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Toxicity

2012-06-11T02:35:36Z

97.100.57.102: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 41
|prev=Triage
|next=
|image=
|caption=
|title="Toxicity"
|airdate=[[May 26]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Scooter Tidwell]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}
'''Bulkhead encounters life-threatening danger during the last relic hunt.'''

==Synopsis==
With other teams dispatched to find relics, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] visits the [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] hive and calls for a volunteer. [[Hardshell]] steps forward and Megatron sends him and three others to find the fourth and final relic. The four Insecticons arrive in a volcanic region on the equator and immediately split up.

At the Autobot base, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] watches [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] leave [[Jack Darby|with]] [[Bumblebee (Prime)|her]] [[Arcee (Prime)|team]] before he is dispatched to the area at the equator. Though he arrives at the correct coordinates, there's no relic there, but his search is interrupted by the approach of Hardshell. The Insecticon attacks Bulkhead and, after a brief exchange of words, the pair fight. Although he takes a few hits, the Wrecker flattens Hardshell, knocking a mandible off the Insecticon in the process. Bulkhead then heads downhill, realizing that an old lava flow may have taken the relic in the same direction. He keeps [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] updated back at base via radio. Meanwhile, Hardshell comes to and heads off with the other Insecticons to find their target.

Though leaking energon from his fight, Bulkhead manages to find the relic. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a toxic form of [[Energon]] known as [[Tox-En]], which Megatron could refine into a lethal bioweapon. Though Fowler suggests bringing it to base, Bulkhead realizes that he's going to have to dispose of it himself, "Wrecker style". Hardshell and the other Insecticons find the vessel shortly after, but as one of them goes to grab the small piece of Tox-En within, the grenade Bulkhead left behind explodes, leaving him fatally riddled with Tox-En shrapnel. Hardshell lets Megatron know about the Tox-En, but Megatron wants to know why Hardshell doesn't have the stuff yet.

Bulkhead, meanwhile, runs away from the volcano with the rest of the Tox-En, leaving a trail of leaking energon to throw off the Insecticons. As he turns and starts to head up the volcano, Bulkhead strikes up a conversation with Fowler about their past war-time careers and discovers they've more in common than they'd previously thought. However, as Bulkhead continues his journey, he begins to feel the effects of the toxic energon and almost succumbs to its spark-sapping properties. After Agent Fowler convinces him to keep going for the sake of duty and family, namely Miko, Bulkhead trudges on.

Meanwhile, Hardshell figures out the false trail, and he and the other Insecticons fly uphill. They catch up to Bulkhead, who has just arrived at the volcano's mouth, and surround him. Bulkhead throws a grenade at one Insecticon and jabs the Tox-En into Hardshell. The third Insecticon charges in bug mode, but Bulkhead decks it with the Tox-En and jabs the chunk into its shell before turning back to face Hardshell. Receiving the news that Miko is safe, Bulkhead begins sparring with Hardshell, though they are both now weakened from the toxic energon. Though Hardshell manages to get the better of Bulkhead, as he moves to finish the Wrecker off, Bulkhead works up the strength to throw Hardshell over to the Tox-En before flinging the monster towards a hole in the caldera crust leading down into the molten lava. Bulkhead then throws the Tox-En to Hardshell, and the dizzied Insecticon falls into the volcano, destroying the toxic relic. As Bulkhead heads for the [[GroundBridge]], Hardshell climbs out of the volcano and shoots the Autobot in the back, sending him flying through the GroundBridge to land within the Autobot base, his back burning. Ratchet, Raf, and Fowler see the smoke coming out of Bulkhead and run to his aid.

==Featured characters==



{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (2)
*[[Hardshell]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (10)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (12)
}}



==Quotes==
"I can has cheeseburger!"
:—Yes, '''Agent Fowler''' actually said that.

"When were you ever behind enemy lines?" 
"I wasn't always a 'Bot sitter." 
"Huh. Next you're gonna tell me that your mother doesn't tuck you in bed at night." 
"Not since basic training."
:—'''Bulkhead''' finds out that '''Agent Fowler''' knows things about being a soldier.

"Look soldier. You know as well as I do there's the mission. And the reason why you take the mission!..." 
"Honor... duty..." 
"Family. Which is why you need to do whatever it takes to finish this job and come home safely."
:—'''Agent Fowler''' tries to encourage a faltering '''Bulkhead'''.

"Wrecker! Put down the rock, and allow us to put you out of your misery!" 
(''Insecticons surround Bulkhead, who sighs and takes out a grenade'') 
"Gotta swat some flies..."
:—'''Hardshell''' confronts '''Bulkhead''' at the volcano's crater.

"Fowler... mission accomplished. Though you might have to... tuck me in."
:—Half-dead from Tox-En poisoning, and all '''Bulkhead''' needs is a nap? ''Hardcore''.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* After Hardshell punches Bulkhead during their first fight, the latter's cannons transform into maces without the usual sound effects.
* In the establishing shot of the Tox-En before the commercial break, there are two samples in the container; the larger one which Bulkhead takes with him, and the smaller one he leaves as a booby trap. After the commercial break, the same shot shows only the larger sample.
* When Megatron receives Hardshell's report on the Tox-En, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is standing behind him, with his visor undamaged. This clashes with the continuity of the arc; Soundwave should either be absent from the ship (if he's still embroiled in his relic hunt) or sporting a cracked visor from his battle with [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], as a later scene in this episode indicates that [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] is still on his own relic hunt.
* Only one Insecticon is shown accompanying Hardshell when the latter figures out that the Energon trail is a decoy. Although the other one could be scouting ahead, all previous scenes with the Decepticons tracking Bulkhead showed all three Insecticons in a group.
* When Bulkhead incapacitates one of the Insecticons with the Tox-En ("Here, hold this!"), it is in its beetle alt-mode. After it manages to shake to Tox-En off of its body, it is suddenly in robot mode after the shot of the crystal rolling on the ground.
** Speaking of that Insecticon, its fate is somewhat ambiguous. It falls over in a way that suggests that it's unconscious or dead, but Hardshell acts as though it is still online. Either way, it doesn't appear for the rest of the episode.
*How exactly can Bulkhead smell the volcanic landscape when neither he, nor any of the other Autobots, have noses?

===Continuity errors===
* In "[[Triangulation]]", Bulkhead is shown running through the GroundBridge for his mission. However, in this episode he is shown just walking through the bridge.
* It has been shown previously that Insecticons have blasters in their beetle mode (and, as Hardshell demonstrates at the end of the episode, in robot mode), and they show awareness of Tox-En's debilitating effects on their bodies...so why don't any of them try attacking Bulkhead from range, reducing the risk of Tox-En exposure? Even if they're trying to avoid hitting the Tox-En, they could certainly at least flank Bulkhead and attack from opposite sides.
* As Fowler tries to contact Bulkhead during the battle in the volcano's caldera, we see Ratchet and Raf downloading the Iacon database in the background (as seen in [[Triage|the previous episode]]). However, when the same scene was shown in "Triage", Fowler was silent for the duration of Ratchet and Raf's conversation.

===Continuity notes===
* This is the final episode of the four-part relic-hunting arc, all four parts of which happen concurrently. This episode focuses on Bulkhead and Fowler. Fowler's handling of [[Vogel]] in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and the Antarctic research base in "[[Triangulation]]" are shown from his point of view. Raf is also seen programming the virus that Ratchet installs in [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] in "[[Triage]]". The ending scene is the same as in "Triage".
* The room currently occupied by the Insecticon hive was previously used to store [[Dark Energon]] way back in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 2]]".
* During Bulkhead's first fight with Hardshell, the Insecticon delivers an attack that looks eerily similar to how [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] killed [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. The actual hit is obscured (the camera is set behind Hardshell), but it doesn't seem to do any visible damage (although this could be why Bulkhead was leaking energon after the fight).
**At the end of the fight, Bulkhead clocks Hardshell with a wicked uppercut, knocking off one of his mandibles. The scene plays out in a suspiciously similar fashion to how [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] lost one of his horns to a [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]"; the mandible even sticks point-first in the ground.
* Fowler makes mention of his old Army Ranger days, which he first mentioned in "[[Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime]]".
* Bulkhead flashes back to scenes from previous episodes when Fowler is trying to get him to continue the mission. First, he remembers several instances where his life was threatened, including:
**Leading [[Scraplet]]s through the GroundBridge into the Arctic in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
**Getting his Energon drained by the [[Energon Harvester|energon harvester]] in "[[Deus ex Machina]]".
**Clashing with [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] in "[[Out of His Head]]".
**Getting blown back by the malfunctioning GroundBridge in "[[Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone]]".
**Protecting Miko from falling rocks in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Clashing with Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]".
**Being wired to one of [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]'s bombs in "[[Loose Cannons]]".
**Getting attacked by Scraplets in "Scrapheap".
* Shortly after the above, Bulkhead remembers several interactions with Miko, including:
**Miko assuring him that she's protected before Bulkhead heads down a slope in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
**Bulkhead showing Miko a new battle scar in "[[Metal Attraction]]".
**Miko revealing herself from inside Bulkhead's chest in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 4]]".
**Bulkhead trying to dissuade Miko from using him as a role model in "Deus ex Machina".
**An exhausted Miko trying to clear rubble in "[[Rock Bottom]]".
**Miko trying to get an amnesiac Bulkhead to remember her in "[[T.M.I.]]".
* Bulkhead's tactic of hiding a grenade in the Tox-En container is similar to the one proposed by Wheeljack in "Triage".

===Transformers references===
* Hardshell is the modern name for the G1 Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]].
* During Bulkhead's flashback to the victims of Megatron's refined Tox-En weapon, one of the corpses in the foreground looks a lot like [[Ironhide (Animated)|an Ironhide from another continuity]]. The reddish one behind it looks similar to the [[generic]] impaled by Megatron during Ratchet's flashback to the beginning of the Great War in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]".
* Hardshell says "yes" in a suspiciously familiar fashion, [[Megatron (BW)|yesss...]]
* Green-tinted energon that emits visible fumes and is toxic to Cybertronians was previously seen in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)| Energon]]''. Given Bulkhead's flashback, Megatron's refined, weaponized version of Tox-En may be a small-scale version of the energon gas that plagued that series' version of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Real-world references===
* While still recovering from the shock he received in "[[Flying Mind]]", Fowler blurts out "I can has cheeseburger", a popular cat-based internet meme.
* Considering its green coloration, mineral-like composition, and fatal effects from prolonged exposure, Tox-En is essentially Cybertronian Kryptonite.

===Trivia===
* Apparently, Bulkhead has been inside Decepticon barracks at some point (possibly on a mission for the Wreckers back on Cybertron). They are very, very smelly, but not as much as the landscape near an active volcano.
* In the past, the Wreckers have generally been a small, closely knit unit (despite their horrific attrition rates). However, Hardshell's comment that he's faced Wreckers numerous times suggests the team is much larger in the Aligned continuity.
* Bulkhead tells Fowler that the relic would likely survive a dip in molten rock while hunting for it in a cooled lava flow. Not only is this technically untrue (the Tox-En only survived its fall due to its container), but a drop into lava is exactly how Bulkhead disposes of the relic in the end.
* Despite having at least one more grenade on his person, Bulkhead doesn't attempt to leave the entire Tox-En cache in his Insecticon trap. Presumably, it wouldn't have been enough to completely destroy the toxic fuel, or it wouldn't have fit in the canister, giving Hardshell's team warning that something was up.
* Bulkhead finally finds something even ''worse'' than Scraplets. Incidentally, he saw the effects of both Scraplets and Tox-En during the war, and neither was a pleasant experience.
* Hardshell displays a blaster weapon in his robot mode, a relatively small, flattened, forearm-mounted cannon. Presumably, all Insecticons have similar weapons.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Starscream (WFC)

2012-05-20T19:09:03Z

97.100.57.102: /* Prime cartoon */

{{faction|decepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Starscream}}
:''Starscream is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Aligned continuity family]].''
[[Image:StarscreamPrime.jpg|thumb|300px|In a cruel twist of fate, perhaps the most legitimately competent Starscream ever, but no one will take him seriously for even a minute.]]
'''Starscream''' was an Air Commander of the [[Energon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s finest air warriors. His dream was to recover the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and become the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] that would return the Transformers to the [[Golden Age]], and he saw opportunity with the rebel upstart [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. A patient and polite schemer, Starscream used to wish Megatron would drop the heroic anti-[[caste system|caste]] charade and be more honest about his lust for power.

These days, he alternatively wishes Megatron would stop being obsessed with his lust for power and chafes under having to work for such a madman. While he serves as Megatron's right-hand man, he constantly looks for a way to become the commander himself and Megatron knows it: Starscream's extremely volatile personality means he is not adept at hiding his true intent. Fortunately for Megatron, Starscream is prone to panic, cowardice and bombastic gestures, meaning that it'd take exceptional circumstances for Starscream to actually manage to get behind him to shove the knife in.

He may be a scientist, but [[Starscream (Prime)#Notes|we're not quite sure]].

{{quote|That shot was perfect, much like the one who fired it!|Starscream after achieving a headshot|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Aligned novels===
Starscream may or may not have had a history as a scientist. Regardless of what he did prior, in the early days before the war began he was one of the leaders of the Cybertronian Air Command. When [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] fell into chaos following bombings by [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s [[Decepticon]] followers, Starscream was posted as [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]]'s bodyguard. He was with the Prime at [[Altihex]] Casino during a performance by comedian [[Armorhide (WFC)|Armorhide]] when the Decepticons attacked. Sentinel's attempt to flee rather than fight back made Starscream ashamed of his leader, so he had [[Skywarp (Prime)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] take him to [[Kaon]] Prison rather than the safety of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. This earned him loyalty with Megatron, but wary of how sour a revolution could quickly turn Starscream opted not to be directly involved in the gladiator's operations, posting his Seekers at [[Moonbase One|Moon Base One]] and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] Station. Megatron was intrigued by why Starscream wanted to occupy "that semi-sentient pile of junk" but despite [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]]'s research they found no clues, with information regarding the Station seemingly censored.

Whenever Starscream's Seekers were present, the Decepticons were victorious in battle against the [[Autobot]]s. Starscream however, found Megatron's strategies overly convoluted. As the war devolved into a siege of Iacon, Megatron and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], by probing into forgotten areas of the [[DataNet]], discovered Trypticon was a storage of [[Dark Energon]], the life essence of [[Unicron]]. When questioned, Starscream explained since even the Air Command was not sure what Dark Energon was, he had forbidden its use, fearing the damage Megatron's gladiators would unleash. Megatron forgave Starscream, noting how he "was smart enough to be afraid of it", and was granted access.

Starscream sent a message to the Autobots proposing a meeting. Optimus only granted him a communication channel. Starscream stated if the Autobots did not know what Dark Energon was (they did) they would need to find out — and asked what would he could expect from them if something happened to Megatron. Optimus replied that he sought a just peace. Starscream said he understood, broke off the conversation and flew to [[Kaon]] Prison where Sentinel was held. Starscream offered Sentinel a chance to redeem his cowardly behavior at Altihex. The ultimate aim of this road to becoming Decepticon leader was to become [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] in a peace settlement with Optimus, and lead Cybertron back to its [[Golden Age]]. Starscream then flew to Moon Base One when Megatron ordered him to Trypticon, where he found the Decepticons had invaded the Station and slaughtered and maimed his scientists.

Megatron and [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] forced Starscream to select two survivors to absorb [[Dark Energon]], for what was a successful experiment. Requiring more for the Decepticon war effort, Megatron ordered Starscream to capture the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge]], below the ruins of [[Crystal City]]. Empowered by his first taste of Dark Energon, Starscream activated the device that transmitted Energon to the Station for it to be Darkened. But the Bridge still did not produce enough, and Starscream was ordered to find the Code [[Key of Power]] and [[Key of Justice]] to the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] underneath the [[High Council Tower]] in Iacon. Starscream decided it was time to release Sentinel, renouncing Dark Energon after realizing Megatron had turned his soldiers into addicts. Starscream found the Key of Power within the [[Hall of Justice]] and flew underground to find his plan had failed, as Megatron had mortally wounded Sentinel. He could see within Sentinel's body was the Key of Justice, but was prevented from taking it by [[Blackout (WFC)|Blackout]]. Megatron fought Starscream to a standstill, sparing him because he realized he was a better soldier than a would-be example.

As Megatron entered the Chamber, [[Teletraan-1]] activated the legendary [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] to fly it away. Aware Starscream had a better chance of escaping Omega's awakening, Megatron ordered Starscream and his Seekers to down Omega, in exchange for more Dark Energon. Giving up on his attempt to give up his addiction, Starscream gleefully accepted and they successfully blew Omega out of the sky, allowing the Decepticons to retrieve the Chamber and corrupt the [[core]]. As Cybertron became uninhabitable, the Autobots left on the largest starship ever built - the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]''. Starscream left the planet with Megatron as they gave pursuit on Trypticon, now a ''Nemesis''-class supercruiser. The two ships entered a [[space bridge]], which separated the two ships to unknown parts of space... {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Exiles|Exiles}}

===''Prime'' comic===
[[Image:Primecomic-Starscream.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Hey, look, a backscratcher!]]
Starscream had been on [[Earth]] at some point, but was assigned by Megatron to scour the galaxy for remnants of space bridge technology. Returning to their dead homeworld, Starscream built a weapons lab in Kaon and began building a space bridge. He was informed by his [[Vehicon (Prime)|Eradicon]]s elsewhere they had apprehended the Autobot spy [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. Later, after basking in the glory of successfully activating the space bridge that would return them to Earth and its [[Energon]], Starscream realized Cliffjumper was present. The Autobot claimed to be freed by his captors after defecting to the Decepticons, and warned them of [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]: this ruse successfully distracted Starscream long enough for Arcee to activate and overload the space bridge, but he jumped in after them moments before the lab was blown sky high.

Falling to Earth, a dazed Starscream picked up a [[bunny rabbit]], commenting that [[human]]s were smaller than he remembered. [[Scanning]] a fleet of jets flying overhead, he found Cliffjumper and Arcee driving on a road and launched a missile at them. He picked up Arcee's blown off arm and started battering Cliffjumper with it, but the Autobot blew up the rock formation above them and crushed Starscream with the rubble. Having received Starscream's signal, [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] came to his rescue, and the duo pursued and overwhelmed the Autobots. Just as Starscream was about to send them back to the [[AllSpark]], Optimus jumped and landed on him, while gunning Breakdown away. As Starscream greeted his opponent, [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] tapped him on the shoulder and sent him flying. Optimus opted not to finish the job, allowing Starscream to escape and fight another day as he got Cliffjumper and Arcee to base. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (comic)|Transformers: Prime}}
{{-}}

===''Prime'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Steve Blum]] (English)|[[Satoshi Tsuruoka]] (Japanese), [[Leopoldo Ballesteros]] (Spain-Spanish), [[Jin-uk Hong]] (Korean), [[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian), [[Gerald Paradies]] (German), [[José Antonio Macías]] (Latin American Spanish), [[Nicolas Dubois]] (French)}}

[[Image:DarknessRising1-Starscreamsneer.jpg|right|thumb|300px|One look sells him as Starscream.]]
Before Starscream joined Megatron and the Decepticons, he was commander of a squadron of Energon Seekers on Cybertron. {{Storylink|Partners}} When the Decepticons arrived on Earth, Starscream scouted a old Decepticon ship called the ''[[Harbinger]]'' that had crashed landed on Earth. However he failed to record the coordinates of the crash site or find the [[Immobilizer]]. {{Storylink|Partners}} In time, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] departed [[Earth]] to gather an army out in space, leaving Starscream in charge. Starscream spent his time sending out [[Vehicon (Prime)|Decepticon grunts]] to search for [[Energon]] deposits{{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}, and managed to set up a lucrative energon mine in secret. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}}

Three years later, one of Starscream's energon searches was interrupted by [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]. Once Cliffjumper was defeated by the Vehicons, Starscream personally killed the Autobot. [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] alerted him to Arcee's location, and Starscream decided she would be their next target. Later, when Soundwave received a signal from deep space, Starscream hesitantly opened the space bridge for Megatron's return. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} Megatron revealed to Starscream that he'd brought back [[Dark Energon]], and Starscream provided Cliffjumper's corpse so they could test the substance's reanimation properties. When the undead Cliffjumper's signal led the Autobots to the mine, Starscream blew the facility up on Megatron's orders. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 2}}

[[Image:DarknessRising3-interrogateFowler.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"No, Mister Fowler, I expect you to be saved at the last minute!"]]
Following a test of Dark Energon on himself, Megatron took off for parts unknown, leaving Starscream in charge once more. When Soundwave picked up [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]'s transmissions, Starscream had the human captured and began trying to extract the location of the Autobot base from him. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 3}} The interrogation almost succeeded, but for the arrival of Arcee, [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] who, after a standoff, forced Starscream to retreat. Once Megatron returned to the ship, he was outraged at Starscream's actions and proceeded to beat his subordinate for "delaying his plans". Starscream managed to quell his master's anger by announcing he had a way to get their plans back on course. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 4}}

[[Image:DarknessRising5-ohgeez.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Oh my God. It's called toothpaste, use it.]]
As it turned out, his plan was to send Soundwave down to use a radio dish array on Earth to set the space bridge's target. Once the bridge was properly targeted, Starscream opened it so that Megatron could throw the chunk of Dark Energon though. Starscream moved the ship back to a safe distance when the fighting on the rim of the space bridge became more intense, while imploring his master to withdraw as well. Alas, the space bridge exploded, apparently taking Megatron with it, and Starscream gave a brief eulogy before declaring himself leader. {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 5}}

[[Image:Masters&Students-SoundwaveStarscream.jpg|thumb|250px|left|*ping* "FINE! FINE! I'LL WRITE A THANK-YOU NOTE!"]]
Starscream's speeches were poorly received. Intending to find more potentially-loyal warriors, Starscream took Soundwave to try to revive the long-dormant [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. To Starscream's disappointment, Skyquake was loyal only to Megatron, and interested only in fighting the Autobots who arrived. A signal detected by Soundwave sent Starscream to the location of the space bridge explosion, where he found Megatron's body and ripped the sliver of Dark Energon from it. He was forced by the observing [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] to return the body to the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', where he also learned that Skyquake had been terminated by the Autobots. {{storylink|Masters & Students}}

When [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] arrived on Earth, Starscream had him captured and substituted [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] with the mission to open the Autobot [[GroundBridge]] to let the Decepticon forces into the Autobot base. Unfortunately Wheeljack broke free before the plan could succeed, and as a result, Makeshift was expelled from the Autobot base onto the ''Nemesis'' hull with an activated grenade. Starscream vacated the hull before Makeshift exploded. {{storylink|Con Job}} After Soundwave picked up on [[Dynamic Nuclear Generation System|another Autobot operation]], Starscream figured it was a good opportunity to get rid of the Autobots while they were distracted, and sent a squadron of Vehicons on a search and destroy mission. {{storylink|Convoy (episode)|Convoy}}

[[Image:DeusExMachina-Screamer grins.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"We've had too much Energon shed. I think that a cleansing is in order."]]
To Starscream's discomfort, the crew held a vote and he was obliged to call in [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] to aid in Megatron's recovery. The discovery that an [[Energon Harvester]] was located in an museum on Earth was all the excuse Starscream needed to put that on hold, and the other Decepticons soon obtained the device for him. While they were testing it in [[Greece]], Bulkhead attacked them and destroyed the Harvester. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}} Starscream was irritated by Knock Out's participation in street racing, and eventually decided to make an example of him. {{storylink|Speed Metal}}

[[Image:OutOfHisHead-grabby.jpg|left|thumb|250px|That's NOT how ATB Megatron and Starscream combine!]]
Some time later, after the ship's electromagnetic shielding failed, Starscream put the Vehicons to work fixing it. Offering Knock Out a post as second-in-command, Starscream persuaded him to help convince Soundwave that Megatron was a lost cause. They were interrupted by Arcee and Bumblebee, who were doing something with Megatron's corpse, and after chasing the two Autobots off, they discovered that Megatron no longer had any brain activity. {{storylink|Sick Mind}} Overjoyed at this, Starscream began a new plan, constructing a heat ray which he attempted to use to melt a glacier to get to a huge [[energon]] deposit. Unfortunately, not only did the Autobots arrive and destroy the heat ray, but Megatron was resurrected and dragged the protesting Starscream away for punishment. {{storylink|Out of His Head}}

[[Image:Shadowzone-gah.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Damn, in another [[Starscream (Movie)|continuity]] the arm comes off and they mock it in this one.]]
Starscream ended up in the infirmary as a result of Megatron's punishment, but continued undaunted in his plans. He took the chunk of Dark Energon he'd been hiding, and went to the site of Skyquake's grave, intending to resurrect the warrior as well as imbuing himself with Dark Energon. Unfortunately the Autobots arrived before Skyquake rose, and Starscream had to retreat through the Decepticon GroundBridge, albeit minus his right arm. After subjecting himself to treatment from Knock Out, Starscream returned to the site to confirm whether Skyquake had risen, only to be attacked by Skyquake's zombified right arm. {{storylink|Shadowzone (episode)|Shadowzone}}

When Breakdown was captured to [[MECH]], Starscream's suggestion they rescue their comrade was turned down by Megatron. Starscream went anyway, and found Breakdown had already been rescued by Bulkhead, but escorted Breakdown back to the ship. {{storylink|Operation: Breakdown}} At an old energon mine, Megatron confronted Starscream about his many transgressions and prepared to terminate his subordinate. Starscream was only saved by the arrival of the Autobots, but on escaping the collapsed mine, realized that he would have to go back in and attempt to rescue Megatron, or face his master's possible wrath later. Venturing back inside, he ended up tangling with the Autobots, and when Megatron later found him, he had been left supporting a large boulder. {{storylink|Rock Bottom}}

[[Image:Partners-ScreamPrisoner.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Why am I always seen like this? Chest and lower body off to one side, head towards y'all....]]
Starscream was sent with [[Airachnid]] to locate the ''Harbinger'' wreck, only for the spider to leave him webbed up when it turned out the ship was broken in half and the weapon they sought was in the other half. Starscream was found by the Autobots and attempted to convince them he wanted to switch sides, even pointing them to the location of the weapon Airachnid was after. Unfortunately he let slip he'd been the one to kill Cliffjumper, provoking Arcee into attacking him. After fighting her, he was able to limp away, though he decided from then on he would be an independent. {{storylink|Partners}}

Many months later, Starscream snuck on board the ''Nemesis'' to steal [[energon cube]]s and blundered into the workroom that was being used by the recently-amnesiac Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Starscream soon realized what was going on, but when more Vehicons arrived, he was wounded while fleeing the ship. He contacted the Autobots to exchange information for medical help. When [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and Bulkhead arrived, it turned out they already knew about Optimus's situation, but were interested in what he knew about the space bridge, so he was able to trade the information for aid. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 2}}

[[Image:OperationBumblebee1 Silas meets Starscream.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]
Tracking a signal, Starscream stumbled upon a MECH trap already sprung by Bumblebee. He was intrigued and followed the MECH helicopter and watched as they tried to install the [[transformation cog|T-cog]] they'd taken into a robot. When their attempt to make the robot work failed, Starscream revealed himself and managed to strike a partnership with them. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}} With Starscream's help, MECH secured a source of energon and Starscream was there when they used it on their robot. As Bumblebee came looking for his T-cog, Starscream helped defend it, but when it looked like Bumblebee might get it back, Starscream blasted it and left. Unfortunately Silas was less than impressed, and after a short nap thanks to MECH's weapons, Starscream woke up minus his own T-cog. {{Storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

[[Image:Crossfire Starscream injured.jpg|thumb|left|300px|]]
While scavenging for energon, Starscream found that Airachnid had been cast out from the Decepticons and obtained a pet in the form of an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]]. She spurned his suggestion that they team up to defeat Megatron, and he barely escaped with his life. Wounded, he employed his previous trick to get medical help from the Autobots in exchange for information about Airachnid's activities, and even later saved Arcee from Airachnid, sparing her life like she spared his much, much earlier. {{storylink|Crossfire}}

Starscream returned to the ''Harbinger'' in search of energon, and instead found a laboratory containing five [[protoform]]s and the equipment necessary for [[cloning]]. He had soon whipped up five [[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clone]]s, which he dispatched to dispatch Megatron. Unfortunately he soon discovered that he could sympathetically feel every injury they suffered, which gave him a good idea how the mission was going. When the last clone returned to report failure, Starscream sensed the clone's treachery and blasted it. Fully aware of the effect on him, he terminated the clone, screaming in their shared pain as he did. {{storylink|Armada (episode)|Armada}}

{{spoiler|Triangulation|May 19, 2012}}
[[Image:Triangulation Starscream Apex armor.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The rise of...STARKSCREAM!]]
He was about to operate on himself to install the clone's T-cog when the ship detected the Decepticons sending teams out to locations around the globe. Intrigued, he used the ship's GroundBridge to reach [[Antarctica]], only to be captured by [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], whom he at first mistook for Skyquake. The arrival of Optimus led Starscream to find the relic everyone was after, the [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], which he used to fight both Optimus and Dreadwing. Though Starscream was rendered invulnerable, he still couldn't fly, and a few bombs created a hole in the ice which he fell through. He was subsequently forced to plod along the bottom of the ocean. {{storylink|Triangulation}}
{{--}}

===Titan Magazines ''Prime'' comics===
Starscream accompanied [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] on a trip to [[Antarctica]] to attack the [[Yamal|NS ''Yamal'']]. He carried the [[static lance]] that Megatron intended to use to detonate the ship's nuclear reactors, and when the Autobots arrived to intercede, Starscream used the weapon to knock [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] out. He tried to do the same to [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], but the Autobot dodged the blow and kicked him in the head. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.3|Ice Breaker}}

Tasked by Megatron with trying to draw the Autobots out, Starscream attacked and captured [[Air Force One]], taking it to the [[Grand Canyon]]. He sent a message demanding Optimus Prime's surrender in exchange for the safe return of the [[President of the United States|President]], but the Autobots turned up in force. Starscream's accompaniment of Vehicons was soon quashed, and Optimus rescued the President, whom Starscream was using as a human shield, by chopping the Decepticon's left arm off. Defeated, Starscream fled. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.6|All the President's 'Bots!}}

Starscream was appalled when Megatron revealed the latest plan—pit the Vehicons against each other in a series of deathmatches to ensure their army contained only the toughest. He was even more shocked when Megatron expected ''him'' to fight against [[Fearstorm]]. Through application of his wits, Starscream was able to defeat the much-larger Decepticon and Megatron let him return to the ship. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 4.7|Megatron's Law}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
{{voiceactor|[[Sam Riegel]] (English)|[[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian), [[Leopoldo Ballesteros]] (Spain-Spanish)}}
[[Image:WFC_Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|Where are your stupid Macross jokes now?!]]
{{quote|Have no fear, Lord Megatron. Under my leadership, Decepticon victory is assured!|Starscream being all modest|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

For the last thousand years of the [[Great War (Prime)|Great War]], Starscream was in charge of an orbital facility that had the capability of producing [[Dark Energon]], though they maintained only a small stockpile because of its unpredictable and uncontrollable nature. The station's force of neutral soldiers were no match for Megatron's invading forces, while Starscream and [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]]'s repeated warnings that no one could control Dark Energon had no effect on Megatron's determination. Instead, Megatron tempted Starscream with knowledge of his past, reminding him of his demotion from Sky Commander to a mere guard over an all-but-derelict station, and offered to let him join the Decepticons, something Starscream scoffed at — at least, at first. Starscream attempted to destroy the station's stock of Dark Energon before the Decepticon leader could reach it, but failed, and watched, first with amusement as Megatron entered the storage chamber...and then with shock as Megatron infused himself with the substance and bent it to his will within moments. Starscream quickly volunteered his services for the Decepticon cause, causing Jetfire to label him a traitor and leave to warn Zeta Prime. Megatron sent him with [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (Prime)|Skywarp]] to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to reactivate the [[Geosynchronous Energon Bridge|Energon Bridge]]. Starscream performed the mission successfully using his trademark style, flair, and modesty, never mind Megatron's taunting and unreasonable impatience, or Thundercracker's warning him of the danger of certain courses of action, or even Skywarp's cluing in to his constant insults.

During the Battle of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon City]], Starscream led the Decepticons aerial squadrons and [[Brawl (WFC)|Brawl]] led the Decepticons' ground assault, while Megatron, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]], and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] went behind enemy lines and tried to secure the [[Omega Key]]. When Megatron's group met up with Brawl, Starscream refused to send Dark Energon bombers, saying that he wouldn't let Brawl waste anymore of "his ships". Megatron took issue with Starscream dubbing the bombers his, and overrode Starscream's refusal. Later that evening, while looking for the "real" Omega Key, they ran into it: [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]]. Starscream assumed Megatron was killed when Omega attacked a dropship Megatron was heading for and declared himself Decepticon commander. Shortly afterward, Megatron managed to communicate with Starscream and ordered him to attack Omega Supreme, getting the massive Autobot off of Megatron's back. By the time Megatron's group were heading for the [[missile turret]]s, Starscream was ready to sound a retreat, which Megatron overrode with the threat of marking any retreating Decepticon as "kill on sight". Fortunately, Megatron arrived moments later and managed to defeat Omega Supreme, making the retreat unnecessary. Later on, he was present at the Core of Cybertron as Megatron corrupted it with Dark Energon.

As the Battle of Iacon continued, Starscream fought through Jetfire and [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]], and attacked [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus]]'s group in the [[Decagon]]. However, the Air Commander was injured by Optimus's [[Energon-axe]] and forced to retreat. The wound was apparently bad enough to cause him to sit out the remainder of the conflict. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (DS)===
:''Voice actor'': Sam Riegel (English), Gianluca Iacono (Italian)
Starscream had been in control of Trypticon Space Station for years, until Megatron and his forces invaded. Megatron wished to revive the Dark Energon project to aid him in his conquest of Cybertron, but Starscream would have none of it. Megatron was able to fight his way to Starscream himself, and after a brief battle, Starscream had lost. He begged for mercy, and Megatrons spared Starscream in exchange for loyalty to the Decepticons. Starscream obliged and Megatron was taken to the core of the station.

After a test run of the Dark Energon's effects on Decepticons in Kaon Prison, Soundwave deduced the element would only destroy the host. A furious Megatron set Starscream to work on fixing the problem, with Starscream continuously bickering with Barricade over his usefullness. The problem was eventually solved in time for an attack on Iacon City. When Megatron felled Zeta Prime and found the Omega Key, the titanic Autobot Omega Supreme was unleashed upon the Decepticons, quickly crushing them with ease.

Megatron was downright furious with Starscream, declaring he had brought Omega Supreme's rampage upon them all. Starscream retorted that if it wasn't for Megatron and his blind troops, none of this would've happened. Starscream invited Megatron to kill him, but warned him it wouldn't do a thing about Omega Supreme out for their blood. Megatron for the moment let it go, and finally felled Omega Supreme, gaining total dominance over Cybertron.

Sometime later, Starscream ambushed an [[Autobot rookie|Autobot recruit-in-training]], and would've killed him if it wasn't for Optimus charging to the rescue. He wasn't seen again after that.
{{Storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Cybertron Adventures''===
:''Voice actor'': Sam Riegel (English), Gianluca Iacono (Italian)

Being Megatron's "right-hand man," he wonders how the war could have changed if HE were to be the leader, not Megatron. Still he was ordered by Megatron to do his dirty work, and growing jealous, he waits for the right time, to take his place, as leader of the Decepticons.
{{storylink|Transformers: Cybertron Adventures}}

===''Transformers: Fall of Cybertron''===
Starscream is stated to make a reappearance in ''Fall of Cybertron''. Statements so far state that he'll become a fugitive running from both sides, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that he tries talking [[Grimlock (WFC)| Grimlock]] into joining him while also making insults at him before possibly letting him out, resulting a beating from the angry Autobot.

==Toys==
===War for Cybertron===
[[Image:WFC_Legends_Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|So I'm ''Cybertron'' Starscream in Generation 1 Starscream colors as ''Prime'' Starscream. Confused? ''Good!'' '''*BLAM!*''']]
*'''Starscream''' (Legends Class, 2010)

: This redeco of Legends Class [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'']] [[Starscream (Armada)#LOC|Starscream]] appeared pretty much out of the blue one day, when, without fanfare, it was offered as a promotional giveaway in the United Kingdom to those who purchased the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' video game from [http://www.shopto.net ShopTo.Net]. He transforms into a Cybertronic jet fighter and features hidden weapons in his wing-sections/biceps: the right arm hides a blade, while the left arm has a non-firing cannon.

: This toy was later offered as a gift to attendees at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong fair 2010 if they made a combined purchase of [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|''Transformers'' toys]] amounting to more than HK$400.

: This mold was also used the make ''Cybertron'' [[Ramjet (Universe)#Cybertron|Ramjet]], [[Skywarp (Armada)#Cybertron|Skywarp]] and [[Sunstorm (LOC)#Toys|Sunstorm]], ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Ramjet (G1)#Classic Series|Ramjet]] and [[Thrust (G1)#Classic Series|Thrust]], and [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|''Dark of the Moon'']] [[Starscream (Movie)/toys#BeeStarscream|Cybertronian Starscream]].
{{-}}

===Prime: First Edition===
{{anchor|FirstEdition}}
[[Image:Primetoy-StarscreamDeluxe.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He's got legs, and he knows how to attach them to the underside of his jetmode.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe Class, 2011)
**''Number:'' '''003'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''[[December 28]], 2012'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile pods, stand (Hasbro only)

: Deluxe Class Starscream transforms from a jet resembling a [[Wikipedia:General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]] into a skinny robot and back! He comes with two missile pod accessories that can either attach onto tabs on the underside of his wings, or onto the rear wings on his arms in robot mode. Additionally, he has a [[5mm post|5mm peg]] hole that goes through each arm, which become the sides of his jet mode tail. This allows accessories with the same size peg to be used in either mode. Also, since the tail stabilizers fold into the sides of the tail to become the arms, the hole isn't very deep in robot mode unless you leave these fins folded out. Undocumented in either of his [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] [[instructions]], Starscream has a winglet on the back of each of his legs that can be deployed for slightly increased [[show-accuracy]].

: Some units have the head aerial deformed in-package due to being made of soft plastic. This is due to friction preventing it from hinging back. The aerial is supposed to fold back along the head for transformation, but can be tough enough to get in place due to simply flexing instead of changing position. His knee spikes also tend to deform.

: As with all Hasbro-release "First Edition" toys, a cardboard stand is included. The Takara release omits the stand in order to fit the toy into the bubble in robot mode.

: This mold was [[retool]]ed to make [[Skywarp (Prime)#Toys|''Prime'' Skywarp]] and [[Slipstream (WFC)#Timelines|''Timelines'' Slipstream]].

{{-}}

===Prime===
{{anchor|Cyberverse}}
[[Image:StarscreamCommander.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
*'''Starscream''' (Cyberverse Commander, 2012)
**''Japanese number:'' '''EZ-03'''
**''Japanese release date:'' '''[[March 31]], 2012
**''Accessories'': 2 "missile cannons"

: This Cyberverse-scaled Starscream is cast partly in translucent plastic so that the toy can be lit using the electronic lights featured in the larger playsets. He also comes with two translucent "missile cannon" weapons and a pack-in file card. The Hasbro release features soft, rubbery material on both the nosecone and tailfin for safety purposes, but not on the pointier missile cannon accessories. Starscream's arms can separate from the nosecone fuselage on the elbow joint for greater show-accuracy, if you ignore the giant jet pieces hanging off his arms. Or the fact that the 'con symbol on his chest is purple.

{{-}}{{anchor|EntertainmentPack}}
*'''Starscream vs. Bumblebee''' (2012)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missile pods
: This deluxe-class Starscream is a [[redeco]] of his First Edition release in lighter gray plastic with several purple highlights, possibly intended to represent his powering up with [[Dark Energon]] in the episode [[Shadowzone (episode)|''Shadowzone'']]. Unlike the original release of this mould, this version features [[Paint operation|paint operations]] on its soft plastic parts, such as his forehead crest and missile-tips.

: Starscream comes packed-in with a redeco of First Edition Bumblebee, small unarticulated figurines of [[Silas]] and a MECH soldier, as well as a DVD containing the episodes ''[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]'', ''[[Sick Mind]]'' and ''[[Out of His Head]]''.

{{-}}{{anchor|Powerizer}}
[[Image:PrimeRIDtoy-StarscreamVoyager.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Oh, that can't be aerodynamic.]]
*'''Starscream''' (Voyager, 2012)
**''Japanese release date:'' '''[[June 30]], 2012'''
**''Accessories:''

{{-}}

===Bot Shots===
[[Image:Bot Shots S1 B002 Starscream.jpg|thumb|300px|Transform and <strike>Rise Up</strike> Roll Out]]
*'''Starscream''' (2012)
**''Series'': '''1'''
**''Number'': '''B002'''
***''Fist strength'': '''640'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''710'''
***''Sword strength'': '''240'''

:Part of the first wave of ''[[Bot Shots]]'', Starscream is a teeny little fighter jet very very vaguely like an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor]] with a spring-loaded automatic transformation to robot mode triggered when his nosecone is pressed. He has a "spinner" in his chest that shows his three attack types and power levels. His head is very much like his [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Starscream (G1)|counterpart]].

: This mold was [[retool]]ed to make [[Thundercracker (WFC)#Bot Shots|Thundercracker]] and [[Acid Storm (BS)#Bot Shots|Acid Storm]].

===Generations===
*'''Starscream''' (Deluxe, 2013)

: Part of the first wave of [[2013]] ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Starscream is based on his ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' design and transforms from a robot to a spaceship and back. He appears to come with two missile launchers

{{comingsoontoy}}

==Merchandise==
*'''Starscream''' McDonald's Happy Meal Toy (2012)
: Part of McDonald's ''Transformers: Prime'' promotion, Starscream is depicted as a non-transformable, simplified version of his jet mode, cast in light and dark gray plastic with some blue, black, and purple paint applications. Pressing the raised Decepticon symbol on the fuseage causes the cockpit to pop up on a hinge, revealing two non-firing missiles.

==Notes==
[[Image:Tfprimestarscreamjet.jpg|right|250px|thumb|''ooooo-ooooo/We fade to grey!'']]
*Starscream's backstory in ''Exodus'' is self-contradictory:
:''"Not even Starscream, who had spent much of his scientific career in the labs contained within these refracting walls..."'' (p. 78).
:''"See what?" Starscream asked. Neither Starscream nor Megatron were scientists."'' (p. 158).
:*When asked via Twitter, Exodus's writer [[Alex Irvine]] stated "Let's say he's always been scientifically curious."<ref>[http://twitter.com/alexirvine/status/36051088754868224 Twitter post]</ref>
*Despite being a [[Neutral]] before joining Megatron's cause in War for Cybertron, Starscream begins the game with his glowing details already in Decepticon purple as opposed to Neutral yellow.
*Starscream's thin body and narrow, upward-swept wings in robot mode recalls [[Starscream (Animated)|''Animated'' Starscream]], but his voice, colour scheme, Igor-like posture and subservience to Megatron recalls the [[Starscream (Movie)|live-action incarnation]]. The game design has the movie bulk but with a [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1]] head and colours.
*Starscream's chest design is basically his live-action incarnation's head design. Now that's a visual homage.
**And an unintentional one at that, according to the New York Comic-Con Transformers: Prime panel.
*''Prime'''s Starscream has [[Starscream (SG)|a red Decepticon insignia]].
*[[Steve Blum]] said he was a fan of [[Charlie Adler]] and [[Tom Kenny]]'s portrayals of Starscream, and had Adler give him his blessing after he got the part.<ref>[http://sknr.net/2011/04/20/steve-blum-talks-transformers-prime-guild-wars-2-bulletstorm-more/ Skewed magazine Steve Blum interview.]</ref> Coincidentally, Blum, Adler and Kenny are all in Superhero Squad.
* Screamer appears to have [[Decepticon]] logos on his legs. They disappeared after "[[Masters & Students]]".
* His eyes change color from episode to episode. On some occasions, they are solid red with lighter red dots for his pupils. Other times, they are empty (like Arcee's eyes) with a solid red iris and lighter red pupils.
* For the rest of the series after [[Partners]], Starscream has a scar on his right cheek from his battle with Arcee.
* Sometimes during the series, depending on Starscream's mood (usually when scared), the wings on his back in robot mode tend to droop down like an animal's ears when scared or saddened. It's quite adorable, really.
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Starscream''' (スタースクリーム ''Sutāsukurīmu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Tīen-wáng-hsīng''' (Taiwan, 天王星, "Uranus"), '''Hóng Zhīzhū''' (China, 紅蜘蛛, "Red Spider")

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Bot Shots]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Exclusives]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Prime Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Transformers Online Decepticons]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron Decepticons]]

T.M.I.

2012-05-14T03:19:42Z

97.100.57.102: /* Transformers references */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 21
|prev=Partners
|next=Stronger, Faster
|image=TMI-Mikojogsmemories.jpg
|caption=
|title="T.M.I."
|airdate=[[August 7]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead absorbs a data cylinder that greatly increases his intelligence, but is also destroying him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] are enjoying a monster truck rally on the [[television|TV]], much to [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]'s annoyance. Ratchet thinks they shouldn't be watching it, and that Bulkhead would be better off helping [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]]'s mission to retrieve a [[Cybertronian data cylinder]]. He interrupts their monster truck footage to explain how the cylinders were created during [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Golden Age]] and hidden throughout the galaxy after the war broke out. Bulkhead and Miko are bored by it all, but Optimus contacts base to ask for backup, which is Bulkhead's cue to head for the field. Ratchet hands Miko a mop, and she's so enthusiastic about having to clean up that she drops it and runs through the [[GroundBridge]] after Bulkhead.

[[Image:TMI-datacylinder.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]

On the battlefield, she finds the 'Bots battling [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] and a bunch of [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]. Immediately, she runs into trouble, as a Vehicon Bulkhead is punching staggers back towards her. She takes cover behind a pile of rock, before spotting the cylinder sitting nearby. While everyone fights, Miko runs over to the cylinder and phones Ratchet. Ratchet tries providing a GroundBridge, but Miko can't give him precise enough coordinates to grab the cylinder. She tries pushing the device towards the GroundBridge and even kicking it, but all that succeeds in doing is activating the cylinder. At that moment, Bulkhead spots her and runs over, only to trip and take the cylinder's charge in the forehead. With Bulkhead temporarily out, Knock Out grabs the cylinder and the Decepticons split. Moments later, Bulkhead is back on his feet, apparently none the worse for wear.

Bulkhead undergoes a medical check back at base, but insists he's fine. Ratchet tells him to help Miko tidy up. After announcing Ratchet is "null vector squared", Bulkhead wonders if they have any paint.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'' in orbit, the Decepticons have discovered that the cylinder is empty. They quickly realize the energy from the device has ended up in Bulkhead.

