpg|thumb|250px|Rar.]]
* Starscream's film design was initially conceptualized by designer [[Feng Zhu]].<ref>http://www.fengzhudesign.com/portfolio.html</ref>

* The card back of Protoform Starscream's packaging features a completely different, earlier head sculpt. What's more, this head design is featured on his protoform body in IDW's movie prequel comics. It's since become Starscream's standard "pre-Earth" face, likely out of consistency.

* His protoform was not the only design to get a new head. The earliest concepts of Starscream's head were more skull-like and oblong in shape. This was, of course, redesigned to look more "like a samurai helmet." Unlike the redesigned head of Megatron, Starscream's earlier face only shows up in ''one'' piece of media: the book [[Look and Find Transformers]].

* As revealed in ROTF's Blu-ray gallery, Starscream's final head design was one that was rejected for Megatron. Maybe that's why he's such a sycophant.

* On-screen in the first live-action movie, Starscream has only one short conversation with Megatron and a total screen time of less than 10 minutes. The tie-in fiction and the sequel are ''much'' kinder.

* In that 10 minutes in the first film, he was able to blow up a power plant, tear Bumblebee's legs in half with his missiles, gun down Ratchet and Ironhide like it was target practice, blow up a helicopter about to retrieve the Allspark, battle a team of F-22s, and escape the earth's atmosphere. A lot to do in just 10 minutes.

* It has been suggested that, following his attack on the F-22 squadron over the city, Starscream was able to hide among the survivors and take part in the attack on Megatron shortly thereafter. This theory is speculative; While it fits the character of the G1 Starscream from the '80s, there is nothing actually on the screen to suggest it. (Roberto Orci was asked, but refused to give a definite answer.)<ref>http://boards.transformersmovie.com/showpost.php?p=387172&postcount=185 Roberto Orci refusing to comment on the possibility of Starscream attacking Megatron during the final battle</ref>

* His bio for his Deep Space figure mentions that he re-energized himself at a power plant after the [[Mission City]] battle. Whilst this was not seen in the film, it appears [[The Real Effing Deal|others]] caught notice of it; [http://www.therealeffingdeal.com/blog/“mission-city-update-exclusive”/].

* The Sector Seven online ARG used the "[[Masterpiece]]" version of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to represent the "real" Starscream who had infiltrated Earth. A lot of Generation 1 cameos were made in this manner. Make of that what you will.

* Even though Starscream had only two lines of English dialogue in the first film, José Sant'anna, who played the Generation 1 character in the Brazilian dub of the original cartoon, was re-cast to play the role in the movie. However, his voice was so heavily modulated that only someone with a really good ear could recognize him. Go figure.

*Speaking of dialogue, most of his lines are in Cybertronian. He begins his role with speaking Cybertronian ("This is Starscream. All Decepticons mobilize.") and ends with another Cybertronian line that isn't subtitled. Of course, he could have been talking to himself (as he does when he reaches Sector Seven) or even cursing. Considering ''The Reign of Starscream'' has a guy exploding inside him at this point, swearing seems appropriate.

*The new downloadable content for the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' game on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 gives Starscream [[Starscream (G1)|another form]] and a [[Sunstorm (G1)|repaint of it]]. Because of this, Starscream ends up with the most alternate skins of any character. Huh...that [[Seeker (body-type)|sounds]] [[Starscream clone (Animated)|familiar]] [[Starscream (Armada)|somehow...]]

*He tends to slobber a lot when he talks. He's the Sylvester of the Decepticons.

*This has to be the only incarnation of Starscream to not turn on Megatron (Unless you include [[Starscream (SG)|him]]).

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Starscream''' (スタースクリーム ''Sutāsukurīmu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Sing Sing Giu''' (星星叫)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Üstökös''' ("Comet"), '''Csillagsikoly''' (Titan comics, "Starscream")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Tīen-wáng Hsīng''' (Taiwan, 天王星, "Uranus"), '''Hong Zhi Zhu''' (China, 紅蜘蛛, "Red Spider")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zorekryk''' (Зорекрик, "Dawnscream")

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/Starscream/starscream.htm Starscream at TFU.info]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Movie Decepticons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]