Miko draws Ratchet's attention to what Bulkhead is painting, which Ratchet finds is a scientific formula. After another scan, Ratchet locates the cylinder's energy in Bulkhead's head. They determine that the device interpreted Miko's kick as an attack and ejected the data into Bulkhead, and the equations Bulkhead's been writing down are for synthetic [[energon]]. The Autobots are excited and collect the equations as Bulkhead writes them. Miko quickly becomes bored and wants to draw Bulkhead away from his work. Ratchet has grave news, however—the data is slowly consuming Bulkhead's mind, and by the time the formula is complete, Bulkhead's mind may be gone altogether. The other Autobots believe they might be able to get the data back into the cylinder. Miko gets out her guitar to try and distract Bulkhead, but when he doesn't recognize Ratchet's name, she figures something's up and goes to Ratchet to get the truth.

Knock Out reports that they've detected the cylinder's energy signature, and [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] decides to go himself to avoid any more failures. Rather than Bulkhead, he and the Vehicons find Optimus, [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]]. Optimus has a deal for him: If Megatron gives them the cylinder, Optimus will return it to him restored with energy.

Miko talks to Bulkhead, but he's becoming increasingly unresponsive and fails to recall her name when she asks if he remembers it. Finally, she steals his mop brush and leads him through the GroundBridge.

Megatron is thinking on Optimus's proposal when he's contacted by Knock Out, who has detected Bulkhead's energy signature. Megatron orders him to retrieve the Autobot's head.

[[Image:TMI-KnockOutpainted.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJpsAe70uig DINKLEBERG!]]]

At the monster truck race track, Miko attempts to jog Bulkhead's memory, but he's too busy painting the formula on the wall to take any notice of her. Her sorrow is interrupted by Knock Out and Breakdown, so she manages to persuade Bulkhead to follow her and hide among the monster trucks.

On hearing they've caught up with Bulkhead, Megatron sics the Vehicons on Optimus's team.

Miko tries to find somewhere outside the Decepticon jamming range so she can use [[Miko's phone|her phone]]. Knock Out and Breakdown search for Bulkhead, until Knock Out uses a tracking device to find the Autobot. Bulkhead transforms and scrawls a glyph on Knock Out's chest, but before the outraged Decepticon can do anything, Breakdown renders Bulkhead unconscious. Knock Out then prepares to remove Bulkhead's head.

The Autobots finish off the Vehicons, only for Megatron to simply crush the cylinder and fly off. Ratchet reports that Bulkhead and Miko have left the base.

Miko takes a swing at Knock Out with the mop, but misses and falls against Bulkhead. The cylinder energy promptly triggers, firing off into the sky. Knock Out checks Bulkhead and finds the energy is gone. Infuriated, he and Breakdown are ready to take some revenge, but are forced to retreat when the other Autobots GroundBridge in.

The Autobots return Bulkhead's comatose body back to base, where Miko tearfully blames herself for his condition. Ratchet suggests that it's too early to tell how long Bulkhead might remain like that and anything could trigger his awakening, and so Miko decides to try her guitar. After she strums a chord, Bulkhead stirs and wakes up, back to normal.

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (5)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (6)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (8)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (10)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)

}}

==Quotes==
'''Bulkhead''': Hey, Ratch, check out the monster truck rally Miko took me to last week. 
'''Miko''': I compiled some highlights with my cellphone. 
'''Ratchet''': Innocent vehicles battling for the entertainment of human spectators? (''shudders'') Bloodsport! 
'''Bulkhead''' and '''Miko''': Yeah!
:—Ratchet disapproves of Bulkhead and Miko's taste in sports.

"That's not art - It's SCIENCE!"
:—'''Ratchet''' approves of Bulkhead's (lack of) taste in art.

"Come to papa." 
(''Bulkhead knocks Knock Out away'') "Run to mommy!" 
(''Breakdown attacks Bulkhead from behind'') "Say uncle! Say it!" 
:—'''Knock Out''', '''Bulkhead''', and '''Breakdown''' continue with humorous mid-battle banter.

"How about our Sunday morning dune-bashings? Rocking out to [[Slash Monkey]]? Helping me with my homework? Trick question! You know I don't do homework...''don't you?''" 
:—'''Miko''' is at least more subtle in her remember-who-you are monologue [[Out of His Head|than Raf was.]]

"You...''painted'' my paint job! Prepare for ''surgery''!" 
:—'''Knock Out''' really needs to sort out his priorities.

"Because the energy took Bulkhead's mind with it. Heavenward. Lost to the stars. It's my fault you'll never know the rest of the formula, and it's my fault Bulkhead's gone forever."
:—'''Miko''' pulls an Optimus on us.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* The Vehicons that the Autobots are fighting in the beginning of the episode are clearly ground units, but magically become flying units when it comes time to retreat.

===Continuity notes===
* Miko recalls the story of [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] throwing a grenade into a Decepticon heat exchanger which Bulkhead told her back in "[[Con Job]]", and shows Bulkhead a picture of him with Wheeljack from the same episode.

===Continuity errors===
* Did Knock Out and Breakdown not already know Bulkhead's vehicle mode?
* If Megatron thought that the Autobots have Starscream in their custody at the end of "[[Partners]]", why didn't he question them about him?

===Transformers references===
* The Monster Truck announcer declares the trucks "the baddest [[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|beast machines]] on the planet."
* During his rambling, Bulkhead mentions [[Perceptor (Prime)|Perceptor]].
*Optimus mentions the "no matter the cost" line, just like his [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]].
*The Data Cylinder shares a startling resemblence to the space bridge control pillar used by [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] in [[Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon.]]

===Real-world references===
* Bulkhead's technobabble is not gibberish. Much of it is real, present-day scientific and mathematical terms, though not arranged coherently.
* Amongst Bulkhead's babblings is "the differential of one-third r cubed is r-dr-r," a gag lifted right out of the classic ''[[Wikipedia:The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode, "[[wikipedia:Bart the Genius|Bart the Genius]]". Har-de-har-har!
* Bulkhead also refers to "Clank's law", a Transformery take on [[wikipedia:Planck's law|Planck's law]] (a mathematical law relating to the energy emission of [[black body|black bodies]]).

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bulkhead, das Superhirn'''" ("Bulkhead, the Brainiac")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 10|10 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Troppe chiacchiere!'''" ("Too Many Chatters!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 4|4 December]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gieok Sangsil'''" (기억 상실, "Amnesia")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 2|2 January]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*The episode was first broadcast on [[Canada]]'s [http://www.teletoon.com Teletoon] channel. As none of the listings mentioned the episode title, and ''Prime'' episodes lack an on-screen title, the name of the episode was originally a mystery. Its name was revealed about a week later on [http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tv/transformers-prime-tmi/EP013408350023 Zap2it]'s website. It would air in the United States on [[September 10]], [[2011]].

[[Category:Prime episodes|Tmi]]

Optimus Prime (Movie)

2012-05-06T11:34:51Z

97.100.57.102: /* Autobot campaign */

{{factions|autobotfilm|{{factions/icons|custom=Cyberglyphics Prime Symbol.png|cLink=Dynasty of Primes|cPretty=Prime}}|NEST|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Optimus Prime}}{{suite}}

:''Optimus Prime is the [[Autobot]] leader from the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[Continuity family|continuity family]]. He has [[Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots|sometimes]] used the codename '''10-22'''.''

[[Image:Movieprime meettheautobots.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hello, pretty bird. GIVE ME YOUR FACE.]]

'''Optimus Prime''' is the leader of the [[Autobot]]s. Long ago, he was the humble leader of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s science division, which studied the [[AllSpark]], and were protected by [[Lord High Protector]] [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s military. When Megatron was corrupted by [[The Fallen]], Optimus discovered that he was the last of the [[Dynasty of Primes]], hidden away when The Fallen destroyed their lineage. In response to Megatron's attempts to seize the AllSpark and conquer other worlds, Optimus assumed his proper [[Prime (rank)|title]] and rallied the Autobots to stand against the [[Decepticon]]s.

As obsessively as Megatron strives to achieve his objective, Optimus is equally as dedicated to stopping him, even at the cost of his life, his world, and—if necessary—his own people. It was on his order that the AllSpark was jettisoned into space, dooming Cybertron to a slow death and his people to a nomadic life. The sacrifices he has made weigh heavily on his [[spark]], but they must be done, for there is no other choice. He knows the ambitions that lurk in Megatron's spark, and they must never see the light of day. Lives must be kept free from the threat of Megatron's tyranny, no matter the cost.
This obsession with the defeat of Megatron has robbed Optimus of some of his early idealism. This has created a certain ruthlessness beneath his otherwise honest and caring personality. Prime is not one for second chances and is willing to consider any action that might lead to victory, short of directly sacrificing those he cares about.

{{bigquote|Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing.|Optimus Prime stealing a quote from [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]|''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''}}

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Transformers'' movie prequel comics===
It was Optimus Prime's [[Prima|ancestor]] who finally vanquished [[the Fallen]] to another [[sarcophagus|dimension]] in the battle for the [[Matrix of Leadership]], {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 4|Tales of the Fallen #4}} but his orphaned descendant who was hidden away from the Fallen grew up with no knowledge of what he was. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen issue 3|Revenge of the Fallen #3}}

[[Image:Foundation1-literaldawn.jpg|left|thumb|300px|He's right, an actual literal dawn ''was'' involved. Put those knives away, English majors.]]

Eons after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] were vanquished, Cybertron fell into dark times. The [[AllSpark]] had been buried somewhere within Cybertron and been dismissed as a legend, and the planet itself lacked a star to orbit. As energy became more and more scarce, Cybertronians segregated into tribes. [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], a being who claimed to be descended from [[Primus]] himself, found Optimus and recruited him into his cause. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1|Foundation #1}} Optimus and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] helped Sentinel Prime locate the AllSpark and harness a star for Cybertron to orbit, and these fantastic acts united Cybertron for the first time in known history. But Sentinel Prime had grown old and weary and refused to lead the Cybertronians, and, in confidence, he revealed to Optimus that he was a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], and that he ought to succeed him as leader. But Optimus could not believe he was a Prime. However, he believed by investigating Cybertron's history he could bring some of the good the Primes created back to the world. Sentinel redrew his plans for Cybertron, having Optimus lead the archaeological [[Science Division]], while placing Megatron in charge of Cybertron's [[Defense Force]]. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}} Little did they know that Megatron had been eavesdropping, and Optimus's brother came to a jealousy-inspired conclusion. He didn't believe Optimus Prime had the ability to competently lead Cybertron, and that this series of events would one day pit the two against each other, until one was dead. Megatron vowed that it would not be him. {{storylink|Foundation issue 1|Foundation #1}}

[[Image:Defiance1 Megs Prime argument.jpg|right|350px|thumb|"Hey, I wanted a mouthplate!"]]

For two generations, Optimus and Megatron ruled Cybertron together. The two personalities created a balance; Prime was fair while Megatron was firm. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 1|Movie Prequel #1}} After an increase in [[Malcontent]]s disrupting Sentinel's order, Megatron intimidated Optimus into giving him supreme power in defense of the planet. {{storylink|Foundation issue 2|Foundation #2}} When ''Lord'' Protector Megatron toured the excavation site near the AllSpark [[Simfur Temple|temple]] at [[Simfur]], he and Optimus clashed over several issues. While Optimus wanted to take the investigation slowly, all Megatron cared about was whether the site contained power similar to the AllSpark. Optimus nettled Megatron when he reminded the Protector that the science sector was in charge of scientific and archaeological discoveries, and that the defense forces had a tendency to treat such discoveries as hostile, to which Megatron responded that if and when he was leader, he could make such decisions. When a [[The Fallen|mysterious relic]] was uncovered, Optimus disagreed with Megatron's order for it to be removed from the ground. Just as the two were about to launch into yet another argument, aliens previously encountered by Commander [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] attacked Cybertron. Megatron blackmailed Optimus into moving the relic into his personal quarters by reminding the science leader that the science division would like to protect the only intact relic from harm. {{storylink|Defiance issue 1|Defiance #1}}

Optimus ordered his science teams to help the survivors on both sides, in the hopes of finding out who was responsible and why they attacked. While he went off to find Megatron, he ordered the others to continue searching for survivors while [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] examined the alien remains. Optimus was shocked and appalled when Megatron ordered him to marshal his forces for war. Optimus objected, as his science division was not trained for combat, but Megatron retorted that the scientists should have known that aliens were after the AllSpark. He endured Megatron's insane fury when he accused the Protector of betraying that upon which their society was built. Later, Optimus called upon a meeting with his science division to ask them to stay by his side and continue on with their mission of peaceful research, as they were protectors, not soldiers. While the aerial-based Cybertronians followed Megatron into space, Optimus confided in [[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] that Megatron sought to divide their planet, and he asked the former for help breaking into the High Protector's personal quarters. {{storylink|Defiance issue 2|Defiance #2}}

[[Image:Defiance3_OptimusPrime_battle.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Man...Prime ain't foolin' around.]]

After noting that Megatron had restored the artifact to pristine condition, Optimus had to leave the military leader's quarters just before he returned. Back at [[Burthov]], he came upon [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], Arcee, and [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] scanning the pieces of the other artifacts. Arcee then discovered that the pieces all contained the same symbol on them, and that the same symbol was on Optimus' head. Ratchet declared that the symbol was proof of the [[Dynasty of Primes]], and it indicated Optimus himself was a [[Dynasty of Primes|Prime]]. Ratchet and the other Autobots began to dub him "Optimus Prime", although a humble Optimus noted they did not know what it meant and for all they knew, he could just be from a line of record clerks. As they discussed the revelations, Prowl was forced by Megatron to arrest Optimus, but this turned out to be a trap to kill him. Optimus bested Starscream and blew up [[Metrotitan (ROTF)|Metrotitan]], while Megatron formed his new faction, the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|Defiance issue 3|Defiance #3}} Optimus found Sentinel, Elita-One and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] under attack at the excavation site. He and [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] rescued them and escaped through a tunnel. Optimus also informed Sentinel of the marking on his head that proved he was right all along: he was a Prime too. {{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}}

[[Image:Ark Bridge Defiance4.jpg||thumb|300px|right|"Who ''are'' all you people?"]]
Retreating to Burthov with his fellow scientists and Prowl's security officers, Optimus was acknowledged as the leader of the group, with Prowl serving as his lieutenant. He and Prowl were discussing sites for a new base when Jazz informed them that Captain Ironhide of the [[Defense Force]] wanted to see Optimus. Learning of Megatron's new starship, the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'', Optimus Prime was convinced by his advisers that their side needed a ship of their own to prepare for any eventualities. The Autobots found themselves at an advantage when the ''Nemesis'' left Cybertron with the balance of the Decepticon forces, and Optimus himself took the fight to their enemies. However, years of bloody war devastated the planet, and Optimus saw no end in sight. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}}

Sentinel came up with a solution: a "torch" that would end the war without requiring the mass murder of the Decepticons. It required the AllSpark to activate, so Ironhide led the Autobots to Simfur Temple. {{storylink|Foundation issue 3|Foundation #3}} Elita-One successfully activated the torch, while Optimus fought off Megatron so she could deliver it to Sentinel. Sentinel boarded the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]] and arrived at Simfur, but to Optimus and Megatron's disbelief, Starscream blew the ship up. The Autobots fell back. With the Decepticons exhausted, Optimus ordered Wheeljack to pilot the second [[Ark (Movie)|Ark]] to take the AllSpark from Simfur. To Elita-One's concern, Optimus declared he would be going on a suicide mission to kill Megatron. {{storylink|Foundation issue 4|Foundation #4}}

Optimus, Ironhide and Elita-One made their way through Megatron's soldiers guarding his [[Lord High Protector citadel|citadel]]. Optimus demanded Megatron face him, but the Decepticon leader responded by dropping the [[smelting pool]] on him. Ironhide pushed Optimus out of the way, but Optimus's face was heavily damaged. Optimus entered Megatron's chamber alone as Ironhide was attacked by Starscream and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]. Optimus found Megatron surrounded by hungry [[hatchling]]s, gloating that Optimus was too weak to do what was necessary to win the war. Wheeljack then messaged Optimus, asking if they would go forward with removing the AllSpark. Optimus responded affirmatively, and Chromia and Arcee removed the Cube, darkening the skies of Cybertron. Optimus escaped, leaving Megatron to fend off his ravenous hatchlings, and rescued Ironhide. Returning to oversee the AllSpark's transportation, Optimus recognized his relationship with Elita-One had been forever scarred, and observed he still had a long way to go to being a great leader. {{storylink|Transformers: Foundation|Foundation #1-4}}

[[Image:Optimusprimemovieprequel.jpg|left|200px|thumb|All Primes are required to have window boobs.]]

The AllSpark was successfully ejected into space at [[Tyger Pax]], where [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] distracted Megatron. Prime and the Autobots were held up in [[Simfur]] during the launch. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 1|Movie Prequel #1}} As they prepared to leave Cybertron on board the ''[[Ark (Movie)|Ark]]'' to go after the AllSpark, Optimus Prime had some doubts about his decision, feeling that in buying them some time in the war, he had sentenced their world to death. [[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] disagreed, pointing out that had Megatron been able to claim the Cube, all those that opposed him would have been destroyed, and that Prime had turned death into a fighting chance for the Autobots. Bolstered by Prowl's words, Prime resolved to rebuild their shattered home once they retrieved the AllSpark. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 1|The Reign of Starscream #1}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Beginnings''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]]

Bumblebee remembered Optimus Prime's orders that they must launch the AllSpark into space, for it was better to lose it to the depths of space than allow Lord Megatron to corrupt it with his evil. For wherever there is hope, there is life. {{storylink|Transformers: Beginnings}}

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

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
[[Image:OptimusMovie_GeoffSenior.JPG|250px|thumb|Starting as he means to go on.]]

When war broke out, Optimus studied the entire history of intergalactic warfare from any datatrack he could find—he studied whole campaigns to desperate last stands, gaining a focused "playbook" of warfare strategy. He understands warfare on a practical and psychological level, and in desperate battles knows to show no mercy to opponents beyond a swift death. <ref>''Autobot VS Decepticon Smackdown! - Megatron V. Optimus Prime'', #4</ref>

Optimus was the focus of constant attacks by assassin drones and killed them all. In the aftermath of one, he witnessed a prophetic vision of the [[Mission City]] battle and realised the AllSpark's ejection could spread war to other planets—but too late to stop the launch... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 1|Prelude: Optimus Prime}}

{{note|The following event is unique to the Titan Magazines comics continuity, and thus does not occur anywhere else.}}

Almost immediately after the final battle against Megatron, Optimus Prime had to lead the Autobots against a horde of [[Zombie|zombie]] Decepticons. Despite having no idea how they could be stopped and having had his power drained by fighting Megatron, Optimus continued to fight the monsters rather than let them run amok. Ratchet worked out a solution just in time before Optimus fell. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

{{notetitantlg}}

In the alternate reality, Megatron defeated Optimus and took the AllSpark at [[Mission City]]. Prime's body was now partially frozen and in Decepticon hands. He was the last and only hope of the Earth resistance, and so Bumblebee and [[Mikaela Banes]] were not happy to find him offline. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1}}

She thawed him out while Bumblebee distracted Megatron, and the revived Prime challenged Megatron to a solo duel... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4}} Unfortunately, Megatron's link to the AllSpark meant Optimus could not do any lasting damage and was never going to win. Luckily, Bumblebee and Mikaela saved the day, hitting the distracted Megatron with an old [[Sector Seven]] nanovirus. (Which means ''they'' were the last and only hope, but oh well.) Despite Megatron dying as a result and the AllSpark being destroyed elsewhere, Prime could take no satisfaction in victory: this battle was won, but the war remained... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}}

[[Image:Optimus_Titan12.JPG|left|250px|thumb|"Megatron's face must be cut off...no MATTER THE COST!"]]

He became resigned to the fact that Humanity, battered by Decepticon occupation, would view both Autobot and Decepticon as hostile invaders. When [[NATO]] was manipulated into attacking the Autobots, Optimus refused to allow his men to return fire, and after the crisis passed, he was sure that [[Starscream (Movie)|the Decepticons' unknown new commander]] was up to something bigger. Optimus also placed the last AllSpark fragment in the care of Ratchet, though he was worried exposure to Megatron might have corrupted it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 14|Aftermath Part 1}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|Aftermath Part 2}} He was ''not'' happy when Ratchet "took care" of the fragment by bringing [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] back with it, who was left corrupted and amoral by it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}}

Optimus Prime soon worked out that while the AllSpark's transformation of Earth had been halted, the damage had been done: the organic Earth and the technological transformation were now fighting for supremacy, killing the planet in the process. He called in a specialist team to investigate and limit the damage, while working with [[President of the United States|President Allen]]. In secret, he organised for [[Nucleon]] to be retrieved from the dead Cybertron and brought to Earth, as there was a long shot it could save the planet. He didn't tell the humans out of concern that if they knew about the plan and it failed, their hopes would be raised and dashed. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 17|Return to Cybertron: Part 1}} It was bad enough that Nucleon was so unstable it could turn destructive... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 18|Return to Cybertron: Part 2}}

When the team on Cybertron sent a distress signal and reported [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade's]] Decepticons had captured the Nucleon, Optimus led the entirety of the Earth-bound Autobots (save Camshaft's team) to Cybertron as back-up. He was then surprised to see Cybertron coming to ''them'', looking [[Unicron|a lot meaner these days]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 19|Return to Cybertron: Part 3}} The planet's possessor, Unicron, shot down the Straxus and the Autobots survived only by evacuating it in time in [[protoform]] modes.

Optimus landed next to Stockade's old equipment and, after being filled in by [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], he effortlessly formed an alliance with Stockade against Unicron. His plan was to drain the Nucleon away so Unicron couldn't use it as a power source, while the bulk of the Transformers provided a distraction, which turned out to be going underground and shooting up Unicron's body. The plan worked, Nucleon was secured for Earth, and Optimus extended an offer for Stockade to join them on Earth whenever he wished. Optimus was left optimistic that Autobots and Decepticons had come together in a common cause. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 20|Return to Cybertron: Part 4}}

On returning to Earth, he found the Decepticons had seized the Autobot base and six hundred square miles around it; he made the decision to withdraw to [[Washington, D.C.]], knowing that this meant leaving Mikaela in Decepticon hands. Upon landing at an air base, the Decepticon-controlled President Allen lured him into a trap, and he found himself fighting Jazz, now a Decepticon hired gun. Optimus lured him away from humans and prepared to engage him, but when a second assassin named [[Kullt]] turned up, Jazz gunned it down out of annoyance. Optimus had viewed Jazz as a lost cause but now stated there was still some Autobot in him: he ''could'' have let Kullt do the work for him and then killed him, but he saved Prime instead.

The battle made it clear to Optimus that Allen was under Decepticon mental control. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|Hard Target}}

[[Image:Optimus Titan22.JPG|200px|thumb|Freedom is not dispensed here, sentient fools, only DEATH!]]

As he'd promised Bumblebee, Optimus took the Autobots to get Mikaela back; he himself went first, launching himself in [[Protoform|protoform]] mode to land in Savannah like a bomb and tearing his way through [[Swindle (Movie)|drone hordes]]. He was quickly gunned down by aerial units and about to be killed by Starscream, but this whole flashy attack had been a diversion—allowing other Autobots a chance to hit the distracted air forces and nab Mikaela. After the battle, Optimus remarked Starscream was no Megatron. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

Optimus seemed to quickly bond with [[General Seward]], his military liaison at Andrews Air Base, but that didn't help when the mind-controlled President Allen had the government order the Autobots out of America. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|Revolution Part One}} However, Prime had anticipated this. Almost two weeks before, he'd had Ironhide task [[Tom Banachek]] to identify all the Decepticon puppets for him. With Allen making the expected move, he dispatched Ironhide and Bumblebee to set things up so that the following day, when the Autobots all departed, Allen would try to nuke them out of the sky and be fooled by a decoy ship into thinking he'd killed them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part Three}}

To protect the Earth while they were undercover on Cybertron, Optimus had made a deal with Stockade to start a [[Decepticon Civil War]]. Optimus didn't trust Stockade to not renege on the deal and just take control of Earth for himself, {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Revolution Part Two}} but he ensured the Decepticons were set up for the Autobot's final strike: forcibly teleporting all of the enemy to Cybertron via Unicron's leftover teleportational engines, then stranding Cybertron in a remote solar system. Optimus led the troops to Earth and witnessed Megatron's return from the dead... only to ''thwack'' him flying. The next minute, both Megatron ''and'' Stockade (why wait for him to renege?) were teleported away, along with their forces.

This left the Autobots stranded on Earth and with a lot of clean-up to do. But Optimus had ''finally'' brought about the end of the war... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|Revolution Part Three}}
{{-}}

===''Ghosts of Yesterday''===
Optimus Prime led the search for the AllSpark in the ''[[Ark (Movie)|Ark]]'', a transport vessel. When they came across an abandoned solar system, they located [[Ghost 1|a vessel]] of strangely Cybertronian design, seemingly of Decepticon make. When the vessel fled to the surface of a planet, Prime dispatched Bumblebee to investigate while he and the other Autobots battled Decepticons from the ''[[Nemesis (Movie)|Nemesis]]''. Prime managed to defeat [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]], [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], and [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] all on his own. After losing touch with Bumblebee, Prime went down to locate him on the planet, where they were attacked by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and the alien ship. They fell into a cavern network, where they were further attacked by [[Worm-thing|indigenous worms]].

During their flight from the creatures, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee came across the alien vessel. Prime realized that they were trying to surrender, so the Autobots communicated with its crew. Optimus explained that they came in peace, "freedom is the right of all sentient beings," Starscream tricks everyone, and so on. However, the creatures, who called themselves "[[Human|humans]]", explained that they held Megatron, whom they called the Ice Man, on their home world, [[Earth]]. Realizing the destruction Megatron would wreak upon the humans if he escaped, and that the humans would be unable to defend themselves effectively, Prime vowed to see them return to their world to warn it. Prime was able to blast an opening in the cavern, and the group escaped. As they returned to the ''Ark'', Prime began to speculate that the AllSpark was what drew Megatron to Earth.

In the ensuing battle with the Decepticons, Prime was in the difficult position of fighting Starscream and protecting the human ship. His distractions allowed Bonecrusher to spear him with his tail. The difficult state nearly gave Starscream the chance to kill him, but the humans saved Prime's life by damaging Starscream, who destroyed them. Optimus Prime was inspired by their courage and sacrifice, and resolved to locate Earth before the Decepticons did—and hopefully before Megatron came back online. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

===''Transformers'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Brazil), [[Reiner Schöne]] (German), [[Alessandro Rossi]] (Italian), [[Blas Garcia]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Guy Nadon]] (French-Canadian)

{{bigquote|A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes.|Optimus Prime on sacrificing his life to destroy the [[AllSpark]]}}

[[Image:Movie OptimusPrime protoform.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Having overenergized the previous night, Prime woke up abandoned in a field, with his wallet and clothes stolen.]]
The leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime, came to Earth shortly after [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] sent his comrades a beacon. Upon atmospheric reentry, Prime managed to land outside of [[Tranquility]]'s inhabited areas. While Sam and Mikaela watched, Optimus transformed and left his landing place. From atop a hill, he quickly scanned the form of an Earth truck, thus configuring his body to transform into it. Prime, [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] met up with Bumblebee and his human friends, [[Sam Witwicky]] and [[Mikaela Banes]] in an alley. In one of the most extended [[Transformation|transformations]] in the multiverse, Prime assumed his robotic form before the stunned humans. After confirming Sam's identity, Prime introduced himself and his team. When Mikaela asked of the Autobots' intentions, Prime explained the search for the AllSpark, the betrayal of Megatron, and why Sam was important to their search.

[[Image:Movie PrimeSam parentsfreakout.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Optimus Prime will watch you fornicate. And there is nothing you can do about it.]]
Glasses that belonged to Sam's ancestor, [[Archibald Witwicky|Captain Archibald Witwicky]], contained the location of the AllSpark encoded across its lenses, so Optimus Prime ordered his troops to wait outside Sam's house while Sam and Mikaela searched inside for the glasses. Much to Sam's exasperation, Optimus Prime, in his impatience, clumsily ruined his parents' garden, and the Autobots' heavy footsteps convinced them there was an earthquake. Prime's attempts to hide, such as having the Autobots transform into vehicle mode right in the backyard, were also less than satisfactory. Ultimately, Sam came so close to a panic attack that Prime was forced to order the Autobots to fall back. As Prime lectured his team on their supposed inability to remain quiet, Ratchet got himself shocked by walking into some powerlines, causing further problems. When [[Ron Witwicky|the]] [[Judy Witwicky|parents]] came to investigate, Prime's attempt to avoid discovery caused the house to shake, though this was to their benefit, as the father assumed that the damage to the yard was the result of an earthquake. Ironhide suggested that they kill the parents, but Optimus scolded his old friend. Despite all this, their presence remained undetected until [[Sector Seven]] arrived (in a convoy of GMC Yukons) and abducted Sam, Mikaela, and Sam's parents.

[[Image:Movie Optimus Prime S7 mad.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Get out of the car...what's left of it anyway!]]
Optimus Prime sent the Autobots in pursuit of the SUV that contained Sam, Mikaela, and Sector Seven's director, [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]]. Prime intercepted the vehicle carrying their young human friends, ripping the roof of the vehicle off, with the other Autobots disarming the agents, and made it perfectly clear to Simmons how pissed off he was at him for trying to apprehend the two children, regarding this as a bad move on Simmons' behalf. Optimus then ordered his comrades to relieve the agents of their weapons, and attempted to interrogate Simmons. The agents' lack of surprise at their appearance indicated that they had seen Cybertronians before, but Simmons refused to reveal any information. With a Sector Seven backup team en route, Prime ordered the Autobots to scatter, while he took Sam and Mikaela. While hiding under a bridge, Mikaela and Sam slipped and fell off Prime's shoulder. Bumblebee managed to catch them before impact, but was captured, and Sam and Mikaela recaptured, by the organization after their retreat. Now in possession of the glasses which could tell him the location of the AllSpark, Optimus regretfully left Bumblebee in Sector Seven's hands, knowing that if they went after him, they would have to use deadly force.

After regrouping the next day, Prime used the glasses to locate the AllSpark. Jazz again raised objections to leaving Bumblebee behind, but Prime remained firm in his belief of not harming the humans. Ironhide seemed okay with using deadly force, stating the humans were too violent, but Prime countered that when their time had come, the Cybertronians had been [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|little different]]. Going on to explain the potential he saw in the humans, as well as reminding them that "freedom is the right of all sentient beings", Prime revealed to the Autobots his real plan for the AllSpark: if they could not defeat the Decepticons, Prime intended to merge the Cube with his [[Spark|spark]]. Though this would destroy the AllSpark, Ratchet cautioned Prime against this, as it would also kill him. Prime believed that this was acceptable, vowing not to let another race suffer the mistakes of the Transformers. The glasses placed the AllSpark at [[Hoover Dam]] where, luckily, Bumblebee and the young humans were taken.

[[Image:Movie2007 Prime sword.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Swiss army Prime.]]
Optimus Prime's team met up with Sector Seven, Bumblebee, Sam, and Mikaela en route, who had planned to hide the AllSpark in nearby [[Mission City]]. While on the highway, he was attacked by [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], who managed to tackle Optimus and drag him over the edge of a freeway overpass. During the battle, Optimus struck the rage-filled Transformer so hard his [[Optic|optic]] popped out. As the Decepticon swung his claw wildly, Optimus drew his sword from his right arm and sliced off one of Bonecrusher's arms, before brutally finishing off his enemy by [[Decapitation|driving the blade through]] Bonecrusher's neck, severing his head.

Optimus arrived at Mission City just in time to observe Megatron discarding the remains of Jazz, and challenged him. Millennia in the ice had done nothing to lessen Megatron's hatred of his brother, and he launched himself in jet mode at the Autobot leader. Optimus leaped and grabbed hold of the wings, which was a really bad idea, as Megatron drove himself and Prime through an office block. As they flew out of the building onto the street below, Megatron transformed and leapt on top of Prime, declaring the humans undeserving of life. Prime rejected his claims, saying that they deserved to choose for themselves. Megatron threw Prime across the street, declaring that if he wished to defend the humans, Prime could die with them. He then formed his [[Fusion cannon|fusion cannon]] from his forearms. The power up time allowed Prime to draw his [[Ion blaster|ion blaster]] and fire, hitting Megatron. The Decepticon used the momentum to spin around, then used the fusion cannon to blast Prime across the street into another building. Megatron then resumed the hunt for Sam and the AllSpark.

[[Image:Movie2007 Prime truck.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He knows he's a sexy truck.]]
Tracking Megatron to the deserted building, Prime barely managed to catch Sam after Megatron knocked him off the roof. Telling the boy to hold onto the Cube, Prime attempted to scale down the building, but Megatron jumped on Prime, causing them both to fall down hard onto the street below. Sam survived, however, and Optimus told the boy that if he could not defeat Megatron, Sam must put the AllSpark into his chest which would destroy it. As Sam sought cover, Optimus faced down Megatron, and informed him that, "At the end of this day, one shall stand, one shall fall". Unfortunately, Megatron, even after years of stasis, proved to be far too powerful for Prime to defeat alone. The unit led by Lennox and the Raptor squadron laid down suppressing fire as Megatron reached for the AllSpark, until Optimus finally took him down by sweeping his legs. Still, Megatron continued, crawling toward the cube. Believing he had lost, Optimus implored Sam to put the AllSpark into his chest. Sam instead thrust it into Megatron's chest, killing the Decepticon leader and destroying the AllSpark.

[[Image:Movie2007 Prime AllSpark shard.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership|Dorito of leadership]]]]
As Optimus watched his brother die, he regretfully said there was little other choice. He also told Sam he owed him a debt of gratitude for saving his life, but was then informed that Jazz had not survived (Jazz was flapping around disrespectfully like a ragdoll during this sequence). Prime briefly eulogized his comrade, then commented that they had gained new comrades in the humans, and was honored by their bravery. Bumblebee, who had finally regained his voice, requested permission to remain with Sam Witwicky, to which the young human eagerly agreed, and Optimus approved. He noticed a fragment of the AllSpark in Megatron's chest cavity and removed it, then permitted the humans to dispose of the Decepticon corpses by dumping them into the deepest part of the ocean.

[[Image:Movie Optimus ending.JPG|right|300px|thumb|[['Til all are one]]!]]
Though Megatron was killed and his Decepticons were defeated, the AllSpark was destroyed, leaving the Autobots unable to restore Cybertron. The Autobots elected to remain on Earth, and Prime sent a message into deep space to any surviving Autobots in the Galaxy to come to their new home on Earth, their long years of searching having finally having come to an end. As the other Autobots rested (and watched Sam and Mikaela make out on Bumblebee's hood) Optimus Prime looked to the sky, hoping his message had been heard. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}
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{{note|The [[Movie Adaptation issue 4|comic book adaptation]] depicts Optimus Prime also defeating [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] during the highway altercation with Bonecrusher. However, the later comic [[The Reign of Starscream issue 1|''The Reign of Starscream'' #1]] depicts Ironhide doing the deed.}}
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===Toy bios===
{{notemoviebio}}

That truck he transcanned was ''the coolest thing he ever saw''. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Voyager Class toys|Robo-Vision Optimus Prime}}

When the AllSpark was destroyed, Optimus was ''bathed'' in its power and became a living receptacle: he could destroy or heal with the merest thought. He still remained dedicated to peace, and altered his exterior decorations to match the ones he bore as a young leader, before the beginning of the war. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Voyager Class toys|First Strike Optimus Prime}}

When the war turned out to ''not'' be over though, and with more Decepticons appearing on Earth, he was forced to alter himself to be used for stealth missions—something he finds dishonourable but knows has to be done. He is now sensor transparent and silent. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys|Nightwatch Optimus Prime}} In this form, he came under surprise attack by an equally stealth-modified Starscream, leader of the new Decepticons! {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Legends Class toys|Nightwatch Optimus Prime vs. Stealth Starscream}}

Once the Decepticons were beaten on Earth, Optimus was given intelligence by [[Sector Seven]]. {{storylink|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Fast Action Brawlers|Fire Blast Optimus Prime}}

===''Beast Wars Diorama Story''===
[[Image:BWDS 11.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
[[Beast Wars (event)|On Earth in the past and in another universe]], a contingent of [[Maximal]]s, led by [[Optimus Primal]], battled a group of [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] in a forest. {{storylink|Optimus Primal Chapter}}

Some time into the battle, a warp opened, bringing with it [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], Optimus Prime, and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]. Optimus Prime made fast friends with [[Optimus Primal]]; they joined their forces and double-teamed the injured [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], who had just taken a blast to the face from [[Tigatron]]. Starscream then joined the Predacons. The two Optimuses commemorated their accomplishment of teamwork by shaking hands. The Maximals and Ratchet looked up with approval. {{storylink|Tigatron Chapter}} [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] later appeared and joined the Predacons. As the battled raged, the [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] from Prime's universe came in through the warp. {{storylink|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. Fortuantely for the Autobots and Maximals, [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]] arrived to assist. The two factions then took formation against each other with the intention of combining their energies to attack the opposing side. With [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]] leading the charge, the Maximals and the Autobots attacked first. {{storylink|Motorarm Chapter}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
[[Image:AllianceOptimusHoloDriver.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Peter Cullen|Optimus Prime]] driving Optimus Prime! Sheer awesomeness!]]

Following the battle of [[Mission City]], and the destruction of Megatron and the AllSpark, Optimus Prime was left to ferry the body of his first lieutenant [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] out of the city in an abandoned trailer. Trusting [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] and his men, Prime asked the human soldiers to help the Autobots escape from the city, before [[Sector Seven]] and other untrustworthy humans could arrive. A month later, [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] managed to convince Lennox and [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] to call upon the assistance of Optimus Prime and the Autobots to escort the Decepticon remains, thereby hopefully reactivating the Decepticon [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] somehow. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance #1}}

Optimus, Ironhide, Ratchet and Bumblebee arrived at Sector Seven's Nevada desert base to escort to a naval base at [[California|San Diego, California]]. Optimus insisted on escorting Jazz's remains personally, and thanked Lennox for arranging a proper burial-at-sea for his fallen lieutenant. When he noticed the AllSpark shard seemingly reacting to the Decepticon bodies, he handed the fragment to [[Vine|Professor Vine]] for safekeeping until he returned. Shortly after leaving the base, Optimus had second thoughts about leaving the fragment in Sector Seven's possession, and ordered Bumblebee and Ironhide to turn around and retrieve the only remaining piece of the AllSpark. {{storylink|Alliance issue 2|Alliance #2}}

[[Image:Alliance3_OptimusPrime_Lennox.jpg|thumb|left|300px|"So erm, want to go back to my place?" "Prime, are you trying to get onto me?" "No dude, I just want to show you my collection of faces and heads!"]]

The convoy returned to the Sector Seven base after learning of Wreckage and Starscream's attacks. [[Salani]] retrieved the AllSpark shard and returned it to Optimus Prime, who felt the last piece of their heritage should stay with him. Weeks later, the Autobots and the soldiers with whom they served traveled aboard a [[United States Navy|US Navy]] carrier for Jazz's burial-at-sea and to observe the disposal of the Decepticons. Optimus deeply appreciated the humans' paying last respects to their fallen comrade, though he was concerned that even the great depths of the [[Laurentian Abyss]] were not enough to keep the Decepticon bodies hidden. Below deck, Optimus and Lennox agreed to a formal [[NEST|alliance between the Autobots and humans]] as the first line of offense and defense against the Decepticons. During training on the island of [[Diego Garcia]], Optimus Prime reminded the Autobots that they must work together with the humans as a team, never forgetting that division was what caused the war on Cybertron in the first place. When they were alone, Optimus Prime and Major Lennox complimented each other's leadership and the dedication of their respective troops. When Lennox commented that it was because of the Autobots that he and his soldiers were alive today, Optimus refuted this, saying it was because of humans such as Lennox and Sam, and that the Autobots were only part of the problem. Soon, both [[NEST]] leaders learned that the Decepticons had returned to Earth. {{storylink|Alliance issue 3|Alliance #3}}

By November 2008, Sideswipe had arrived on Earth, but was recklessly pursuing the Decepticon Demolishor in [[South America]]. Optimus was chastised by Admiral Morshower for this "grey area" in the Autobot ranks, but the Autobot leader assured Morshower he would settle it. Human relations were so strained the exasperated Optimus decided to forcibly bring Sideswipe in to end his rampage; however, Ironhide requested he go calm his former student down. Optimus agreed, but made his position clear: if Sideswipe could not be negotiated with... he would be ''dealt'' with. Ironhide eventually was able to calm his student, but not before Demolishor was let loose upon human civilians, AND the authorities were attacking Cybertronians on sight. Luckily, Optimus and a strike team had already arrived and had the authorities stand down, and Sideswipe joined the Autobot ranks. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 2|Tales of the Fallen #2}}

[[Image:Alliance4_Prime_killingspree.jpg|thumb|300px|Freedom is the right of all '''non-Decepticon''' sentient beings.]]

NEST was deployed to [[San Francisco]], where the Decepticons [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]] and [[Jolt (Movie)|Dead End]] were wreaking havoc. Flushed out of hiding, the Decepticons managed to evade the other Autobots, but Optimus Prime quickly put down Dead End by ramming him head-on. When asked by Prime, he commented that he was fine, but he wasn't sure if Dead End was. On the way back to base, Lennox and Optimus Prime discussed Swindle's last words and were concerned that this was just the first wave of Decepticons coming to Earth, and that they were after [[Sam Witwicky]]. Optimus convinced Lennox that no matter what, it was Sam's destiny to become involved in this conflict, and they agreed to send Bumblebee back to the States to resume his role as the boy's guardian. Later, when Optimus observed the distrust for the Autobots held by Lennox's superiors, he suggested that they must work harder and that continued success would satisfy those above them. During the subsequent hunt for Decepticons around the world, Optimus Prime personally destroyed [[Jetstorm (Movie)|Jetstorm]], [[Dropkick]] and [[Incinerator (Movie)|Incinerator]]. As NEST's ranks grew, together they celebrated their victories and mourned those who made the ultimate sacrifice. One event brought joy and hope to the team: The arrival of Autobot refugees who were eager to protect their new homeworld. This joy was tempered by the fact more and more Decepticons were being sighted on Earth, and Optimus believed that there was some unknown that threatened their new home, their species and their alliance with the humans. {{storylink|Alliance issue 4|Alliance #4}}
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===''The Veiled Threat''===
{{Note|The events of ''The Veiled Threat'' take place during [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers: Alliance|Alliance]]'' comic.}}

{{bigquote|I know Megatron. I know all of you. You would not have taken the AllSpark and left this world in peace. You would have subdued it and made slaves of its people. Even in the absence of the AllSpark, my conscience and that of my friends could not have allowed that.|Optimus Prime to [[Macerator]]}}

Optimus attended an initial [[NEST]] briefing about sightings of Starscream in [[Zambia]], and was placed in joint command with Lennox of a team to go there to investigate. He also advised some new Autobot arrivals about how best to fit in on Earth. In Zambia, they quickly tracked down three Decepticons, [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]], [[Macerator]] and [[Dropkick]] waiting at the Zambezi River. Optimus, Ironhide and Ratchet waded in to face their opponents, unaware that it was a trap — as they fought, they were dragged downriver towards Victoria Falls. Although the other two Autobots escaped the trap, Optimus was held fast by Macerator and plunged off the falls. While Macerator was caught mid-air by Starscream, Optimus managed to cling to an outcropping. He was rescued by the other Autobots present, utilizing [[Beachbreak]]'s tow line. Enraged by the rescue, Starscream killed Beachbreak, something Optimus regarded as a result of his own failure to lead. The team tracked Payload, Macerator and Dropkick downriver to the Kariba dam, where Optimus rammed two of the Decepticons and then fought with Macerator at length. He eventually triumphed, decapitating the Decepticon. As Dropkick retreated, Optimus stopped Ironhide from firing as he might have hit some of the humans nearby. They instead went to look for Payload, who had been swept away by raging waters from the dam emergency release.

Back at [[Diego Garcia]], two more Decepticon contacts were made in [[Australia]] and [[Peru]]. Optimus opted to lead the team checking Australia. After exploring the Outback for a number of days, the team discussed whether the Decepticons might be hunting for energy to resurrect Megatron, but Optimus doubted there was an energy source on the planet that could do so. They eventually encountered [[Kickback (ROTF)|Kickback]], [[Trample]] and [[Tread]], three [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s mining for minerals. Optimus found Kickback's sonic charge weapon to be a challenge, but with some help from Lennox, killed the Decepticon.

After they returned to base, Optimus's input into the conversation on how the Decepticons might revive Megatron was for the most part unhelpful. The subsequent appearance of [[Jolt (Movie)|Deadend]] and [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]] in [[Rome]] led the Autobots to take another trip, but Optimus found Rome's narrow streets frustrating as he was unable to navigate them in his truck form. After [[Knock Out (ROTF)|Knockout]] dealt to the two Decepticons, a furious Starscream challenged Optimus to one-on-one combat in the nearby Colosseum. Naturally it was a trap — Starscream had allied himself with a human, [[Bruno Carrera]], and together they trapped Optimus in a pit and set Barricade on him. With the help of four humans, Optimus broke free, threw Barricade into the pit and sealed him there. He then had only to show his face outside to where Starscream was fighting Ironhide, Ratchet and [[Salvage (Movie)|Salvage]], and the would-be Decepticon leader fled. {{storylink|The Veiled Threat}}

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

[[Image:Titan5_Optimustwins.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Your slang is bad and you should ''feel'' bad!"]]

Since coming to Earth, Optimus has had to strive daily to gain credibility with the human powers-that-be. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}}

Even Optimus doesn't believe [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap's]] stories anymore! When those same twins arrived, Optimus was absent on a 'need to know' mission {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.3|Learning Curve}} in [[Australia]] with [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]]. When [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] landed on the continent, the two Autobots interrupted their mission to bring the bot in. It proved far more difficult than you'd expect, with the Decepticon able to outdistance them in the long run and better suited to the terrain. Optimus was knocked offroad when Sideways blasted him with exhaust, and Arcee reported her alt mode was too out of its comfort zone to keep up... which gave Optimus an idea.

That idea was to take ''away'' the terrain, blasting Sideways off the road and into the grass with projectile weaponry. Violence works!

Optimus took the prisoner to Diego Garcia, and on arrival was greeted with the sight of the twins brawling on the runway. He bawled them out over improper conduct, but before he could go further [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] made an attack. Taking fire, Optimus began barking out orders... only to be tripped up by Skids. Once he was up, Scorponok and Sideways had both done a runner. Knowing that the enemy could ''not'' have got this close without NEST security being compromised, Optimus was convinced by [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe's]] argument that the twins had turned traitor and had them taken away for questions. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}}

When the twins were sprung by Decepticons, Prime agreed with [[Theodore Galloway]] that the Autobots would make finding the twins a number one priority. However, Optimus was left suspicious when a [[Soundwave (ROTF)|mysterious "friend"]] tipped the Autobots off about the twins. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.6|Outlaw Blues}} Soon, it came out that the twins were being framed and by tracking the two, Optimus and his men found out about a Decepticon base near [[Mars (planet)|Mars]]. Optimus led a raid on it, taking down the [[Purple generic drones|drone army]] stationed there. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Back-to-Back}}
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===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Guilherme Briggs]] (Brazil), [[Reiner Schöne]] (German), [[Alessandro Rossi]] (Italian), [[Blas Garcia]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Guy Nadon]] (French-Canadian)

[[Image:ROTF-DemolishorPrime.jpg|thumb|right|250px|With the Legends and Voyager toys, this scene is ''just'' possible.]]
After the events in [[Mission City]] two years ago, Optimus Prime and the Autobots became part of a Transformer/human military group called [[NEST]], which hunted down the remaining Decepticons across the world. When [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] and [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] were detected in [[Shanghai]], NEST was deployed there, including the Autobots [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]. Once Demolishor made himself known by transforming into robot mode and crushing dozens of cars along the highway, [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] radioed an overhead C-17 to release the Autobot leader. Optimus Prime parachuted out of a NEST cargo plane and landed in vehicle mode. He leapt off a bridge onto the Decepticon's head as he plowed through it. When the massive Constructicon refused his order to pull over, Optimus unleashed several blasts of his [[ion blaster]] into Demolishor's head. These shots, coupled with Ironhide destroying his tires, sent the titan crashing to the ground and into a warehouse. As he and Ironhide approached the dying Decepticon, Optimus asked if he had any last words. With his dying breath, the Constructicon stated that [[The Fallen]] would rise again. Optimus responded in the negative and unceremoniously executed him.

Returning to [[Diego Garcia]], Prime entered a briefing with [[Theodore Galloway]], the National Security Adviser who had been appointed liaison by the [[President of the United States|President]], and [[Morshower|General Morshower]], the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was watching by satellite feed. Prime relayed the warning of The Fallen to them, but Galloway made no effort to conceal his hostility toward the Autobots. He noted that while they had given them intelligence and the sole remaining AllSpark fragment, Galloway took issue with their refusal to share weapons technology and their continued sending of transmissions into space. Prime told Galloway that the Autobots were aware of humanity's history of warfare, and Morshower said that all the transmissions had been vetted by NEST officers. Galloway also pointed out that despite Megatron's death and burial in the Laurentian Abyss and the destruction of the AllSpark, the Decepticons had not left Earth as Optimus had hoped, leading him to conclude that the Autobots were the ones who the Decepticons were after. When asked if the Autobots would leave Earth peacefully if told to, Optimus replied that they would honor their request, but warned Galloway to consider what would happen if the Autobots left but the Decepticons did not.

Unknown to Prime, the Decepticon [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] had been monitoring transmissions and spied on the briefing. Dispatching [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] to the island, he had his agent steal the remaining AllSpark fragment, killing several soldiers in the process. The incident left the Autobots with rather chilly relations with the United States. Seeking outside help, Optimus dispatched Bumblebee to retrieve Sam Witwicky from college in an effort to secure his testimony on the Autobots' behalf. Meeting Sam at an abandoned cemetery near his college, Optimus explained the situation. Sam was not receptive; in fact, he was quite hostile, saying that he had just started college and was trying to have a normal life. Knowing that fate often called at inconvenient times, Optimus impressed upon Sam the importance of what was going on, but Sam reiterated that the Cybertronian War was not his, and that they didn't need him. Optimus relayed his fear that it soon would be, and silently said that they needed him more than he realized.

[[Image:ROTFPrimevsMegsandScreamer.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Stick em' up!]]
Prime's fear soon came to pass, but in the last way he could imagine: the Decepticons had used the AllSpark shard to resurrect Megatron, who had learned that the knowledge of the AllSpark had been passed to Sam by a fragment Sam had touched, and soon captured him, Mikaela, and Sam's college roommate [[Leo Spitz]]. Heading to rescue the three humans, Optimus and Bumblebee ambushed the Decepticons in the [[Broadwater Metal Works|abandoned industrial complex]] where the teens were being held, just as [[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]] was about to perform fatal neurosurgery on Sam. Knocking Megatron and [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] out of the building, Optimus managed to whisk Sam away from the plant. Optimus made it as far as the nearby forest when Megatron arrived. Going one-on-one with the Decepticon leader, Prime managed to hold his own, all the while trash-talking Megatron. Megatron then called for Starscream and [[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]], who quickly arrived. Prime was forced to run interference between Megatron and Starscream, who pursued Sam.

[[Image:ROTF Optimus vs Grindor.jpg|thumb|right||250px|''Frenzy is red,'' '' Rumble is blue,'' ''this poem doesn't rhyme,'' ''NOW GIVE ME YOUR FACE !'' ]]
As the battle raged, Megatron told Prime that the boy was the key to finding another energon source, then shattered his [[mouthplate]] and sent him flying back with a point blank shot from his [[fusion cannon]]. Megatron asked if the boy's life was greater than the future of their race, but Prime knew that he would never stop with a single life. Declaring that he'd take them all on, Optimus Prime unsheathed his [[Dual Energon Swords]] and fought a three-on-one fight against the Decepticons. Surprisingly, not only did he manage to hold his own, he was actually winning, managing to stab Megatron multiple times, slice off Starscream's arm and use it as a club, and rip apart Grindor's head. However, Megatron managed to stab his own sword through Optimus Prime's chest, following with a point blank shot through his injured back. Critically injured, Optimus implored the still-observing Sam to run. Although the rest of the Autobots soon arrived and drove off Megatron and Starscream, Optimus Prime was [[The_many_deaths_of_Optimus_Prime|dead]].

[[Image:ROTF Optimus death.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"You're so weak!" "Then why have I spent this whole fight kicking your a—"*BOOM*]]
Soon after, The Fallen made his presence known and demanded Sam Witwicky be turned over to him or the world would be destroyed. Galloway used this as a reason to shut down NEST and ordered the Autobots returned to Diego Garcia under guard, along with Prime's corpse (which Galloway callously denounced as a piece of scrap metal). Fortunately, Bumblebee, and [[Skids (ROTF)|the]] [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Twins]] managed to spirit Sam, Mikaela, and Leo away before The Fallen made his announcement. With help from their former enemy Seymour Simmons and the Decepticon-turned-Autobot [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]], the group discovered that Sam's mind contained the Language of the Primes, to which group The Fallen had once belonged. The human/Autobot group managed to locate the Seeker [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]], who told them of how the [[Dynasty of Primes]] forged a [[star harvester]] to use a star's energy to replenish the AllSpark, and the [[Matrix of Leadership]], needed to activate the harvester, until they were betrayed by The Fallen, who tried to harvest [[Sun|Sol]] in defiance of the Primes' rule of the sanctity of life. Sam hit upon the idea to use the Matrix to restore Optimus to life, similar to how the Decepticons had used the AllSpark fragment to resurrect Megatron. Having been teleported to [[Egypt]] by Jetfire, the group managed to relay the information to Major Lennox and Sergeant Epps, who faked engine trouble over Petra, where the [[Tomb of the Primes]] was located. Unfortunately, the Matrix had turned to dust in the thousands of years since its entombment, but Sam still believed that it could be used to revive Optimus.

[[Image:ROTF movie Powered-Up Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|right|250px|I'm bringing sexy back.]]
However, the Decepticons were still looking for the harvester and the Matrix needed to activate it. Sam was technically killed in the [[Operation: Firestorm|battle]], during which he communed with the six Primes from the tomb, who restored the Matrix. Jamming it in the fallen Autobot's chest, Sam used the Matrix to restore Optimus Prime to life. Unfortunately, The Fallen soon arrived. He stole the Matrix, and stomped on Optimus, sending him back to the ground. Having been fatally injured by [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], Jetfire offered his parts to Optimus, as only a Prime could defeat The Fallen, and snuffed out his own spark. After Ratchet and [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] finished attaching Jetfire's wings and thrusters to Prime's body, Optimus hurried to the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]], which had been constructed around the harvester, and damaged the machine before it could destroy Earth's sun.

[[Image:TheFallen-ROTFfacegotten.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Your face is insufficient. GIVE ME YOUR SPARK!]]
Optimus Prime then faced Megatron and the Fallen on the ground. This against the odds battle went far better for Optimus, as he used Megatron's own fusion cannon to shoot off half his face and his afterburners to send him through some ruins. Optimus then battled the Fallen, using his Energon Sword to slice through his face. The Fallen countered by ripping off his left wing and striking him with it, but Optimus managed to grab the Fallen's own spear and impale him with it. Telling the traitorous Prime he had picked the wrong planet, Optimus used the spear to rip off The Fallen's face plate. As The Fallen tried to flee, Optimus Prime punched through his abdomen and crushed his spark core, killing The Fallen and forcing Megatron and Starscream to retreat.

[[Image:ROTF Optimus Sam ship.JPG|thumb|right|250px|"So why did you want his face?" "Okay, I'll tell you."*cuts to credits*]]
On the return voyage home, Optimus thanked Sam for saving his life, as the boy thanked the Autobot leader for believing in him. Following this, Optimus Prime sent another transmission into space, detailing recent events so that the pasts of both races would be remembered, and also declaring that Humanity and the Autobots would face the future together. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{--}}

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

Following the later Fallen incident, Optimus continued operations against the Decepticons. [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt's]] over-enthusiasm began to muck that up, causing damage and getting NEST into trouble, despite Optimus' attempts to point this out to him. Optimus had to confine him to base. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.9|Culture Shock}}

[[Image:Titan10_Optimusgetsout.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Never had a human face before. GIVE ME IT ANYWAY!]]

Soon after that, he was drawn out into a trap by [[Trophy White]] and the [[Free Men]], who wanted to take his head as a trophy. Optimus worked out their plan and allowed himself to be captured by the deranged hunter, in order to keep the fight away from civilians. He pretended to be securely chained down and listened to White's sociopathic ravings, before (at the moment he considered funniest) breaking free and taking White prisoner. Shockingly, he found keeping the severed heads of animals as trophies to be ''bad'', and destroyed Trophy's trophies. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.10| Bring Me the Head of Optimus Prime}}

When there was a Decepticon breakout in [[South Africa]], Optimus ordered his men to let the prisoners flee: a battle outside [[World Cup|a major sports event]] would cause unacceptable civilian casualties. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.13|Inside Out!}} This led to a major collapse in Autobot popularity, and open battles with Decepticons in cities were just risking further alienation. In response, Prime created of a secret covert unit (even under NEST's radar) that would monitor the Decepticons, wait for windows of opportunity out of the public eye, and then hit hard and fast. While this worked, Optimus was left disquieted: the tactics he was using were too akin to the Decepticons, and a fine line was being walked. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.18|Shadow War}}

The Decepticon base was soon tracked to [[Russia]] and Optimus led a strike-team in. Unknown to him, [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] had sold them all out to Bludgeon and the team was ambushed, getting killed one by one... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.20|Divided Loyalties}} but luckily Megatron arrived to beat up Bludgeon for running a rival faction, and he flew away again after leaving an ominous threat to Optimus. So Prime didn't need to do any work saving his team or stopping Bludgeon at all! The end! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.21|A Short, Sharp Lesson!}}

{{-}}

===Cyber Missions===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Eric Edwards]] (English), [[Blas Garcia]] (Latin-American Spanish)

[[Image:CyberMissions1 Optimus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]
Optimus Prime recorded some information on the Autobot-Decepticon war for preservation in [[Vector Sigma]]. Bumblebee and Ironhide were reviewing it when [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] launched their attack. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 1}} The next morning, Optimus had been informed of the attack and Soundwave's capture, and he ordered Ironhide to wait for reinforcements to assist in pursuing Bludgeon. Bludgeon made that difficult for Ironhide. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 2}} Later, Optimus contacted Ratchet to inform him that [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] was causing chaos in [[Mission City]], and he reminded the Autobot medic to be careful. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 3}}

He and Sideswipe tracked Megatron to a disused factory, only to lose the scent. Megatron, having cloaked his spark signature, jumped out of hiding to attack them, and Optimus used his swords to attack the Decepticon. An appeal for Megatron to surrender was answered by a blast from Megatron's cannon bringing the roof down on the two Autobots, and the Decepticon escaped. Optimus promised that Megatron would no longer be able to hide. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 4}}

When Ironhide went missing after the incident with Bludgeon, Optimus searched for him, and Bumblebee revealed he was last near a cave with a load of [[Energon]]. That same cave happened to be where [[Mindwipe (ROTF)|Mindwipe]] was hiding. As Optimus went to rescue his friend, Mindwipe tried to hypnotize the Autobot leader, but Optimus was able to resist the hypnosis and defeat Mindwipe, leaving a confused Ironhide to wonder what was going on. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 5}}

Reports of [[Smolder]] attacking a building in [[Scramble City (city)|Scramble City]] resulted in Optimus dispatching Bumblebee and Ratchet to investigate. He filled them in on the situation en route. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 9}} During another mission, Optimus warned Sideswipe and Ratchet that they were being tracked, moments before the pair were attacked by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and Mindwipe. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 10}}

Bumblebee reported to Optimus that he'd managed to pinpoint the location where Megatron and Starscream were meeting, leading Optimus to confront the two Decepticons in an Arctic region. When Megatron expressed surprise that he'd come to fight them without backup, Optimus assured him that the Autobots were never far from their leader's side. While Starscream went to attack the others, Optimus and Megatron continued to fight, with Optimus emerging the eventual victor. As Megatron tried to goad him into finishing the fight, Optimus announced that the Autobots protected all sentient life, and that included the Decepticons. He subsequently allowed Megatron to flee. {{storylink|Cyber Missions 12}}

{{quote|By showing even one such as him the power of mercy, Megatron might realize that we'll never give up, no matter the cost.|Optimus Prime|"Cyber Missions 12"}}

Prime set up an elaborate trap involving a hologram of Soundwave to lure the Decepticons to a spot in the wilderness. The ploy worked, and Optimus attacked Megatron while his men attacked Megatron's troops. At one point during the battle, Megatron threw a train car at him, and he simply somersaulted along its length. Though Megatron boasted that the Decepticons would win through sheer determination, Optimus knocked him to the ground and gave a speech about building alliances, which was the cue for the [[human]]s to turn up in force and surround the Decepticons. Optimus informed Megatron that he could either leave the planet peacefully or be destroyed. Once the rest of the Decepticons fled, Megatron delivered a final threat before taking off. Prime celebrated with another speech, before admiring the huge Autobot [[insignia]] Bumblebee had stomped into the ground. {{storylink|Decepticons Attack}}

===Transformers Annual 2011===
An alert of Decepticon activity in [[Tokyo]] sent Optimus, Ironhide, Ratchet and Sideswipe to investigate. He intervened in Sideswipe and Barricade's battle to lift the Decepticon into the air, only to find himself under attack by Grindor. Ordering Sideswipe and Ratchet to cover him, Optimus scaled the side of a nearby office block so he could punch the helicopter out of the air. Standing over the two Decepticons, Optimus was surprised when they informed him that they were simply providing a diversion. Optimus realised that Sam was in danger, and rushed back to America in time to find Starscream attempting to abduct the boy. He jumped on Starscream's back, causing the Decepticon to flee and saving Sam from a kidnapping. {{storylink|Sam in Danger}}

===''Classified'' novels===
During the war on Cybertron, Optimus Prime fought in several [[Battle of Polyhex|battles]] in [[Polyhex]].

Optimus and Ironhide turned up to an attack on [[Nevada Test and Training Range]] by three Decepticons. Though he tried to talk them into abandoning the Decepticon cause, he was forced to kill them, especially when [[Bombshock (PCC)|Bombshock]] threatened to blow up some humans. Optimus took part in a meeting of some generals at the base, though he had to talk his way into doing so, as they were initially reluctant to include the aliens. Optimus disagreed that the Decepticons' target was [[Area 51]] and correctly deduced it to be [[Hawthorne Army Depot]]. When he arrived there with Ironhide, Bumblebee and Ratchet were already engaged in a battle with [[Reverb (ROTF)|Reverb]], however the Decepticon's personal [[force field]] made him impossible to hit and he did substantial damage to Prime. Once the shield was eliminated, Optimus defeated Reverb. Though Reverb asked Optimus to finish him off, Optimus instead took him prisoner. He also talked [[Marcus|General Marcus]] into allowing [[Kevin Bowman]] to join NEST. {{storylink|Transformers Classified: Switching Gears|Switching Gears}}

===IDW Post ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
[[Image:Nefarious2 Prime on Soundwave.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Ass-whooping. Noun. To have your posterior presented to you with overwhelming force.]]
Lennox reported to Optimus via videolink on the halting of [[Alice]]'s rampage. Optimus mentioned that they should be more aggressive in tracking down Decepticons, but Lennox reminded him that NEST was low on resources. They decided on some "improvisations" in the form of newly-arrived Autobots. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 1|Nefarious #1}} Optimus was witness to Galloway balling out Lennox over the battle at [[Kingdom Petrochemicals]], but kept quiet. Afterwards, Lennox and Optimus discussed the [[Initiative|mysterious humans]] who had been seen at the petrochemical plant. When [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]] came under attack from [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], Optimus parachuted in and bested Soundwave. Soundwave attempted to persuade Prime to let him go, but Prime decided that instead they would take him into NEST custody for interrogation. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 2|Nefarious #2}}

Optimus oversaw the preparations of the facilities for holding Soundwave, rather than face having to tell Major Lennox what they'd done. He was only delaying the inevitable, and Lennox was even more annoyed when the plane carrying Soundwave was shot down. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 3|Nefarious #3}} When NEST received a distress call from Galloway, who was under attack from [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]], Optimus sent [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] to assist. He also reminded Ironhide that just because the man was a "pain in the aft" didn't mean they could avoid helping him. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 4|Nefarious #4}}

[[Image:Nefarious5 Prime already too late.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"They've already put the bomp in the bomp-a-bomp-a-bomp"]]
Soundwave led the Autobots to the location of the [[Initiative]] base in [[California]], but the base was gone. Despite this, Optimus still trusted Soundwave as he believe the organization they faced had access to Cybertronian technology. Soundwave pinpointed the mobile base as being in [[Utah]], so the Autobots headed there. Part way, Optimus felt the power of something very like the [[AllSpark]] being used and began to realize what they were up against. They reached Utah and began an assault on the [[Initiative base]], only to find themselves facing brainwashed Transformers. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 5|Nefarious #5}}

As the battle continued, Optimus tried to call out for their foe to surrender the AllSpark they possessed, however [[Carter Newell]], head of the Initiative, responded by trying to use the artifact to terminate all Cybertronian life. An injury courtesy of [[Reedman]] aborted the attempt, and Newell tried to flee. Optimus was forced to ram the truck he was in to obtain the AllSpark, but realized the only way to halt the rapidly-destabilizing Cube was to
feed it his own [[spark]]. Luckily that turned out to be unnecessary, as [[Fortress (ROTF)|Fortress]] took the AllSpark from him and carried it into space, where it exploded. Optimus later noted that the Initiative data banks had been [[Soundwave (ROTF)|picked clean]] and wondered if anyone else could make an attempt to recreate the AllSpark. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 6|Nefarious #6}}

At [[NEST]] headquarters on [[Diego Garcia]], Optimus Prime tries to convince the Autobot refugees rescued from the clutches of the [[Initiative]] that they need more time to recuperate before returning to the battlefield. [[Armorhide (Movie)|Armorhide]] attempts to refute this, but only winds up proving Optimus's point when he accidentally calls him "[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]", and has to stop mid-flow to remind himself they are no longer on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The exchange punctuates how important it is that the Autobots stop any more humans from exploiting Cybertronian technology, that being the purpose of the mission currently that very moment under way in eastern [[California]].

When [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-1]] returned to base after the mission, she shared a quiet moment with Optimus, losing herself in the sensations she could feel from the sisters whose spark she shared: The pain of Arcee's wounds, and the feel of Chromia's sword blade as she tested it against her fingertip. Prime quietly told her that she had never told him these things before, and she simply replied that he had never asked. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 1|Rising Storm #1}}

When the Decepticons attacked [[Philadelphia]], Sam contacts NEST for aid, and the Autobots quickly mobilize, because of [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] injuries, he wanted her to stay on base, but allowed her to go anyway. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 2|Rising Storm #2}}

During the flight, Optimus tried once more to have Arcee sit out of the mission. Elita reminded Optimus that is was Arcee's decision, and her desire for revenge was as strong as Elita's. Optimus tried to explain to her that victory at any price comes at a high cost, recalling the time on Cybertron when Prime let such an emotion overcome him. Elita's anger boils over and she chastises him for leaving her behind on Cybertron, only to witness Chromia's death and die herself, and she came back to life only to fight and kill more Decepticons. Optimus reminds Elita that he too had experienced [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|death]], but Elita explained that when he died, the Autobots actually cared. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 3|Rising Storm #3}}

After he arrived to Philadelphia, [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] tries to radio Prime to let him know that Shockwave has attacked the base, freed Fearswoop and slaughtered all the personnel, both human and Autobot, but his transmission breaks up before Prime can comprehend his meaning, a battered Elita crests the horizon, fresh from victory over Astrotrain, and screaming a warning that it all a trap. Alas, no sooner has the word "Shockwave" crossed her lips, than the cyclopean Decepticon himself rockets down out the air, landing with ballistic force square on top of Elita and crushing the life out of her, Enraged by the death of Elita-One and the other Autobots. Optimus Prime battled Shockwave destroying half of his face and body, Prime was about to kill Shockwave, till Shockwave's pet [[Driller]] came to save his master. {{storylink|Rising Storm issue 4|Rising Storm #4}}
{{-}}

===Titan Magazines ''Dark of the Moon'' prequel strips===

When a relic of [[Ark (DOTM)|an unknown UFO]] was discovered in Fiesole, [[Italy]], Optimus led a NEST team to secure the find. Starscream launched a surprise attack to claim it: Optimus ordered the human archaeologist to keep digging and fought the Decepticon, taking two blows before overpowering and thrashing him. But Starscream kept fighting, asking Optimus if there were things worth dying for. Optimus agreed and said he was willing to die to save Earth from Decepticons... at which point Starscream suckerpunched him and stole the artifact.

[[Image:Titan3-3_OpSoundwavefaceoff.jpg|thumb|left|350px|"Sorry Soundwave, you're going to need braces."]]

Optimus was left concerned about what the 'cons were up to {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.1}} but found himself distract by two minor plots of Soundwave's, first fighting him to stop him crashing the Earth's economy {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.2|Blood And Gold}} and then in [[Spain]] after he'd drawn [[Robert Epps]] and Bumblebee into an ambush. With Bumblebee near death, Optimus agreed to fight Soundwave without weapons if it would mean his comrade's survived, and he nearly died in the resulting fight. However, he managed to use Soundwave's sonic blasts and the local environment against his foe and emerged victorious. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.3|Dealing with the Devil}}

When Ratchet contacted NEST to let them know there was trouble at the [[Tech Museum of Innovation]], Optimus himself turned out to help chase off Starscream and Barricade. He later tried to convince the anti-[[Transformer|Cybertronian]] protesters that the Autobots were here to help, but Ratchet and Ironhide's actions during the fight had already convinced them of that, and their leader, [[Marcus Castor]], was already producing anti-Decepticon T-shirts. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 3.4|Automatic for the People}}
{{-}}

===''Dark of the Moon'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]] (English), [[Tesshō Genda]] (Japanese), [[Blas Garcia]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[Reiner Schöne]] (German)

Sometime before the [[AllSpark]] was jettisoned into space, Optimus Prime personally witnessed the attack on [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]]'s ship, the ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'' and assumed that the ship was destroyed.

[[Image:DotmOptimusPrimeReadytoRoll.jpg|left|thumb|300px|En garde!]]

Three years after the battle in Egypt, Optimus arrived with human [[NEST]] operatives in Chernobyl to investigate a report about the presence of Cybertronian technology on site. However, this investigation was interrupted by [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and his tamed [[Driller]], attempting to steal the component. After driving them off and cutting one of the Driller's tentacles off, Optimus examined the piece of technology and, to his disbelief, identified it as a fuel cell from the ''Ark''. Optimus returned to NEST headquarters and refused to transform or speak to anyone until National Intelligence Director [[Charlotte Mearing]] arrived. He demanded an explanation from her, which she offered along with the corroborating testimony from [[Buzz Aldrin]] that the information had been known by a select few. Optimus explained that the ''Ark'' carried important technology that would have given the Autobots a clear victory in the Cybertronian Civil War, and was piloted by his predecessor and mentor, Sentinel Prime. Optimus mounted an expedition to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] aboard the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' with [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] to explore what was left of the ''Ark''.

The two Autobots explored the ship and opened the crash vault in which Sentinel Prime had locked himself. Optimus pulled Sentinel from the vault and brought his former mentor back to Earth where he used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to revive Sentinel. The former Prime awoke and attacked in confusion. After calming his mentor down, Optimus explained that they recovered five pieces of his technology, but Sentinel was disturbed by this news, explaining that purpose of the "pillars" was to form a [[space bridge]]. Optimus declared their peaceful uses to the humans, but Director Mearing objected, citing possible uses like transporting weapons and troops to the planet. The pillars were placed in human custody.

[[Image:DOTM-SentinelOptimusMatrix.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"Sorry Optimus, I don't want it. Because when I kill someone, I want them to ''stay'' dead."]]
After this meeting, Optimus took Sentinel for a tour on the countryside at sunset, during which Sentinel commented on the peace and beauty of Earth. Optimus bowed and offered the Matrix of Leadership to him, declaring him the rightful Autobot leader. Sentinel refused, saying that while he was Optimus's master on Cybertron, here on Earth, Optimus was the more experienced of the two. After learning from [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] that the Decepticons were targeting Sentinel because he alone could control the pillars, the Autobots were ordered to protect him. Running behind the group, Optimus returned to the NEST base only to find that Sentinel had betrayed the Autobots and NEST, killed [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and escaped with the pillars. Mearing declared the subterfuge and defeat as the fault of the Autobot leader. Optimus voiced no defense at this accusation.

[[Image:DOTMSentinelOptimus.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Sentinel, can you put that sword somewhere else so we can talk?]]

Optimus subsequently tracked his mentor to the National Mall reflecting pool and attempted to stop him from bringing an invasion force to Earth. Sentinel fought and bested Optimus but spared his life, commenting that Optimus would come around to his way of thinking. Prime refused to be part of Sentinel's plan. Later, Sentinel denounced Prime and his Autobots as rebels, and demanded that human beings exile them. Fearing an attack from at least 200 hidden and entrenched Decepticon troops, human leaders ordered the Autobots off the planet. Prime complied with the order and gathered his troops to leave Earth immediately in the ''Xantium''. Despite Sam's pleadings to reveal his plan to fight back (and inform the Decepticons who had bugged him), Optimus replied they had no plan. He reminded Sam that the human was his friend and the fight against the Decepticons would now be his own. Shortly after takeoff, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] attacked and destroyed the ship. Optimus and the Autobots were presumed dead.

However, the Autobots had hid themselves in one of the disengaged boosters and survived, thanks to the ''Xantium'''s builders, the [[Wrecker]]s. Optimus and the other Autobots headed for Decepticon-controlled [[Chicago]] and arrived there just in time to rescue Sam, [[Robert Epps|Epps]], and a team of former NEST soldiers from a Decepticon [[Orbital Assault Carrier|fighter]]. Optimus explained that the Decepticons would never leave Earth in peace, and that Earth's leaders needed to believe they had gone so that they could see the truth. As the other Autobots arrived on-scene, Optimus announced that they were going to take the battle to the Decepticons in the name of freedom.

[[Image:DOTM-Wreckers-Prime-Cables.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The proud Autobot leader in a moment of dignifed repose.]]

En route to Sentinel's location and that of the control pillar, Optimus and the Autobots were ambushed from below by Shockwave and his Driller. The Driller disengaged Optimus's trailer, but the Wreckers distracted the Decepticon assassin. Optimus managed to recover the flight tech from his trailer and attack the Driller from the air just as it prepared to eliminate Sam, [[Carly Spencer]], Epps and his soldiers. Optimus swooped through a building and punched a fatal blow through the Driller. Shockwave, angered by the destruction of his pet, shot at Optimus from the street. Optimus fell through a nearby unfinished building and was caught up in the wires of a construction crane. While the Wreckers tried to get him loose, Sentinel engaged the pillars and started to transport Cybertron into Earth's orbit. The Wreckers managed to free their leader, who swooped into the main battlefield and killed eleven Decepticons single-handed. Charging toward Shockwave, who had already been damaged by NEST soldiers, Optimus then ran his spiked fist through his side and tore out his eye. He then used his enemy's cannon to blast the control pillar, temporarily stalling the transportation of Cybertron.

[[Image:DOTMScrapper.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Banzai!]]

Optimus demanded his former master to come down and confront him. Sentinel complied, but when Optimus started to get the upper hand, Sentinel called upon Decepticon fighters to fire at his former pupil. Pinned down by the enemy fire, Optimus was prevented from attacking until the fighters were destroyed. Optimus engaged Sentinel again, but this time he cut off Optimus's right arm. As Sentinel prepared to deliver the final blow, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] charged up, shot Sentinel in the back and proceeded to heavily damage the older Prime. Megatron then proposed a truce to Optimus on the condition that he would be in charge again. After all, as Megatron put it, "who would you be without me, Prime?" Realizing that Megatron could not be trusted, Optimus replied that it was "time to find out." He swung his axe into Megatron's head and ripped it out, taking Megatron's spine with it.

[[Image:DOTM Autobots NEST victorious.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Hey, Ratchet, when you have a moment...]]

The damaged and helpless Sentinel explained that Optimus had to see why he had betrayed his own side, for their race's survival in the long run. Optimus refused and told Sentinel he had betrayed ''himself'' and the values he was thought to have upheld as a Prime. Despite his former master's plea for mercy, Optimus fired two shots from Megatron's fusion shotgun, executing Sentinel. With Cybertron now (presumably) destroyed, Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Dino, Sideswipe, and the Wreckers finally accepted Earth as their new home, and Optimus declared that the Autobots would never forsake the defense of Earth or its people.

{{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
{{Note|In some early drafts of the movie, Optimus accepted Megatron's sincere truce, allowing him and his forces to return to Cybertron. Furthermore, he would have ended Sentinel's life with his own [[Cosmic Rust]] blaster in a round of poetic justice. Some of these scenes can still be seen in various adaptations.}}

{{--}}

==Games==
===Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots===

Using the callsign 10-22, Optimus Prime stepped up to replace the missing Bumblebee as field director for the [[Chevy Autobot]]s in their struggles against [[Mainframe (Movie)|Mainframe]]. Under 10-22's leadership, the Chevy Autobots learned that Bumblebee and their other comrades survived inside their foe. Mainframe was capable of devouring the sparks of his opponents to increase his power, but the new sparks remained distinct within him for a time. Locating Mainframe in the Arctic, 10-22 dispatched the entire crew of Chevy Autobots to confront the Decepticon villain, and soon joined them himself. They fought their way through Mainframe and [[Maelstrom]], defeated their foes, saved their friends, and made the universe safe for femmebots and protoforms everywhere. {{storylink|Transformers: Rise of the Chevy Autobots}}

===''Transformers'' (Glu)===

Upon his arrival on Earth, Optimus Prime was damaged and trapped inside Hoover Dam. [[You]] assisted him by monitoring his progress and directing his efforts with your cell phone. Well done, flesh creature. {{storylink|Transformers (Glu)}}

===''Transformers'' - The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]]

====Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC/Wii/PS2====
====Autobot campaign====
Optimus Prime provided intelligence and missions to Bumblebee in his search for the AllSpark. Eventually, the clues led the Autobot to Sam Witwicky. After saving Sam from Barricade, Bumblebee finally completed preparations for the Autobots to arrive on Earth. Once on Earth and disguised as a truck, and having informed the two teenagers of their mission, Prime and the Autobots were discovered by Sector Seven. Optimus sent Jazz on a high-speed <strike>destruction</strike> distraction mission, then sent Ironhide to rescue Jazz from a double-threat posed by the government agents and various Decepticon scouts. When Bumblebee was captured, Optimus Prime chased the helicopter which from which the small Autobot was dangling. After a lengthy pursuit, Optimus managed to catch the net, only to be thrown off by another Cybertronian [[transition form|meteor]] passing nearby. As Bumblebee was carried away, Optimus promised he would not fail him again. Jazz informed him that the meteor was not an Autobot and Optimus confronted the new threat, who turned out to be the Decepticon triplechanger [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]. The two battled it out across [[Tranquility]] before Optimus finally destroyed him, and in doing so, overheard [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s transmission revealing the location of the AllSpark.

Optimus then returned to an intel role as he guided Bumblebee in his mission to retrieve the AllSpark from Hoover Dam. Unfortunately, the Decepticons managed to free Megatron, leading to the final battle in Mission City. As the Autobots engaged in an all-out urban war with the Decepticons to protect Sam and the AllSpark, things seemed to take a turn for the worse as Megatron finally arrived. But before the Decepticon leader could claim the Cube, Optimus Prime attacked. The two leaders duked it out until Megatron was finally on the ground, seemingly devoid of life. Optimus knelt to take the AllSpark as Sam handed it to him, but Megatron suddenly awoke, leaping at the Autobot with his chain-flail out, and making one last attempt at defeating his adversary. Optimus grabbed the chain, pulling Megatron in closer, and with the AllSpark clutched in his fist, delivered a punch through Megatron's spark. As Megatron died Optimus reflected on the losses and rewards of this battle, as the Autobots have a new home. Optimus planned to guard the humans in secret, "For freedom is the right of all sentient beings." {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

====Decepticon campaign====
After Bumblebee, Jazz and Ironhide were all killed in Mission City, Sam and Mikaela informed their deaths to Optimus. Optimus noted their sacrifice and decided to defeat Megatron. In the final battle, Optimus Prime confronted Megatron at the top of a building, and fought back against Megatron while protecting Sam. Eventually beaten to the ground, and as he desperately crawled for the AllSpark, Megatron smashed his head with his flail, before using the Cube to destroy humanity. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game}}

====''Transformers: Autobots''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]]

Optimus helped to advise his warriors in some of their mission to try locate the Allspark. Arriving on Earth, Optimus met up with the other Autobots to give further commands to his troops. [[Create-A-Bot (Autobot)|Create-A-Bot]], the new rookie, was eager to help in the cause, but Optimus tells him to sit back while the grown-ups take care of business. After Jazz learned that Sector 7 possessed both Megatron and the Allspark, Optimus ordered Bumblebee to create a diversion so that they could get out of the city, but Create-A-Bot, fed up with the bureaucracy defied Optimus's orders and interfered in Bumblebee's mission, resulting in the scout's capture. After an argument with Ironhide over their priorities, the Autobots began making their way to the Hoover Dam.

After learning from Jazz that Bumblebee was being held in the dam, Optimus took pity on Create-A-Bot and allowed him the chance to redeem himself by freeing Bumblebee. After guiding Bumblebee to his weapon chip and the Allspark, Optimus and Bumblebee made their way down the highway when they were confronted by Barricade and a drone, and after defeating them Optimus realised they were a diversion so that they could unfreeze Megatron. Searching for his nemesis, he instead encountered Brawl, who he eventually killed before returning back to the city, where he rendezvoused with Create-A-Bot and Bumblebee with the Allspark, Megatron arrived and Optimus fought back. During the fight, Create-A-Bot sacrificed himself to save his commander. Megatron defeated, Optimus commends the young Autobot as a war hero, and sends out an interstellar message to any Cybertronians living among the stars. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Autobots}}

====''Transformers: Decepticons''====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]]

Landing on Earth, Optimus Prime quickly joined the other Autobots to attempt to stop the Decepticons. Optimus didn't appear on the battlefield until Megatron himself was released and Starscream escaped with the AllSpark. He stepped in to thwart the maniacal leader of the Decepticons, but alas, was struck down, left in the streets while Megatron gave chase to his traitorous second-in-command. {{storylink|Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|Transformers: Decepticons}}

====''Transformers: The Game'' (PSP)====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]] (English)
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}

===Datafile Decoder===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Datafile Decoder}}

===AllSpark Wars===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|AllSpark Wars}}

===Allspark Highway===
The Autobots needed to race the Allspark to safety, and Optimus Prime teamed with his fellow Autobots to drive through the Decepticon defenses and get their prize to a secure location. {{storylink|Allspark Highway}}

===Autobot Stronghold===
The Decepticons were invading an Autobot stronghold in the city, and Optimus Prime and the Autobots placed themselves at key positions to defend it from attack. {{storylink|Autobot Stronghold}}

===Transformers: Battle for the Matrix===

{{Note|Battle for the Matrix is a simplified retelling of the events of [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]. It can be played from the perspective of either Bumblebee or Optimus Prime.}}
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle for the Matrix}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]] (English) [[Dariusz Odija]] (Polish)
====Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC====
=====Autobot campaign=====
[[Image:ROTF game Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Somebody, get him a cowboy hat!]]
Optimus Prime served as the Autobots all around fighter. Weapons wise, he possessed dual laser rifles and dual shell cannons. In melee combat, he possessed [[Dual Energon Swords|Dual Energy Swords]] in each hand. Finally, with his valiant leader ability, he could generate a shield around himself which would prevent his energy from dropping past 1%.

After overseeing Ironhide's defeat of [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] and Ratchet's rescue of Ironhide, Optimus Prime took to the field when a previously unknown Decepticon named [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] began attacking the [[Shanghai]] waterfront. Optimus was finally able to defeat him, but Demolishor gave a single warning before he was killed: "The Fallen shall rise again". Optimus and the Autobots were at a loss as to what he meant. Back in the United States, Sam Witwicky gave Mikaela Banes a fragment of the AllSpark that he had discovered, which the Decepticons soon sought. Prime dispatched Bumblebee to rescue her. Following this, the Decepticons launched a raid on the city's oil refinery, where Ratchet rescued several engineers. Finally, Ironhide escorted a NEST team to safety in the city's canals. Their victories were short lived. The Decepticons soon learned about the AllSpark shard on Diego Garcia, stealing it to revive Megatron. Although [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]] managed to save the fleet, Megatron was reborn. He soon made an attack on Sam, trying to access information in his mind downloaded from the AllSpark. Bumblebee managed to rescue him. In light of these attacks, Optimus decided to give NEST the [[Axiom Gun]] to better defend themselves against the Decepticons. The escort came under Decepticon assault, but Prime was able to beat back the attackers and deliver the Axiom Gun to NEST. Soon afterwards, Bumblebee escorted Sam to meet with [[Seymour Simmons]], who told him of Jetfire, who then took the boy to Egypt.

While there, Jetfire explained what was going on: Eons ago, Optimus's ancestors, the [[Thirteen|13 founders]] of the [[Dynasty of Primes]], built a star harvester to convert the energy of the sun into [[Energon]]. When they discovered the humans, they upheld their rule of the sanctity of life, but one of the Primes defied the rule and murdered his twelve brothers. This Prime was known as The Fallen, but the star harvester was hidden from him. While Sam made inquires to the [[Tomb of the Primes|Tomb of the Twelve]], Megatron and Starscream arrived in an attempt to learn the harvester's location and kill Sam. Optimus Prime was able to defeat both Decepticons with Jetfire's help, but Jetfire was stabbed in the back by Megatron. Dying, Jetfire offered his parts to Optimus, as only a Prime could defeat The Fallen. Finding the harvester at the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]], Optimus challenged The Fallen. Despite The Fallen's powerful command of telekinesis and pyrokinesis, Optimus Prime was able to get past his defenses and kill The Fallen by stabbing him through the face. On the return trip home, Sam expressed gratitude at seeing the sunrise, and told Optimus he would have to trust him on it. Optimus Prime replied that he had always trusted Sam, and always would. {{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

=====Decepticon campaign=====
[[Image:ROTF game Prime dying.JPG‎|right|thumb|300px|Aw, shucks.....[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|not again]]!]]
When the revenant Megatron and the Decepticons rampaged across the United States of America, Optimus Prime faced him in a major city on the East Coast. The two leaders engaged in a titanic struggle that shook the city, but despite being aided by many Autobot drone units, Optimus was seemingly destroyed. However, much later, Optimus Prime reappeared when Megatron's master, The Fallen, activated the Star Harvester to drain Earth's Sun. The Autobot leader revealed that The Fallen's promise to make Megatron a Prime was a lie, as Primes were born, not made. When Megatron demanded his reward, The Fallen reneged on his promise. As the master and disciple of evil began to fight, Optimus left to find a way to disable the Harvester. {{Storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}
{{-}}

===Transformers Battle Universe===
At the edge of time, when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] needed a new host, Optimus Prime was among several warriors (and [[Optimus Prime|Prime]]s) summoned from the multiverse to battle for control of the prize. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}

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

===Transformers RPMs: Devastator's Demise===
[[Image:Devastatorsdemise optimus.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
Optimus Prime is both fast and sturdy. His firepower blows obstacles to smithereens.

In order to defeat [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]], Bumblebee, Optimus and Ironhide must drive through Cairo and avoid obstacles.{{storylink|Transformers RPMs: Devastator's Demise}}
{{-}}

===Hunt for the Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Hunt for the Decepticons}}
{{-}}
===Revenge of the Fallen (mobile game)===
[[Image:ROTFMobile Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|right|60px]]
After [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s destruction, Optimus hoped that they'd seen the last of the Decepticons and the Autobots began working with [[NEST]]. A signal in [[Shanghai]] led Optimus to discover a Decepticon invasion force there. He fought the foe solo, and followed an [[AllSpark]] signal to [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Starscream managed to escape, and NEST reported that HQ was under attack. As he had to hang around to help clean up the mess in Shanghai, Optimus sent [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to help. Bumblebee was defeated by Starscream, but told Optimus that Starscream had said something about the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Believing he knew where the Decepticons were headed, Optimus went to find an old friend, [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]].

In Egypt, Optimus lost contact with NEST while investigating an area. He told Bumblebee to rendezvous with Jetfire at the [[Great Pyramid of Giza|Great Pyramid]], warning Bumblebee that he believed an energy signature he was detecting was [[The Fallen]]. Bumblebee later reported that [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] had defeated Jetfire and taken the Matrix. By the time Optimus reached the site, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] had taken Bumblebee hostage and had possession of the Matrix. Optimus combined Jetfire's parts with his own, gaining enough strength to defeat Megatron. Exhausted by the fight, Prime was then confronted by The Fallen, but used the power of the Matrix to defeat the ancient Decepticon. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Glu)}}

{{--}}
===Victory Is Sweet===
When [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] was in the process of stopping [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s plan to destroy a city, Optimus turned up at the last moment to defeat the Decepticon and hog the glory. {{storylink|Victory Is Sweet}}

===''Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game''===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Peter Cullen]]

====(Xbox 360/PS3)====
{{charstubfiction}}

====Autobots/Decepticons====
[[Image:DOTMDS Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Concerned that the Decepticons were behind recent attacks downtown, Optimus sent [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] to investigate and, it turned out, he was right. With more information, Optimus contacted [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to alert him that the Decepticons were up to something involving the possible resurrection of the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s. He encountered [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] in the field, and took over Ratchet's mission as the medic was more valuable at base. During the course of the mission, Optimus encountered [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] and chased him to a stadium where the Autobot leader was triumphant. Sometime later, the Decepticons attacked the Autobots' Pacific island base, and Ratchet and [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Wheeljack]] warned Optimus that [[Crowbar]] was around somewhere. Optimus bashed many Decepticons but didn't find Crowbar. When the Decepticons invaded a NEST base, Optimus was surprisingly keen for the Autobots to let [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] get away. They eventually tracked the Decepticons to a base in [[Siberia]], and Optimus insisted on going in alone, only to be overcome by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]], who got away despite the best efforts of the other Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Autobots/Decepticons|Dark of the Moon: Autobots/Decepticons}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: The Ride''===
[[Image:OptimusRide.JPG|thumb|right|300px|"Great job doing nothing, recruits"]]
Optimus met up with the other Autobots after [[Evac (Ride)|Evac]] had acquired the Allspark fragment, and complimented them on their good work. He told them to roll out, and proceeded to engage Megatron in battle. Megatron angrily demanded the Decepticons attack.

Later, Optimus engaged Megatron when he attempted to attack Evac and the [[You|NEST recruits]] to steal the fragment. After grappling with him for a few seconds, Megatron pinned Optimus and fired a grenade at Evac, only to have Evac evade it and escape.

Optimus later appeared, thrown by Megatron onto a building. Megatron again attempted to attack Evac and his "passengers", but Optimus interrupted, cutting a piece of Megatron's face. Megatron, however, fought back and easily dispatched of Optimus, but this once again allowing Evac to escape.

When Megatron attempted to attack Evac once more, Optimus had again intervened. Megatron attacked Optimus again, but Evac, fed up with doing nothing but running, took this opportunity to fight back, and charged Megatron. While Optimus held him in place, Evac [[Transformers (2007)|jammed the Allspark into Megatron's chest]], overcharging him and killing him. Optimus appeared one last time to congratulate Evac and the recruits on their bravery.
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Transformers: The Ride}}

==Commercial appearances==
* As part of the hype buildup to the first movie's release, Optimus Prime made a brief cameo at the 2007 MTV Movie Awards, interacting with host Sarah Silverman. The scene spliced Silverman into pre-existing movie footage, but featured new dialogue recorded for the event by Peter Cullen. Prime heavily hinted that he wanted to present an award, but was rejected for a regular MTV fan.

* According to a tie-in advertisement for [[Burger King]], Prime likes his Whoppers with no onions, no cheese, extra pickles, with a side of ????. However, due to a cruel twist of fate, he can never enjoy the sweet taste of beefy victory (and all because he needed a driver for him to receive his order). He saved the world from the Decepticons, and still he can't even have it his way? Where's the justice?

* Optimus Prime (in truck mode) made an appearance at [[BotCon 2007]], alongside the [[Sector Seven Mobile Command Unit]]. He was available for pictures all weekend. He made a second appearance at [[BotCon 2009]].

* Optimus threw a trailer during his appearance on an [[M&M's]] commercial.

* During the 2009 NBA Finals, a commercial aired where [[The Master Builders|Optimus made a slam dunk]] and shattered the backboard.

* On [[July 6]]th 2009, Optimus appeared on ''The Late Show With David Letterman'' to declare the "Top Ten Things That Sound Cool When Said By A Giant Robot". Optimus said it was nice to be there, although David was ''clearly'' concerned by having an 28-feet tall robot in the studio because of a bad history of robots messing up the place, and during the presentation Letterman decided there was something about Prime he didn't like. Anyway, the top ten was:
<ol>
<li value="10">"Jergens lotion leaves my hands silky smooth."</li>
<li value="9">"Do you have these khakis in size 114?"</li>
<li value="8">"My perfect night involves a pint of Haagen-Dazs and season three of ''Sex and the City''."</li>
<li value="7">"Man do I love me some 'taters."</li>
<li value="6">"It was so hot in Central Park, I saw a squirrel rubbing sunblock on his nuts."</li>
<li value="5">"You seemed a little pitchy, dawg."</li>
<li value="4">"Brody Jenner has added you as a friend on Facebook."</li>
<li value="3">"Live from New York, it's Saturday night."</li>
<li value="2">"My parents wanted me to be a Rabbi."</li>
<li value="1">"All the slammin' shorties in the house say 'Yeah'."<ref>[http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/video_player/index/php/991507.phtml Lateshow CBS archive video of Optimus's guest spot.]</ref></li>
</ol>

* To promote the DVD and Blu-ray release of ''Revenge of the Fallen'', Paramount set up a website where US fans could request Optimus call up their friends, warning them of Starscream's attempts to recruit human civilian allies.

*In the Discovery Channel promo, "The World Is Just Awesome," Optimus made a brief cameo, singing the words "boom-de-ya-da, boom-de-ya-da."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0jZzBEKIMc Discovery commercial] on YouTube.</ref>

*Prime (voiced by Cullen, but not animated by ILM) appeared to promote a NASA competition to vote for videos made by children about NASA's impact on commonplace technology.<ref>[http://ipp.gsfc.nasa.gov/optimus/ NASA Optimus Prime]</ref>

*Optimus appeared in truck mode at [[Toy Fair 2011]]. He got a $115 parking ticket.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357327/Transformers-truck-gets-parking-ticket-toy-fair.html ''Daily Mail'' article on Prime's fine.]</ref>

*Optimus was seen firing a basketball from his blaster in an ESPN commercial with [[Mark Cuban]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZwdQYvSXl4&feature=player_embedded Mark Cuban looking for Optimus Prime to be his new "big man." Transformers 3 ESPN]</ref>

==Toys==
{{main|Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/merchandise]]''

==Notes==
[[Image:moviecullen.jpg|right|150px|thumb|GIVE ME MY FACE]]

[[Image:Movie Primetruck before.jpg|right|150px|thumb|8:30 pm: "Trick My Truck". Tonight's guest: [[Alpha Trion (disambiguation)|Alpha Trion]].]]
* When Optimus' design was first revealed, [[GEEWUN|many fans of the Generation 1 series objected to the flames seen on Prime's body]]. When asked in an interview why he put the flames on, [[Michael Bay]] claimed he liked them because it was "cool". It was later revealed on a special featurette on the DVD that the flames were added because, apparently, red is not very good to film on camera, so Bay chose a blue truck but used the flames so that when Optimus transformed, the layout would result in maintaining his iconic red chest.

* In the director's commentary of the 2007 Transformers DVD, Michael Bay said that he had told the animators to seek inspiration from Liam Neeson in creating Optimus Prime's body language. ''Awesome''

* Optimus Prime's ''Rise of the Chevy Autobots'' codename, "10-22", is [http://www.truckercountry.com/cb-terminology.html#10c CB radio slang] for "report in person to." As in "Bumblebee, 10-22 to 10-22." Cute, huh?

* [[TakaraTomy]] officially recognizes Optimus Prime's vehicle mode as a [http://www.kenworth.com/2100_vir_w900.asp Kenworth W900 truck], even though the vehicle used for filming was a modified Peterbilt 379, a different model from a different brand, although both are made by the PACCAR company.<ref>[http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=121424?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..2.* Article at Edmunds.com on some of the vehicles used in the movie]</ref>
[[Image:Movie OptimusPrime truckrear.jpg|right|150px|thumb|]]

* Optimus Prime's truck mode is apparently intended to haul a flatbed trailer, based on the presence of the large silver "headache rack", a piece of optional equipment that protects the driver in case a flatbed load breaks free during braking. It is generally not installed on trucks hauling enclosed container trailers.

[[Image:Movie Prime Trucklogomistake.jpg|right|150px|thumb|In the darkness, a PA will misread "Truck A" as "Truck B", and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth — Revelation 11:7.]]

* When Optimus Prime scans a truck for his new body, the passing truck has what appears to be an Autobot sigil on its grill, but the actual truck that Prime turns into at the end of the scene has a much wider, flatter symbol on the grill, which looks rather more like that of Peterbilt. Then, Prime has an Autobot sigil on his grill while driving to meet the other Autobots.

* According to the free trading cards from the Boston Globe, Optimus is 28 feet tall, weighs 4.3 metric tons, and his primary weapon is an [[Ion blaster|ion blaster]]. (Considering Optimus's height, however, this weight would seem implausible.)

*The [[Milton Bradley]] [[Transformers Battling Card Game]] depicts Prime with a unique a magnetic grapple attack, fired from the side of his arm. It also declares his forearm gun to be a chain gun (it's an ion blaster in other sources), and has him using a "judo kick", which... while it may not be out of the realm of plausibility for Prime to have learned an Earth martial art, judo does not actually '''use''' kicks, being focused on throwing moves. Oops.

* The Optimus Prime computer generated model consisted of 10,108 individual parts, 1,830,898 polygons, 27,744 rig nodes, and 2336 texture maps. The volume of all pieces combined came to 5445 cubic feet.<ref>Robertson, Barbara (2007). Heavy Metal. ''Computer Graphics, 30''(7), 12-17.</ref>

* It said in the Autobots game in the DS, Prime's father was killed by Megatron. However, since it is also widely known that Prime and Megatron were brothers, Megatron killed his own dad. Not that this is surprising, though.

[[Image:ROTF Optimus trailer super mode.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"One shall be scrawny...One shall be brawny"]]
* Optimus was supposed to combine with a trailer for ''Revenge of the Fallen'', something for which [[Ben Procter]] and [[Josh Nizzi]] drew up designs. In the end, Nizzi designed the combination with Jetfire. However, the idea of Optimus combining with his trailer was not forgotten, and showed up on screen in ''Dark of the Moon''.

* According to [[TakaraTomy]] marketing director [[Masahiko Yamazaki]], for the Japanese dub of ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'', the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] featured in that show would become a young version of this one. Ultimately, this didn't make it into the end product as the show went largely unchanged.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Optimus Prime''' (オプティマスプライム ''Oputimasu Puraimu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''O Baak Man''' (Hong Kong, 柯柏文)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Optimusz Fővezér''' ("Prime Leader Optimus")
*''Indonesian:'' '''Optimis Prima'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Kē Bó Wén''' (Taiwan, 柯博文), '''Qíng Tīan Zhù''' (China, 擎天柱, "Pillar that Supports the Sky")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Optimus Naikrashchiy''' (Оптимус Наiкращий, "Optimus the Best")

{{--}}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/ProtoformOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm Optimus Prime at TFU.info]
* [http://www.seibertron.com/toys/index.php?f_series=40&f_name=optimus&f_type=exact&Submit=Search Galleries of various different Optimus Prime toys from the Movie]

[[Category: Autobot leaders]]
[[Category: Beast Wars Autobots]]
[[Category: Classified Autobots]]
[[Category: Convention guests]]
[[Category: Cyber Missions characters]]
[[Category: Dark of the Moon Autobots]]
[[Category: Hall of Fame]]
[[Category: Live-action film ARG characters]]
[[Category: Matrix bearers]]
[[Category: Movie Autobots]]
[[Category: NEST]]
[[Category:Primes]]
[[Category: Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category: Rulers of Cybertron]]

Darkness Rising, Part 5

2012-05-06T11:29:53Z

97.100.57.102: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 5
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 4
|next=Masters & Students
|image=DarknessRising5-OptimusStand.jpg
|caption=Spoilers: the good guys win.
|title="Darkness Rising, Part 5"
|airdate=[[December 3]], [[2010]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots race to stop Megatron from raising an undead army on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DarknessRising5-ohgeez.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Megs never learned the definition of "personal space."]]
[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] imagines in dread what will happen if [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] uses the [[Dark Energon]] to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and brings them to conquer [[Earth]].

[[Jack Darby|Jack]] arrives at [[KO Burger]] and encounters [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], who muses that her recent loss of a [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|friend]] makes it hard for her to say goodbye to him. The Autobots have pinpointed Megatron's [[space bridge]] in Earth orbit and must use the [[GroundBridge]] to reach it, despite the risks this poses. Arcee and Jack arrive back in time for Arcee to join the mission, and Optimus leads the team (minus [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]) through the bridge. They land on the space bridge terminal and look up to see the [[Trypticon (Prime)|Decepticon ship]] moving into position. Megatron observes their presence, but [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] says that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is locking on to Cybertron's coordinates.

As the Autobots assume attack positions, Arcee notes that the Decepticons haven't done anything. Optimus scans the ship, and learns that Bulkhead damaged its interstellar navigation dish during [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]'s rescue. Since a target as far as Cybertron needs pinpoint accuracy, the Decepticons will be unable to use it to aim the space bridge without an alternate targeting system. Raf reasons that the Decepticons may be using a radio dish array in [[Texas]], but Fowler is still too out of it to alert the array staff to the danger. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] attempts to hack in, but the array's firewalls are too good. Jack thinks they should go on site, and they talk Optimus into letting them do it.

Meanwhile, Megatron sends out the Decepticon forces to attack the Autobots. Battle commences.

[[Image:DarknessRising5-RafSoundwave.jpg|thumb|200px|]]

The kids GroundBridge to the array and sneak in. In a small, unused room, Raf finds a computer and determines that the Decepticons have also hacked in, but takes the opportunity to download their space bridge plans onto his flash drive. Little do the kids know that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is in the very next room, plugged into the computer system as well. He aligns the array, which sets the space bridge ready to use, but Raf promptly realigns it. Responding to Starscream's requests to know what's going on, Soundwave taps into the installation's security systems and locates the three kids. While the kids are discussing what the Decepticons could do, Soundwave's tentacle slithers into the room behind them and attacks. As it goes after Raf, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] grabs an axe and strikes at it. She hits the tentacle with a clang, but the tentacle then strikes her backward before picking up the axe itself. Though the kids believe it's about to attack them with the weapon, the tentacle withdraws. The kids run to the next room, where they found Soundwave has realigned the dishes and used the axe to cut the hard line, making it impossible to undo his work. Miko then takes a [[Miko's phone|cell phone]] photo of Soundwave. Before Soundwave leaves, he takes a photo of them.

Starscream activates the space bridge, and Megatron physically throws a huge chunk of Dark Energon through. The Dark Energon strikes Cybertron, swiftly covering the planet and turning millions of dead Transformers into millions of Terrorcons. Optimus realizes that the only course of action left to them is to destroy the space bridge. Raf supplies the specs he downloaded earlier, and Ratchet sets about working out a way to do so with Raf's help. As Optimus faces Megatron, Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee go to implement some sabotage.

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Megatronsword.jpg|left|thumb|200px|He can do the ''ultimate'' bird flip.]]

Megatron manages to defeat Prime, but as he raises his sword, Starscream alerts him to the actions of the other Autobots. Optimus takes advantage of the momentary distraction to block Megatron's killing blow, and blast him away, but the Decepticon leader transforms and flies off to find Prime's team. Arcee's team has succeeded in rigging the space bridge to blow when Megatron attacks and blasts her off into space. The Autobots jump into the GroundBridge, Bumblebee collecting Arcee on the way. Seeing the potential damage the exploding space bridge would cause Starscream decides to pull the ship back, imploring Megatron to do the same. Overcome with regret over the loss of his army of Terrorcons as they begin to come through, the space bridge explodes in Megatron's face.

A short distance away in the ship, Starscream notes that Megatron's spark is now extinguished and all will hail him.
The Autobots make it back to their base. Though Arcee's in bad shape, she makes it out alright. Optimus announces that there's totally no way Megatron could have survived the space bridge explosion. Fowler thanks the Autobots for saving him, then leaves. Optimus gives a big speech and sends a signal into space to let the galaxy know that Earth is defended by the Autobots.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Jack Darby]] (1)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
* [[William Fowler]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans, I will never forgive you."
:—'''Ratchet''', making us all feel loved.

"Optimus Prime never disappoints. Unlike YOU, Starscream!"
:—'''Megatron''', burning a disappointing '''Starscream'''

"Surely, Lord Megatron, the Autobots are up to something." 
"Really, Starscream?"
:—'''Starscream''' observes the Autobots and '''Megatron''' lays on the sarcasm.

"I hold no illusions about engaging your army, Megatron. But I might derail its objective... [[Decapitation|by removing its head.]]"
:—'''Optimus Prime's''' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|solution to most problems]].

"One shall stand, one shall fall." 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' brings an old line back into style.

"Ah... misdirection, Optimus. You would have made a fine Decepticon!" 
''(Megatron brings his sword down, but Optimus blocks it)'' 
"I ''chose'' my side."
:-'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' carry on an old disagreement.

"Starscream! Where is my ship?!" 
"We would never make it, Lord Megatron! Don't be a fool! Take flight and ''retreat''!"
:—Showing remarkable amounts of common sense, '''Starscream''' urgently yet fruitlessly tries to get '''Megatron''' to flee the detonating space bridge.

"Decepticons, it is with deep sorrow that I note for the log... Megatron's spark... has been extinguished. All. Hail. Starscream."
:—'''Starscream''' praises himself as leader.

"Without a means of leaving this world, we Autobots take strength in the bonds we have forged with our three young friends - true warriors. If not in body, then in spirit. My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message. Though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this: We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend... our home."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Continuity errors===
* The Terrorcons are able to leave Cybertron and pass through the space bridge despite the fact that it's in space. Even accounting for the fact that Decepticon corpses might have flight capabilities, it seems unlikely that every Terrorcon would.
* Despite Megatron being able to ''cut off half of Prime's blade'' earlier in their battle, when Optimus resisted, the other blade was nearly as resistant as Megatron's own blade.

===Astronomical errors===
* The Autobots somehow jump from the detonating space bridge straight into the waiting GroundBridge vortex, which is positioned below the space bridge, even though there ''is no gravity in space!'' (Though a possible explanation for this is that the GroundBridge creates its own gravity.)

===Transformers references===
* There are two references which are directly related to [[The Transformers: The Movie|the 1986 animated movie]]. First Ratchet says, "Then by all means, let us light our [[darkest hour]]." Later, Optimus exchanges with Megatron: "One shall stand, one shall fall."
* Optimus's Energon blade and Megatron's hidden fusion cannon blade are references to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)| their movie]] [[Megatron (Movie)|counterparts]].
* Optimus's speech at the end is similar to the ones Movie Optimus gives at the end of the three movies.

===Real-world references===
[[Image:DarknessRising5-Michelangelo.jpg|thumb|250px|Or it could be another [[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]] reference.]]
* Miko tries to use an axe on [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s tentacle, which is the same tactic Tom Cruise's character tries on the Tripod tentacle in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''War of the Worlds''. Of course, both attempts fail.
* Miko refers to space as "the final frontier". "Space. The final frontier" is the first line of the opening credits of several ''[[Wikipedia: Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' TV shows. ''Prime'' show developers [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]] are also the screenwriters of the current ''Star Trek'' movies.
* Megatron, when he rises out of the Decepticon ship with the boulder of Dark Energon on his back, is clearly meant to evoke the classic [[Wikipedia:Atlas|Atlas]] pose.
* The shot of Megatron reaching out to a Terrorcon before the space bridge implosion is reminiscent of [[Wikipedia:Michelangelo|Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:The Creation of Adam|The Creation of Adam]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die dunkle Macht erhebt sicht, Teil 5'''" (The Dark Force Rises, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 21|21 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Közeleg a sötétség, 5. rész'''" ("The Darkness Is Nearing, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 13|13 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La rimonta delle tenebre, quinta parte'''" ("Darkness Rising, Fifth Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 1|1 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Bakuretsu Henkei! Spacebridge Kōbōsen''' (爆裂変形!スペースブリッジ攻防戦, ''Explosive Transformation! Spacebridge Battle'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 5]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ak ui Buhwal 5'''" (악의 부활 5, "Return of the Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 12|12 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 9|9 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El regreso del mal, Parte 5'''" ("The Return of Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Winged versions of the Vehicons make their appearance here.
* The Decepticons are unable to simply warp to Cybertron thanks to Bulkhead ripping off a vital piece of equipment in the previous episode.
* When the kids arrive at the radio array, they note that the place seems deserted. A brief shadowy glimpse of a human slumped against the wall suggests that, like [[Blackout (Movie)| Blackout]], Soundwave isn't keen on leaving survivors or witnesses.
* When Starscream tries to convince Megatron to retreat, there is a surprising tone of concern in his voice. Either that, or he's a much better actor than certain other [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscreams]].
* A short video showing a rehearsal or an earlier take of the confrontation between Optimus Prime and Megatron was screened at both [[BotCon 2010]] and San Diego Comic-Con 2010.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvW4nsr3ZDo#t=2m53s "Transformers: Prime" panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2010]</ref> The dialogue was somewhat different, with Optimus referring to battle on an alien world when ordering the Autobots away, and lacking the "One shall stand, one shall fall" exchange. Instead, it had Megatron shouting Optimus's name in a rather exaggerated manner.
*The space battle was an idea [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] had for the [[live-action film series]] but couldn't incorporate.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Pb3MeUDdY Roundtable interview with ''Prime'' staff at BotCon 2011]</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Darkness Rising, Part 5

2012-05-06T11:28:55Z

97.100.57.102: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 5
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 4
|next=Masters & Students
|image=DarknessRising5-OptimusStand.jpg
|caption=Spoilers: the good guys win.
|title="Darkness Rising, Part 5"
|airdate=[[December 3]], [[2010]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''The Autobots race to stop Megatron from raising an undead army on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DarknessRising5-ohgeez.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Megs never learned the definition of "personal space."]]
[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] imagines in dread what will happen if [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] uses the [[Dark Energon]] to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and brings them to conquer [[Earth]].

[[Jack Darby|Jack]] arrives at [[KO Burger]] and encounters [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]], who muses that her recent loss of a [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|friend]] makes it hard for her to say goodbye to him. The Autobots have pinpointed Megatron's [[space bridge]] in Earth orbit and must use the [[GroundBridge]] to reach it, despite the risks this poses. Arcee and Jack arrive back in time for Arcee to join the mission, and Optimus leads the team (minus [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]]) through the bridge. They land on the space bridge terminal and look up to see the [[Trypticon (Prime)|Decepticon ship]] moving into position. Megatron observes their presence, but [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] says that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is locking on to Cybertron's coordinates.

As the Autobots assume attack positions, Arcee notes that the Decepticons haven't done anything. Optimus scans the ship, and learns that Bulkhead damaged its interstellar navigation dish during [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]'s rescue. Since a target as far as Cybertron needs pinpoint accuracy, the Decepticons will be unable to use it to aim the space bridge without an alternate targeting system. Raf reasons that the Decepticons may be using a radio dish array in [[Texas]], but Fowler is still too out of it to alert the array staff to the danger. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] attempts to hack in, but the array's firewalls are too good. Jack thinks they should go on site, and they talk Optimus into letting them do it.

Meanwhile, Megatron sends out the Decepticon forces to attack the Autobots. Battle commences.

[[Image:DarknessRising5-RafSoundwave.jpg|thumb|200px|]]

The kids GroundBridge to the array and sneak in. In a small, unused room, Raf finds a computer and determines that the Decepticons have also hacked in, but takes the opportunity to download their space bridge plans onto his flash drive. Little do the kids know that [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] is in the very next room, plugged into the computer system as well. He aligns the array, which sets the space bridge ready to use, but Raf promptly realigns it. Responding to Starscream's requests to know what's going on, Soundwave taps into the installation's security systems and locates the three kids. While the kids are discussing what the Decepticons could do, Soundwave's tentacle slithers into the room behind them and attacks. As it goes after Raf, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] grabs an axe and strikes at it. She hits the tentacle with a clang, but the tentacle then strikes her backward before picking up the axe itself. Though the kids believe it's about to attack them with the weapon, the tentacle withdraws. The kids run to the next room, where they found Soundwave has realigned the dishes and used the axe to cut the hard line, making it impossible to undo his work. Miko then takes a [[Miko's phone|cell phone]] photo of Soundwave. Before Soundwave leaves, he takes a photo of them.

Starscream activates the space bridge, and Megatron physically throws a huge chunk of Dark Energon through. The Dark Energon strikes Cybertron, swiftly covering the planet and turning millions of dead Transformers into millions of Terrorcons. Optimus realizes that the only course of action left to them is to destroy the space bridge. Raf supplies the specs he downloaded earlier, and Ratchet sets about working out a way to do so with Raf's help. As Optimus faces Megatron, Bulkhead, Arcee and Bumblebee go to implement some sabotage.

[[Image:DarknessRising5-Megatronsword.jpg|left|thumb|200px|He can do the ''ultimate'' bird flip.]]

Megatron manages to defeat Prime, but as he raises his sword, Starscream alerts him to the actions of the other Autobots. Optimus takes advantage of the momentary distraction to block Megatron's killing blow, and blast him away, but the Decepticon leader transforms and flies off to find Prime's team. Arcee's team has succeeded in rigging the space bridge to blow when Megatron attacks and blasts her off into space. The Autobots jump into the GroundBridge, Bumblebee collecting Arcee on the way. Seeing the potential damage the exploding space bridge would cause Starscream decides to pull the ship back, imploring Megatron to do the same. Overcome with regret over the loss of his army of Terrorcons as they begin to come through, the space bridge explodes in Megatron's face.

A short distance away in the ship, Starscream notes that Megatron's spark is now extinguished and all will hail him.
The Autobots make it back to their base. Though Arcee's in bad shape, she makes it out alright. Optimus announces that there's totally no way Megatron could have survived the space bridge explosion. Fowler thanks the Autobots for saving him, then leaves. Optimus gives a big speech and sends a signal into space to let the galaxy know that Earth is defended by the Autobots.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (6)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Jack Darby]] (1)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (7)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (8)
* [[William Fowler]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans, I will never forgive you."
:—'''Ratchet'''

"Optimus Prime never disappoints. Unlike YOU, Starscream!"
:—'''Megatron''', burning a disappointing '''Starscream'''

"Surely, Lord Megatron, the Autobots are up to something." 
"Really, Starscream?"
:—'''Starscream''' observes the Autobots and '''Megatron''' lays on the sarcasm.

"I hold no illusions about engaging your army, Megatron. But I might derail its objective... [[Decapitation|by removing its head.]]"
:—'''Optimus Prime's''' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|solution to most problems]].

"One shall stand, one shall fall." 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' brings an old line back into style.

"Ah... misdirection, Optimus. You would have made a fine Decepticon!" 
''(Megatron brings his sword down, but Optimus blocks it)'' 
"I ''chose'' my side."
:-'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' carry on an old disagreement.

"Starscream! Where is my ship?!" 
"We would never make it, Lord Megatron! Don't be a fool! Take flight and ''retreat''!"
:—Showing remarkable amounts of common sense, '''Starscream''' urgently yet fruitlessly tries to get '''Megatron''' to flee the detonating space bridge.

"Decepticons, it is with deep sorrow that I note for the log... Megatron's spark... has been extinguished. All. Hail. Starscream."
:—'''Starscream''' praises himself as leader.

"Without a means of leaving this world, we Autobots take strength in the bonds we have forged with our three young friends - true warriors. If not in body, then in spirit. My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message. Though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this: We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend... our home."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Continuity errors===
* The Terrorcons are able to leave Cybertron and pass through the space bridge despite the fact that it's in space. Even accounting for the fact that Decepticon corpses might have flight capabilities, it seems unlikely that every Terrorcon would.
* Despite Megatron being able to ''cut off half of Prime's blade'' earlier in their battle, when Optimus resisted, the other blade was nearly as resistant as Megatron's own blade.

===Astronomical errors===
* The Autobots somehow jump from the detonating space bridge straight into the waiting GroundBridge vortex, which is positioned below the space bridge, even though there ''is no gravity in space!'' (Though a possible explanation for this is that the GroundBridge creates its own gravity.)

===Transformers references===
* There are two references which are directly related to [[The Transformers: The Movie|the 1986 animated movie]]. First Ratchet says, "Then by all means, let us light our [[darkest hour]]." Later, Optimus exchanges with Megatron: "One shall stand, one shall fall."
* Optimus's Energon blade and Megatron's hidden fusion cannon blade are references to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)| their movie]] [[Megatron (Movie)|counterparts]].
* Optimus's speech at the end is similar to the ones Movie Optimus gives at the end of the three movies.

===Real-world references===
[[Image:DarknessRising5-Michelangelo.jpg|thumb|250px|Or it could be another [[Steven Spielberg|Spielberg]] reference.]]
* Miko tries to use an axe on [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]]'s tentacle, which is the same tactic Tom Cruise's character tries on the Tripod tentacle in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''War of the Worlds''. Of course, both attempts fail.
* Miko refers to space as "the final frontier". "Space. The final frontier" is the first line of the opening credits of several ''[[Wikipedia: Star Trek|Star Trek]]'' TV shows. ''Prime'' show developers [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]] are also the screenwriters of the current ''Star Trek'' movies.
* Megatron, when he rises out of the Decepticon ship with the boulder of Dark Energon on his back, is clearly meant to evoke the classic [[Wikipedia:Atlas|Atlas]] pose.
* The shot of Megatron reaching out to a Terrorcon before the space bridge implosion is reminiscent of [[Wikipedia:Michelangelo|Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Wikipedia:The Creation of Adam|The Creation of Adam]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die dunkle Macht erhebt sicht, Teil 5'''" (The Dark Force Rises, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 21|21 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Közeleg a sötétség, 5. rész'''" ("The Darkness Is Nearing, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 13|13 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La rimonta delle tenebre, quinta parte'''" ("Darkness Rising, Fifth Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 1|1 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Bakuretsu Henkei! Spacebridge Kōbōsen''' (爆裂変形!スペースブリッジ攻防戦, ''Explosive Transformation! Spacebridge Battle'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 5]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ak ui Buhwal 5'''" (악의 부활 5, "Return of the Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 12|12 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 9|9 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El regreso del mal, Parte 5'''" ("The Return of Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Winged versions of the Vehicons make their appearance here.
* The Decepticons are unable to simply warp to Cybertron thanks to Bulkhead ripping off a vital piece of equipment in the previous episode.
* When the kids arrive at the radio array, they note that the place seems deserted. A brief shadowy glimpse of a human slumped against the wall suggests that, like [[Blackout (Movie)| Blackout]], Soundwave isn't keen on leaving survivors or witnesses.
* When Starscream tries to convince Megatron to retreat, there is a surprising tone of concern in his voice. Either that, or he's a much better actor than certain other [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscreams]].
* A short video showing a rehearsal or an earlier take of the confrontation between Optimus Prime and Megatron was screened at both [[BotCon 2010]] and San Diego Comic-Con 2010.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvW4nsr3ZDo#t=2m53s "Transformers: Prime" panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2010]</ref> The dialogue was somewhat different, with Optimus referring to battle on an alien world when ordering the Autobots away, and lacking the "One shall stand, one shall fall" exchange. Instead, it had Megatron shouting Optimus's name in a rather exaggerated manner.
*The space battle was an idea [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] had for the [[live-action film series]] but couldn't incorporate.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21Pb3MeUDdY Roundtable interview with ''Prime'' staff at BotCon 2011]</ref>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Armada (episode)

2012-04-22T17:46:06Z

97.100.57.102: /* Trivia */

{{disambig3|Armada}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 36
|prev=Grill
|next=Flying Mind
|image=
|caption=
|title="Armada"
|airdate=[[April 21]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Matt Wayne]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

{{picsneeded}}
'''Bulkhead is trapped on the Decepticon Warship amid dual attempts on Megatron's life.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] recovers consciousness, and realizes he's on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Unable to contact base, he begins to explore, but while hiding from [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], he runs into [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. Starscream is reluctant to help, and strikes at Bulkhead, so Bulkhead returns the favor by jumping on Starscream and beating the life out of him. Reflecting that Starscream left him no choice, Bulkhead returns to his exploration.

Some 24 hours before, Starscream reaches the wreck of the ''[[Harbinger]]'' in his search for [[energon]]. Instead he finds a laboratory containing five [[protoform]]s. Elsewhere, Bulkhead picks up an energon reading. Starscream finds information in the ''Harbinger''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> computer on cloning and fires up the lab equipment. Soon, five [[Starscream clone (Prime)|duplicates of himself]] stand before him. Meanwhile Bulkhead, clambering into a hole he's found, realizes there's boxed energon at the bottom of it, and that the ''Nemesis'' is overhead ready to pick it up. As he struggles, he falls among the energon and, losing consciousness, is transported up to the Decepticon ship with it.

Starscream discovers that his clones are complete duplicates of himself, personality and all. As the ''Harbinger'' is able to track where the ''Nemesis'' is, he sends his clones to eliminate [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] once and for all. The five clones board the ''Nemesis'' and split up, one of them running into Bulkhead, who terminates the clone. The original Starscream is surprised to find that he feels everything his clones feel. Bulkhead locates a comm unit and attempts to use it to contact base, only instead to set off an alarm and bring Vehicons running. As he escapes, the Vehicons are distracted by another Starscream clone, but unknown to anyone, Bulkhead has inadvertently started a Decepticon beacon.

The beacon is detected by [[Airachnid]], who calls out her [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] army to go terminate Megatron. The activity is detected by the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] [[GroundBridge]] to the location to investigate, discovering Airachnid in the middle of sending her troops. She sets some of the Insecticons after the trio, but Arcee bursts through the explosions and begins pursuing her. Optimus and Bumblebee begin mowing down Insecticons.

Bulkhead crawls through a Nemesis duct, and spots Megatron. Megatron starts heading for the bridge in response to reports that Starscream's there.

Arcee continues her pursuit of Airachnid, despite having to contend with two Insecticons. After the Insecticons are taken out, Airachnid disappears underground, and Arcee follows.

On the ''Nemesis'' bridge, Megatron finds himself face-to-faces with the four remaining Starscream clones. He offers to make them all [[second-in-command]] if they terminate Starscream for him, but the clones are stable enough to keep to the mission, but before they can open fire, the ship is attacked by Insecticons. The distraction is all Megatron needs, and he starts taking out clones. The last of the clones manages to escape as the Insecticon attack intensifies, and Megatron finally checks on what's going on outside.

Optimus and Bumblebee finish off the last of the Insecticons that were attacking them, and start looking for Arcee. Their comrade is currently deep underground hunting Airachnid. Arcee exchanges fire with her foe, and manages to maneuver Airachnid onto one of the open Insecticon pods, which promptly closes and puts the rogue Decepticon into stasis. The Insecticons attacking the ''Nemesis'' all immediately stop their attack, drop on to the ship's hull, and proclaim their loyalty to Megatron.

Within the ''Nemesis'', Bulkhead finds the ship's power core, and hits it very hard, causing it to explode. The ship slowly begins its descent. As he runs to the exit, Bulkhead encounters the Starscream clone, who promptly takes off. Bulkhead is puzzled at the fact that Starscream is alive and can transform. Once the ''Nemesis'' has crashed to earth, Bulkhead is able to drive off and speed away. He soon reaches base, where the Autobots are inspecting the stasis-locked Airachnid.

The last Starscream clone returns to the ''Harbinger'' and lets the original Starscream know the mission failed. He's about to shoot his progenitor, when Starscream turns and blasts him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
|c4=
*[[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clones]] (3)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Airachnid]] (5)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is for [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]! For Bumblebee! For ''everything''."
:—'''Bulkhead''' delivers some much-deserved payback unto Starscream. Well, actually his clone, but what's the difference?

"You left me no choice."
:—'''Bulkhead''' pulling an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]

"My genetic code provides my clones with T-Cogs I no longer possess and all I get is their agony?!"
:—'''Starscream''' laments over the side-effects of cloning.

"Exterminating you was so gratifying the first three times."
:—'''Megatron''' approaching the last of Starscream's clones.

"When you extinguish my spark, make it hurt. You know I would extend that courtesy to you."
:—'''Airachnid''', creepy to the last.

'''Bulkhead''' (rushing inside the Autobot's base)''':''' Guys, you are not gonna believe that day I had! 
Bulkhead spots Airachnid in stasis, then looks at Ratchet and Arcee... 
'''Bulkhead:''' You too, huh?

"DOOWAAHHH, scrap! That hurt!"
:—'''Starscream''' after killing the last clone.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* The Insecticons magically disappear from the top of the ''Nemesis'' after Bulkhead destroyed the Power Station.

===Continuity errors===
* In the episode "[[Orion Pax, Part 2]]", the Insecticon on Cybertron was actuated by the Autobot signal, but when Arcee finds the nest of Insecticons, they didn't actuate.

===Continuity notes===
* Starscream returns to the ''[[Harbinger]]'', first seen in "[[Partners]]", the episode in which he defected.
* Starscream references sneaking on board the ''Nemesis'' and meeting Optimus Prime in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]".
* Starscream mentions [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|killing Cliffjumper]] and [[Crossfire|sparing Arcee's life]].
* Bulkhead pounds Starscream for killing Cliffjumper and damaging Bumblebee's T-cog in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
* Airachnid loses [[Crossfire|another limb]].

===Transformers references===
*[[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream]] [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]].
*Starscream's clones are mentally linked to him via [[binary bonding]].

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
* The Insecticons speak for the first time. They're still vermin, though.
* Both Dreadwing and Knock Out are strangly absent from this episode.
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Armada (episode)

2012-04-22T13:29:11Z

97.100.57.102: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Armada}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 36
|prev=Grill
|next=Flying Mind
|image=
|caption=
|title="Armada"
|airdate=[[April 21]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Matt Wayne]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Bulkhead is trapped on the Decepticon Warship amid dual attempts on Megatron's life.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] recovers consciousness, and realizes he's on the ''[[Trypticon (Prime)|Nemesis]]''. Unable to contact base, he begins to explore, but while hiding from [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]], he runs into [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]]. Starscream is reluctant to help, and strikes at Bulkhead, so Bulkhead returns the favor by jumping on Starscream and beating the life out of him. Reflecting that Starscream left him no choice, Bulkhead returns to his exploration.

Some 24 hours before, Starscream reaches the wreck of the ''[[Harbinger]]'' in his search for [[energon]]. Instead he finds a laboratory containing five [[protoform]]s. Elsewhere, Bulkhead picks up an energon reading. Starscream finds information in the ''Harbinger''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> computer on cloning and fires up the lab equipment. Soon, five [[Starscream clone (Prime)|duplicates of himself]] stand before him. Meanwhile Bulkhead, clambering into a hole he's found, realizes there's boxed energon at the bottom of it, and that the ''Nemesis'' is overhead ready to pick it up. As he struggles, he falls among the energon and, losing consciousness, is transported up to the Decepticon ship with it.

Starscream discovers that his clones are complete duplicates of himself, personality and all. As the ''Harbinger'' is able to track where the ''Nemesis'' is, he sends his clones to eliminate [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] once and for all. The five clones board the ''Nemesis'' and split up, one of them running into Bulkhead, who terminates the clone. The original Starscream is surprised to find that he feels everything his clones feel. Bulkhead locates a comm unit and attempts to use it to contact base, only instead to set off an alarm and bring Vehicons running. As he escapes, the Vehicons are distracted by another Starscream clone, but unknown to anyone, Bulkhead has inadvertently started a Decepticon beacon.

The beacon is detected by [[Airachnid]], who calls out her [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] army to go terminate Megatron. The activity is detected by the Autobots, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] [[GroundBridge]] to the location to investigate, discovering Airachnid in the middle of sending her troops. She sets some of the Insecticons after the trio, but Arcee bursts through the explosions and begins pursuing her. Optimus and Bumblebee begin mowing down Insecticons.

Bulkhead crawls through a Nemesis duct, and spots Megatron. Megatron starts heading for the bridge in response to reports that Starscream's there.

Arcee continues her pursuit of Airachnid, despite having to contend with two Insecticons. After the Insecticons are taken out, Airachnid disappears underground, and Arcee follows.

On the ''Nemesis'' bridge, Megatron finds himself face-to-faces with the four remaining Starscream clones. He offers to make them all [[second-in-command]] if they terminate Starscream for him, but the clones are stable enough to keep to the mission, but before they can open fire, the ship is attacked by Insecticons. The distraction is all Megatron needs, and he starts taking out clones. The last of the clones manages to escape as the Insecticon attack intensifies, and Megatron finally checks on what's going on outside.

Optimus and Bumblebee finish off the last of the Insecticons that were attacking them, and start looking for Arcee. Their comrade is currently deep underground hunting Airachnid. Arcee exchanges fire with her foe, and manages to maneuver Airachnid onto one of the open Insecticon pods, which promptly closes and puts the rogue Decepticon into stasis. The Insecticons attacking the ''Nemesis'' all immediately stop their attack, drop on to the ship's hull, and proclaim their loyalty to Megatron.

Within the ''Nemesis'', Bulkhead finds the ship's power core, and hits it very hard, causing it to explode. The ship slowly begins its descent. As he runs to the exit, Bulkhead encounters the Starscream clone, who promptly takes off. Once the ''Nemesis'' has crashed to earth, Bulkhead is able to drive off and speed away. He soon reaches base, where the Autobots are inspecting the stasis-locked Airachnid.

The last Starscream clone returns to the ''Harbinger'' and lets the original Starscream know the mission failed. He's about to shoot his progenitor, when Starscream turns and blasts him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (2)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
|c4=
*[[Starscream clone (Prime)|Starscream clones]] (3)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Airachnid]] (5)
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticons]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is for [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]]! For Bumblebee! For everything."
:—'''Bulkhead''' delivers some much-deserved payback unto Starscream. Well, actually his clone, but what's the difference?

"You left me no choice."
:—'''Bulkhead''' pulling an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]

"When you extinguish my spark, make it hurt. You know I would extend that courtesy to you."
:—'''Airachnid''', creepy to the last.

'''Bulkhead''' (rushing inside the Autobot's base)''':''' Guys, you are not gonna believe that day I had! 
Bulkhead spots Airachnid in stasis, then looks at Ratchet and Arcee... 
'''Bulkhead:''' You too, huh?

"Scrap! That hurt!"
:—'''Starscream''' after killing the last clone.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* The Insecticons magically disappear from the top of the ''Nemesis'' after Bulkhead destroyed the Power Station.

===Continuity notes===
*Starscream returns to the ''[[Harbinger]]'', first seen in [[Partners]], the episode in which he defected.
*Starscream references sneaking on board the ''Nemesis'' and meeting Optimus Prime in "[[Orion Pax, Part 1]]".
*Starscream mentions [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|killing Cliffjumper]] and [[Crossfire|sparing Arcee's life]].
*Bulkhead pounds Starscream for killing Cliffjumper and damaging Bumblebee's T-cog in "[[Operation Bumblebee, Part 2]]".
*Airachnid loses [[Crossfire|another limb]].

===Transformers references===
*[[Starscream clone (G1)|Starscream]] [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]].
*Starscream's clones are mentally linked to him via [[binary bonding]].

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
* The Insecticons speak for the first time. They're still vermin, though.

{{epstub}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 3

2012-04-22T01:17:21Z

97.100.57.102: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 29
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 2
|next=Operation Bumblebee, Part 1
|image=OrionPax3 Optimus Decepticon insignia.jpg
|caption=Man, that must have been some party last night!
|title="Orion Pax, Part 3"
|airdate=[[March 3]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack and Arcee undertake a dangerous mission on Cybertron to access Vector Sigma, while Orion begins to rebel against Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OrionPax3 Jack and Arcee find entrance.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Speak Friend And Enter]]
[[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] walk through [[Kaon]], guided by the light of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. They come upon a circular clearing, and the key glows intensely, indicating that they must be close. Suddenly, the ground begins to shake, and cracks appear in the surface. The duo watch in awe as a passageway rises from the ground, its door illuminated the same as the Key. It opens, but just as the two are about to enter, an enormous creature rears up from atop the passage. Arcee's [[Autobot]] symbol catches its eye, and it charges her, Arcee's minute strength doing nothing to injure it. She is quickly incapacitated, and the creature notices Jack, giving temporary pursuit until distracted by Arcee. Jack radios [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and is told that the creature is an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]], one of many sentries left to guard the dead [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Arcee tells Jack to go, to his surprise, but he realizes the necessity. As he enters, the door closes behind him.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] inquires as to [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion]]'s progress on [[Project Iacon]]. Orion says it's tough work, but Megatron says otherwise, revealing to him that all of his unsanctioned research has been recorded. Orion takes the opportunity to ask about his reported affiliation with the Autobots, but Megatron merely tells him to get back to work. Orion decides that enough is enough, and erases his progress in the archives. Megatron laughs, and shows the clerk that he has been recorded and documented in his pursuits. [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] intrudes, to show Megatron that one of their sentries came online on Cybertron. Orion asks how anything is alive on the planet, but Megatron tells him to continue his work-or be terminated.

[[Image:OrionPax3 Megatron threatens Orion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Look, Orion! You can see your reflection on my sword!]]
Back on Cybertron, Arcee tangles with the enormous bug, but is no match for its brute strength. Finished with her, the Insecticon turns its attention to the fleshling, and breaks its way into the tunnel.

In the depths of the tunnel, Jack hears a [[Scraplet|familiar noise]], and uproots a metal bar for protection.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron reviews the reports with Soundwave. He learns of the [[space bridge]]'s activation, its endpoint, and the fact that it is still active. He quickly deduces the Autobots' plan.

In Cybertron's gullet, Jack arrives at the chamber of [[Vector Sigma]]. He proceeds to the center of a circular platform, where he places the Key. The entire chamber begins to transform and glow with the Key's energy, and the enormous supercomputer reveals itself, and begins to transfer its energy to the Key.

On the ''Nemesis'', Orion is hassled by the guards. He appeals to their "good nature", saying that he believes Megatron will use the information he is agglomerating for nefarious purposes. Good-old fashioned police brutality ensues as the helpless clerk is kicked and punched by his guards.

[[Image:OrionPax3 Jack watches download.jpg|thumb|left|250px|DON'T GO INTO THE LIGHT!]]
In the chamber, Jack is antsy about the speed of his download. His problems lie beyond his dial-up, however, because behind him, a horde of Scraplets has just taken notice of the ''very'' alive metal before him in the form of the Key to Vector Sigma. Jack is helpless to fend them off, and they begin to snack on the download port. He reports frantically on his position to ground control

In the space bridge chamber, however, the Autobots have bigger fish to fry as Megatron steps out of a [[GroundBridge]] to them. Ratchet vows to protect their charges, and the battle begins, Megatron easily flooring every Autobot, Ratchet and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] twice.

On Cybertron, Arcee awakes to find a Scraplet chewing on her foot. She blasts it off, and notices the opened passage—and the absent Insecticon. Transforming, she speeds into the passageway.

Jack valiantly smashes the Scraplets as they feed, but is unable to stop their progress towards the Matrix. Another problem presents itself behind him in the form of the Insecticon. It charges towards him, but stops in its tracks, staring at the key. Jack realizes why, and the Scraplets suddenly become a blessing. He formulates an idea, pulling a Scraplet off the Key and pointing it at the aggressor. The Insecticon turns tail as it realizes what's happening, but the Scraplets give chase and latch on, quickly chewing through the giant insect as it falls to its doom, limbs disconnected. The download completes, and Jack retrieves the key. Arcee finally arrives, and the two depart.

The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] guards continue to beat down Orion, and one of them lets slip that it's a privilege to beat the former leader of the Autobots. Orion pleads with them to stop, and in his defense, he accidentally transforms his arms into blasters. Realizing they're in trouble, the guards fire on Pax, but he quickly dispatches them both.

[[Image:OrionPax3 the Matrix reloaded.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reverse Care Bear Stare]]
Arcee and Jack arrive at the space bridge portal, and radio Ratchet about their position. Total silence on the comm tip them off that something is wrong, and, undetected on the other end of the portal, Megatron waits to end the lineage of the Primes. However, he is surprised by the sudden arrival of Orion Pax, who vows that, no matter what his heritage might be, his spark is aligned with the Autobots. He deploys his blades, and charges for Megatron, but is quickly defeated. Megatron says that he has much to learn, and prepares to kill him, but Arcee speeds through the bridge and collides with him, sending them both flying. In the light of the bridge, Jack presents the Key to Orion, who hesitates, but accepts his destiny.

The Key begins to upload the Matrix to its host. Megatron, preoccupied with fighting Arcee, notices this, and desperately runs at him. However, Orion Pax—now ''Optimus Prime'' once again—isn't ready to go down again, and trounces his enemy. A GroundBridge portal opens up, and the Autobots retreat.

At base, the Autobots and humans rejoice at their reunion. Noticing his Decepticon symbol, Optimus asks Ratchet what had happened. He replies that it was their darkest hour, but at every point along the way, Optimus was truly an Autobot at spark.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]] (17)

|c2=
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*"[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]]" (10)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (1)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (6)
*[[William Fowler]] (7)

|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (12)
*[[Vector Sigma]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==
"Why does history portray me siding with the Autobot aggressors? And why did Starscream call me a Prime? I must know...who ''am'' I?" 
"You are my clerk."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' questions his identity, while '''Megatron''' responds with a firm establishment of the pecking order.

"That may be true, or yet another deception, but this much I do know: my sympathies lie with the Autobots, and you are ''not'' one of us!"
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' to Megatron, realizing the truth.

"Are you...certain I am worthy?" 
"You have no idea."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' and '''Jack'''.

"Megatron—''be gone!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', before delivering the most awesome series of punches in the entire series.

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this: from every indication your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot."
:—'''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*As Megatron notices Jack recharging Optimus's Matrix and lets go of Arcee, his shoulder armour goes through the wall.

===Continuity errors===
*As Optimus jumps through the Autobot GroundBridge, he is suddenly sporting Autobot insignias.

===Continuity notes===
*The scraplets seem a ''lot'' nastier in this episode, chewing so fast as to render a hulking robot limbless in a matter of seconds. This is ''not'' an error, as many factors could contribute, such as the scraplets' inability to find living metal on the barren Cybertron and the ancient state of the Insecticon.
*Optimus still has the broken sword from waaaaay back in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It would seem that the Decepticons neglected to repair it. Or rather, neglected to mention that he had weapons in the first place.
*The Insecticon is the first cybertronian in the Prime cartoon to have a Beast [[alternate mode]].

===Transformers references===
[[Image:OrionPax3 Vector Sigma in scraplet-vision.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Night vision on]]
* Ratchet references ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' by referring to an event as "our darkest hour", as he did before in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".
* Bulkhead calls Megatron a "bucket head", a reference to [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]].
* The Insecticon's insect mode resembles a large rhinoceros beetle, [[Bombshell (G1)|like]] [[Salvo|several]] [[Barrage (Insecticon)|other]] [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]].
* From the Scraplets' point-of-view, the sphere of Vector Sigma is seen in its faceted orb appearance common to many continuities.

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's line bemoaning the Scraplets on Cybertron is a paraphrase of the oft-referenced "Why did it have to be snakes?" line from ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''.

===Trivia===
*Look closely at the arena in Kaon: it's the same arena as seen in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]". Ironic that the entrance to Vector Sigma lay beneath Megatron's feet at that moment.
*When Jack coaxes the Scraplets into attacking the Insecticon, he calls it "the main course", echoing what Bulkhead said while using himself as bait in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
*The way Optimus catches Megatron's sword just after he regains his memory is the exact same as when Megatron catches Optimus' sword when he's trying to exterminate him in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It even makes the same thundering noise.
*Jack never picked up a souvenir for Raf, which Raf asked for in the previous episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Orion Pax, Part 3

2012-04-22T01:14:53Z

97.100.57.102: /* Animation or technical errors */

{{disambig3|Orion Pax}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 29
|prev=Orion Pax, Part 2
|next=Operation Bumblebee, Part 1
|image=OrionPax3 Optimus Decepticon insignia.jpg
|caption=Man, that must have been some party last night!
|title="Orion Pax, Part 3"
|airdate=[[March 3]], [[2012]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack and Arcee undertake a dangerous mission on Cybertron to access Vector Sigma, while Orion begins to rebel against Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:OrionPax3 Jack and Arcee find entrance.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Speak Friend And Enter]]
[[Jack Darby|Jack]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] walk through [[Kaon]], guided by the light of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. They come upon a circular clearing, and the key glows intensely, indicating that they must be close. Suddenly, the ground begins to shake, and cracks appear in the surface. The duo watch in awe as a passageway rises from the ground, its door illuminated the same as the Key. It opens, but just as the two are about to enter, an enormous creature rears up from atop the passage. Arcee's [[Autobot]] symbol catches its eye, and it charges her, Arcee's minute strength doing nothing to injure it. She is quickly incapacitated, and the creature notices Jack, giving temporary pursuit until distracted by Arcee. Jack radios [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and is told that the creature is an [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]], one of many sentries left to guard the dead [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Arcee tells Jack to go, to his surprise, but he realizes the necessity. As he enters, the door closes behind him.

On the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] inquires as to [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion]]'s progress on [[Project Iacon]]. Orion says it's tough work, but Megatron says otherwise, revealing to him that all of his unsanctioned research has been recorded. Orion takes the opportunity to ask about his reported affiliation with the Autobots, but Megatron merely tells him to get back to work. Orion decides that enough is enough, and erases his progress in the archives. Megatron laughs, and shows the clerk that he has been recorded and documented in his pursuits. [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] intrudes, to show Megatron that one of their sentries came online on Cybertron. Orion asks how anything is alive on the planet, but Megatron tells him to continue his work-or be terminated.

[[Image:OrionPax3 Megatron threatens Orion.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Look, Orion! You can see your reflection on my sword!]]
Back on Cybertron, Arcee tangles with the enormous bug, but is no match for its brute strength. Finished with her, the Insecticon turns its attention to the fleshling, and breaks its way into the tunnel.

In the depths of the tunnel, Jack hears a [[Scraplet|familiar noise]], and uproots a metal bar for protection.

Back on the ''Nemesis'', Megatron reviews the reports with Soundwave. He learns of the [[space bridge]]'s activation, its endpoint, and the fact that it is still active. He quickly deduces the Autobots' plan.

In Cybertron's gullet, Jack arrives at the chamber of [[Vector Sigma]]. He proceeds to the center of a circular platform, where he places the Key. The entire chamber begins to transform and glow with the Key's energy, and the enormous supercomputer reveals itself, and begins to transfer its energy to the Key.

On the ''Nemesis'', Orion is hassled by the guards. He appeals to their "good nature", saying that he believes Megatron will use the information he is agglomerating for nefarious purposes. Good-old fashioned police brutality ensues as the helpless clerk is kicked and punched by his guards.

[[Image:OrionPax3 Jack watches download.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
In the chamber, Jack is antsy about the speed of his download. His problems lie beyond his dial-up, however, because behind him, a horde of Scraplets has just taken notice of the ''very'' alive metal before him in the form of the Key to Vector Sigma. Jack is helpless to fend them off, and they begin to snack on the download port. He reports frantically on his position to ground control

In the space bridge chamber, however, the Autobots have bigger fish to fry as Megatron steps out of a [[GroundBridge]] to them. Ratchet vows to protect their charges, and the battle begins, Megatron easily flooring every Autobot, Ratchet and [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] twice.

On Cybertron, Arcee awakes to find a Scraplet chewing on her foot. She blasts it off, and notices the opened passage—and the absent Insecticon. Transforming, she speeds into the passageway.

Jack valiantly smashes the Scraplets as they feed, but is unable to stop their progress towards the Matrix. Another problem presents itself behind him in the form of the Insecticon. It charges towards him, but stops in its tracks, staring at the key. Jack realizes why, and the Scraplets suddenly become a blessing. He formulates an idea, pulling a Scraplet off the Key and pointing it at the aggressor. The Insecticon turns tail as it realizes what's happening, but the Scraplets give chase and latch on, quickly chewing through the giant insect as it falls to its doom, limbs disconnected. The download completes, and Jack retrieves the key. Arcee finally arrives, and the two depart.

The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] guards continue to beat down Orion, and one of them lets slip that it's a privilege to beat the former leader of the Autobots. Orion pleads with them to stop, and in his defense, he accidentally transforms his arms into blasters. Realizing they're in trouble, the guards fire on Pax, but he quickly dispatches them both.

[[Image:OrionPax3 the Matrix reloaded.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reverse Care Bear Stare]]
Arcee and Jack arrive at the space bridge portal, and radio Ratchet about their position. Total silence on the comm tip them off that something is wrong, and, undetected on the other end of the portal, Megatron waits to end the lineage of the Primes. However, he is surprised by the sudden arrival of Orion Pax, who vows that, no matter what his heritage might be, his spark is aligned with the Autobots. He deploys his blades, and charges for Megatron, but is quickly defeated. Megatron says that he has much to learn, and prepares to kill him, but Arcee speeds through the bridge and collides with him, sending them both flying. In the light of the bridge, Jack presents the Key to Orion, who hesitates, but accepts his destiny.

The Key begins to upload the Matrix to its host. Megatron, preoccupied with fighting Arcee, notices this, and desperately runs at him. However, Orion Pax—now ''Optimus Prime'' once again—isn't ready to go down again, and trounces his enemy. A GroundBridge portal opens up, and the Autobots retreat.

At base, the Autobots and humans rejoice at their reunion. Noticing his Decepticon symbol, Optimus asks Ratchet what had happened. He replies that it was their darkest hour, but at every point along the way, Optimus was truly an Autobot at spark.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]] (17)

|c2=
*[[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]] (3)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (9)
*"[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Orion Pax]]" (10)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (1)
*[[June Darby]] (4)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (5)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (6)
*[[William Fowler]] (7)

|c4=
*[[Scraplet]]s (12)
*[[Vector Sigma]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==
"Why does history portray me siding with the Autobot aggressors? And why did Starscream call me a Prime? I must know...who ''am'' I?" 
"You are my clerk."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' questions his identity, while '''Megatron''' responds with a firm establishment of the pecking order.

"That may be true, or yet another deception, but this much I do know: my sympathies lie with the Autobots, and you are ''not'' one of us!"
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' to Megatron, realizing the truth.

"Are you...certain I am worthy?" 
"You have no idea."
:—'''"Orion Pax"''' and '''Jack'''.

"Megatron—''be gone!''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', before delivering the most awesome series of punches in the entire series.

"Optimus, it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this: from every indication your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot."
:—'''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical errors===
*As Megatron notices Jack recharging Optimus's Matrix and lets go of Arcee, his shoulder armour goes through the wall.

===Continuity errors===
*As Optimus jumps through the Autobot GroundBridge, he is suddenly sporting Autobot insignias.

===Continuity notes===
*The scraplets seem a ''lot'' nastier in this episode, chewing so fast as to render a hulking robot limbless in a matter of seconds. This is ''not'' an error, as many factors could contribute, such as the scraplets' inability to find living metal on the barren Cybertron and the ancient state of the Insecticon.
*Optimus still has the broken sword from waaaaay back in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It would seem that the Decepticons neglected to repair it. Or rather, neglected to mention that he had weapons in the first place.
*The Insecticon is the first cybertronian in the Prime cartoon to have a Beast [[alternate mode]].

===Transformers references===
[[Image:OrionPax3 Vector Sigma in scraplet-vision.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Night vision on]]
* Ratchet references ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' by referring to an event as "our darkest hour", as he did before in "[[Darkness Rising, Part 5]]".
* Bulkhead calls Megatron a "bucket head", a reference to [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]].
* The Insecticon's insect mode resembles a large rhinoceros beetle, [[Bombshell (G1)|like]] [[Salvo|several]] [[Barrage (Insecticon)|other]] [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticons]].
* From the Scraplets' point-of-view, the sphere of Vector Sigma is seen in its faceted orb appearance common to many continuities.

===Real-world references===
*Bulkhead's line bemoaning the Scraplets on Cybertron is a paraphrase of the oft-referenced "Why did it have to be snakes?" line from ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''.

===Trivia===
*Look closely at the arena in Kaon: it's the same arena as seen in "[[One Shall Rise, Part 3]]". Ironic that the entrance to Vector Sigma lay beneath Megatron's feet at that moment.
*When Jack coaxes the Scraplets into attacking the Insecticon, he calls it "the main course", echoing what Bulkhead said while using himself as bait in "[[Scrapheap (episode)|Scrapheap]]".
*The way Optimus catches Megatron's sword just after he regains his memory is the exact same as when Megatron catches Optimus' sword when he's trying to exterminate him in "[[One Shall Fall]]". It even makes the same thundering noise.
*Jack never picked up a souvenir for Raf, which Raf asked for in the previous episode.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Stronger, Faster

2012-04-20T01:52:19Z

97.100.57.102: /* Quotes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 22
|prev=T.M.I.
|next=One Shall Fall
|image=StrongerFaster-peekaboo.jpg
|caption=More alive.
|title="Stronger, Faster"
|airdate=[[August 14]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Ratchet 'finalizes' the synthetic energon formula and uses himself as a test subject, but it ends up having some negative side effects.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] checks out a sample of [[Synthetic Energon|synthetic energon]] he's created, watched by [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]. Approving the stability of the energon, Ratchet tries it on a test engine, and it works fine. Raf's keen to try it on [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]], but Ratchet says it'll require more testing first. Meanwhile, the base sensors pick up [[energon]] movement, but before [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] gives the order to roll out, Ratchet warns him about the depleted state of their energon reserves. Once Prime's team departs, Ratchet has the idea to try the synthetic energon on himself. The injection causes him to lose consciousness, and Raf rouses him from lying on the floor shortly afterward. The synthetic energon appears to be a success, giving him more fuel efficiency and better motor functions.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-surrounded.jpg|left|thumb|300px|I need you to hurry up now, 'cause I can't wait much longer.]]

Meanwhile Prime's team chases [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] through an icy canyon. The Decepticons aren't in any hurry to bridge out, as they're trying to "help" the [[Autobot]]s run out of energon. Some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s flying overhead blast the sheer sides of canyon, causing a rock fall that blocks off the Autobots' path. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] manages to drive over it in her motorcycle mode, despite Prime's warnings, and races after the two Decepticons, only to be hit by missiles from the Vehicons. She is swiftly surrounded by Decepticons, and things look grim until Ratchet comes flying through the GroundBridge and begins laying into them with gusto. Knock Out and Breakdown assume that the Ratchet's a new Autobot, but are forced to retreat as Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and Bumblebee come into view, firing at them. Ratchet finishes off the last of the Vehicons, to stunned looks from his teammates.

Back at base, Ratchet reveals his secret to the other Autobots, but Optimus doesn't think it's a good idea to test the synthetic energon on Autobots, and he underlines the importance of Ratchet's job as medic. Some time later, Ratchet's retelling his fight to Bulkhead, and in demonstrating a move, manages to throw his fellow Autobot through a nearby wall. The other Autobots are startled at his new personality. Ratchet goes and injects more of the synthetic energon into himself. When the sensors light up once more, Prime prepares to roll out again, but Ratchet volunteers to go along.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-crouchbehindrock.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Work it make it do it makes us.]]

As they head through a mountainous area, Ratchet moves ninja-style at the front of the team. They soon find some Vehicons and a [[Decepticon Miner|miner]] drilling into a rock face, and Ratchet immediately moves in. When the miner makes a run for it, Ratchet gives chase and knocks him down with a well-thrown rock. The other Autobots find Ratchet forcibly interrogating the miner with his blowtorch. Optimus stops him from finishing off the prisoner and begins to lecture him on doing harm where none is necessary, but Ratchet is agitated, believing they should be more proactive. As the argument heats up, Ratchet even manages to antagonize Arcee by bringing up [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]], and calls Prime out for his many missed opportunities to kill [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]. Prime decides to confine Ratchet to base. Though Ratchet appears to go calmly through the GroundBridge, moments later, he charges back out, flattening Bulkhead and racing off. Prime's team returns to base, but is unable to get a fix on Ratchet's signal.

In a Decepticon energon mine, Breakdown is chatting with a miner when Ratchet walks into the cavern. Elsewhere, Megatron shouts at Knock Out for not finding a new energon source, but they're interrupted by Ratchet dropping Breakdown on the floor. Megatron scoffs at the newcomer, until a punch from Ratchet sends him flying. However, Megatron is made of sterner stuff, and he gives Ratchet a savage injury, telling Knock Out to take a sample of the resultant leaking fluids so they can find out how Ratchet got so amped up.

[[Image:StrongerFaster-KnockOutMegatronRatchet.jpg|left|thumb|300px|That that that that that don't kill me, can only make me stronger.]]

On the bright side, as the synthetic energon drains out, Ratchet is rendered visible to the sensors in the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]], and Optimus, Arcee and Bulkhead use the GroundBridge to attack the mine.

Knock Out completes taking his sample and moves in to finish Ratchet off with his circular saw. When the sound of approaching fighting distracts the Decepticon, Ratchet takes the opportunity to fight back, resulting in Knock Out's saw getting stuck in the wall. Ratchet promptly grabs the synthetic energon sample and smashes it. Knock Out is outraged, but once more has to retreat as the other Autobots arrive.

Ratchet is hooked up to a drip back at base, and he apologizes for his behavior. Optimus points out the new supply of energon they got from the mine, and Ratchet promises to do more testing on the synthetic stuff before using it on Autobots again. Optimus is just thankful they destroyed Knock Out's sample, unaware of the fact that back at the mine, Knock Out has found a single drop of synthetic energon.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (4)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] (8) (flashback)
|c2=
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (7)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (9)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Decepticon Miner]] (11)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (2)

}}

==Quotes==
"HOOAAH!"
:—'''Ratchet''' gets a new catchphrase. He needed that.

'''Ratchet:''' (''clicks as he walks by'') How's it hummin'? 
'''Arcee:''' ...Did he just? 
'''Bulkhead:''' Stronger, faster, studlier.
:—Yeah, he did.

"It's all right! I'm an emergency vehicle!"
:—'''Ratchet''', engaging the Decepticons.

'''Megatron:''' (''speaking to Knock Out'') That is your fearsome new adversary? (''Chuckles'') He's Optimus Prime's medic! 
'''Ratchet:''' (''speaking to Megatron'') Oh no, '''Megatron''', I am your doctor of doom! 

"Yeah, she's kinda domineering and the extra arms are weird, but... I find myself intrigued by her."
:—'''Breakdown''' chats to a Vehicon about his crush on [[Airachnid]]. Kinda ironic, considering what happens to him [[Crossfire | later...]]

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*After Arcee continues to chase down Knock Out and Breakdown, air-support arrives. However, when they shoot Arcee, Knock Out and Breakdown have vanished from in front of her. Furthermore, when the other Autobots finally climb over the rock pile to help Arcee, she is only a few yards from the pile, whereas she should be several miles away.
*Bumblebee is shown returning with the other Autobots despite staying at base to operate the GroundBridge.
*The sample of synthetic energon Knock Out was holding was only about half full, but when Ratchet picked it up, it was completely full.
*Just before destroying the cylinder of synthetic energon, Ratchet's wound is not shown to be leaking. Mere moments after he's hit the ground, another puddle of energon has formed beneath him.
*Breakdown is knocked out by Ratchet just before he engages Megatron. When the Autobots show up at the end, however, Breakdown has vanished and he isn't shown fleeing with Knock Out.

===Other errors===
*Ratchet jumps onto and leaps off of a tree branch which seems totally capable of supporting all the weight of an SUV landing on top of it with all that force, then leaping off. Not so much as a wood chip or crack to be seen - though it does creak audibly.
*When Ratchet first injects himself, he drops the glass cylinder and it shatters on the ground. Later, when Knockout collects a sample of the synthetic energon in a nearly identical cylinder, and Ratchet kicks it out of his hands, the cylinder flies ''across the entire room'' and lands without breaking. Then Ratchet throws it against a rock wall in the same room and it breaks instantly.
*When Arcee is hurt, she obviously couldn't move her leg, but when she walks through the GroundBridge she is magically healed.

===Continuity notes===
* The synthetic energon created in the episode is derived from the formula transcribed by Bulkhead in [[T.M.I.|the previous episode]].
* Ratchet's description of the Autobots having fought numerous battles recently is accompanied by flashbacks to various battles from the "[[Darkness Rising]]" five-part pilot among others, including "[[Operation: Breakdown]]" and "[[Partners]]".
* The engine Ratchet uses to test the synthetic energon is a larger version of the device Ratchet built for [[Jack Darby|Jack's]] science project in "[[Masters & Students]]". Thankfully, it doesn't flip out like Jack's did.
* Knock Out confuses Ratchet for a "new" Autobot. Which makes sense, since he hasn't encountered him before. Ratchet ''was'' with the other Autobots when they charged in to rescue Bulkhead from Starscream and Breakdown in "[[Operation: Breakdown]]", but it's entirely possible that Breakdown simply didn't see him, since he was focused on escaping and missing an eye at the time.

===Real-world references===
* Given that the plot centres on the idea of artificial enhancement, this episode's title is almost certainly a reference to the opening of the 1974 ''[[wikipedia:The Six Million Dollar Man|Six Million Dollar Man]]'' series, which promised a cybernetic secret agent who was "Better, stronger, faster."
** That said, there's also the possibility it could be a reference to the original [[Action Master]]s [[commercial/Generation 1#1990|commercial]], in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] described the new breed of Transformer as "Stronger, faster, more alive!"
** And we guess we wouldn't ''totally'' rule out the notion that it refers to ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' director/producer [[Wikipedia:George Lucas|George Lucas]]'s desire for his actors to be "Stronger, faster— more intense!", or Daft Punk's 2009 [[Wikipedia:Grammy|Grammy]] winning song ''Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger''.
* It's also the same plot as about a billion after-school specials on the dangers of drugs.
* Ratchet referred to himself as Megatron's "[[Doctor Doom|Doctor of Doom]]." This goes without saying.
* Ratchet dabbling with a green liquid 'enhancement' is reminiscent of his voice actor, [[Jeffrey Combs]] in ''Re-Animator''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gegen die Vorschrift'''" ("Against the Rules")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 17|17 February]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Erősebb, gyorsabb'''" ("Stronger, Faster")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 7|7 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Più forte, più veloce'''" ("Stronger, Faster")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 10|10 December]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hapseong Eneojon'''" (합성 에너존, "Synthetic Energon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 8|8 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 3|3 January]] [[2012]]

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 2|2 April]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*The episode was first broadcast on Canada's Teletoon channel. It later first aired in the United States on [[September 17]], [[2011]].
*When Ratchet transforms to attack the Decepticon miners, his [[license plate]] reads "'''449·EPQ'''".
*This was the last stand-alone episode until "[[Loose Cannons]]" in Season 2. It was followed by a seven-part story arc, a two-parter, and massive delays between episode airings.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

One Shall Rise, Part 3

2012-04-20T01:31:24Z

97.100.57.102: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 26
|prev=One Shall Rise, Part 2
|next=Orion Pax, Part 1
|image=OneShallRise3-together.jpg
|caption=Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends?
|title="One Shall Rise, Part 3"
|airdate=[[October 15]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''Jack learns more about Optimus Prime's history on Cybertron while the Autobots continue their battle at the Earth's core.'''

==Synopsis==

As he leads the [[Autobot]]s further toward [[Earth]]'s core, [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is again seized by a vision of the planet exploding. He notes how [[Unicron]]'s strength grows ever greater and continues on. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] both voice their mistrust of the [[Decepticon]] leader, though they have no choice but to follow him. Unbeknownst to them, several [[Unicron's antibodies|strange, mechanical creatures]] observe the intruders into their dark domain.

Back at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] and the [[human]]s watch a report that outlines how the planet's chaotic weather continues to spiral out of control. Despite [[June Darby|June]]'s efforts to lighten the mood, [[William Fowler|Fowler]] insists that something must be done—even if it means contacting his associates at the [[Pentagon]]. Fowler makes known his uneasiness about teaming up with Megatron, but Ratchet surprises the humans by explaining how such a situation has happened before. Ratchet relates how Optimus Prime and Megatron were once close friends, in the twilight hours of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Golden Age]].

[[Image:OneShallRise3-corresponding.jpg|left|thumb|250px|''Once, I called you "Brother".'' 
''Once, I thought the chance to make you laugh'' 
''Was all I ever wanted...'' 
''And even now,'' 
''I wish that [[Primus|God]] had chose another.'' 
''Serving as your foe on His behalf'' 
''Is the last thing that I wanted...!'']]
''The great Autobot leader was once named Orion Pax, a simple clerk in the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] Hall of Records. Learning of Cybertron's past, Orion grew concerned about the corruption affecting high places and the [[Caste system|state of inequity]] in society. He became inspired by the revolutionary words of Megatronus, a gladiator who took his name from [[The Fallen|one]] of the [[Thirteen|thirteen original Primes]]. Megatronus gained a loyal following through his radical and innovative actions, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] chief among their number. Over time, Megatronus became a mentor figure to Orion Pax and chose to shorten his name as he left the gladiatorial arena for the political one. Megatron appeared before the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]], voicing his ideas for shaping a new Cybertron by violent means, and demanded to be named the next [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. Orion protested against Megatron's suggestions before the Council, moving their [[spark]]s and minds as he unknowingly revealed himself to be the one worthy of the title. Megatron severed his ties to Orion and the Council, taking his "Decepticon" followers to begin the [[Great War (Prime)|war]] that consumed Cybertron and vowing to claim the legendary [[Matrix of Leadership]] for himself. Hoping to reverse the damage that had poisoned the planet, Orion journeyed to Cybertron's [[Core]], where he found himself before the spark of [[Primus]], the creator of all [[Cybertronians]]. Primus sensed the purity of Orion's own spark and bestowed upon him the legendary Matrix, transforming him into Optimus Prime.''

In the present, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] question Optimus's plan to give the Matrix to the Earth's core, asking what could possibly stop Megatron from attempting to claim it for himself now. Ratchet darkly replies that Megatron only intends to save the Earth so that he may conquer it at a later date.

As they near Unicron's spark, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] begins to feel the draining effects of the [[Dark Energon]]. [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and Arcee help him a short way across the catwalks, but Megatron soon comes to a halt ahead with the realization that Unicron is preparing to expel them. A huge number of Unicron's drones suddenly swarm into view, surrounding Megatron and the Autobots. They engage the drones in fierce battle, blasting and slashing through their attackers. Arcee is knocked to a lower level, not long before the Dark Energon clouds Bulkhead's vision. He stumbles from the catwalk but manages to grab hold of the edge, and is seized by Bumblebee before he can tumble to his death. Optimus and Megatron fight back-to-back, managing to hold their own against the drones in a spectacular display of effective—if uneasy—teamwork. Bumblebee struggles to hold onto Bulkhead, who insists that the scout lets him go. Optimus seizes Bulkhead just as Bumblebee loses his grip, and hauls him up to safety. As the group quickly becomes overwhelmed, Arcee hitches a ride on one of the drones to catch up with the others and beat a swift retreat with them.

[[Image:OneShallRise3-SoundwaveAirachnid.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Maybe Megatron should stop having seconds-in-command and just skip straight to thirds-in-command.]]
Aboard the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]], [[Airachnid]] outlines the questionable nature of their leader's recent behavior. [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] asks whether she is suggesting that they abandon Lord Megatron. Airachnid explains how Megatron's undetectable signal implies that he is either offline or at the mercy of Unicron—neither scenario being in the best interests of the Decepticons. She suggests an exodus from Earth, and receives no protests from the surrounding [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]. However, her order to retreat to [[Regulon Four]] is denied by Soundwave, who silently challenges her authority. When he refuses her demand to step aside, she leaps to attack him. Soundwave easily blocks every one of her blows, before lifting her clean into the air. He hurls her back, deploying [[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] to stun Airachnid in a sudden sneak attack. Pinned under Soundwave's foot, much to Knock Out's amusement, Airachnid relinquishes command to the intelligence officer.

Back in the Autobot base, Ratchet notes he has lost the others' communication links and life signals, most likely caused by interference from the electromagnetic anomalies. Miko asks how they are supposed to know when the others are ready for pickup if contact is impossible, but Ratchet is prevented from responding by the sound of Jack tapping the [[GroundBridge]] key against a railing. Ratchet reveals that the object is actually the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]—one of Cybertron's most precious relics. Ratchet then realizes that Optimus entrusted the key to Jack because he did not plan on returning from the planet's core.

Megatron is gripped by yet another painful vision of Unicron whilst he and the Autobots are backed into an enclosed chamber by the attacking drones. Unicron orders him to destroy Optimus. Instead, Megatron saves the Autobot leader by blasting an oncoming drone. He then indicates a closed doorway nearby, stating that Unicron's spark lies just beyond. He explains that, to pass through, they must fool Unicron into believing that they pose no danger, and moves his Dark Energon-infused chest up to the door. It opens in response, and Optimus orders the others to remain outside and provide cover fire while he and Megatron advance.

The passageway beyond leads directly into Unicron's spark chamber, where Optimus prepares to expose the Matrix within his chest. Unicron's spark reacts, striking both invaders with its energy. Unicron again orders Megatron to kill Optimus, forcing him to unsheathe his blade and approach the weakened Prime. Megatron struggles against him, declaring himself to be under the command of no-one. His resistance provokes only an onslaught of pain and a furious reaction from the Chaos Bringer.

The volcano outside erupts violently, and the ground enclosing the Autobot base begins to quake. Ratchet tells the humans to take cover, and he moves to shield them from falling debris.

[[Image:OneShallRise3-unleash.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Care Bear Stare!]]
Unicron's spark adopts the appearance of a face as Megatron is seemingly freed from his control. Optimus calls upon the power of the Matrix of Leadership, but hesitates as Unicron possesses Megatron's body in a veil of purple flame and declares his own invincibility. Optimus cuts short Unicron's desire to pull the Earth into chaos, and he rises to his feet as he becomes surrounded by a brilliant blue light. Optimus fires the power of the Matrix from his chest directly into Unicron's spark, the resulting wave of energy knocking Megatron back off his feet. His energy drained, Optimus falls to his knees, and Unicron's spark emits a final wail of pain before vanishing into oblivion.

The drones outside suddenly fall from the air, lifeless. The volcano, along with all of the Earth's other natural phenomena, subside back to normality. Ratchet and the humans watch as the monitors flicker online, rejoicing as their team's life signals are all safely re-established. Aboard the Nemesis, however, Soundwave also detects the signature of the Decepticon leader.

[[Image:OneShallRise3-hug.jpg|right|thumb|300px|"You smell like my mom." "I smell like ''his'' mom!"]]
Megatron rights himself in Unicron's now-empty spark chamber, inspecting Optimus's steaming body for a moment before unsheathing his blade. Optimus gazes blearily up at the approaching Decepticon, then addresses him as "Megatronus" and asks where they are. Surprised, Megatron retracts his weapon and helps the Autobot to his feet. Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee soon burst through the wall to assist, but Optimus does not recognise them. A GroundBridge suddenly opens nearby; Megatron claims that the Autobots are their sworn enemies and provides cover fire as Optimus heads for the vortex. Optimus blankly meets Bumblebee's devastated gaze for a split second before disappearing through the Bridge. Megatron follows, leaving the shocked Autobots alone in the empty chamber.

[[Image:Megatroncamehome.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Honey, I'm home!]]

Ratchet GroundBridges the team back to base, but is anxious to see that Optimus is not with them. They explain that Optimus is still alive, but did not even know his own name. Ratchet realizes that surrendering the Matrix of Leadership caused their leader to lose not only the wisdom of the Primes, but his own memories as well.

Knock Out and the other Decepticons, minus Airachnid, welcome Megatron back aboard the Nemesis. Megatron steps aside to allow Optimus through, and [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] automatically moves to attack. Megatron halts him, insisting that this is no way to treat a "long-lost comrade", and declares that Orion Pax is one of them.

To be continued…

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (9)
*[[Autobot High Council|High Council]] (14–16)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Airachnid]] (18)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (19)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (20)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (21)
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] (22)

|c3=
*[[June Darby]] (7)
*[[William Fowler]] (8)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (10)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (12)

|c4=
*[[Unicron]] (4)
*[[Core]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Raf:''' Megatron was an Autobot? 
'''Miko:''' Optimus was a 'Con?! 
'''Ratchet:''' No, on either count.
:—The kids get confused while Ratchet gets ready to tell a tale.

"You have something to say, Soundwave?"
:—'''Airachnid''' asking a rather ironic question to the silent bot.

"Watch out for the quiet ones…"
:—'''Knock Out''' after witnessing Soundwave "veto" Airachnid's motion to leave Earth.

"'''''Megatron! Destroy the Prime! I command you!'''''" 
"Megatron is commanded by NO ONE!"
:—'''Unicron''' and '''Megatron'''. [[The Transformers: The Movie|Déjà vu.]]

"Where are we, Megatronus?" 
"Don't you remember, old friend?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron''' with an unexpected twist.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*All of the natural disasters around the world abruptly stop when Unicron is beaten. While it might make sense for the earthquakes to stop, tidal waves wouldn't just suddenly fall apart. Forward momentum doesn't just vanish. Similar problems occur with the tornadoes dissipating and the sky clearing.
*At the Earth's core, the Autobots should experience very little gravity, as the total mass of Earth would be reasonably equally distributed around them and therefore the pull of gravity would be cancelled out.
*Despite entering the tunnel to Unicron's spark chamber only a few seconds before Optimus, Megatron still manages a very hefty lead. By the time Optimus navigates the tunnel that leads into the spark chamber, Megatron is already inside, standing in front of Unicron's spark. However, it is possible that he might of simply flew the whole way and left Optimus in the dust.
*After defeating Unicron, both Megatron and Optimus are knocked unconscious: Megatron on his back and Optimus on the ground facing away from the other. However, when we see them wake up later, Megatron is on his stomach and Optimus is facing him now.

===Continuity errors===
*Ratchet's statement that Megatron started the war after not being made Prime contradicts the history given in [[Darkness Rising, Part 1]], where Megatron is said to have split from Optimus ''during'' the war. Optimus could have believed that the war began with the initial movement of Megatronus, or Ratchet could be bringing continuity closer to ''Exodus''.
*Bulkhead is the only Autobot visibly affected by the Dark Energon.

===Continuity notes===
*The entire backstory given by Ratchet is an adaptation of the first half of ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''. Plot elements were changed, such as Orion Pax becoming Optimus when he found the Matrix of Leadership, as opposed to when he was assigned the position by the Cybertron High Council.
*Optimus's blade is still broken after the episode "[[One Shall Fall]]".

===Transformers references===
*Optimus Prime was originally known as Orion Pax, much like [[Optimus Prime (G1)|his namesake]] in the episode "[[War Dawn]]",
*The [[Key to Vector Sigma]] first appeared in ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' episode "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]" and later featured prominently in the first season of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
*Optimus calls upon the Matrix to "[[Darkest hour|light our darkest hour]]".
*For once, Optimus is the one who gets to say he "still functions", rather than Megatron.
*Airachnid wishes to "set course for [[Regulon IV]]".
*Unicron's mind-control on Megatron to destroy Optimus Prime is similar to how Unicron kept torturing [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] into destroying [[Hot Rod (G1)| Hot Rod]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Prophezeiung erfüllt sich, Teil 3'''" ("The Prophecy Fulfilled, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 2|2 March]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Egyikünk állva marad, 3. rész'''" ("One of Us Remains Standing, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 13|13 February]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il risveglio - Terza parte'''" ("The Awakening - Part Three")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 24|24 December]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimeosu ui Gwageo'''" (옵티머스의 과거, "Optimus's Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 22|22 November]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 9|9 January]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*This episode aired in Singapore on [[October 4]], 2011, again preceding its American showing.
*Jack is clearly taking very good care of that Key Optimus gave him...by idly tapping it against a railing.
*This is the first time we've seen Soundwave "get his hands dirty". With how easily he trounces Airachnid, that's probably a good thing for the Autobots.
*According to the flashbacks, Megatron's optics are blue, his fingers, eyebrows, and shoulders less pointy, and his feet are also rather flat, until he is rejected by the Council and storms out angrily, obtaining the sharp teeth and red eyes.
*Fowler hugs June. Make of that what you will.
*Once more, the Thirteen Original Primes make an appearance, this time as statue busts in the walls of the High Council's chamber.
*Unlike all other Autobots thus far in the cartoon, Optimus has a distinct Cybertronian robot form, with different kibble, in the flashbacks. This is also true of Soundwave to an extent-we only see one silhouette, but his limbs are a fair bit bulkier than his modern form.
*A behind-scenes Internet video released by The Hub featured the voice actors recording the "Megatron was an Autobot? Optimus was a 'Con?" exchange, leading many (surprised) fans to believe this was truly the case.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Transformers (Armada PS2)

2012-04-09T22:45:14Z

97.100.57.102: /* Errors */

{{disambig3.5|the English PlayStation 2 game|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game|The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}
{{Nav-armada}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers''
|image=TF atari.jpg
|caption=[[The Transformers (PS2)|That]]'s not a game. ''shhhhhlink'' '''This''' is a game!
|developer=[[Melbourne House]]
|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]
|date=[[April 7]], 2004 (EU) [[April 11]], 2004 (NA)
|platform=PlayStation 2
|ratings=ESRB: T
}}
'''''Transformers''''' is a 2004 video game for Sony's PlayStation 2, developed by the Australian-based [[Melbourne House]], and published by [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]. It is based on the ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' series, though it does not follow any pre-established storyline. It was released in the United States on [[April 11]], [[2004]], and in the European market on [[April 7]] of the same year. In September 2005, Atari released a "Director's Cut" of the game exclusively in the UK. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary".

==Gameplay and cast==
In the game, players take control of one of three [[Autobot|Autobots]] ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] or [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]) to battle [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his vast army of [[Decepticlone]]s over the recently-discovered [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] on [[Earth]].

Decepticons who appear in the game include Megatron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. The Mini-Cons [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] join their toy-partners after the player completes the first level, acting as support fighters. The Decepticons' Mini-Con partners [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] do not appear as individuals, but are seen attached to their partners. The final boss of the game is [[Unicron]] in planet mode; a colossal [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] in "moon" mode can be seen attached to him.

As well as allowing players to transform into vehicles whenever they wish, the game uses Mini-Con collecting as a way to acquire new weapons and abilities, introducing multiple new (non-toy) Mini-Con characters. Some combinations of Mini-Cons also have additional synergistic effects, such as faster weapon recharging or a larger life meter. In addition, the main partner Mini-Cons follow the player, shooting at enemies. The player can also "Powerlinx" with their partner Mini-Con, allowing for a Max Payne-style "bullet time" mode, though this drains the player's health.

As well as Mini-Cons, players collect [[Data-Con|Data-Cons]] that unlock bonus features in the game's main menu, ranging from game artwork (development sketches, renders, and the like), toy instructions, toy prototype photos, the toy pack-in mini-comics, and five previously-unavailable-elsewhere [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]-era PSAs (in the same style as the old [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] cartoon PSAs).

Every level in the game is a very large, detailed environment which allows free exploration rather than short, linear maps. Players can leave levels without completing them through warp gates, and return to any previously-played level to discover more areas using their newly collected Mini-Cons. The game engine used is unknown, but appears to use technology similar to that of Croteam's Serious Engine to allow large, detailed outdoor levels with no slowdown. One part of the game is the fact that if one is hit hard enough, the character will be blown back and crumple, rag-doll-style.

The reasoning behind the inclusion of a small cast of playable characters was a simple matter of gameplay logistics. By having only three distinctly different characters, the game provides a different experience to players and forces them to adjust their strategy according to whomever they chose. A larger roster of characters would have made it difficult for Melbourne House to create different styles of gameplay, especially considering most of the Armada Autobots were cars and other land vehicles. The noticeable exclusion of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was down to the fact his flight capability would negate much of the challenge in exploring each level whilst using different Mini-Con loadouts.

==Mini-Cons==
{{collist|4|
* [[Aftershock (Armada) | Aftershock]]
* [[Airburst]]
* [[Aurora]]
* [[Buildup]]
* [[Bulletproof]]
* [[Claymore]]
* [[Comeback]]
* [[Corona]]
* [[Covert]]
* [[Deflector]]
* [[Discord]]
* [[Failsafe]]
* [[Firefight]]
* [[Flashbang]]
* [[Fullspeed]]
* [[Hailstorm (Armada) | Hailstorm]]
* [[Hawkeye]]
* [[Highgear]]
* [[Highjump (Armada) | Highjump]]
* [[Jumpstart]]
* [[Kickback (Armada) | Kickback]]
* [[Knockdown (Armada) | Knockdown]]
* [[Lock-On]]
* [[Lookout]]
* [[Overwatch]]
* [[Pressurepoint]]
* [[Rangefinder]]
* [[Safeguard (Armada) | Safeguard]]
* [[Shepherd]]
* [[Shieldwall]]
* [[Shockpunch]]
* [[Skirmish]]
* [[Slapshot]]
* [[Slipstream (Armada) | Slipstream]]
* [[Smackdown]]
* [[Sparkjump]]
* [[Stronghold]]
* [[Tractor]]
* [[Twister]]
* [[Watchdog (Armada) | Watchdog]]
}}

==Voice actors==
*[[Garry Chalk]] as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Daran Norris]] as [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dublin James]] as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]
*[[Matt Hetherington]] as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]
*[[Matthew King]] as [[Unicron]]

==Screenshots==
<gallery>
Image: Optimus_Truck_Form_Crash_Enemies.jpg|Sometimes, vehicles are the most effective weapon.
Image: Optimus_Prime_Destroyed_Bunker_Transformers_Screenshot.jpg|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] destroyed one of the Decepticon Bunker in the Pacific Island.
Image: Transformers_2004_Video_Game_Slipstream_Released.jpg|"Finally, the egg cracks open!"
Image: Optimus_Prime_Ragdoll_Effect.jpg|Ouch.
Image: Transformers_2004_Tidal_Wave.jpg|Your biggest nightmare.. Literally.
Image: Tidal_Wave_Snipe_Head.jpg|GIVE ME YOUR FACE!
Image: Red_Alert_Deep_Amazon.jpg|Is that ship carrying.. Sun? [[The Fallen|It has claimed Earth's Sun!?]]
Image: Autobots_HQ_Iacon_City_Gate.jpg|"Home, finally!" The Autobots have been homesick.
Image: Mini_Con_Forming_Matrix_Cannon.jpg|All the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] merge, to form the [[Matrix Cannon]].
Image: Matrix_Cannon_Versus_Unicron.jpg|So, this did not exist in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|past]], or no one knows? Things can go easier!
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Core.jpg‎|So, this is what a planet-eater's stomach looks like.
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Destroyed.jpg|[[Unicron]]'s final moment.
Image: Transformers_2004_Cybertron_Ending.jpg|[['Til all are one|'Til All Are One!]]
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
Melbourne House's [[Gavin Parker]] composed much of the in-game music while [[Ric Formosa]] provided the music for the cinematic sequences. American band [[Dropbox]] and Australian band [[Regurgitator]] were recruited to create their versions of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]] to promote the game, while funk band [[The Brown Hornet]] sung over the end credits.

===Tracks===
*1. Amazon Theme 1
*2. Amazon Theme 2
*3. Antarctica Theme
*4. Starscream Fight Theme 1
*5. Deep Amazon Theme 1
*6. Deep Amazon Theme 2
*7. Cyclonus Fight Theme (by Regurgitator)
*8. Mid-Atlantic Theme
*9. Tidal Wave Fight Theme
*10. Alaska Theme 1
*11. Alaska Theme 2
*12. Starship Theme 1
*13. Starship Theme 2
*14. Starscream Fight Theme 2
*15 Pacific Island Theme
*15. Megatron Fight Theme
*13. Cybertron 1
*14. Cybertron 2

===Themes===
*1. ''Transformers: Armada'' television theme
*2. ''Transformers'' theme 1 arranged by Ric Formosa
*3. ''Transformers'' theme 2 by Dropbox
*4. ''Transformers'' theme 3 by The Brown Hornet
*5. ''Transformers'' theme 4 by Regurgitator
*6. ''Wishbone'' by Dropbox

==Impressions & sales==
The game was well-received by critics and fans alike, and at the time was often considered to be the best of all ''Transformers'' video games, despite this being damning with faint praise. Some review sites and magazines [[Ruined FOREVER|seemed to reject the game outright]] for [[GEEWUN|not being based]] on the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series, though some seemed to begrudgingly accept it due to the gameplay and graphic flair.

The most common actual ''gameplay-related'' complaints are the disappointingly small roster of characters, sometimes stiff control, high difficulty level (not born of bad design, the game is just set too ''tough''), and a lack of a "directional" guide resulting in players getting lost in the vast environments.

''Transformers'' was the #7 top-selling game across all consoles for the month of May 2004... and that's only because the incredibly popular "Red Dead Revolver" was on two different consoles. On the Playstation 2 alone, ''Transformers'' ranked #6. It sold over 600,000 copies by the time the "Directors Cut" was released, although the total was ultimately less than what Atari had hoped for.

In 2010, ''Transformers'' was ranked #83 in the Top 100 Playstation 2 Games list by IGN. <ref>[http://www.ign.com/top-ps2-games/83 Transformers - #83 Top PS2 Games - IGN]</ref>

==Sequel status==
Melbourne House had begun work on a sequel based in part upon the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series. However, according to a member of the Melbourne House team, the ''Cybertron'' game was a few months into development but Atari moved the studio onto a different project, effectively nixing the sequel.

Dang.

==Errors==
* Somehow Starscream is able to use his wing-sword with both wings still attached.
* Optimus (Or whichever Autobot you're currenty playing as) can orbit Cybertron several times over at a surprisingy fast rate, even though it's a gigantic planet.
* Many of Cybertron's buidings, and the giant Autobot insignia, are somehow easily visible from orbit.
* For reasons unknown, Optimus, Red Alert, and Hotshot are the only citizens of Iacon. Maybe they're just not good neighbors.
* A rare glitch sometimes occurs at Megatron's death, in which when he falls down, his tank barrol sticks out of...[[Gearbox | an unusual location on his body]].

==Notes==
[[Image:Mini-con drinks.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Drunk with power]]
* At the game's launch party, Atari's venue served several [[Mini-Con Madness|signature drinks]] named for the game-exclusive Mini-Cons.
* One of the game's working titles was ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''. Another one, used in pack-in [[catalog]]s during the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' line, was ''Transformers Armada: Battle for Energon''.
* Development sketches unlocked in the game show that several characters were ultimately dropped from the original plans. [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] was to be a level-boss in the caves, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]'s partner Mini-Con [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] was going to harass players before they could board the Decepticon battleship.
* These same sketches also show that the levels Amazon and Deep Amazon were a single level at one stage, as were Antarctic, Alaska and Starship, and Pacific Island and Mid Atlantic. This is why the latter levels start in areas very similar to the ends of the preceding ones; for example, Amazon ends with a hike up a mountain, while Deep Amazon begins with a trip ''down'' the side of a mountain.
* It is possible to get an alternate 'Bad Ending'. This ending can be achieved if Cybertron's health meter gets to zero. The full motion video of this ending will be unlocked (as well in the gallery), showing Cybertron's destruction by [[Unicron]].
*At the end credits of the game, Tidal Wave is doing push-ups while the Decepticlones are all doing jumping jacks and side-bends. So that's how Decepticons keep in shape.
*Much of the dialog used in cutscenes is recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In the 'Recruit' difficulty, you need to collect 30 Mini-Cons to form the Matrix Cannon, 35 in the 'Veteran' difficulty, and 40 in the 'Commander' difficulty.. Which means all of them. All hail the cheats.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atari.com/transformers/ Official ''Transformers'' game page at Atari.com]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6101516.html?q=chartspot%202004 ''Transformers'' game rankings for May 2004 at Gamespot]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-ps2-soundtrack-news/2441/ News post from Seibertron.com for Atari's announcement of Regurgitator's involvement]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Armada media]]
[[Category:Video games]]

Transformers (Armada PS2)

2012-04-09T22:44:29Z

97.100.57.102: /* Errors */

{{disambig3.5|the English PlayStation 2 game|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game|The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}
{{Nav-armada}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers''
|image=TF atari.jpg
|caption=[[The Transformers (PS2)|That]]'s not a game. ''shhhhhlink'' '''This''' is a game!
|developer=[[Melbourne House]]
|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]
|date=[[April 7]], 2004 (EU) [[April 11]], 2004 (NA)
|platform=PlayStation 2
|ratings=ESRB: T
}}
'''''Transformers''''' is a 2004 video game for Sony's PlayStation 2, developed by the Australian-based [[Melbourne House]], and published by [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]. It is based on the ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' series, though it does not follow any pre-established storyline. It was released in the United States on [[April 11]], [[2004]], and in the European market on [[April 7]] of the same year. In September 2005, Atari released a "Director's Cut" of the game exclusively in the UK. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary".

==Gameplay and cast==
In the game, players take control of one of three [[Autobot|Autobots]] ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] or [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]) to battle [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his vast army of [[Decepticlone]]s over the recently-discovered [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] on [[Earth]].

Decepticons who appear in the game include Megatron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. The Mini-Cons [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] join their toy-partners after the player completes the first level, acting as support fighters. The Decepticons' Mini-Con partners [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] do not appear as individuals, but are seen attached to their partners. The final boss of the game is [[Unicron]] in planet mode; a colossal [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] in "moon" mode can be seen attached to him.

As well as allowing players to transform into vehicles whenever they wish, the game uses Mini-Con collecting as a way to acquire new weapons and abilities, introducing multiple new (non-toy) Mini-Con characters. Some combinations of Mini-Cons also have additional synergistic effects, such as faster weapon recharging or a larger life meter. In addition, the main partner Mini-Cons follow the player, shooting at enemies. The player can also "Powerlinx" with their partner Mini-Con, allowing for a Max Payne-style "bullet time" mode, though this drains the player's health.

As well as Mini-Cons, players collect [[Data-Con|Data-Cons]] that unlock bonus features in the game's main menu, ranging from game artwork (development sketches, renders, and the like), toy instructions, toy prototype photos, the toy pack-in mini-comics, and five previously-unavailable-elsewhere [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]-era PSAs (in the same style as the old [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] cartoon PSAs).

Every level in the game is a very large, detailed environment which allows free exploration rather than short, linear maps. Players can leave levels without completing them through warp gates, and return to any previously-played level to discover more areas using their newly collected Mini-Cons. The game engine used is unknown, but appears to use technology similar to that of Croteam's Serious Engine to allow large, detailed outdoor levels with no slowdown. One part of the game is the fact that if one is hit hard enough, the character will be blown back and crumple, rag-doll-style.

The reasoning behind the inclusion of a small cast of playable characters was a simple matter of gameplay logistics. By having only three distinctly different characters, the game provides a different experience to players and forces them to adjust their strategy according to whomever they chose. A larger roster of characters would have made it difficult for Melbourne House to create different styles of gameplay, especially considering most of the Armada Autobots were cars and other land vehicles. The noticeable exclusion of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was down to the fact his flight capability would negate much of the challenge in exploring each level whilst using different Mini-Con loadouts.

==Mini-Cons==
{{collist|4|
* [[Aftershock (Armada) | Aftershock]]
* [[Airburst]]
* [[Aurora]]
* [[Buildup]]
* [[Bulletproof]]
* [[Claymore]]
* [[Comeback]]
* [[Corona]]
* [[Covert]]
* [[Deflector]]
* [[Discord]]
* [[Failsafe]]
* [[Firefight]]
* [[Flashbang]]
* [[Fullspeed]]
* [[Hailstorm (Armada) | Hailstorm]]
* [[Hawkeye]]
* [[Highgear]]
* [[Highjump (Armada) | Highjump]]
* [[Jumpstart]]
* [[Kickback (Armada) | Kickback]]
* [[Knockdown (Armada) | Knockdown]]
* [[Lock-On]]
* [[Lookout]]
* [[Overwatch]]
* [[Pressurepoint]]
* [[Rangefinder]]
* [[Safeguard (Armada) | Safeguard]]
* [[Shepherd]]
* [[Shieldwall]]
* [[Shockpunch]]
* [[Skirmish]]
* [[Slapshot]]
* [[Slipstream (Armada) | Slipstream]]
* [[Smackdown]]
* [[Sparkjump]]
* [[Stronghold]]
* [[Tractor]]
* [[Twister]]
* [[Watchdog (Armada) | Watchdog]]
}}

==Voice actors==
*[[Garry Chalk]] as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Daran Norris]] as [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dublin James]] as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]
*[[Matt Hetherington]] as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]
*[[Matthew King]] as [[Unicron]]

==Screenshots==
<gallery>
Image: Optimus_Truck_Form_Crash_Enemies.jpg|Sometimes, vehicles are the most effective weapon.
Image: Optimus_Prime_Destroyed_Bunker_Transformers_Screenshot.jpg|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] destroyed one of the Decepticon Bunker in the Pacific Island.
Image: Transformers_2004_Video_Game_Slipstream_Released.jpg|"Finally, the egg cracks open!"
Image: Optimus_Prime_Ragdoll_Effect.jpg|Ouch.
Image: Transformers_2004_Tidal_Wave.jpg|Your biggest nightmare.. Literally.
Image: Tidal_Wave_Snipe_Head.jpg|GIVE ME YOUR FACE!
Image: Red_Alert_Deep_Amazon.jpg|Is that ship carrying.. Sun? [[The Fallen|It has claimed Earth's Sun!?]]
Image: Autobots_HQ_Iacon_City_Gate.jpg|"Home, finally!" The Autobots have been homesick.
Image: Mini_Con_Forming_Matrix_Cannon.jpg|All the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] merge, to form the [[Matrix Cannon]].
Image: Matrix_Cannon_Versus_Unicron.jpg|So, this did not exist in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|past]], or no one knows? Things can go easier!
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Core.jpg‎|So, this is what a planet-eater's stomach looks like.
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Destroyed.jpg|[[Unicron]]'s final moment.
Image: Transformers_2004_Cybertron_Ending.jpg|[['Til all are one|'Til All Are One!]]
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
Melbourne House's [[Gavin Parker]] composed much of the in-game music while [[Ric Formosa]] provided the music for the cinematic sequences. American band [[Dropbox]] and Australian band [[Regurgitator]] were recruited to create their versions of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]] to promote the game, while funk band [[The Brown Hornet]] sung over the end credits.

===Tracks===
*1. Amazon Theme 1
*2. Amazon Theme 2
*3. Antarctica Theme
*4. Starscream Fight Theme 1
*5. Deep Amazon Theme 1
*6. Deep Amazon Theme 2
*7. Cyclonus Fight Theme (by Regurgitator)
*8. Mid-Atlantic Theme
*9. Tidal Wave Fight Theme
*10. Alaska Theme 1
*11. Alaska Theme 2
*12. Starship Theme 1
*13. Starship Theme 2
*14. Starscream Fight Theme 2
*15 Pacific Island Theme
*15. Megatron Fight Theme
*13. Cybertron 1
*14. Cybertron 2

===Themes===
*1. ''Transformers: Armada'' television theme
*2. ''Transformers'' theme 1 arranged by Ric Formosa
*3. ''Transformers'' theme 2 by Dropbox
*4. ''Transformers'' theme 3 by The Brown Hornet
*5. ''Transformers'' theme 4 by Regurgitator
*6. ''Wishbone'' by Dropbox

==Impressions & sales==
The game was well-received by critics and fans alike, and at the time was often considered to be the best of all ''Transformers'' video games, despite this being damning with faint praise. Some review sites and magazines [[Ruined FOREVER|seemed to reject the game outright]] for [[GEEWUN|not being based]] on the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series, though some seemed to begrudgingly accept it due to the gameplay and graphic flair.

The most common actual ''gameplay-related'' complaints are the disappointingly small roster of characters, sometimes stiff control, high difficulty level (not born of bad design, the game is just set too ''tough''), and a lack of a "directional" guide resulting in players getting lost in the vast environments.

''Transformers'' was the #7 top-selling game across all consoles for the month of May 2004... and that's only because the incredibly popular "Red Dead Revolver" was on two different consoles. On the Playstation 2 alone, ''Transformers'' ranked #6. It sold over 600,000 copies by the time the "Directors Cut" was released, although the total was ultimately less than what Atari had hoped for.

In 2010, ''Transformers'' was ranked #83 in the Top 100 Playstation 2 Games list by IGN. <ref>[http://www.ign.com/top-ps2-games/83 Transformers - #83 Top PS2 Games - IGN]</ref>

==Sequel status==
Melbourne House had begun work on a sequel based in part upon the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series. However, according to a member of the Melbourne House team, the ''Cybertron'' game was a few months into development but Atari moved the studio onto a different project, effectively nixing the sequel.

Dang.

==Errors==
* Somehow Starscream is able to use his wing-sword with both wings still attached.
* Optimus (Or whichever Autobot you're currenty playing as) can orbit Cybertron several times over at a surprisingy fast rate, even though it's a gigantic planet.
* Many of Cybertron's buidings, and the giant Autobot insignia, are somehow easily visible from orbit.
* For reasons unknown, Optimus, Red Alert, and Hotshot are the only citizens of Iacon. Maybe they're just not good neighbors.
* A rare glitch sometimes occurs at Megatron's death, in which when he falls down, his tank barrol sticks out of...[[Joystick | an unusual location on his body]].

==Notes==
[[Image:Mini-con drinks.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Drunk with power]]
* At the game's launch party, Atari's venue served several [[Mini-Con Madness|signature drinks]] named for the game-exclusive Mini-Cons.
* One of the game's working titles was ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''. Another one, used in pack-in [[catalog]]s during the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' line, was ''Transformers Armada: Battle for Energon''.
* Development sketches unlocked in the game show that several characters were ultimately dropped from the original plans. [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] was to be a level-boss in the caves, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]'s partner Mini-Con [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] was going to harass players before they could board the Decepticon battleship.
* These same sketches also show that the levels Amazon and Deep Amazon were a single level at one stage, as were Antarctic, Alaska and Starship, and Pacific Island and Mid Atlantic. This is why the latter levels start in areas very similar to the ends of the preceding ones; for example, Amazon ends with a hike up a mountain, while Deep Amazon begins with a trip ''down'' the side of a mountain.
* It is possible to get an alternate 'Bad Ending'. This ending can be achieved if Cybertron's health meter gets to zero. The full motion video of this ending will be unlocked (as well in the gallery), showing Cybertron's destruction by [[Unicron]].
*At the end credits of the game, Tidal Wave is doing push-ups while the Decepticlones are all doing jumping jacks and side-bends. So that's how Decepticons keep in shape.
*Much of the dialog used in cutscenes is recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In the 'Recruit' difficulty, you need to collect 30 Mini-Cons to form the Matrix Cannon, 35 in the 'Veteran' difficulty, and 40 in the 'Commander' difficulty.. Which means all of them. All hail the cheats.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atari.com/transformers/ Official ''Transformers'' game page at Atari.com]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6101516.html?q=chartspot%202004 ''Transformers'' game rankings for May 2004 at Gamespot]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-ps2-soundtrack-news/2441/ News post from Seibertron.com for Atari's announcement of Regurgitator's involvement]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Armada media]]
[[Category:Video games]]

Transformers (Armada PS2)

2012-04-09T22:42:01Z

97.100.57.102: /* Errors */

{{disambig3.5|the English PlayStation 2 game|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game|The Transformers (PS2)|Transformers}}
{{Nav-armada}}
{{videogame
|title=''Transformers''
|image=TF atari.jpg
|caption=[[The Transformers (PS2)|That]]'s not a game. ''shhhhhlink'' '''This''' is a game!
|developer=[[Melbourne House]]
|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]
|date=[[April 7]], 2004 (EU) [[April 11]], 2004 (NA)
|platform=PlayStation 2
|ratings=ESRB: T
}}
'''''Transformers''''' is a 2004 video game for Sony's PlayStation 2, developed by the Australian-based [[Melbourne House]], and published by [[Atari, Inc.|Atari]]. It is based on the ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' series, though it does not follow any pre-established storyline. It was released in the United States on [[April 11]], [[2004]], and in the European market on [[April 7]] of the same year. In September 2005, Atari released a "Director's Cut" of the game exclusively in the UK. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary".

==Gameplay and cast==
In the game, players take control of one of three [[Autobot|Autobots]] ([[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] or [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]) to battle [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and his vast army of [[Decepticlone]]s over the recently-discovered [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] on [[Earth]].

Decepticons who appear in the game include Megatron, [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]. The Mini-Cons [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]] and [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]] join their toy-partners after the player completes the first level, acting as support fighters. The Decepticons' Mini-Con partners [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Crumplezone (Armada)|Crumplezone]] do not appear as individuals, but are seen attached to their partners. The final boss of the game is [[Unicron]] in planet mode; a colossal [[Dead End (Armada)|Dead End]] in "moon" mode can be seen attached to him.

As well as allowing players to transform into vehicles whenever they wish, the game uses Mini-Con collecting as a way to acquire new weapons and abilities, introducing multiple new (non-toy) Mini-Con characters. Some combinations of Mini-Cons also have additional synergistic effects, such as faster weapon recharging or a larger life meter. In addition, the main partner Mini-Cons follow the player, shooting at enemies. The player can also "Powerlinx" with their partner Mini-Con, allowing for a Max Payne-style "bullet time" mode, though this drains the player's health.

As well as Mini-Cons, players collect [[Data-Con|Data-Cons]] that unlock bonus features in the game's main menu, ranging from game artwork (development sketches, renders, and the like), toy instructions, toy prototype photos, the toy pack-in mini-comics, and five previously-unavailable-elsewhere [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]-era PSAs (in the same style as the old [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] cartoon PSAs).

Every level in the game is a very large, detailed environment which allows free exploration rather than short, linear maps. Players can leave levels without completing them through warp gates, and return to any previously-played level to discover more areas using their newly collected Mini-Cons. The game engine used is unknown, but appears to use technology similar to that of Croteam's Serious Engine to allow large, detailed outdoor levels with no slowdown. One part of the game is the fact that if one is hit hard enough, the character will be blown back and crumple, rag-doll-style.

The reasoning behind the inclusion of a small cast of playable characters was a simple matter of gameplay logistics. By having only three distinctly different characters, the game provides a different experience to players and forces them to adjust their strategy according to whomever they chose. A larger roster of characters would have made it difficult for Melbourne House to create different styles of gameplay, especially considering most of the Armada Autobots were cars and other land vehicles. The noticeable exclusion of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was down to the fact his flight capability would negate much of the challenge in exploring each level whilst using different Mini-Con loadouts.

==Mini-Cons==
{{collist|4|
* [[Aftershock (Armada) | Aftershock]]
* [[Airburst]]
* [[Aurora]]
* [[Buildup]]
* [[Bulletproof]]
* [[Claymore]]
* [[Comeback]]
* [[Corona]]
* [[Covert]]
* [[Deflector]]
* [[Discord]]
* [[Failsafe]]
* [[Firefight]]
* [[Flashbang]]
* [[Fullspeed]]
* [[Hailstorm (Armada) | Hailstorm]]
* [[Hawkeye]]
* [[Highgear]]
* [[Highjump (Armada) | Highjump]]
* [[Jumpstart]]
* [[Kickback (Armada) | Kickback]]
* [[Knockdown (Armada) | Knockdown]]
* [[Lock-On]]
* [[Lookout]]
* [[Overwatch]]
* [[Pressurepoint]]
* [[Rangefinder]]
* [[Safeguard (Armada) | Safeguard]]
* [[Shepherd]]
* [[Shieldwall]]
* [[Shockpunch]]
* [[Skirmish]]
* [[Slapshot]]
* [[Slipstream (Armada) | Slipstream]]
* [[Smackdown]]
* [[Sparkjump]]
* [[Stronghold]]
* [[Tractor]]
* [[Twister]]
* [[Watchdog (Armada) | Watchdog]]
}}

==Voice actors==
*[[Garry Chalk]] as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Daran Norris]] as [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Dublin James]] as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]
*[[David Kaye]] as [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]
*[[Matt Hetherington]] as [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]
*[[Matthew King]] as [[Unicron]]

==Screenshots==
<gallery>
Image: Optimus_Truck_Form_Crash_Enemies.jpg|Sometimes, vehicles are the most effective weapon.
Image: Optimus_Prime_Destroyed_Bunker_Transformers_Screenshot.jpg|[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] destroyed one of the Decepticon Bunker in the Pacific Island.
Image: Transformers_2004_Video_Game_Slipstream_Released.jpg|"Finally, the egg cracks open!"
Image: Optimus_Prime_Ragdoll_Effect.jpg|Ouch.
Image: Transformers_2004_Tidal_Wave.jpg|Your biggest nightmare.. Literally.
Image: Tidal_Wave_Snipe_Head.jpg|GIVE ME YOUR FACE!
Image: Red_Alert_Deep_Amazon.jpg|Is that ship carrying.. Sun? [[The Fallen|It has claimed Earth's Sun!?]]
Image: Autobots_HQ_Iacon_City_Gate.jpg|"Home, finally!" The Autobots have been homesick.
Image: Mini_Con_Forming_Matrix_Cannon.jpg|All the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]] merge, to form the [[Matrix Cannon]].
Image: Matrix_Cannon_Versus_Unicron.jpg|So, this did not exist in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|past]], or no one knows? Things can go easier!
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Core.jpg‎|So, this is what a planet-eater's stomach looks like.
Image: Transformers_2004_Unicron_Destroyed.jpg|[[Unicron]]'s final moment.
Image: Transformers_2004_Cybertron_Ending.jpg|[['Til all are one|'Til All Are One!]]
</gallery>

==Soundtrack==
Melbourne House's [[Gavin Parker]] composed much of the in-game music while [[Ric Formosa]] provided the music for the cinematic sequences. American band [[Dropbox]] and Australian band [[Regurgitator]] were recruited to create their versions of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]] to promote the game, while funk band [[The Brown Hornet]] sung over the end credits.

===Tracks===
*1. Amazon Theme 1
*2. Amazon Theme 2
*3. Antarctica Theme
*4. Starscream Fight Theme 1
*5. Deep Amazon Theme 1
*6. Deep Amazon Theme 2
*7. Cyclonus Fight Theme (by Regurgitator)
*8. Mid-Atlantic Theme
*9. Tidal Wave Fight Theme
*10. Alaska Theme 1
*11. Alaska Theme 2
*12. Starship Theme 1
*13. Starship Theme 2
*14. Starscream Fight Theme 2
*15 Pacific Island Theme
*15. Megatron Fight Theme
*13. Cybertron 1
*14. Cybertron 2

===Themes===
*1. ''Transformers: Armada'' television theme
*2. ''Transformers'' theme 1 arranged by Ric Formosa
*3. ''Transformers'' theme 2 by Dropbox
*4. ''Transformers'' theme 3 by The Brown Hornet
*5. ''Transformers'' theme 4 by Regurgitator
*6. ''Wishbone'' by Dropbox

==Impressions & sales==
The game was well-received by critics and fans alike, and at the time was often considered to be the best of all ''Transformers'' video games, despite this being damning with faint praise. Some review sites and magazines [[Ruined FOREVER|seemed to reject the game outright]] for [[GEEWUN|not being based]] on the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series, though some seemed to begrudgingly accept it due to the gameplay and graphic flair.

The most common actual ''gameplay-related'' complaints are the disappointingly small roster of characters, sometimes stiff control, high difficulty level (not born of bad design, the game is just set too ''tough''), and a lack of a "directional" guide resulting in players getting lost in the vast environments.

''Transformers'' was the #7 top-selling game across all consoles for the month of May 2004... and that's only because the incredibly popular "Red Dead Revolver" was on two different consoles. On the Playstation 2 alone, ''Transformers'' ranked #6. It sold over 600,000 copies by the time the "Directors Cut" was released, although the total was ultimately less than what Atari had hoped for.

In 2010, ''Transformers'' was ranked #83 in the Top 100 Playstation 2 Games list by IGN. <ref>[http://www.ign.com/top-ps2-games/83 Transformers - #83 Top PS2 Games - IGN]</ref>

==Sequel status==
Melbourne House had begun work on a sequel based in part upon the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series. However, according to a member of the Melbourne House team, the ''Cybertron'' game was a few months into development but Atari moved the studio onto a different project, effectively nixing the sequel.

Dang.

==Errors==
* Somehow Starscream is able to use his wing-sword with both wings still attached.
* Optimus (Or whichever Autobot you're currenty playing as) can orbit Cybertron several times over at a surprisingy fast rate, even though it's a gigantic planet.
* Many of Cybertron's buidings, and the giant Autobot insignia, are somehow easily visible from orbit.
* For reasons unknown, Optimus, Red Alert, and Hotshot are the only citizens of Iacon. Maybe they're just not good neighbors.
* A rare glitch occurs at Megatron's death, in which when he falls down, his tank barrol sticks out of...[[Gearbox | an unusual location on his body]].

==Notes==
[[Image:Mini-con drinks.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Drunk with power]]
* At the game's launch party, Atari's venue served several [[Mini-Con Madness|signature drinks]] named for the game-exclusive Mini-Cons.
* One of the game's working titles was ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''. Another one, used in pack-in [[catalog]]s during the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' line, was ''Transformers Armada: Battle for Energon''.
* Development sketches unlocked in the game show that several characters were ultimately dropped from the original plans. [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] was to be a level-boss in the caves, and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]'s partner Mini-Con [[Ramjet (Armada)|Ramjet]] was going to harass players before they could board the Decepticon battleship.
* These same sketches also show that the levels Amazon and Deep Amazon were a single level at one stage, as were Antarctic, Alaska and Starship, and Pacific Island and Mid Atlantic. This is why the latter levels start in areas very similar to the ends of the preceding ones; for example, Amazon ends with a hike up a mountain, while Deep Amazon begins with a trip ''down'' the side of a mountain.
* It is possible to get an alternate 'Bad Ending'. This ending can be achieved if Cybertron's health meter gets to zero. The full motion video of this ending will be unlocked (as well in the gallery), showing Cybertron's destruction by [[Unicron]].
*At the end credits of the game, Tidal Wave is doing push-ups while the Decepticlones are all doing jumping jacks and side-bends. So that's how Decepticons keep in shape.
*Much of the dialog used in cutscenes is recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In the 'Recruit' difficulty, you need to collect 30 Mini-Cons to form the Matrix Cannon, 35 in the 'Veteran' difficulty, and 40 in the 'Commander' difficulty.. Which means all of them. All hail the cheats.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.atari.com/transformers/ Official ''Transformers'' game page at Atari.com]
*[http://www.gamespot.com/news/6101516.html?q=chartspot%202004 ''Transformers'' game rankings for May 2004 at Gamespot]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-ps2-soundtrack-news/2441/ News post from Seibertron.com for Atari's announcement of Regurgitator's involvement]

{{Stub}}

[[Category:Armada media]]
[[Category:Video games]]

To sell toys

2012-04-04T00:43:10Z

97.100.57.102: /* Hi-and-die */

[[Image:MarvelUS-19.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hasbro wasn't quite sure whether to advertise this expensive toy until the fans forced their hand.]]

To understand ''Transformers'' fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[Toy|toys]] to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally [[Transformers (2007)#Reception|make a profit in their own right]], but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't usually sell someone the same toy twice<ref>Although the toy lines from the [[live-action film series]] have given us multiple ''different'' toys of the ''same characters''.</ref>, Hasbro and Takara constantly introduce new toys, and often require the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes ([[Mini-Con]]s) this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers (the in-comic explanations for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s are kinda wonky).

The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based ''Transformers'' comic]] has taken this to more blatant heights. For its first year, it had a specific four-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which exists solely to promote the newest Transformers merchandise. ''Any'' merchandise. This led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was. For ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'', [[Ironhide (Movie)|''Ironhide himself'']] opened letters pages by telling readers how ''awesome'' the game was and how [[you]] should buy it.

==Casting==
===Huge casts===
[[Image:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Pokeformers|Gotta catch 'em all!]]]]
Hasbro makes a lot of toys at once, and they generally want all of them to appear in their fiction. This can force writers to bring in vast numbers of characters all at once, sometimes with awkward results. Examples include:

* The first issue of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comics]], "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]", in which ''twenty-eight'' different robots appeared and introduced themselves, even though only a handful are important to the plot.
* "[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", a free mini-comic given away with issue [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]] of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|comic]], notoriously introduces the reader to ''twenty-four'' new Transformers in just three pages. Granted, four of those are the [[Combiner|combined forms]] of the other twenty, but that's still a lot of new names to remember.
* The 1987 ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' Limited Series, which introduced over ''sixty'' characters in the course of four issues, including all the first waves of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s, all their [[Nebulan]] partners, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbot]]s.
* The cartoon episode "[[The Rebirth]]" likewise abruptly introduced a deluge of the 1987 toyline characters, mostly the same ones seen in ''Headmasters''.
* In the first four episodes of ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', eighteen characters are introduced in quick succession.
* From #9 onwards, [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movie-based ''Transformers'']] has heavily bumped up the cast with new toys. In one example, #17 brought in nine new toys in eleven pages; only one of the five Decepticons got any real focus or dialogue.

===Random casting===
The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:

* Season 2 of the cartoon introduced many new characters/buyable toys with no explanation; despite never having been seen before, the story treats them as though they have [[Beachcomber (G1)|been there]] [[Perceptor (G1)|the whole]] [[Tracks (G1)|time]].
[[Image:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|right|200px|thumb|After seven issues, it's finally time for these six dudes to do something!]]
[[Image:Optimusprimeg1preearthmarvel2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Apparently, the Triggerbots didn't make much of an impression on Prime.]]
* The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" suddenly introduces a dozen Autobots and Decepticons that we've never met before, and follows their adventures. The story adds nothing to the long-range plot that couldn't have been accomplished by using existing characters; these teams were added to the mix to promote their new toys.
* Many issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: [[Repeat Performance!|#8]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], [[Brainstorm!|#11]], [[Command Performances!|#19]], [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]], [[Crater Critters|#29]], [[The Cure!|#30]], [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]], [[People Power!|#42]], [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]], [[Club Con!|#47]], and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.
* In [[Spacehikers!|issue #36]] of the Marvel comics, when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] decides that he needs help in dealing with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s inept leadership, he doesn't turn to any of the ''dozens'' of Autobots aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', which include two combiner teams and Omega Supreme. No, he has to call in his "old buddy"/new toy, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]].
* In the prelude to the [[Underbase Saga]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to [[Earth]]. But rather than palling around with the likes of Jazz or Prowl, they are instead shown alongside the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon]]s and the [[Triggerbot]]s.
* [[Mainframe Entertainment]] planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy, and to save money as his CGI model was only a slight tweak of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s. <ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/9c79c4226fc6dd28/30c3cdf158ea6e52?lnk=st&q=bob+forward+beast+wars+tigatron+wolfang&rnum=1#30c3cdf158ea6e52 Ben Yee relays some info from Bob Forward in regards to Wolfang being replaced by Tigatron in the Beast Wars cartoon]</ref>
* Rather than revealing stuff about the [[Vok]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], a long-running subplot, "[[Other Victories]]" spends much of its time telling us how great [[Tigerhawk]] is and how we should buy his toy.
* The [[First (and Second) in Flight|sixth issue]] of ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' stops following the regular cast so it can flag the awesome cool out-now-in-shops [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] toy.
* Prominent generals in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movieverse]] Decepticon army change frequently and without any acknowledgment as new toys jostle for (and gain) space.

===Limited casting===
On the opposite side of things, Hasbro doesn't want to pay to depict characters that aren't selling toys. This can force a story, particularly an animated cartoon, to have a smaller cast than it otherwise might.

[[Image:Metamorphdeceps2.JPG|right|200px|thumb|The full might of the Decepticon army.]]
* The early episodes of ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured only the toys available on the shelves. This resulted in two ridiculously small teams going to [[Earth]] for the all-important mission of gathering Mini-Cons, rather inexplicable in story terms.
* [[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Both the Dreamwave]] and [[Armada (Panini comic)|Panini comics]] suffered exactly the same problem, but it gets worse: [[First Encounter|The first ''Armada'' episode]] reused models of older Transformers as generic background guys to bump numbers up. The comics ''didn't''. So Megatron apparently conquers all of planet Cybertron with an army of three guys, whereas the city/planet defending Autobots are just five blokes.
* Dreamwave would also [[Dreamwave Armada issue 10|feature a scene on Cybertron]], where the ''only'' Autobot who seemed to exist was [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]].
* For the movie prequels, IDW got around this by deciding that [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was going to be a [[Class Alpha drone unit|series of drones]] instead of one guy, allowing for really big battle scenes despite a then-limited number of toys. {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel}} (It would later turn out there was ''also'' Dreadwing who was one guy.) Titan Magazines would borrow this, and turn other Decepticons into drone series too.
{{-}}

==Plot==
===Forced explication===
{{main|Introdump}}

Rather than simply showing up in the background, new toy/characters often overtly introduce themselves, often with a ridiculous description of their special abilities. The Marvel comic is rife with examples, but it shows up across numerous fictions.

[[Image:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Reflector is actually here, he's just buried underneath a pile of speech bubbles.]]
* Again, [[The Transformers (issue)|''Transformers'' #1]] has two huge splash pages in which 28 characters do nothing but stand around and tell each other who they are and what they can do.
* The two-part Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]" features many new 1985 characters getting their own short little introductory scene, often with a characteristic bit of self-description ([[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]: "I'd rather stay in my stunning auto mode!" [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]: "I'm ''always'' ready for action!" [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]: "Wow, like, I hope we don't destroy this place before we can study it!")
* "[[The Rebirth]]" has ''three different sequences'' in which large new groups of characters form a lineup and introduce themselves to viewers one after another. Strangely enough, much of this screen- and dialogue-time is given over to Nebulan partners; the "main" Transformer characters get no such introductions, even though they are the items kids would have to purchase to acquire the Nebulan accessories. For instance, [[Spasma]], [[Monzo]], and [[Peacemaker]] (all speaking characters) are introduced by name as part of various lineups, but their in-store hosts [[Apeface]], [[Weirdwolf]], and [[Pointblank]] are never named (and Weirdwolf never even speaks).
* "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" has the Maximals walk on one-by-one admiring their beast modes, loudly explaining their names and showing character traits. This also gives the impression they deliberately changed their names to fit these new beast modes for no apparent reason.

===Gimmicks===
When the toys can do something special, fiction writers must often go out of their way to show the gimmick in action.

* The Headmaster gimmick got [[The Transformers: Headmasters|an entire Limited Series comic book]] devoted to it.
* The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] proudly creating the [[Pretender]]s, gloating that they will hide the Decepticons' identities from the Autobots "until it is too late". Not only does the plan not actually work, it's also a plot point with absolutely zero lead-in or build-up—at no point has Scorponok ever expressed concern about his troops being detected by the Autobots, and we've never even met the Pretender characters before. It was brought about solely because the new toys had to be jammed into the story. (The, uh, story of returning Optimus Prime's character to the comic book because he had [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|a new toy]].)
* [[Rotor Force]] made their debut in "[[New Dawn]]", and both here and in subsequent ''Generation 2'' issues would primarily fight enemies not with guns like everyone else, but by firing their giant rotors at them. Page 3 of ''New Dawn'' actually shows them having to ''stop and reattach their rotors'' before they can carry on fighting.
[[Image:Mistaken Identity Galvatronscourge.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin Time! MASTODON!]]]]
* ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] had six alternate modes and the cartoon really wanted you to see them, which is why [[Battle Protocol!|his first appearance]] is as ''a giant hand for no reason''. It gets sillier when he turns into Galvatron and gains four more modes. In "[[Mistaken Identity]]", he turns into his "Iron Mammoth" form when facing off against [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|a hostile Fortress Maximus]] even though he doesn't ''do'' anything in his form except stand there ''as he was already doing''.
* [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] are the only Autobot jets in the ''Animated'' line. (Not counting the toyless [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]].) To fully big this up, their origin story has it that there have ''never been'' any flying Autobots before, despite them having been in (and won) a long and bitter war with enemies who ''often fly''.

The [[Unicron Trilogy]], noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines, was particularly notorious in this regard:

* The quest for power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s practically defined the plot of the ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons.
* [[Powerlinx|Powerlinxing]] is shown again and again and again in ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', despite having comparatively little relevance to most episode plotlines.
* [[Cyber Key]] powerups are likewise shown repeatedly in ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].''
* All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[Stock footage|recycled footage]]).

===Strange developments===
Shoehorning loads of new characters with new powers can compel the writers to do things with the plot that, in all probability, they otherwise wouldn't.

* Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a story arc titled "[[Second Generation!]]", where [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and Shockwave <strike>watched an advert</strike> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams in action. These events were previewed in "The Special Teams Have Arrived", nine issues earlier, with no indication that they were part a vision, making their place in continuity uncertain.
* In the US Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the introduction of the Pretenders both saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical numbers/gimmicks at the same time.
* Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and the 1985 Mini-Vehicles, by contrast, show up now and again, as their toys were still shipping. Even Starscream, who was ''dead'', managed to get a couple of Season 3 episodes all to himself; again, his toy sold through 1986.
* [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2]] wrote an entire story devoted to Optimus sternly explaining which Autobots and Decepticons were on sale in [[Germany]] in 1989. The reason he had to? [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] had ''shot an Autobot''!
* The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]]—who had just had a new and expensive toy.
[[Image:Samprowl.jpg|right|100px|thumb|<strike>Upgrades are bad.</strike> Upgrades are GOOD. We have always been at war with <strike>Eurasia</strike> Eastasia.]]
* "[[A Fistful of Energon]]" has [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] learn not to use upgrades, and gives up using powerful samurai armour. But whoops, Hasbro thought "hey, we could make a toy out of that armour"! And so in [[Five Servos of Doom|a later episode]], Prowl ''regains'' it and the show hurriedly claims that the upgrade is fine ''now'' because Prowl realizes now that it's the Autobot, not the upgrade.
* The [[France|French]] decided to be good sports and start using propeller-driven nuclear bombers again, just so [[Octane|Tankor]] could be used ([[All Hail Megatron issue 11]]).
* [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] has been on Earth for a while, in hiding from other Decepticons while he waits for orders from [[the Fallen]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout}} Ransack is a member of a race that can scan any object and take its form as a disguise. Ransack moves around in the cunning disguise of ''a 100-year-old plane''. (At least, unlike the previous example, the oldness of the alt-mode was pointed out.)
* In Titan's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] go from being [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] responsibility to bugging [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to being [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe's]] responsibility in the space of three issues, all to allow each issue to focus on a specific toy-bearing movie star. Similarly, only one or two Decepticons per issue are sent on a mission, when presumably the Fallen might want to send loads of guys to silence the twins.
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===Awkward continuity===
[[Image:Earthforce.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This happened... er.... look just buy the toys, ok?!]]

Sometimes the requirement to feature new toys can be so strong that continuity takes a major backseat and stories are produced that feature combinations of characters that make the story very difficult to slot into the main continuity. The Marvel UK comic was especially prone to this as it could not always foresee where, when and how characters would be introduced:

* The ''[[Transformers Annual 1986]]'' contains many stories featuring toys from the 1985 release long before they were formally introduced in the regular comic, often interacting with other characters who would be out of action by then. As a result few of the stories easily fit the continuity of the weekly comic.
* The demands of Hasbro UK for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s to be featured heavily even before the US ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series was available meant that both the ''[[Transformers Annual 1988]]'' and the regular strip "[[Worlds Apart!]]" contain a slightly different set of events that are at odds with the mini-series.
* The requirement to give prominence to the rereleased toys in the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] range resulted in one the biggest continuity trainwrecks of all, [[Earthforce]]. Over two decades later fans are still uncertain where it fits in continuity, and even [[Simon Furman]] admits to being unsure.<ref>"Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it's very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I'm brutally honest) I didn't try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn't necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?" [http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php TransFans.net - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'].</ref>
* Germany's ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' started in 1989 and reprinted older Marvel US and UK strips. Since, of course, these would rarely show the current toys, Comic-Magazin ran text stories from #2 that showcased ''completely different'' Transformers that were on Earth at the same time, and just happened not to be seen in the strips.
* Trapped between the need to pimp toys and the problem of not knowing what the plot of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' would be, Titan just threw up their hands and unambiguously set their lead strip in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)#Alternate universe|an alternate universe]].
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===Power levels===
In order to make new characters seem more ''totally awesome'', they're often depicted as ultra-powerful in their initial appearances. Once they become old news, they frequently seem to lose their super-charged abilities.

* The Generation 1 cartoon introduced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as the ultimate threat. Once newer combiner teams came along, however, he was less of a threat, easily defeated at various times by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and even [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]].
[[Image:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Buzzsaw reminds Omega Supreme he's not a new toy any more.]]
* The Marvel comics feature [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as nigh-invulnerable and ultimately powerful in [[Command Performances!|his debut issue]], slaughtering 2/3rds of the Decepticon forces sent to attack him. Just [[Dark Star|two years later]], he's getting his butt handed to him by the likes of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], one of his original victims.
* [[Waspinator]] was, amazingly, something of a threat in early episodes; he holds his own against [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in his debut. He only became significantly weaker than the other Predacons during the second season.
* In her first appearance on the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] effortlessly blasts [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to pieces. She never displays such a level of power again.
* Similarly, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was presented as a huge threat when he first appeared, but just a few episodes later, he seems just slightly tougher than the average Predacon (save for a few notable occasions).
* [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] was actually a credible threat for his first couple of episodes.
* The [[Commando|Commandos]] were far more powerful and competent than the Predacons, who were made even ''less'' powerful and competent as episodes went on. Remarkably, this was actually used in the plot, with Megatron focusing on the new toys while the Predacons became underdogs trying to get their old status back and one-up the new guys.
[[Image:ArmTVTidalWave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Before he shrank in the wash.]]
* ''Any'' new toy character in the Unicron Trilogy cartoons is almost guaranteed to win the day's battle.
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was a staggering behemoth as big as the sky in his introduction, and his ability to combine with Megatron LITERALLY gave the battle advantage to the Decepticons until his equally powerful counterpart [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] was introduced. By the time of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Tidal Wave is just this tall guy (but not as tall as he used to be) and is treated as just another Decepticon, even after he gets a body upgrade in the form of "Mirage".
* When the newly redecoed Jetfire and Optimus combine in Dreamwave's Armada comic, they are so powerful ''they can hurt Unicron himself''.
* [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] was incredibly powerful when he was first introduced, but later on, he's getting slaps on the wrist by [[Lori]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], and schooled by [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], ultimately becoming more of a sympathetic comedic bumbler than a credible threat.
* The Decepticons in ''Animated'' started off as being so horrifically powerful that the entire Autobot team had to take on a ''single'' one. By Season 3, this no longer happens. Uniquely, this was ''deliberate'' by the writers: they wanted to show the Decepticons as supreme threats, and have the Autobots gradually being better at dealing with them.
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===New bodies===
There's rarely a compelling reason for a Transformer to get a brand-new body in fiction; it's simply to promote a new toy. It has become a default way to keep a popular character on shelves, rather than having to kill them off and introduce a new character to keep moving toys. Sometimes fiction writers are able to work these alterations in elegantly... sometimes not.

[[Image:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ratchet pulls a Kitty Pryde on Bumblebee.]]
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] was rebuilt into Goldbug following his near-destruction... and was later re-rebuilt back into Bumblebee to sell the [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|new Classic Pretender toy]]. The reason given in [[Skin Deep|the comic storyline]] was that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] reverted him without his consent because Ratchet liked his old form better, something Bumblebee is strangely fine with.
* Season 2 of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' introduced the new [[Transmetal]] toys in short order, requiring some strange sci-fi waffling to explain why members of both teams suddenly got special new bodies. The writers had originally planned to introduce these changes gradually, across the length of Season 2, but Hasbro ordered them to be brought in immediately. (The slow-and-gradual notion would eventually appear during Season 3.)
* The [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons feature [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] getting recolored and renamed "Galvatron" ''three times''; at the start of each subsequent series, he's given a different body but called Megatron ''again'', because the name "Megatron" just sells more toys. (This also means Hasbro gets to keep the [[trademark]] "Galvatron".)
* Several times during the Unicron Trilogy, characters get new paint jobs as part of some magical power-up enhancement. These new color schemes exist solely to promote redecorated toys like "[[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]]" or "[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Hot Shot]]". Even the comics got in on the action, introducing the redecorated versions of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] during the Unicron arc.
* The three future members of the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] get shot up by Megatron, then transmogrify through the power of [[Burning justice|BLAZING HEART OF JUSTICE]] into new forms. These new forms, of course, were just hitting shelves at a toy store near you.
* In the course of the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] gets irritated at a slight against his alternate mode, and scans a new form. Voila, suddenly he's got ''two'' toys on the shelf!
* When [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''Transformers'' comic originally came out, there were no Generation 1-themed toys to flog, and many characters were given altered designs for the series. Then along came ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', featuring new toys of Generation 1 characters, and suddenly multiple characters get new, toy-accurate bodies in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', for no apparent in-story reason. Later, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] even gets a namechange to ''Silver''streak to fit his toy.
* [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was originally grey, but when he was reunited with the ''Animated'' Decepticons, he changed his colours to purple while referring to it as his proper look. Why he changed colouration to go undercover was not explained, but it may have something to do with a purple-coloured Shockwave toy being out when that episode aired.
* In ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] start out as an old ice cream truck combiner but after a disastrous mission [[NEST]] decides to upgrade them to new individual [[General Motors]] vehicles. New toys ''and'' product placement!

===Abrupt conclusions===
[[Image:MarvelUSG2-12.jpg|right|150px|thumb|It's the end of the road for Transformers Generation 2! That can't bode well for the toyline.]]

Just as ''Transformers'' fiction lives at Hasbro's pleasure, so too does it die. Falling sales, a change of plans, and standard [[rebranding]] can all cause a storyline to come to a sudden end when Hasbro decides to pull the plug.

* The American Generation 1 cartoon got a somewhat rushed conclusion in the form of "[[The Rebirth]]", rather than a full fourth season.
* The Generation 1 comics were nearly canceled at [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]], but granted a reprieve. The stay of execution was only temporary, however; with the Generation 1 toyline ending, the comic was terminated a mere five issues later, resulting in a rather hasty concluding plotline.
* Hasbro was only willing to support the [[Generation 2 (Marvel comic)|''Generation 2'' comic]] for twelve issues, unless it proved an unqualified (perhaps phenomenal) success. Aware of this from the start, writer Simon Furman was able to plot a story arc that reached its finale as the series ended (and poked fun at it with a character whose name is a pun on "[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Gee, axe us]]".)
* The writers of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon reportedly never had any idea if they'd be back for another season. When the axe fell with Season 3, they had only three episodes left to wrap up the whole series.
* Hasbro nearly killed off the just-begun comic series ''The Wreckers'' in 2001, wishing instead for [[3H Productions|3H]] to focus on a ''[[Universe (2003 comic)|Universe]]'' comic advertising its current toyline.
* Even though ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' wasn't abruptly canceled, Kids WB ended the series on the cliffhanger of the episode "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", leaving millions of kids tuning in next time only to get a re-run of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The reason? The Cybertron Defense Team toys hadn't hit stores yet.
* With ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' coming out in June, Titan had to end their alternate universe storyline in May so they could tie in early—an issue earlier than planned. The main strip handled this, with the notable exception of [[Jazz (Movie)#Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics|the Jazz plot arc]] going completely unresolved, but it played havoc with working out the IDW reprints!
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==Death==
===Killing off old product===
[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Guess who's no longer in the Mini Vehicles case assortment?]]
[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Publisher's clearing house.]]
[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Scorponok, Terrorsaur, we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause Waspinator has a bigger fan club.]]
The most obvious To Sell Toys effect comes from the temporary nature of retail sales. Even in the 1980s, toys rarely stayed on the shelves past two years; today that timespan is much smaller. Once a toy is no longer selling, Hasbro has no interest in supporting fiction about that character—especially when there's newer toys to promote. Therefore, writers are often compelled to remove characters from the story by killing them off. Sometimes this happens through carefully developed story arcs, but it's easier to do it with huge, apocalyptic battles with massive numbers of casualties.

This has become less common in recent years, as Hasbro has come to realize that their target audiences can actually get attached to certain [[character]]s, and might not enjoy seeing them die random, brutal, meaningless [[death]]s.

* In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters are killed or changed in the movie's first 30 minutes, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They are replaced by a slew of new characters; in fact, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters.
* Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga "[[Time Wars]]". The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], for example.)
* The [[Underbase Saga]] features a super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] killing literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], and [[Targetmaster]] ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. However, the explanation (Underbase power didn't affect those TFs with organic components) meant that even the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], new toys at the time and introduced three issues before, met their end.
* The climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]] 25 issues later killed off many of the Underbase survivors, whose shelf run had ended.
* With its enormously expensive CGI animation, ''Beast Wars'' was particularly vulnerable to toy-based interference. The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant; the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of pre-existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. (Frustrated with the situation, the writers carefully planned out<ref>http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html</ref> the demise of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], anticipating that someone would have to be removed to make way for [[Rampage (BW)|newer characters]].) [[Tigerhawk]] was introduced and then killed off within three episodes, due to corporate uncertainty about whether the toy would actually be produced.
* ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' would end up killing a large number of Autobots in one issue, after their toys had been around for a while; as they'd not made an appearance in the comics until this mini, this is both an example of Huge Cast ''and'' Product Clearing. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 5}} It would then go on to bump off some Decepticons, while its sequel ''Alliance'' slaughtered ''hordes'' of Decepticons with old toys. Mowry is the new Furman... {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}}

===Hi-and-die===
[[Image:Chuffer cof.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Likely dialog: "SHEEEAAGH!!"]]
Kids don't want to buy a toy of a character who's dead. So if the plot calls for someone to die, smart money bets on the character who has a toy as the survivor. The guy without a toy, who you've never heard of before? Toast. This is the Transformers version of ''Star Trek's'' infamous [[wikipedia:redshirt_syndrome|redshirt syndrome]].

* This approach was particularly common in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#UK comics|UK comics]]. Characters created specifically so they could be killed off include Wrecker leader [[Impactor]], Autobot/zombie food [[Chuffer]], Tailgate's Autobot trainee buddies/mutant fodder [[Subsea]] and [[Flattop (Autobot)|Flattop]], and the sixth member of the "Magnificent Six", [[Stampede]].
* The US comics also used this approach on occasion, as with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s poignantly adorable buddy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]].
* The ''Energon'' cartoon introduced [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], whose purpose was to die at [[Shockblast]]'s hands, proving motivation for toy-character [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]].
* ''Animated'' chucked in [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] so Ratchet could have a tragic past where he failed to save someone. (And ''then'' she got a toy!)
* The [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'' comic]] wants to do a story arc about an Autobot who's really a spy and then have him killed. Quick, [[Afterburn|make someone up]]!
* ''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' invents hordes of characters solely to populate the story with casualties while preserving the classic characters: [[Chromatron]], [[Gauntlet]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Drixco]], [[Revo]], [[Catalycon]], and dozens of other unnamed Autobots, Decepticons and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].
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*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] was killed off in the first few minutes of [[Transformers: Prime|Transformer Prime's]] [[Darkness Rising Part 1|first episode]] just so he could be a [[Terracon|zombie]].

===Resurrection===
Killing off a character isn't always toy-motivated; sometimes it's a dramatic plot development. But it can also be a problem if Hasbro decides to make a new toy of that character.

[[Image:Inferno dies agenda2.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Only a flesh wound!]]

* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been resurrected [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|so many times]] that it's practically a defining character trait. His original revival in the cartoon didn't correspond to any actual toy release, but the Marvel comic brought him back specifically to advertise his [[Powermaster]] form. A second death-and-revival introduced his [[Action Master]] body. And a ''third'' death-and-revival in ''Generation 2'' brought him into his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#G2Hero|Hero]] toy form.
* The Japanese killed off Optimus (or "Convoy" as they called him) in [[The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']]. A few years later, they not only brought him back with a new toy, {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars}} the ''entire franchise'' for that year was called ''[[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''.
* Numerous "dead" characters were brought back into the Marvel comic series when their Classics and/or Action Master versions were released. Many were "deactivated" rather than outright dead; however, very few ''non'' Action Master characters showed up alongside them.
* The series writers for ''Beast Wars'' considered [[Optimus Primal]] dead and gone at the end of Season 1. Hasbro, however, had a [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal toy to promote, and so he was returned to life in Season 2. Hasbro wanted him brought back in the first minutes of the season premiere, but the writers managed to convince them that it would be better to do so at the ''end'' of the two-episode story.
* At the end of Season 2 of ''Beast Wars'', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed—being ''disintegrated''—but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series.
* Pretty much ''nobody'' could successfully die in the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]. [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] all die and/or are resurrected from the dead during the course of the show.
* [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] still had toys out in 2008. The [[bio]] for AllSpark-Enhanced Autobot Jazz states he was brought back from near-death by the AllSpark and is "more powerful than ever". Voila, Jazz comes back from the dead thanks to the AllSpark in Titan's tie-in comic! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}} Optimus even uses the ''term'' "Autobot Jazz" in a later issue... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|Hard Target}}
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===Untouchables===

[[Image:Armorhide_drawhisfire.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Really, they could just stand there making rude noises at Starscream.]]

Obviously, if a character ''does'' have a current toy (or soon will), they're not going to die, even if the plot or common sense indicates they should.

* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had betrayed [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] to the Maximals, ruining his greatest shot at victory. As he declared, "There will be no more betrayals!", she would pay the price: being knocked into stasis lock so the Maximals could fix her and she could stay on their team. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}
* Megatron himself was in a prime position to be terminated, as were the Maximals later on, in "[[The Weak Component]]". Since this was only episode 6 and everyone had toys out, the cast politely agreed not to take this opportunity to end a brutal war for the planet.
* Titan's Movie strip was moved to an alternate universe, where you'd [[Rhythms of Darkness!|expect nobody to be safe from death]]. However, most of the cast had toys out, so whether it was a desperate guerrilla fight against Decepticon occupation, the rise of [[Unicron]], a [[Decepticon Civil War]], or the final battle, very few characters bought it. The big exception was [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]], dying in his first battle.
* Starscream, the end.

==Notable exceptions==
There are, however, a few notable exception to the To Sell Toys effect:

===Toys not released in the relevant market===

[[Image:Swoopg1marvelukfirst.jpg|right|200px|thumb|YOU CAN'T HAVE ME.]]

Occasionally the ''Transformers'' fiction released in a particular country features characters whose toys were not released in that country. The Marvel UK comic featured two variants of this phenomenon:

* Characters inherited from the US strips. Some, such as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], were given fairly prominent roles in the US stories reprinted in the UK comic and so it was hard to ignore them completely in the UK originated material despite their toys not being around to need advertising. However the decision to develop the Predacons (even before their US appearances were reprinted), to have entire storylines focusing on Swoop, and also to keep Shockwave in continuity even after he'd been (supposedly) killed off in the US comic goes beyond this.
* Characters not featured in the US strips. Bizarrely the UK comic also made use of some characters such as [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], despite their toys not being available on UK toy shelves. None of these characters were inherited from the US material.

Writer [[Simon Furman]] has since stated that when writing the stories he was generally unaware of which toys were unavailable in the UK: "We largely took our cue from what characters were being introduced into the US storyline. If there was a release schedule for the toys in the UK, we rarely saw it... But in the case of Swoop and the Predacons, I don't think I was consciously aware (at the time) that we were dealing with toys not generally available in the UK. They were just extant characters, and therefore fair game." <ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php TransFans.net - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'].</ref>

This would happen again with Titan, as foreign exclusives palled around with UK-available toys such as [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Slap Dash|Slap Dash]].
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===Post-Marvel comics===
[[Image:Infiltration 1b.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Hey, Runamuck, it's our first appearance on a comic book cover in twenty years!" "Heh heh, now if only we could appear on toy store shelves..."]]

Both [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics, the two recent holders of the license to publish ''Transformers'' comic books, sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (2007)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a current character in IDW's G1 continuity, has only recently had a toy on shelves after twenty years), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars'').

[[Chris Ryall]], IDW Editor-in-Chief and writer of the miniseries adapting the 2007 movie to comics, had stated on IDW's forums that Hasbro does not dictate what comics IDW must make ("Nope, no dictates at all from Hasbro. We put the plan together, send to them for approval.").<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=69377</ref> By the time of ''All Hail Megatron'', however, the ''Universe'' line came out and Hasbro asked IDW to start using some of those designs. <ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=102461&sid=2298445cdfba342643da80282a95cc7a#102461 Guido reveals the Hasbro request]</ref> This practice seems to have been thrown out for the new Ongoing title.

===New toys, same basic design===

In more recent times (mostly in the case of the [[live-action film series]]), Hasbro use a combination of minor [[redeco]]s and [[retool]]s and sculpts based on the same basic designs to create new toys, instead of giving recurring characters a major design overhaul for the next installment. The fiction then rarely, if ever, acknowledges any of those minor design changes. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], some people at Hasbro even argued against changing the designs of some returning characters in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', so that parents would '''not''' have to buy the same toy twice for their children just because of a minor change or modification to the characters' designs. <ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2186879&postcount=171 Roberto Orci posting at TFW2005.com]</ref> (Hasbro still released new, or modified, toys of those characters, prompting [[completist]]s to buy them as well, and the film gave some of the characters slight tweaks in their [[alternate mode]]s, based on changes in the real-life vehicle designs, which the toys had to incorporate.)

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category:Toys]]

To sell toys

2012-04-04T00:42:17Z

97.100.57.102: /* Hi-and-die */

[[Image:MarvelUS-19.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hasbro wasn't quite sure whether to advertise this expensive toy until the fans forced their hand.]]

To understand ''Transformers'' fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[Toy|toys]] to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally [[Transformers (2007)#Reception|make a profit in their own right]], but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't usually sell someone the same toy twice<ref>Although the toy lines from the [[live-action film series]] have given us multiple ''different'' toys of the ''same characters''.</ref>, Hasbro and Takara constantly introduce new toys, and often require the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes ([[Mini-Con]]s) this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers (the in-comic explanations for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s are kinda wonky).

The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based ''Transformers'' comic]] has taken this to more blatant heights. For its first year, it had a specific four-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which exists solely to promote the newest Transformers merchandise. ''Any'' merchandise. This led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was. For ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'', [[Ironhide (Movie)|''Ironhide himself'']] opened letters pages by telling readers how ''awesome'' the game was and how [[you]] should buy it.

==Casting==
===Huge casts===
[[Image:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Pokeformers|Gotta catch 'em all!]]]]
Hasbro makes a lot of toys at once, and they generally want all of them to appear in their fiction. This can force writers to bring in vast numbers of characters all at once, sometimes with awkward results. Examples include:

* The first issue of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comics]], "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]", in which ''twenty-eight'' different robots appeared and introduced themselves, even though only a handful are important to the plot.
* "[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", a free mini-comic given away with issue [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]] of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|comic]], notoriously introduces the reader to ''twenty-four'' new Transformers in just three pages. Granted, four of those are the [[Combiner|combined forms]] of the other twenty, but that's still a lot of new names to remember.
* The 1987 ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' Limited Series, which introduced over ''sixty'' characters in the course of four issues, including all the first waves of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s, all their [[Nebulan]] partners, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbot]]s.
* The cartoon episode "[[The Rebirth]]" likewise abruptly introduced a deluge of the 1987 toyline characters, mostly the same ones seen in ''Headmasters''.
* In the first four episodes of ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', eighteen characters are introduced in quick succession.
* From #9 onwards, [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movie-based ''Transformers'']] has heavily bumped up the cast with new toys. In one example, #17 brought in nine new toys in eleven pages; only one of the five Decepticons got any real focus or dialogue.

===Random casting===
The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:

* Season 2 of the cartoon introduced many new characters/buyable toys with no explanation; despite never having been seen before, the story treats them as though they have [[Beachcomber (G1)|been there]] [[Perceptor (G1)|the whole]] [[Tracks (G1)|time]].
[[Image:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|right|200px|thumb|After seven issues, it's finally time for these six dudes to do something!]]
[[Image:Optimusprimeg1preearthmarvel2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Apparently, the Triggerbots didn't make much of an impression on Prime.]]
* The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" suddenly introduces a dozen Autobots and Decepticons that we've never met before, and follows their adventures. The story adds nothing to the long-range plot that couldn't have been accomplished by using existing characters; these teams were added to the mix to promote their new toys.
* Many issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: [[Repeat Performance!|#8]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], [[Brainstorm!|#11]], [[Command Performances!|#19]], [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]], [[Crater Critters|#29]], [[The Cure!|#30]], [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]], [[People Power!|#42]], [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]], [[Club Con!|#47]], and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.
* In [[Spacehikers!|issue #36]] of the Marvel comics, when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] decides that he needs help in dealing with [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s inept leadership, he doesn't turn to any of the ''dozens'' of Autobots aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', which include two combiner teams and Omega Supreme. No, he has to call in his "old buddy"/new toy, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]].
* In the prelude to the [[Underbase Saga]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to [[Earth]]. But rather than palling around with the likes of Jazz or Prowl, they are instead shown alongside the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon]]s and the [[Triggerbot]]s.
* [[Mainframe Entertainment]] planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy, and to save money as his CGI model was only a slight tweak of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s. <ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/9c79c4226fc6dd28/30c3cdf158ea6e52?lnk=st&q=bob+forward+beast+wars+tigatron+wolfang&rnum=1#30c3cdf158ea6e52 Ben Yee relays some info from Bob Forward in regards to Wolfang being replaced by Tigatron in the Beast Wars cartoon]</ref>
* Rather than revealing stuff about the [[Vok]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], a long-running subplot, "[[Other Victories]]" spends much of its time telling us how great [[Tigerhawk]] is and how we should buy his toy.
* The [[First (and Second) in Flight|sixth issue]] of ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' stops following the regular cast so it can flag the awesome cool out-now-in-shops [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] toy.
* Prominent generals in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movieverse]] Decepticon army change frequently and without any acknowledgment as new toys jostle for (and gain) space.

===Limited casting===
On the opposite side of things, Hasbro doesn't want to pay to depict characters that aren't selling toys. This can force a story, particularly an animated cartoon, to have a smaller cast than it otherwise might.

[[Image:Metamorphdeceps2.JPG|right|200px|thumb|The full might of the Decepticon army.]]
* The early episodes of ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured only the toys available on the shelves. This resulted in two ridiculously small teams going to [[Earth]] for the all-important mission of gathering Mini-Cons, rather inexplicable in story terms.
* [[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Both the Dreamwave]] and [[Armada (Panini comic)|Panini comics]] suffered exactly the same problem, but it gets worse: [[First Encounter|The first ''Armada'' episode]] reused models of older Transformers as generic background guys to bump numbers up. The comics ''didn't''. So Megatron apparently conquers all of planet Cybertron with an army of three guys, whereas the city/planet defending Autobots are just five blokes.
* Dreamwave would also [[Dreamwave Armada issue 10|feature a scene on Cybertron]], where the ''only'' Autobot who seemed to exist was [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]].
* For the movie prequels, IDW got around this by deciding that [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was going to be a [[Class Alpha drone unit|series of drones]] instead of one guy, allowing for really big battle scenes despite a then-limited number of toys. {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel}} (It would later turn out there was ''also'' Dreadwing who was one guy.) Titan Magazines would borrow this, and turn other Decepticons into drone series too.
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==Plot==
===Forced explication===
{{main|Introdump}}

Rather than simply showing up in the background, new toy/characters often overtly introduce themselves, often with a ridiculous description of their special abilities. The Marvel comic is rife with examples, but it shows up across numerous fictions.

[[Image:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Reflector is actually here, he's just buried underneath a pile of speech bubbles.]]
* Again, [[The Transformers (issue)|''Transformers'' #1]] has two huge splash pages in which 28 characters do nothing but stand around and tell each other who they are and what they can do.
* The two-part Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]" features many new 1985 characters getting their own short little introductory scene, often with a characteristic bit of self-description ([[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]: "I'd rather stay in my stunning auto mode!" [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]: "I'm ''always'' ready for action!" [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]: "Wow, like, I hope we don't destroy this place before we can study it!")
* "[[The Rebirth]]" has ''three different sequences'' in which large new groups of characters form a lineup and introduce themselves to viewers one after another. Strangely enough, much of this screen- and dialogue-time is given over to Nebulan partners; the "main" Transformer characters get no such introductions, even though they are the items kids would have to purchase to acquire the Nebulan accessories. For instance, [[Spasma]], [[Monzo]], and [[Peacemaker]] (all speaking characters) are introduced by name as part of various lineups, but their in-store hosts [[Apeface]], [[Weirdwolf]], and [[Pointblank]] are never named (and Weirdwolf never even speaks).
* "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" has the Maximals walk on one-by-one admiring their beast modes, loudly explaining their names and showing character traits. This also gives the impression they deliberately changed their names to fit these new beast modes for no apparent reason.

===Gimmicks===
When the toys can do something special, fiction writers must often go out of their way to show the gimmick in action.

* The Headmaster gimmick got [[The Transformers: Headmasters|an entire Limited Series comic book]] devoted to it.
* The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] proudly creating the [[Pretender]]s, gloating that they will hide the Decepticons' identities from the Autobots "until it is too late". Not only does the plan not actually work, it's also a plot point with absolutely zero lead-in or build-up—at no point has Scorponok ever expressed concern about his troops being detected by the Autobots, and we've never even met the Pretender characters before. It was brought about solely because the new toys had to be jammed into the story. (The, uh, story of returning Optimus Prime's character to the comic book because he had [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|a new toy]].)
* [[Rotor Force]] made their debut in "[[New Dawn]]", and both here and in subsequent ''Generation 2'' issues would primarily fight enemies not with guns like everyone else, but by firing their giant rotors at them. Page 3 of ''New Dawn'' actually shows them having to ''stop and reattach their rotors'' before they can carry on fighting.
[[Image:Mistaken Identity Galvatronscourge.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin Time! MASTODON!]]]]
* ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] had six alternate modes and the cartoon really wanted you to see them, which is why [[Battle Protocol!|his first appearance]] is as ''a giant hand for no reason''. It gets sillier when he turns into Galvatron and gains four more modes. In "[[Mistaken Identity]]", he turns into his "Iron Mammoth" form when facing off against [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|a hostile Fortress Maximus]] even though he doesn't ''do'' anything in his form except stand there ''as he was already doing''.
* [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] are the only Autobot jets in the ''Animated'' line. (Not counting the toyless [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]].) To fully big this up, their origin story has it that there have ''never been'' any flying Autobots before, despite them having been in (and won) a long and bitter war with enemies who ''often fly''.

The [[Unicron Trilogy]], noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines, was particularly notorious in this regard:

* The quest for power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s practically defined the plot of the ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons.
* [[Powerlinx|Powerlinxing]] is shown again and again and again in ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', despite having comparatively little relevance to most episode plotlines.
* [[Cyber Key]] powerups are likewise shown repeatedly in ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].''
* All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[Stock footage|recycled footage]]).

===Strange developments===
Shoehorning loads of new characters with new powers can compel the writers to do things with the plot that, in all probability, they otherwise wouldn't.

* Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a story arc titled "[[Second Generation!]]", where [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and Shockwave <strike>watched an advert</strike> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams in action. These events were previewed in "The Special Teams Have Arrived", nine issues earlier, with no indication that they were part a vision, making their place in continuity uncertain.
* In the US Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the introduction of the Pretenders both saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical numbers/gimmicks at the same time.
* Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and the 1985 Mini-Vehicles, by contrast, show up now and again, as their toys were still shipping. Even Starscream, who was ''dead'', managed to get a couple of Season 3 episodes all to himself; again, his toy sold through 1986.
* [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2]] wrote an entire story devoted to Optimus sternly explaining which Autobots and Decepticons were on sale in [[Germany]] in 1989. The reason he had to? [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] had ''shot an Autobot''!
* The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]]—who had just had a new and expensive toy.
[[Image:Samprowl.jpg|right|100px|thumb|<strike>Upgrades are bad.</strike> Upgrades are GOOD. We have always been at war with <strike>Eurasia</strike> Eastasia.]]
* "[[A Fistful of Energon]]" has [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] learn not to use upgrades, and gives up using powerful samurai armour. But whoops, Hasbro thought "hey, we could make a toy out of that armour"! And so in [[Five Servos of Doom|a later episode]], Prowl ''regains'' it and the show hurriedly claims that the upgrade is fine ''now'' because Prowl realizes now that it's the Autobot, not the upgrade.
* The [[France|French]] decided to be good sports and start using propeller-driven nuclear bombers again, just so [[Octane|Tankor]] could be used ([[All Hail Megatron issue 11]]).
* [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] has been on Earth for a while, in hiding from other Decepticons while he waits for orders from [[the Fallen]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout}} Ransack is a member of a race that can scan any object and take its form as a disguise. Ransack moves around in the cunning disguise of ''a 100-year-old plane''. (At least, unlike the previous example, the oldness of the alt-mode was pointed out.)
* In Titan's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] go from being [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] responsibility to bugging [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to being [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe's]] responsibility in the space of three issues, all to allow each issue to focus on a specific toy-bearing movie star. Similarly, only one or two Decepticons per issue are sent on a mission, when presumably the Fallen might want to send loads of guys to silence the twins.
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===Awkward continuity===
[[Image:Earthforce.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This happened... er.... look just buy the toys, ok?!]]

Sometimes the requirement to feature new toys can be so strong that continuity takes a major backseat and stories are produced that feature combinations of characters that make the story very difficult to slot into the main continuity. The Marvel UK comic was especially prone to this as it could not always foresee where, when and how characters would be introduced:

* The ''[[Transformers Annual 1986]]'' contains many stories featuring toys from the 1985 release long before they were formally introduced in the regular comic, often interacting with other characters who would be out of action by then. As a result few of the stories easily fit the continuity of the weekly comic.
* The demands of Hasbro UK for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s to be featured heavily even before the US ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series was available meant that both the ''[[Transformers Annual 1988]]'' and the regular strip "[[Worlds Apart!]]" contain a slightly different set of events that are at odds with the mini-series.
* The requirement to give prominence to the rereleased toys in the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] range resulted in one the biggest continuity trainwrecks of all, [[Earthforce]]. Over two decades later fans are still uncertain where it fits in continuity, and even [[Simon Furman]] admits to being unsure.<ref>"Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it's very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I'm brutally honest) I didn't try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn't necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?" [http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php TransFans.net - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'].</ref>
* Germany's ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' started in 1989 and reprinted older Marvel US and UK strips. Since, of course, these would rarely show the current toys, Comic-Magazin ran text stories from #2 that showcased ''completely different'' Transformers that were on Earth at the same time, and just happened not to be seen in the strips.
* Trapped between the need to pimp toys and the problem of not knowing what the plot of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' would be, Titan just threw up their hands and unambiguously set their lead strip in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)#Alternate universe|an alternate universe]].
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===Power levels===
In order to make new characters seem more ''totally awesome'', they're often depicted as ultra-powerful in their initial appearances. Once they become old news, they frequently seem to lose their super-charged abilities.

* The Generation 1 cartoon introduced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as the ultimate threat. Once newer combiner teams came along, however, he was less of a threat, easily defeated at various times by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and even [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]].
[[Image:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Buzzsaw reminds Omega Supreme he's not a new toy any more.]]
* The Marvel comics feature [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as nigh-invulnerable and ultimately powerful in [[Command Performances!|his debut issue]], slaughtering 2/3rds of the Decepticon forces sent to attack him. Just [[Dark Star|two years later]], he's getting his butt handed to him by the likes of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], one of his original victims.
* [[Waspinator]] was, amazingly, something of a threat in early episodes; he holds his own against [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in his debut. He only became significantly weaker than the other Predacons during the second season.
* In her first appearance on the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] effortlessly blasts [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to pieces. She never displays such a level of power again.
* Similarly, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was presented as a huge threat when he first appeared, but just a few episodes later, he seems just slightly tougher than the average Predacon (save for a few notable occasions).
* [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] was actually a credible threat for his first couple of episodes.
* The [[Commando|Commandos]] were far more powerful and competent than the Predacons, who were made even ''less'' powerful and competent as episodes went on. Remarkably, this was actually used in the plot, with Megatron focusing on the new toys while the Predacons became underdogs trying to get their old status back and one-up the new guys.
[[Image:ArmTVTidalWave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Before he shrank in the wash.]]
* ''Any'' new toy character in the Unicron Trilogy cartoons is almost guaranteed to win the day's battle.
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was a staggering behemoth as big as the sky in his introduction, and his ability to combine with Megatron LITERALLY gave the battle advantage to the Decepticons until his equally powerful counterpart [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] was introduced. By the time of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Tidal Wave is just this tall guy (but not as tall as he used to be) and is treated as just another Decepticon, even after he gets a body upgrade in the form of "Mirage".
* When the newly redecoed Jetfire and Optimus combine in Dreamwave's Armada comic, they are so powerful ''they can hurt Unicron himself''.
* [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] was incredibly powerful when he was first introduced, but later on, he's getting slaps on the wrist by [[Lori]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], and schooled by [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], ultimately becoming more of a sympathetic comedic bumbler than a credible threat.
* The Decepticons in ''Animated'' started off as being so horrifically powerful that the entire Autobot team had to take on a ''single'' one. By Season 3, this no longer happens. Uniquely, this was ''deliberate'' by the writers: they wanted to show the Decepticons as supreme threats, and have the Autobots gradually being better at dealing with them.
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===New bodies===
There's rarely a compelling reason for a Transformer to get a brand-new body in fiction; it's simply to promote a new toy. It has become a default way to keep a popular character on shelves, rather than having to kill them off and introduce a new character to keep moving toys. Sometimes fiction writers are able to work these alterations in elegantly... sometimes not.

[[Image:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ratchet pulls a Kitty Pryde on Bumblebee.]]
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] was rebuilt into Goldbug following his near-destruction... and was later re-rebuilt back into Bumblebee to sell the [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|new Classic Pretender toy]]. The reason given in [[Skin Deep|the comic storyline]] was that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] reverted him without his consent because Ratchet liked his old form better, something Bumblebee is strangely fine with.
* Season 2 of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' introduced the new [[Transmetal]] toys in short order, requiring some strange sci-fi waffling to explain why members of both teams suddenly got special new bodies. The writers had originally planned to introduce these changes gradually, across the length of Season 2, but Hasbro ordered them to be brought in immediately. (The slow-and-gradual notion would eventually appear during Season 3.)
* The [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons feature [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] getting recolored and renamed "Galvatron" ''three times''; at the start of each subsequent series, he's given a different body but called Megatron ''again'', because the name "Megatron" just sells more toys. (This also means Hasbro gets to keep the [[trademark]] "Galvatron".)
* Several times during the Unicron Trilogy, characters get new paint jobs as part of some magical power-up enhancement. These new color schemes exist solely to promote redecorated toys like "[[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]]" or "[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Hot Shot]]". Even the comics got in on the action, introducing the redecorated versions of [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] during the Unicron arc.
* The three future members of the [[Cybertron Defense Team]] get shot up by Megatron, then transmogrify through the power of [[Burning justice|BLAZING HEART OF JUSTICE]] into new forms. These new forms, of course, were just hitting shelves at a toy store near you.
* In the course of the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] gets irritated at a slight against his alternate mode, and scans a new form. Voila, suddenly he's got ''two'' toys on the shelf!
* When [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''Transformers'' comic originally came out, there were no Generation 1-themed toys to flog, and many characters were given altered designs for the series. Then along came ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', featuring new toys of Generation 1 characters, and suddenly multiple characters get new, toy-accurate bodies in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', for no apparent in-story reason. Later, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] even gets a namechange to ''Silver''streak to fit his toy.
* [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was originally grey, but when he was reunited with the ''Animated'' Decepticons, he changed his colours to purple while referring to it as his proper look. Why he changed colouration to go undercover was not explained, but it may have something to do with a purple-coloured Shockwave toy being out when that episode aired.
* In ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] start out as an old ice cream truck combiner but after a disastrous mission [[NEST]] decides to upgrade them to new individual [[General Motors]] vehicles. New toys ''and'' product placement!

===Abrupt conclusions===
[[Image:MarvelUSG2-12.jpg|right|150px|thumb|It's the end of the road for Transformers Generation 2! That can't bode well for the toyline.]]

Just as ''Transformers'' fiction lives at Hasbro's pleasure, so too does it die. Falling sales, a change of plans, and standard [[rebranding]] can all cause a storyline to come to a sudden end when Hasbro decides to pull the plug.

* The American Generation 1 cartoon got a somewhat rushed conclusion in the form of "[[The Rebirth]]", rather than a full fourth season.
* The Generation 1 comics were nearly canceled at [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]], but granted a reprieve. The stay of execution was only temporary, however; with the Generation 1 toyline ending, the comic was terminated a mere five issues later, resulting in a rather hasty concluding plotline.
* Hasbro was only willing to support the [[Generation 2 (Marvel comic)|''Generation 2'' comic]] for twelve issues, unless it proved an unqualified (perhaps phenomenal) success. Aware of this from the start, writer Simon Furman was able to plot a story arc that reached its finale as the series ended (and poked fun at it with a character whose name is a pun on "[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Gee, axe us]]".)
* The writers of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon reportedly never had any idea if they'd be back for another season. When the axe fell with Season 3, they had only three episodes left to wrap up the whole series.
* Hasbro nearly killed off the just-begun comic series ''The Wreckers'' in 2001, wishing instead for [[3H Productions|3H]] to focus on a ''[[Universe (2003 comic)|Universe]]'' comic advertising its current toyline.
* Even though ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' wasn't abruptly canceled, Kids WB ended the series on the cliffhanger of the episode "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", leaving millions of kids tuning in next time only to get a re-run of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The reason? The Cybertron Defense Team toys hadn't hit stores yet.
* With ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' coming out in June, Titan had to end their alternate universe storyline in May so they could tie in early—an issue earlier than planned. The main strip handled this, with the notable exception of [[Jazz (Movie)#Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics|the Jazz plot arc]] going completely unresolved, but it played havoc with working out the IDW reprints!
{{-}}

==Death==
===Killing off old product===
[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Guess who's no longer in the Mini Vehicles case assortment?]]
[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Publisher's clearing house.]]
[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Scorponok, Terrorsaur, we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause Waspinator has a bigger fan club.]]
The most obvious To Sell Toys effect comes from the temporary nature of retail sales. Even in the 1980s, toys rarely stayed on the shelves past two years; today that timespan is much smaller. Once a toy is no longer selling, Hasbro has no interest in supporting fiction about that character—especially when there's newer toys to promote. Therefore, writers are often compelled to remove characters from the story by killing them off. Sometimes this happens through carefully developed story arcs, but it's easier to do it with huge, apocalyptic battles with massive numbers of casualties.

This has become less common in recent years, as Hasbro has come to realize that their target audiences can actually get attached to certain [[character]]s, and might not enjoy seeing them die random, brutal, meaningless [[death]]s.

* In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters are killed or changed in the movie's first 30 minutes, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They are replaced by a slew of new characters; in fact, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters.
* Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga "[[Time Wars]]". The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], for example.)
* The [[Underbase Saga]] features a super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] killing literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], and [[Targetmaster]] ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. However, the explanation (Underbase power didn't affect those TFs with organic components) meant that even the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], new toys at the time and introduced three issues before, met their end.
* The climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]] 25 issues later killed off many of the Underbase survivors, whose shelf run had ended.
* With its enormously expensive CGI animation, ''Beast Wars'' was particularly vulnerable to toy-based interference. The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant; the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of pre-existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. (Frustrated with the situation, the writers carefully planned out<ref>http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html</ref> the demise of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], anticipating that someone would have to be removed to make way for [[Rampage (BW)|newer characters]].) [[Tigerhawk]] was introduced and then killed off within three episodes, due to corporate uncertainty about whether the toy would actually be produced.
* ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' would end up killing a large number of Autobots in one issue, after their toys had been around for a while; as they'd not made an appearance in the comics until this mini, this is both an example of Huge Cast ''and'' Product Clearing. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 5}} It would then go on to bump off some Decepticons, while its sequel ''Alliance'' slaughtered ''hordes'' of Decepticons with old toys. Mowry is the new Furman... {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}}

===Hi-and-die===
[[Image:Chuffer cof.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Likely dialog: "SHEEEAAGH!!"]]
Kids don't want to buy a toy of a character who's dead. So if the plot calls for someone to die, smart money bets on the character who has a toy as the survivor. The guy without a toy, who you've never heard of before? Toast. This is the Transformers version of ''Star Trek's'' infamous [[wikipedia:redshirt_syndrome|redshirt syndrome]].

* This approach was particularly common in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#UK comics|UK comics]]. Characters created specifically so they could be killed off include Wrecker leader [[Impactor]], Autobot/zombie food [[Chuffer]], Tailgate's Autobot trainee buddies/mutant fodder [[Subsea]] and [[Flattop (Autobot)|Flattop]], and the sixth member of the "Magnificent Six", [[Stampede]].
* The US comics also used this approach on occasion, as with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s poignantly adorable buddy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]].
* The ''Energon'' cartoon introduced [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], whose purpose was to die at [[Shockblast]]'s hands, proving motivation for toy-character [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]].
* ''Animated'' chucked in [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] so Ratchet could have a tragic past where he failed to save someone. (And ''then'' she got a toy!)
* The [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'' comic]] wants to do a story arc about an Autobot who's really a spy and then have him killed. Quick, [[Afterburn|make someone up]]!
* ''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' invents hordes of characters solely to populate the story with casualties while preserving the classic characters: [[Chromatron]], [[Gauntlet]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Drixco]], [[Revo]], [[Catalycon]], and dozens of other unnamed Autobots, Decepticons and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].
{{-}}
*[[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] was killed off in the first few minutes of [[Transformers: Prime|Transformer Prime's]] [[Darkness Risng Part 1|first episode]] just so he could be a [[Terrocon|zombie]].

===Resurrection===
Killing off a character isn't always toy-motivated; sometimes it's a dramatic plot development. But it can also be a problem if Hasbro decides to make a new toy of that character.

[[Image:Inferno dies agenda2.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Only a flesh wound!]]

* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been resurrected [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|so many times]] that it's practically a defining character trait. His original revival in the cartoon didn't correspond to any actual toy release, but the Marvel comic brought him back specifically to advertise his [[Powermaster]] form. A second death-and-revival introduced his [[Action Master]] body. And a ''third'' death-and-revival in ''Generation 2'' brought him into his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#G2Hero|Hero]] toy form.
* The Japanese killed off Optimus (or "Convoy" as they called him) in [[The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']]. A few years later, they not only brought him back with a new toy, {{storylink|The Battlestars (story page)|The Battlestars}} the ''entire franchise'' for that year was called ''[[Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''.
* Numerous "dead" characters were brought back into the Marvel comic series when their Classics and/or Action Master versions were released. Many were "deactivated" rather than outright dead; however, very few ''non'' Action Master characters showed up alongside them.
* The series writers for ''Beast Wars'' considered [[Optimus Primal]] dead and gone at the end of Season 1. Hasbro, however, had a [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal toy to promote, and so he was returned to life in Season 2. Hasbro wanted him brought back in the first minutes of the season premiere, but the writers managed to convince them that it would be better to do so at the ''end'' of the two-episode story.
* At the end of Season 2 of ''Beast Wars'', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed—being ''disintegrated''—but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series.
* Pretty much ''nobody'' could successfully die in the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]. [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] all die and/or are resurrected from the dead during the course of the show.
* [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] still had toys out in 2008. The [[bio]] for AllSpark-Enhanced Autobot Jazz states he was brought back from near-death by the AllSpark and is "more powerful than ever". Voila, Jazz comes back from the dead thanks to the AllSpark in Titan's tie-in comic! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 16|Dark Spark}} Optimus even uses the ''term'' "Autobot Jazz" in a later issue... {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 21|Hard Target}}
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===Untouchables===

[[Image:Armorhide_drawhisfire.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Really, they could just stand there making rude noises at Starscream.]]

Obviously, if a character ''does'' have a current toy (or soon will), they're not going to die, even if the plot or common sense indicates they should.

* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had betrayed [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] to the Maximals, ruining his greatest shot at victory. As he declared, "There will be no more betrayals!", she would pay the price: being knocked into stasis lock so the Maximals could fix her and she could stay on their team. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}
* Megatron himself was in a prime position to be terminated, as were the Maximals later on, in "[[The Weak Component]]". Since this was only episode 6 and everyone had toys out, the cast politely agreed not to take this opportunity to end a brutal war for the planet.
* Titan's Movie strip was moved to an alternate universe, where you'd [[Rhythms of Darkness!|expect nobody to be safe from death]]. However, most of the cast had toys out, so whether it was a desperate guerrilla fight against Decepticon occupation, the rise of [[Unicron]], a [[Decepticon Civil War]], or the final battle, very few characters bought it. The big exception was [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]], dying in his first battle.
* Starscream, the end.

==Notable exceptions==
There are, however, a few notable exception to the To Sell Toys effect:

===Toys not released in the relevant market===

[[Image:Swoopg1marvelukfirst.jpg|right|200px|thumb|YOU CAN'T HAVE ME.]]

Occasionally the ''Transformers'' fiction released in a particular country features characters whose toys were not released in that country. The Marvel UK comic featured two variants of this phenomenon:

* Characters inherited from the US strips. Some, such as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], were given fairly prominent roles in the US stories reprinted in the UK comic and so it was hard to ignore them completely in the UK originated material despite their toys not being around to need advertising. However the decision to develop the Predacons (even before their US appearances were reprinted), to have entire storylines focusing on Swoop, and also to keep Shockwave in continuity even after he'd been (supposedly) killed off in the US comic goes beyond this.
* Characters not featured in the US strips. Bizarrely the UK comic also made use of some characters such as [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], despite their toys not being available on UK toy shelves. None of these characters were inherited from the US material.

Writer [[Simon Furman]] has since stated that when writing the stories he was generally unaware of which toys were unavailable in the UK: "We largely took our cue from what characters were being introduced into the US storyline. If there was a release schedule for the toys in the UK, we rarely saw it... But in the case of Swoop and the Predacons, I don't think I was consciously aware (at the time) that we were dealing with toys not generally available in the UK. They were just extant characters, and therefore fair game." <ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php TransFans.net - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'].</ref>

This would happen again with Titan, as foreign exclusives palled around with UK-available toys such as [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Slap Dash|Slap Dash]].
{{-}}

===Post-Marvel comics===
[[Image:Infiltration 1b.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Hey, Runamuck, it's our first appearance on a comic book cover in twenty years!" "Heh heh, now if only we could appear on toy store shelves..."]]

Both [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics, the two recent holders of the license to publish ''Transformers'' comic books, sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Armada (Dreamwave comic)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (2007)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a current character in IDW's G1 continuity, has only recently had a toy on shelves after twenty years), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars'').

[[Chris Ryall]], IDW Editor-in-Chief and writer of the miniseries adapting the 2007 movie to comics, had stated on IDW's forums that Hasbro does not dictate what comics IDW must make ("Nope, no dictates at all from Hasbro. We put the plan together, send to them for approval.").<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=69377</ref> By the time of ''All Hail Megatron'', however, the ''Universe'' line came out and Hasbro asked IDW to start using some of those designs. <ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=102461&sid=2298445cdfba342643da80282a95cc7a#102461 Guido reveals the Hasbro request]</ref> This practice seems to have been thrown out for the new Ongoing title.

===New toys, same basic design===

In more recent times (mostly in the case of the [[live-action film series]]), Hasbro use a combination of minor [[redeco]]s and [[retool]]s and sculpts based on the same basic designs to create new toys, instead of giving recurring characters a major design overhaul for the next installment. The fiction then rarely, if ever, acknowledges any of those minor design changes. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], some people at Hasbro even argued against changing the designs of some returning characters in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', so that parents would '''not''' have to buy the same toy twice for their children just because of a minor change or modification to the characters' designs. <ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2186879&postcount=171 Roberto Orci posting at TFW2005.com]</ref> (Hasbro still released new, or modified, toys of those characters, prompting [[completist]]s to buy them as well, and the film gave some of the characters slight tweaks in their [[alternate mode]]s, based on changes in the real-life vehicle designs, which the toys had to incorporate.)

==Footnotes==
<references/>

[[Category:Toys]]

Jetfire (Movie)

2012-04-03T10:48:10Z

97.100.57.102: /* Revenge of the Fallen film */

{{factions|decepticonfilm|autobotfilm}}
{{disambig3|Jetfire}}
{{featured}}

:''Jetfire is a [[Decepticon]] and later an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ROTF_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|351px|Get off my lawn, you young whippersnippers!]]

In his day, '''Jetfire''' was a living legend both in the air and on the battlefield. Sadly, his day has long since passed. His body went south years back. His bunny is dead on the wheel. He's got rust in places he didn't even know he had. Basically, Jetfire's old! An ancient Decepticon [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]], Jetfire was around long before the war broke out, and unlike many, came to see his "comrades" for what they were. This caused him to defect to the Autobots, something virtually unheard of. As a consequence, Jetfire never managed to fully obtain the trust of the others back in the day<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Hasbro Jetfire Battle Bio]</ref>.

He's still a fine asset, powerful and able to activate a [[space bridge]] to teleport across great distances. This is slightly offset by the fact he's so old.
After years without a proper source of energon, he's practically falling apart. His processor gave up the ghost millennia ago. These days he has a hard enough time remembering his name, and he's lucky if his teleporting puts him on the right planet. It makes him a bit crotchety and also leaves him with the nagging feeling he's forgotten something important.

{{quote|[[Relatives|My father]], why, he was a wheel! The ''first'' wheel! And do you know what he transformed into? ''Nothing!'' But he did so ''with honor! Dignity, damn it!''|Jetfire suffers the seven signs of aging|[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]}}

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
[[Image:Defiance4_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Hopefully I won't end up on some [[earth|godforsaken planet]] and be infested with [[Maximal|disgusting little critters.]]]]
In the distant past, the [[AllSpark]] Cube created [[Thirteen|a race]] of powerful, trans-dimensional beings as the first inhabitants of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The Cube gave these beings mighty powers, as well as terraforming their world, but it was not limitless, and gradually became depleted. The first beings learned that the AllSpark's power could be replenished by harvesting the energy of stars, but they were unable to locate new stars to suit their purposes, despite their amazing ability to travel between dimensions. Once again, the Cube came to the rescue, creating a race of workers who had the ability to change their shape.

Jetfire was among the very first of these new beings, a "[[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]]" with the ability to travel across the vastness of space in search of new suns. Once located, he would lead others and his masters back to it so a [[Star Harvester|harvester]] could be constructed to drain the energy of these stars, thus replenishing the AllSpark. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}}

[[Image:JetfireROTF-TalesoftheFallen.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Not a great judge of character, that Jetfire.]]

Jetfire served directly under the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] who would become [[The Fallen]], finding for him various stars to harvest, believing he was serving the [[Dynasty of Primes]] as a whole, rather than The Fallen's machinations in specific. Over time, The Fallen began to open up to Jetfire, his most loyal and capable Seeker, and told him that the Dynasty no longer served Cybertron's best interests. Jetfire had unwittingly sacrificed a populated star system under The Fallen's misdirection, and became confused.

Still, Jetfire continued to work with The Fallen, despite his doubts. His master and a small army of [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] drones had fashioned a new, secret faction called the Decepticons with the intention of eventually subverting the Dynasty. Jetfire followed them to a desert on a small blue planet to build another star harvester when [[human|primitive]] life made itself known. The Dynasty arrived soon thereafter to put an end to The Fallen's betrayal. Jetfire realized too late that he was on the wrong side, and so The Fallen warped Jetfire and the other "underlings" ''into orbit'' so that the Primes could face each other alone. As they fell planetward, Jetfire fought the Constructicons, and was eventually victorious, but with a price. He crashed from orbit into the Earth and laid dormant for thousands of years.

[[Image:Sector7_Jetfire.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

After he awoke, Jetfire began wandering the Earth {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 3}} periodically adopting new alternate modes to remain hidden. In [[1898]], while disguised as a portion of the [[United States Navy]] vessel the [[USS Maine|USS]] ''[[USS Maine|Maine]]'', Jetfire sensed energy similar to the Fallen's, and broke away from the wooden housing that form the rest of his alternate mode (inadvertently leading his human crew to believe they had been attacked, thereby initiating the Spanish-American War) that he might settle the score. Tracking the signal to the Arctic, he instead found a near-comatose robot bearing the Decepticon mark instead. Upon discovering that he was ''not'' The Fallen, but someone Jetfire had never heard of named [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], the Seeker just punched him and turned to leave. At this point, Jetfire realized he had an audience: a [[First Seven|group of humans]] who had been studying Megatron, and who reacted to Jetfire's presence by shooting at him. Jetfire promptly seized [[Billy North|his attacker]] and hurled him to his death, while the other humans used explosives to crack the ice sheets and send Jetfire plummeting into the frigid depths. {{storylink|Original}}

[[Image:Sector7 2 Jetfire.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

At the bottom of the ocean, Jetfire discovered a subterranean cave network in which he took refuge. Sensing a familiar energy source somewhere on the planet, the Seeker began to seek... but he was growing progressively low on power, and it took him fifteen years of crawling about underground before he could track the signal to its source. Along the way, he was confronted by [[Cave brute|strange, inhuman beasts]] that inhabited the caves, and slew all those that dared attack him. Finally, in [[1913]], addled and sluggish from lack of energy, he found the source of the signal: the AllSpark itself, which was in the process of being excavated by the same humans he had met in the Arctic! Fending off another attack on his person, Jetfire reached for the cube, inadvertently triggering a discharge of [[Energon]] from it that brought [[AllSpark Mutation|several surrounding machines to life]], and overloaded his systems. To expend the excess energy, Jetfire promptly teleported via [[space bridge]] to parts unknown. {{storylink|Irreplaceable}}

[[Image:Sector 7 4 Jetfire and Panzer-Giganten.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

Jetfire next surfaced in [[1944]], in the form of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, when he was captured by [[Nazi]] scientists during [[World War II]] and imprisoned in a cryo-chamber in [[Castle Neuschwanstein]]. The Nazis studied his body and mind, reverse-engineering transforming tank-mecha from his systems and prising a map of the cave system from his memory. When [[Sector Seven]]—the government organization which had grown out of that original group of humans Jetfire had fought in the Arctic—got wind of the new Nazi technology, they dispatched a unit led by [[William Simmons]] to find and destroy Jetfire. Simmons was the only survivor of the team, and made it into Castle Neuschwanstein before being confronted by the Nazis' ultimate creation, the [[Panzer-Giganten]], which he tried to destroy by throwing a satchel of explosives at it. The explosives instead struck Jetfire's chamber, freeing the Seeker from his confinement, and he proceeded to stop the Panzer-Giganten by tearing out of its human components. Demanding to know how humans could do something so hideous to their own kind, Jetfire was told by Simmons that it was not his doing, and that he believed his bomb would have killed them all, prompting Jetfire to inquire why he valued his life so little. Simmons retorted that he did value his life, but valued freedom more, something that gave Jetfire pause, reminding him of his reasons for turning on The Fallen millennia before. Seeing a kinship in Simmons and in humanity that he had not felt before, he silently destroyed the castle and everyone in it, then flew Simmons to an Allied outpost before disappearing once more. {{storylink|Weapon (issue)|Weapon}}

[[Image:Sector7 5 Jetfire.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

Jetfire's experience with Simmons deeply affected him, and he evidently shadowed the man and his organization over the following five years, taking the form of a Lockheed U-2 spy plane. In [[1954]], he was present when sabotage at Sector Seven's Arctic base left Simmons and a small crew trapped with a rapidly-thawing Megatron. [[Walter Simmons]] called for liquid nitrogen bombs to be dropped on the complex, at which point Jetfire swooped to intervene, transforming and shielding the younger Simmons's wife [[Anne Fischer|Anne]] and [[Philip Nolan]] from the freezing blast. When Jetfire sadly informed Walter that he had been unable to save William, Walter could only ask why he had done anything at all. Jetfire explained that William's nobility had driven him to atone for past sins: before departing, Jefire told him that he was no longer the creature Walter had met in those caves half a century before... and Walter did not have to be either. {{storylink|Frozen}}

[[Image:Talesofthefallen3_Jetfire_Altmode.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]

At some point in the latter half of the twentieth century, Jetfire was wandering in a desert when an SR-71 Blackbird crashed into him and exploded. Amidst the chaos, he took its form. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 3}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Mark Ryan]] (English), [[Kenji Nomura]] (Japanese), [[Engelbert von Nordhausen]] (German), [[Idzi Dutkiewicz]] (Latin American-Spanish)

Jetfire was one of the Seekers dispatched by The Fallen to locate the [[Matrix of Leadership]] after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] hid it on Earth. However, Jetfire and the other Seekers were unable to locate the [[Tomb of the Primes|Tomb]] that the Primes had forged. The only clue they could find was a riddle: "When dawn alights the Dagger's tip, Three Kings will reveal the Doorway". Eventually, the Fallen abandoned the Seekers and they were forced to go into stasis lock out of a lack of energon.

[[Image:ROTF behold Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Why am I in some mausoleum? I ain't dead! ...am I?]]

For many years, a dormant Jetfire had hidden in his alternate mode at the [[Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]]'s [[wikipedia:Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center|Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], until [[Seymour Simmons]], [[Sam Witwicky]], [[Mikaela Banes]], [[Leo Spitz]] and [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] broke in with a small fragment of the [[AllSpark]]. It was only after the AllSpark shard hit Jetfire that they bothered to check which side he was on. The sight of the Decepticon [[insignia]] sent the humans scrambling for cover, but the surge of energy awoke him. Confused at the "hideous mausoleum" he was held in, Jetfire decided to head outside to get a better handle on where he was. After his attempts at overriding and shooting the doors failed, Jetfire smashed them aside, then wandered about the planes outside, damaging a few. When the humans tried to talk to them, he initially claimed that he couldn't deal with them, as he had a mission, but did ask what planet he was (he wasn't too fond of the name "Earth", feeling it might as well be called "Dirt"). Jetfire inquired on the state of the civil war, and revealed that he had defected to the Autobots (it's an intensely personal decision). This led the smaller Wheelie to defect to a [[Mikaela Banes|human female]] he dubbed "warrior goddess". After the human Sam asked what he was saying, Jetfire, still confused, pounded the ground and shouted that he had a lot of issues regarding his mother, and that his father was the first wheel, who did not transform but performed his functions with honor and dignity. At which point a parachute stored in him suddenly popped open, bringing him down. Sam then tried to explain what was going on.

[[Image:Jetfire-ROTFstandingindesert.jpg|thumb|right|350px|In the time, before time, the Great Spirt descended from the-oops wrong franchise.]]
When Sam was finished carving [[Cyberglyphics|Cybertronian symbols]] on the ground, he mentioned Megatron and [[The Fallen]]. Jetfire ranted that The Fallen was the original Decepticon and had left him on Earth to rust. The symbols were a part of Jetfire's mission, and they jogged his memory banks enough to convince him to open a [[space bridge]], teleporting the entire group (including [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], [[Skids (ROTF)|the]] [[Mudflap (ROTF)|twins]], and Wheelie) to [[Egypt]]. Thankful that he had managed to stay on the planet, Jetfire then told them the story of the Dynasty of Primes and The Fallen, Cybertron's first contact with Earth, the [[Star Harvester]] which could destroy a [[Sun]] and convert it to energon, and the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate it, hidden on Earth. He revealed that only a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] could kill The Fallen, but he believed that none were left. Sam told him of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]; this caught the ancient Seeker's interest, revealing eagerness in the Prime's whereabouts, but became distraught to hear of Prime's death. Sam then wondered if the Matrix could restore Optimus to life. Jetfire said it was not the Matrix's intended use, but that the power within was unlike any known. Sadly, this was all Jetfire could do for the group, and after telling them of the riddle, he urged them to hurry off and find the [[Tomb of the Primes]].

[[Image:Jetfire-ROTFripoutspark.jpg|left|thumb|350px|Oh, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], you emotionless monster.]]

During the final [[Operation: Firestorm|battle]] around the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] (which contained the Star Harvester), Jetfire arrived and attempted to "stick" the landing, which didn't go quite as he planned. He immediately decided to "show how they brought the pain in my day", using his axe to slice [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] across the chest and decapitate the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]. He was critically wounded by a surprise attack from [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] and although he managed to crush the Decepticon's head, the injury was fatal. Fortunately, Jetfire was treated to one last wonder, as Sam Witwicky used the Matrix to resurrect Optimus. Jetfire was overjoyed of the moment, hardly believing that he was seeing a living [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. Unfortunately, The Fallen teleported in and attacked, damaging Optimus and stealing the Matrix, placing it in the harvester. As he lay dying, Jetfire, who felt that during his entire life he'd never done a thing worth doing, offered his parts to Optimus Prime, saying that they would give him "a power like you've never known". Telling Optimus to fulfill his destiny, Jetfire ripped out his spark core and died.

[[Image:ROTF movie Powered-Up Optimus Prime.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I'd rather be a part of someone than in a nursing home!]]

Jetfire's sacrifice was not in vain: within moments of his death, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] instructed [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] to begin a full transplant of the afterburners and weapons systems onto Optimus. Now equipped with Jetfire's powerful weapons and engines, Optimus broke through a blockade of debris The Fallen had telekinetically erected around the Pyramid and destroyed the Star Harvester before it could be used against the Earth's Sun. Prime then faced the Fallen and Megatron, using his afterburners to send Megatron flying through some ruins. During the battle, The Fallen pulled off the left wing and afterburner, using them to strike Prime in the face, but Optimus ultimately triumphed and ripped out the Fallen's spark core, killing the treacherous Prime. After the battle, Optimus quickly detached Jetfire's parts. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{--}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' novel adaptation===
Immediately after arriving in Egypt, Jetfire was attacked by [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]]. Calling Jetfire a traitor, the smaller Seeker fired a single shot which bounced off his target, and Jetfire promptly stomped Ransack to death, muttering how he'd never liked that guy. {{Storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}

===Toy bios===

Sickened by the war, the Decepticon Jetfire left Cybertron and went into hiding on Earth. When the war came to Earth and woke him up, {{storylink|#Leader Class|Jetfire}} he decided to rejoin the fight on the side of the Autobots and use his might to bring his former comrades to justice. {{storylink|#Fast Action Battlers|Photon Missile Jetfire}}

===Titan Magazines===

Jetfire harkens from a time when warriors stood by a code of honour. He was first sent to Earth by the Fallen, and believed he was working in the best interests of Cybertron, and so was a ''little'' upset to find the Fallen was actually an evil bastard. After seeing the Fallen imprison the [[Dynasty of Primes|other Primes]], Jetfire went into hiding. In [[1998]], he took advantage of the SR-71 being retired to hole up in the National Air and Space Museum as a permanent resident.

At some point, he found himself at odds with the Decepticons' credo and switched sides. ''When'' is not clear. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Jetfire profile}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game===
[[Image:Jetfire-ROTFvideogame.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Jetfire only likes to play multiplayer, not solo, if you know what we mean.]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Clive Revill]]

{{note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Jetfire was one of a handful of downloadable characters in a DLC pack for XBox 360 and Sony Playstation 3. He could be used in multiplayer games only.}}

====Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC====
=====Autobot campaign=====
Jetfire had been dormant for years in the Smithsonian Museum, but that changed after [[Sam Witwicky]] got a tip from [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] about his location, and that he would know where the [[Tomb of the Primes|Tomb of the Twelve]] was. Sam woke Jetfire up, and got the sort-of-cryptic clue "When dawn alights the Dagger's tip, Three Kings will reveal the Doorway". After that, Jetfire transported Sam to [[Cairo]] via [[space bridge]] to look for the Tomb, and the Autobots followed.

In Cairo, Jetfire assisted [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] in battle against [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. The battle went in the Autobots' favor, but Megatron was able to stab Jetfire to death. A while later, Optimus was wearing a new Jetfire suit. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

=====Decepticon campaign=====
Starscream was sent to destroy the Smithsonian Museum, where Jetfire laid dormant. He succeeded, but it was too late: both Jetfire and Sam Witwicky had already left for Cairo through a space bridge.

In Cairo, Jetfire battled Megatron alongside [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. He was killed. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

====Wii/PS2====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Clive Revill]]
Jetfire was hiding in a museum at one point, until [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] found and captured him with some [[drone]]s. Starscream reported to [[The Fallen]] that he had found Jetfire.

Jetfire was kept in the [[Decepticon]] base. After the Decepticons captured [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], Jetfire went to rescue him. Bumblebee thought he was a enemy, but Jetfire explained to Bumblebee that he defected to the [[Autobot]]s at one point in the war and about the Fallen's plans. Later he showed Bumblebee some escape pods, and they witnessed the battle with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Jetfire put Prime in one of the escape pods, and he left to spy on Megatron and Starscream.

After the two Decepticons got an artifact, Jetfire chased after them but Megatron shot at him. Jetfire followed them by tracking Energon radiation. Meanwhile Starscream found Optimus and attempted to kill him, but Jetfire took the shot that was meant for Optimus. Later he combined with Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Wii/PS2)|Revenge of the Fallen (Wii/PS2)}}

===Transformers Autobots/Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
In Autobots, Jetfire appears after you beat [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. The seeker doesn't appear again until after [[you]] beat Megatron. He doesn't get turned into a corpse backpack, and is standing silently next to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]].
{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons}}

===Revenge of the Fallen (mobile game)===
Jetfire was an old friend of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s who defected from the Decepticons when [[The Fallen]] changed the Decepticon cause from rebellion to conquest. He ended up on [[Earth]] in [[Egypt]], where he was soundly defeated by [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]. Before he fell unconscious, he told [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] that Optimus should salvage his parts in order to gain the power needed to defeat [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. While he was unconscious, Optimus did just that, terminating Jetfire's life. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Glu)}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF Jetfire 2009 Legends.JPG|right|300px|thumb|It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Legends, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''EZ-05'''
[[Image:ROTF Legends Prime Jetfire combo.jpg|thumb|left|Don't I look glorious as a corpse backpack?]]
:[[Size class|Legends]] class ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Jetfire transforms from a tiny [[Wikipedia: SR-71 Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird]] spy plane to a sort of hunchback robot. In a bit of character design accuracy, his left arm has a cane.

:The upper fuselage of the plane mode has a thin rectangular peg to slot into the back of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Revenge of The Fallen|Legends class Optimus Prime]] to recreate the powered up mode at the end of the movie. There are no instructions on the packaging making mention of this, but they're hardly needed, as it's as simple as plugging him on and folding his wings backwards.
{{-}}

{{anchor|WarfortheSkies}}
*'''War for the Skies''' (Legends multipack, 2009)
[[Image:KMartROTFJetfire.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] Jetfire.]]

:Available only as part of the [[Kmart]]-[[exclusive]] "War for the Skies" Legends battlepack, this release of Legends class Jetfire is a grey and black [[redeco]] - essentially inverting the colors of the regular toy, give or take a few paint operations.

:He comes with the Legends-class figures [[Blades (ROTF)|Autobot Blades]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] and [[Spinister (ROTF)|Spinister]].
{{-}}

====Voyager Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF_Voyager_JetPowerOptimusPrime_toy.jpg|thumb|301px|Use your friends wisely.]]
*'''Jet Power Optimus Prime''' (Voyager, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''UA-01'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 rifle/smokestack-fuel tank assemblies, 2 missiles, [[Sword]], Jetfire armour parts
:Jetfire appears in this set as snap-on armour parts for a redeco of Voyager-Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#VoyagerJetPower|Optimus Prime]]. Obviously, the armour fits onto Optimus Prime's robot mode to form the Jet Power Optimus combination, but when removed, can be assembled into a gun platform, or can be fitted to Optimus' vehicle mode as some sort of rocket booster. Optimus Prime himself has been redecoed similarly to Buster Optimus Prime, in that he has an extensive, [[Show-accuracy|movie-accurate]] paint scheme.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

====Leader Class toys====
[[Image:Jetfire ROTF leader toy.jpg|thumb|right|400px|"You know, I've personally flown over 194 missions, and I was shot down on every one. Come to think of it, I've never landed a plane in my life."]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Leader, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RA-13'''
**''Accessories:'' Front landing gear/walking stick, rotary cannon missile launcher, projectile, back panel/cannon

:Jetfire transforms into an [[wikipedia:SR-71 Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird]] spy plane, quite possibly the largest alternate mode yet for the [[size class|Leader class]] price point. Unfortunately, the vehicle mode he has chosen means that he also has one of the largest amounts of underside robot [[kibble]] ''ever'', with his bulky robot mode parts being blatantly visible underneath his sleek jet mode parts.

:Jetfire features several electronic lights and sounds; in jet mode, pushing the button on his back activates a "swooshing" noise. Pressing the tab on Jetfire's chest activates his moving [[Mech Alive]] gears and head, accompanied by Jetfire announcing: "Jetfire's mah name!". The European version has the clip abbreviated to "Jetfire" (humorously, due to the way that the original clip is trimmed, the end of the word is cut off, so it sounds like "Jetfi-"). Unlike previous ROTF Leader Class toys, this is not the version sold in the UK. In contrast to the film, where the character speaks with a Yorkshire accent, the toy is positively Scottish.

[[Image:ROTF_Leader_Jetfire_PowerUpPrime_toy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Jetfire died to become a power mushroom. There have been worse fates.]]
:As seen in the movie, he can combine with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Revenge of The Fallen|Leader Class Optimus Prime]] to form Prime's powered-up mode, albeit at the cost of Optimus Prime's leg articulation. During combination, the (difficult to open) panel on Jetfire's back is removed, revealing on his rear (beside the "swooshing noise" button) a new button that triggers a mechanical stomp sound. The panel itself is transformed and combined with his walking stick to form a skinny, less slender, and somewhat-inaccurate version of the cannon that Optimus wielded in his combined form.

:A few inaccuracies are present in the combination instructions: for instance, while the instructions say to position the cockpit halves behind Prime's shoulders, they actually are meant to sit on top of them (as seen to the left), and feature small grooves into which the small silver triangular prongs lock. In addition, while Optimus' rear cab sections are shown as being folded out like rectangular wings in the instructions, it appears they are intended to sit flat against the sides of the portion of Jetfire that connects to Prime's back. Jetfire has two tabs that sit directly above the panels when folded back which better support the weight of Jetfire. The struts on which Jetfire's engines are mounted also pivot back to allow exactly enough space for the folded cab panels to fit.

:The remarkably small text written under the cockpit windows is: ''[[Brawley (ROTF)|LT. COL. BRAWLEY]] WARNING THIS AIRCRAFT CONTAINS A SEAT CONTAINING AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE SEE MAINTENANCE MANUAL BEFORE REMOVING''.

:Despite the back of the package showing two lights within Jetfire's torso, he only has one light, in his left side, while the other socket that would normally house the light is replaced with a button that emits Jetfire's transformation noise when the toy is transformed.

:Amusingly, the two jet kibble panels above his head like to pop off their [[ball joint]] sockets during transformation. It makes him a little more screen accurate, after all...
{{-}}

{{anchor|JetfireBuster}}
* '''Jetpower Optimus Prime''' (Leader 2-pack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Front landing gear/walking stick, rotary cannon missile launcher, projectile, back panel/cannon

:This [[TakaraTomy]] Asian market [[exclusive]] Leader class two pack consists of a redecoed Jetfire and an altered [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#JetfireBuster|Buster Optimus Prime]]. Jetfire has a more subtle, more [[show-accuracy|movie-accurate]] colour scheme, replacing his white and gunmetal blue parts with gunmetal brown. Buster Optimus Prime has the [[faceplate]]d head of the first release of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Leader class Optimus Prime instead of the new head sculpted for Buster Optimus Prime, and prop vehicle-accurate blue pin striping instead of CGI-accurate white.

:In mid 2010, this set was released in Australia. In late 2011, [[#DOTMJetfireBuster|this set]] was [[Rebranding|re-released]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' packaging.
{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

====Fast Action Battlers====
[[Image:Jetfire ROTF FAB toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|NOBODY MOVE... I dropped me cane...]]
*'''Photon Missile Jetfire''' (Fast Action Battler, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' "Photon Missile" projectile

: [[Fast Action Battlers]] Jetfire is a simplified, roughly Deluxe-sized toy of Jetfire. In vehicle mode, he transforms into a sort of cute, super-deformed SR-71 Blackbird jet. As with most ''Transformers'' toy jets, he has a fair bit of undercarriage junk from his robot mode, though not to the extent of the Leader class toy. In robot mode he has a reasonably accurate depiction of Jetfire's design, though his right arm ends in a spring-loaded projectile launcher shaped like a rotary cannon. It also combines with Optimus Prime.
{{picsneeded|Combined mode with FAB Optimus}}
{{-}}

====Robot Replicas====
[[Image:ROTF Robot Replica Jetfire.jpg|thumb|right|150px|With genuine simulated robo-bursitis!]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Robot Replica, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Cane

: [[Robot Replicas]] Jetfire is a non-transformable, intended-to-be-accurate representation of his CGI model from the film. He is highly posable, and not much else. Due to his unusually large head and shortened neck, he appears based on the promotional art seen at the very top of this page, whose head and neck are severely foreshortened.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:TF2010toy-VictoryofTheFallen.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Blue <strike>haired</strike> limbed old <strike>lady</strike> robot.]]
*'''The Victory of The Fallen''' (Legends 5-pack, 2010)
:Jetfire is a redeco of his Legends-class toy with light blue arms, hips, and knees. He comes bundled in a Kmart-[[exclusive]] pack with redecos of Legends-class The Fallen, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream.

:To date, this is the only Hasbro release of this figure that acknowledges the combining feature between Jetfire and Optimus Prime.
{{-}}

*'''Jetfire''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:This Japanese exclusive release of Jetfire features much more black colouring than his previous releases, so as to be used with the similarly-repainted Legends Optimus Prime figure to form the Optimus' powered up combination.
{{-}}

===Dark of the Moon===
====Leader Class toys====
{{anchor|DOTMJetfireBuster}}
* '''Jetpower Optimus Prime''' (Leader 2-pack, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' Front landing gear/walking stick, rotary cannon missile launcher, projectile, back panel/cannon

:A re-release of the [[#JetfireBuster|Jetpower Optimus Prime two-pack]], this time in ''Dark of the Moon''-branded packaging. Both toys are unchanged.
{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroesmegatronfallenprimejetfireironhide.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Kinda morbid, really.]]
*'''Battle for the Fallen''' (box set, 2009)
:This ''Robot Heroes'' box set of figures comes with [[The Fallen]], [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|Megatron]] (tank mode), [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and Jetfire combined, and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] (truck mode).
{{-}}

===RPMs - Robot Powered Machines===
[[Image:ROTF-toy_RPM_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jetfire forgot to tell Hasbro he's claustrophobic.]]
*'''Jetfire''' (R.P.M. Mini-Vehicle, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''
:''[[Robot Powered Machines]]'' Jetfire is a die-cast Blackbird with wheels. It can stand up to reveal a sculpted image of Jetfire's robot mode, and the wings are jointed so that it fits into the package better. The wheels feature through-axle construction, allowing the toy to roll well on flat surfaces.
{{-}}

[[Image:ROTFRPMBattleSeries2JetfireRetail.jpg|thumb|250px]]
[[Image:ROTFRPMBattleSeries2JetfireCardback.jpg|thumb|250px]]
*'''Jetfire VS Megatron''' (two-pack, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Battle Series 2'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''

:This two-pack contains a metallic purple [[redeco]] of ''RPM'' [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and... a barely-changed Jetfire. It lacks some red detailing, and changes the tail Autobot symbol to silver.

:Unusually, the back of the packaging features a significantly different deco for the toy, with brighter silver and more red. Though this particular redeco was seen at [[Toy Fair 2010]], it was never released anywhere.

:As part of the final wave of RPMs, Battle Series 2 did not get released through normal retail outlets in the United States, instead showing up for sale first in Canada, Asia and Europe. Later, though, it would show up in the US though [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs Express]] mall stores and discount chains like Ross and TJ Maxx.

{{-}}

===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_MetalHeroes_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Mini-Vehicle, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''

:Jetfire was also made available in ''[[Speed Stars]]'', the follow-up to ''Robot Powered Machines''. This version has a different color layout from the RPM release, and is less detailed in its [[paint operation]]s.

{{-}}
[[Image:SpeedStars_BattleSeries_JetfireVSMegatron.jpg|thumb|right|300px|He's red, he's blue. [[FIBRIR|Not that confusing]].]]
*'''Jetfire VS Megatron''' (two-pack, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Battle Series 2'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''

:Battle Series 2 was released normally in the United States under the ''Speed Stars'' banner, though with various changes. Jetfire's colors are similar to his original RPM toy.

{{-}}

==Notes==
* While all the fictions agree that Jetfire was a Decepticon Seeker who defected and has been stuck on Earth for a long time, none agree on when and why he came to Earth, when and why he defected, or how long he snoozed. Random, confused mythos divergence? Now ''that's'' 80s nostalgia!

* Jetfire's head was redesigned so [[Industrial Light & Magic]] could animate a smirk on the character. This early, mouthless head was still used for the toy designs and promotional art though.<ref>[http://vfxworld.com/?atype=articles&id=4003 Scott Farrar's VFXWorld interview]</ref>

* Jetfire's ancient Cybertronian vehicle mode as seen in [[IDW Publishing]]'s [[Defiance issue 4|''Defiance'' #4]] bears more than a passing similarity with the starship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''.

* Apparently, Jetfire was briefly active during the Cuban Missile Crisis, according to one of his comments in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' video game]]. This might explain his current alt-mode in the movie.

* According to an extended bio unlocked on the [[Hunt for the Decepticons]] website by a code on "The Victory of The Fallen" toys box, Jetfire's body is filled with mysterious, powerful technology lost to the Autobots for centuries, which explains why it gave Optimus the boost he needed to defeat The Fallen.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetfire''' (ジェットファイア ''Jettofaia'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Röptűz''' ("Flyfire")

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/MovieJetfire/jetfire.htm Jetfire at TFU.info]

[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Elderly Transformers]]
[[Category:Kmart exclusives]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Autobots]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Mirage (G1)

2012-04-03T02:46:17Z

97.100.57.102: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{picsneeded|Fiction appearances, toys}}
{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Mirage}}
:''Mirage is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Mirageg1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"The ship was... full."]]

'''Mirage''' is what [[human]]s call "old money." Before the war, he was a member of affluent [[Cybertronian (disambiguation)|Cybertronian]] society, with his own large estate and high-priced [[Mirage's friends|friends]]. He enjoyed the finer things in life: vintage [[energon]], swank evening events, and [[turbofox]] hunts on the grounds. But when the war started, he was forced to choose sides and found himself banded with a group of commoners he didn't really understand.

Some of the other Autobots don't trust Mirage. He feels the war, even after all these millions of years, is beneath him. War is not, after all, how civilized, erudite beings conduct themselves. He often questions the Autobots' violent means, and not-so-secretly hopes they and the [[Decepticon]]s can get along. Because of this, he has been labelled by a few others as a Decepticon sympathizer. Still, he sided with the Autobots for a reason, and he is there for the Autobots when they need him.

Although the details vary by continuity, Mirage has the ability to create illusions which typically either render him invisible or make him appear to be somewhere he isn't.

He sounds like [[wikipedia:Dean Martin|Dean Martin]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Miragebluestreakfirst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mirage tells the story of how he got his name every five minutes.]]
Mirage was one of the Autobots on board the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crashed, and was subsequently reactivated in 1984. At first, Mirage was reluctant to full-on attack his Decepticon opponents, instead trying to reason with them. However, after a battle with the relentless [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], Mirage learned that sometimes diplomacy is not an option. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

[[Image:Mirageg1enemywithin.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Punk'd!]]
''During an accident on the Ark, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] suffered an extreme neuro-shock, causing him to rebel and turn against his teammates. Mirage helped the Autobots hunt him down and tranquilize him. This same accident also amplified Mirage's ability to create illusions, which he later used to trick the Decepticons into believing that a duel between Brawn and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ended with Brawn's death. The Decepticons felt totally stupid.'' {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

In the wake of a disastrous mission to rescue [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s captive head from the Decepticons, most of the Autobots were rendered inoperative. Mirage was one of a handful of Autobots who remained active, accompanying Optimus and various newer Autobots on several subsequent missions. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}} {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

''Mirage lucked out during the Dinobot Hunt—he was assigned to B-Team, whose quarry, Snarl, was knocked out by the destruction of a human military base in the [[Black Rock Desert]] in [[Nevada]], leaving him inert and easy to capture.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

Long after, he was blown to pieces by [[Octane]] during an Arctic battle arranged by Starscream. He recovered in time to be destroyed again in [[New York City]] by Starscream himself (empowered by the [[Underbase]]). {{storylink|Dark Star}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Mirageg2die.jpg|left|120px|thumb|"Got to—" '''SPOOM!''']]
Disobeying [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s orders, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] led a covert team (which included Mirage) onto the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] ship ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]'' to defeat [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his army of "evolved Decepticons". Grimlock's plan was an utter failure, ending in [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s death and the Autobots' capture. Mirage was destroyed by enemy fire during the following prison break. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

{{-}}
====Classics====
{{note| The Classics comic takes place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a new timeline that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or Generation 2.}}
Having been revived (presumably by [[Nucleon]]), Mirage was the happiest of them all, until he saw just how badly his way of life was affected by warfare. Mirage found that ages of warfare had made him bitter. Eventually, he decided to join Optimus Prime in returning to Earth, and war with Megatron. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 13|Mirage's extended ''Classics'' profile}}

His actions include evacuating [[Armored Robot Hunters|RUNTs]] and their pilots, holding [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] at gunpoint, and revealing that his illusion powers (in this continuity) now ''include'' invisibility. {{storylink|Crossing Over}}

He later secretly followed [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] to a meeting from his crew of the ''[[Graviton (Classics)|Graviton]]''. Unfortunately, he tried to crash Starscream's meeting with [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]]. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]'s infra-red sensors, and [[Weirdwolf]]'s keen nose allowed the Decepticons to find him, and he was gift-wrapped for Megatron. When the Gravitron crew led by Grimlock and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] attacked the Decepticon base, Mirage was rescued by [[Strongarm (Classics)|Strongarm]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Elita One]]. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese), [[Juan Carralero]] (Latin American, Season 1), [[Guillermo Romano]] (Latin American, Season 2)
[[Image:MTMTE2 Mirage talking to Spike.jpg|right|240px|thumb| Tellin' ya all it's a sabotage!]]
Mirage was part of the bridge crew of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. A volcanic eruption in 1984 awakened the Ark's inhabitants, including Mirage, who was reformatted by [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to have a terrestrial alternate mode of a Formula-1 racer. His first mission came when the Autobots rolled out to stop the Decepticons attacking an oil rig. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} After the battle, he got to show off his invisibility power to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Following another failed battle at [[Sherman Dam]], he suggested they simply leave Earth to the Decepticons and return to Cybertron, a suggestion soundly rejected by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:MTMtE Part3 Mirage HALOjump.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ever get the feeling Pat Lee just looked at this image and thought "By jove! This must be what perspective is!"?]]
At the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]], when Optimus was caught in an explosion, Mirage helped right him. He expressed hope that with the Decepticons perished in the explosion, they'd be able to return to Cybertron, but his optimism was quashed a few moments later when their foe emerged, functional and with more energy to fuel their [[Victory (G1)|new star cruiser]]. While guarding Ravage, Mirage gave Hound the idea to spring a trap on the Decepticons using a holographic rocket base. Unfortunately the Decepticons saw through the plan and raided the real rocket base, attaining the rest of the energy they needed. During the final Autobot operation to try and prevent the launch of the Decepticon cruiser, Mirage used his cloaking ability to sneak aboard. While the Decepticons were squabbling, he uncloaked and opened fire, blasting away at the ship's controls. He then bailed from the doomed cruiser, floating back to Earth's surface on a parasail as the Decepticons crashed into the ocean. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

After [[Chip Chase]] was kidnapped by the Decepticons who were after the antimatter formula the boy had memorised, Hound and Mirage utilised their respective powers to sneak into the antimatter laboratory. They were able to rescue Chip, but the Decepticons had managed to get the formula and use it to create Energon. Mirage subsequently helped defend Autobot Headquarters. {{storylink|Roll for It}} Mirage rolled out to protect Autobot Headerquarters while [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] worked to save Prime's life, after the Autobot leader was badly damaged in a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} He took part in the construction of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]... and then had to try to stop them when they ran wild. He, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] sealed the three Dinobots in a cave, but were mighty grateful when, after almost all of the Autobots were captured by the Decepticons, the Dinobots were released to come to the rescue. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

[[Image:CountdowntoExtinction Mirage firing missile.jpg|right|210px|thumb]]
When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] was using [[hypno-chip]]ped humans to load Energon onto their shuttle for transport to Cybertron, Mirage used his invisibility to sneak on board and order the humans to start unloading the Energon again. He was blasted in the back a short time later by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} When the Autobots were caught in quicksand while pursuing the Decepticons, Mirage used his shoulder missile to shoot down [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}} Mirage turned out with the other Autobots to watch Optimus and Megatron engage in single combat as per Cybertronian law. To their horror, Optimus lost, but they later discovered that Megatron had cheated, so the results were nullified. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

[[Image:CityOfSteel Mirage carrying alligatorcon.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Think, Mirage, what would [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] do?]]
Mirage rolled out to attack Megatron's [[Solar Needle]] and rescue [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], but didn't play much role in the battle. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was on Ratchet's team, entering the sewers of [[New York City]] in an attempt to rescue Optimus. After tangling with an [[Alligatorcon]], they found Prime... in pieces. The Alligatorcon had been built from Optimus's parts, and Mirage, Ratchet and Hound had to capture it so Ratchet could rebuild their leader. Once Optimus had been put back together, they proceeded to the surface and battled Decepticons, [[battle taxi]]s and Prime's own severed arm. {{storylink|City of Steel}}

[[Image:Traitor Mirage cerebro shell implant.jpg|thumb|right|200px|After seeing his ''[[Dark of the Moon]]'' [[Mirage (Movie)|incarnation]], Mirage just had to take a blaster to his head.]]
The spotlight shone on Mirage again when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] suspected him of disloyalty. The discovery of a Decepticon installation in a sector Mirage had recently scouted caused Cliffjumper to leap the incorrect conclusion that Mirage had concealed the information and was a traitor to the Autobots. During a battle with the Decepticons at the site, Mirage was injured, but managed to rip a Decepticon [[Insignia|seal]] off [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Mirage risked the trust of his comrades by sneaking away to perform a plan of his own, framing the Decepticons for stealing [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]] from the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Spotted carrying the cubes by Cliffjumper, Mirage's guilt seemed all but confirmed, and before he could reveal his innocence, he was captured and brainwashed by one of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s mind-controlling [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shells]]. Under Bombshell's control, Mirage led the Autobots into an ambush, but at the battle’s end, the assorted manipulations were revealed and Cliffjumper apologized to Mirage. {{storylink|Traitor}}

[[Image:AutobotRun Jazz Mirage vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|left|240px]]
Mirage took part in a charity race organised by the Autobots. While they raced and performed stunts, the Autobots were affected by Megatron's latest invention, the [[Transfixatron]], which locked them in their vehicle modes. They were herded by the Decepticons to a ghost town, where the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s had created a machine to destroy them. It was only through an intervention of Ratchet and Wheeljack's counter invention that they were saved. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}}

[[Image:EntertheNightbird invisible Mirage.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Engage active camouflage! Reveal yourselves only after [[Keith David|the Arbiter]] has joined battle with the enemy!]]
Mirage came with the other Autobots when they were hired by [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] to protect [[Nightbird (G1)|his latest invention]] when it was being unveiled. When Decepticons attacked, Mirage became invisible and attacked Soundwave. Megatron offered to make Mirage disappear for good, but Optimus Prime saw to it that it wouldn't come true. After the Decepticons made off with Nightbird, Mirage and Ratchet insisted that [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] stay behind at Autobot base for repairs. As Brawn and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] were being repaired, Optimus detected an intruder. Mirage went to investigate, only to be beaten up by a Decepticon-reprogrammed Nightbird. Mirage pursued her with the other Autobots. When they caught up with her, Mirage became invisible in order to return Optimus Prime's laser rifle undetected, giving him the advantage. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

When Mirage and the other Autobots found they mysteriously had two Optimus Primes, the duo were subjected to a series of inconclusive tests. Before any further testing could be done, they had to roll out to a crevasse filled with [[korlonium crystal]]s to investigate strange readings. During the battle with the Decepticons that followed, the real Prime's identity was soon revealed. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}} Mirage was part of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'s team when they stumbled on the Decepticons' drilling operation. As [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] blasted him off a cliff, Mirage became invisible so the Decepticons would "never find [his] pieces". Of course, he survived and he and Sunstreaker used his grappling hook to take down Devastator. Back at Headquarters, a plan was hatched to plant [[dominator disc]]s on the Constructicons. Mirage took part, planting two of the discs at once, and Devastator was soon under Autobot control. Alas, it didn't last long — while they were trying to stop the Decepticons drilling to the Earth's core, Megatron retook control of the combiner. {{storylink|The Core}}

Mirage was at Headquarters when [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] reported the discovery of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Through a cunning plan on Megatron's part, the Autobots were found guilty of stealing energy and forced to leave Earth in a spaceship supplied by [[Shawn Berger]]. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} They soon discovered that the spacecraft was locked on course to the [[Sun]]. Through the heroic efforts of Chip Chase and bungling of [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], as well as the use of [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s force fields, the Autobots returned to Earth, where the Decepticons had already revealed their true nature. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[Image:DesertionDinobots1 Mirage steals fusion cannon.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Have you seen "Night at the Museum III"? See it now! All rights reserved!]]
During an attempt by the Decepticons to steal the plans to the [[Ultra Plane]], Mirage used his invisibility to steal Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] right off the Decepticon leader's arm. A brief tug-of-war ensued over the weapon, which Mirage lost, but Megatron retreated in the end anyhow. Later, as the Dinobots were being repaired after another battle, Mirage reminisced about how great Cybertron was. When [[cybertonium]] depletion started affecting all of the Transformers, Mirage's invisibility power went on the fritz — instead of making him invisible, it merely altered his color scheme slightly. Unfortunately he didn't find this out until after he tried to sneak up on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and was promptly blasted into a wall. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} The Autobots' condition worsened, until they were unable to move. They remained this way until the Dinobots, Spike and [[Carly]] managed to retrieve more Cybertonium from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:GoldenLagoon Mirage reports to Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|220px]]
Mirage rolled out for [[Haley Observatory]] when Megatron stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], but went missing somewhere along the way, and didn't arrive with the rest of the group. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He was part of an Autobot team who faced [[electrum]]-plated Decepticons with little success. He had to retreat back to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s position for reinforcements. When even Omega fell before the Decepticons, Mirage returned to Headquarters to break the news, and Teletraan I soon worked out how the Decepticons had become invincible. Soon the Autobots had found the electrum pool and, coating themselves, were able to defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} After a number of Autobots were abducted by big game hunter [[Chumley|Lord Chumley]], Mirage was present at Headquarters when Cosmos finally located the missing Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}} He also helped coat the [[Statue of Liberty]] with [[corrostop]], Perceptor's latest invention. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

Mirage was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], with Mirage's alternate mode making him the perfect choice to masquerade as [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]. Penetrating the Decepticon camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. With a combination of [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s magnetic powers and Mirage’s illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too. Though the deception was soon revealed, they were still able to thwart the Decepticons’ plans. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

{{note|An unused scene from the storyboard for [[The Transformers: The Movie]] showed Mirage wounded (possibly killed) by Megatron after getting back at Bombshell for [[Traitor|jeopardizing his career]]. Given the high body count, his death is still likely.}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
Mirage was among the Autobots stationed at [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]] in [[Arizona]] when [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the Decepticons attacked. Though the Autobots were ultimately victorious, the entire attack was actually just a distraction so that [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] could go perform ''evil'' somewhere in Japan. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #2}}

Mirage later appeared at the Autobots' newly constructed Japanese base, welcoming the small [[human]] boy, [[Kenji]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #4}}

=====''Full Throttle Scramble Power!''=====
{{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Robot Masters'' pack-in comics=====

=====''Robot Masters'' online comics=====
{{charstubfiction}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Mirage volunteered for an experimental new Binaltech upgrade that boosted the [[power chip rectifier]] in his revamped body to the Nth degree, making him permanently invisible thanks to his electro-disruptor. This proved to be key in a special mission conceived of by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. Having uncovered several secrets from the files of the time-traveling [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], the Autobots learned of a mysterious [[Large switch|switch]] hidden away on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] which, when pulled, would instantaneously immobilize all Transformers throughout the universe. Having lost Cybertron to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s tyrannical rule and facing considerable odds in the Sol System as well, Prime decided it was necessary to activate the switch in order to end the war.

With [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and several [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] [[Genetronic Translink System|GTs]] awaiting his signal as back-up, Mirage invisibly infiltrated Decepticon-controlled Cybertron and made his way to the switch. After throwing the switch, though, Mirage was surprised to find that he was still mobile. It seemed the Binaltech warriors (both Autobot and Decepticon) were significantly different enough from regular Transformers to be unaffected by the immobilization wave. With the Autobots now vastly outnumbering the Decepticons still in operation, the tide of the war had irreparably shifted. {{storylink|Kill Switch}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
[[Image:JHeadmasters01VariousGuys.jpg|thumb|200px|Combined screenshot used to avoid having to put up two tiny ones. Ignore the bottom!]]
Some time before the Transformers' war left Cybertron, Mirage engaged the Decepticons in battle with his comrades. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

{{note|For whatever reason, this pre-title screen Cybertronian skirmish was left out of both the United Kingdom and Australian DVD releases of the ''Headmasters'' series.}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Despite his misgiving about the war effort, Mirage's tenure with the Autobot cause dates back to the time of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When Shockwave staged a disastrous offensive against [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Mirage was there defending the [[Decagon]] alongside Prowl and the other Autobot soldiers. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} During the [[Dark Ages]], he continued serving under Prowl as part of the main Autobot faction at [[Virtue's Forum]], in the remains of Iacon. Alongside Jazz and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], he tried defending their prisoner, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Experiment D-43]], against the intruder known as [[The Fallen]], but failed miserably in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Four million years ago, Mirage crash-landed on the planet Earth aboard the shuttle known as the Ark, with more than two dozen of his fellow Autobots and Decepticons. They remained inactive in stasis lock at the base of a volcano until 1984, when volcanic activity shook them back on-line. The war began again, but without reinforcements or connection to Cybertron, Megatron and his Decepticons were eventually defeated and taken prisoner by the Autobots. Mirage and the rest of the Transformers were prepared to fly back to Cybertron in a new spacecraft, the ''[[Ark II]]'', when it exploded on its maiden voyage, leaving them all believed dead.

Not so. Most of the Transformers had been salvaged by a mercenary named [[Lazarus]], who spent the next few years repairing and reprogramming the Cybertronians to use as weapons of mass destruction at his command. Optimus Prime was reactivated by the United States military to oppose Lazarus, and he in turn used the power of the Matrix to revive several other Autobots who had escaped Lazarus' salvage crews, including Mirage. After rescuing some of their number from the human mercenaries, Mirage and the Autobots had to race against time putting their friends back together after the Decepticons escaped to wreak havoc. What's worse, a mechanizing virus had been released by Megatron, turning organic life into inanimate mechanical matter. Mirage exhausted a good percentage of his energon reserves fighting back the tide of the virus, but the Autobots were eventually successful. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

''Mirage was remarkably unhelpful during the war with the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]]. After Optimus Prime was forced to give the Matrix over to Megatron as a debt of honor, Mirage sniped about the decision worse than any of the Autobots. His criticisms only got louder after a news report from [[Washington, D.C.]] made it clear that Megatron had found one of his warriors, the already mighty [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]], who could actually wield the power of the Matrix directly. Now that Prime had actually strengthened their enemies as well as weakening the Autobots, Mirage just wouldn't shut up about it. The final straw was when [[Franklin Townsend]], a crazed augment working for the Keepers, idly strolled into the Ark, took over control of [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s mind, and made his getaway. Mirage was ready to brazenly disobey Prime's orders and charge right after Bluestreak, until Optimus physically slammed him into a wall and forced him to obey his commanding officer. ''

''When you're being so much of a dick that the legendary patience of Optimus Prime runs out, it's time to rein it in, Mirage. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] came to Earth and announced that the Autobot/Decepticon wars were over and that the two factions had been united, Mirage was one of the first to fall in with the new regime. The rest of the Autobots were wary of this development, and so a few (especially [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]) considered Mirage a traitor. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} Mirage quickly realigned himself with the Autobot cause when Shockwave's true plan was revealed, and Cliffjumper seemed to forgive him, as Mirage had saved Cliffjumper from [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] by sneaking up on him invisibly. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

Unfortunately for Mirage, the Autobots' acting commander Prowl soon came to the conclusion that they needed to return to Earth and establish a more significant beach-head there for the future. Mirage tried to argue against the idea, as he was more than thrilled to finally be back home on Cybertron, but then [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] cut in and reminded Mirage that Shockwave's united government had sold off his riches and property while he was gone. Ooooh—burn. {{storylink|Atonement}} The Autobots readied themselves for the return mission on a new shuttle, and began construction of Autobot City upon their arrival on Earth. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:GIJoevsTF4_Mirage_Ferret.jpg|thumb|left|250px|]]
[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] found Mirage's holo-projector aboard the ''Ark'', and used it to make a better holographic driver for himself than [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] could. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}}

Meanwhile, Mirage was among the dormant Transformers discovered by [[Cobra]], reprogrammed for nefarious purposes, and given new alternate modes (Mirage now transformed into a Cobra [[Ferret]]). Upon being freed from Cobra's control by Wheeljack, Mirage's group located Optimus Prime and helped fight back against the newly freed Decepticons. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} He later stood watch as the damaged Prime was formulating a plan to defeat Megatron. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave ''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' comics===
Mirage was apparently among the Autobots awakened on the [[Fera Islands]] in [[1939]], as Optimus Prime mentioned that he had been killed in the battle against [[Cobra]]. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Mirage was a suspect in the assassination attempts on [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], as he was one of only four Autobots present on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub|Hub]] during both attacks. He and two of the other Autobots were cleared when it was discovered that a mind-controlled [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] was the true culprit. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, he delivered information to the Autobots that there was a power-struggle among the Decepticons, information that turned out to be false and drew Optimus and an Autobot team (including the former ''[[Ark-19]]'' crew) into a hideous ambush that left them trapped on Cybertron. Before dumping them on Cybertron, Megatron revealed that there had been a willing traitor collaborator involved in his trap, and Mirage was the prime suspect {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} with everyone but [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] believing he'd betrayed them to the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

[[Image:AHM7_Ironhide_assaults_Mirage.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[All Hail Megatron issue 4|Ironhide. Punches. ''Everyone.'']]]]
It's not all bad, though; he got to use his invisibility trick to sneak up on [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s crew when Jazz was trying to prove his command skills. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Not long after, a raging [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] dragged the "traitor" into a corner and blamed him for the trap, which had nearly killed Optimus Prime. Mirage could only protest weakly as Ironhide beat him half to death and ripped off his Autobot badge. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

It was eventually revealed that [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] had been the real traitor, and Ironhide tried to apologize to Mirage. Mirage wouldn't accept his apology, however, leaving his badge off out of spite and warning Ironhide against ever talking to him again. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} However, despite his harsh words, Mirage came to Ironhide's rescue during a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack, urging his comrade to save himself. Ironhide refused, and instead proved that he trusted Mirage again by staying behind to help him fight the monstrosities. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} After the Autobots were saved by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], they returned to Earth and fought against the Decepticons in [[New York City]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}}

Three years later, the Autobots were still squatting on Earth at Optimus Prime's insistence, keeping the humans "safe" from the Decepticons while being hunted by those very same humans. Mirage was present when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] finally went stir-crazy and demanded some action. That "action" led to Ironhide's death and Prime surrendering himself to the human robot-hunters, [[Skywatch]]. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Along with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and several others, Mirage joined Hot Rod in breaking off from what remained of the Autobot forces to leave the planet of mud and water behind. At first, they tried convincing Omega Supreme to leave with them, but Hot Rod's speeches failed to overcome Omega's loyalty to Optimus Prime. Instead, they found unlikely allies in a pack of roving Decepticons led by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} With the additional manpower, they began construction of a new space cruiser to leave Earth forever, despite the unease the new allies had for one another. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}} Mirage busied himself checking a datapad for the new flight control systems. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}}

Unsurprisingly, the Decepticons eventually betrayed Hot Rod's team and attempted to take the space cruiser for themselves. Mirage and the others fought against their new creation, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], and eventually brought him down. Mirage was one of several Autobots who were injured in the battle, and was repaired by Skywatch technicians. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

Looking to make up for his mistake of trusting the Decepticons, Hot Rod (or "Rodimus") left Earth for some time, returning months later with a previously-presumed-dead Sunstreaker in tow. Mirage initially had trouble facing Sunstreaker, what with having been blamed for his betrayal years earlier, but his anger was soon overcome by the joy of being reunited with old friends. The Autobots then left Earth to return to Cybertron, which according to Rodimus had been restored but conquered by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix}} Once back home, they fought against both Galvatron's [[Sweep]]s and Megatron's Decepticons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

After the battle ended with Cybertron restored to a primordial state and most Decepticons in captivity, Mirage witnessed the disastrous launch of Rodimus's ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} Some time later he was walking around in a crowd of [[NAIL|unaligned Cybertronians]] who had returned home following the end of the war. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson}}

{{note|The events of ''Spotlight: Mirage'' possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
[[Image:SpotlightMirage trappedHound.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This didn't actually happen. Or did it? No, it didn't.]]
Mirage was haunted repeatedly by dreams of being a Decepticon. Or actually ''is'' a Decepticon from another universe who, after helping kill the last Autobots, got blown back through time and space to the main universe. Or via [[Zodiac]] energy has gained flashbacks of an alternate Decepticon Mirage. God knows what's going on there. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
While invisible, Mirage managed to sneak up on [[Octane]] and blast him off-line with his [[electro-disrupter]], saving [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] from a nasty beating. Both Autobots were surprised, then, when Octane got back up despite his circuits being completely shorted out. The ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] revealed himself to Mirage and Ironhide, and floated menacingly before them while they tried to work out if he was real or a hologram. {{storylink|Mirage's Rebirth}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===
{{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}} {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}} {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{-}}
==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Mirage could involve himself in the quest through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===The Transformers (1985)===
Mirage was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
{{picsneeded|G2 Go Bot, Universe Spychanger, Binaltech}}
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I don't need to be street-legal; I'm rich.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1986/1991)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''07'''
**''Accessories:'' "Rocket-Dart Hunting Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles

: Mirage was part of the original 1984 Autobot car assortment. His mold was originally used for a ''[[Diaclone]]'' F-1 [[wikipedia:Ligier JS11|Ligier JS11]] racer. The toy was specifically designed to work with the launcher mechanism contained in the Optimus Prime / Battle Convoy trailer. This toy is easily broken at the waist pivot. The labels on the toy are references to several real-world companies. The largest name, Citanes, is a deliberate corruption of Gitanes, a French cigarette company. (Quite unusual for a child's toy, but not the only [[Marlboor Wheeljack|cigarette reference in ''Diaclone'']].) The toy included Gitanes' logo of a dancing gypsy woman on what ends up as Mirage's belt in robot form. "Ligier" is the name of the company that manufactured the JS-11 chassis and fielded the team, traditionally wearing 25 and 26 on the F1 grid, while "elf" is a reference to a French oil company that has since merged with TotalFina to become TotalFinaElf.

: In 1986, he was made available as a mail-away item (as he was no longer shipping to retail shelves) in multiple offers, including a [[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (G1)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]] flier packed with most boxed ''Transformers'' toys. He cost $8 and two [[Robot Point]]s. In Japan Mirage was also included in the 1986 ''Goodbye Convoy'' [[giftset]]. This was the final release of the mold, making Mirage the only one of the original Autobots not to have been reissued in some form.

: Hasbro and/or Takara have announced that the mold for Mirage is [[Mold#Issues with Reissues|either lost or damaged]], so a reissue is unlikely. This presumably excludes the molds obtained by [[Knockoff|certain Chinese companies]] to produce several Mirage "perfect" bootlegs in a variety of flavors including original, clear, smoke, and red, based on the ultra-rare version from the [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Diaclone Powered Convoy]] giftset.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Mirage at TFU.info]

===Generation 2===
* '''Mirage''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: Mirage was released in 1995 as a black and yellow recolor of the [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[Double Clutch (G2)|Double Clutch]], transforming into a 1:64-scale Lola T94 Indy car with through-axle construction, making him compatible with racing sets from the "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" toylines.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1995/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Go-Bots Mirage at TFU.info]

{{note|Mirage was also planned to be released in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as a flipchanger, but the line was canceled to make way for ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]''. The unreleased mold was first used in ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' (see below).}}

{{-}}

===Machine Wars===
[[Image:Mwmirage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Gah! I'm teal! Somebody recolor me, please!]]
* '''Mirage''' (Basic, 1997)
**''Accessories:'' 2-part rifle

: Mirage's form in ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' transforms into a blue and white Indycar. Like the other Machine Wars basics, the toy is a flipchanger (having a one-step, spring-loaded transformation), and his weapons are hidden in his alt mode. Unlike most of the ''Machine Wars'' toys, the head looks very similar to his Generation 1 form. This is because the mold was originally designed as Mirage for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''.

: This mold was also used to make ''Machine Wars'' [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Machine Wars'' Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}
===Robot Masters===
[[Image:RMRijie toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Phew. Thanks.]]
* '''Rijie''' (Basic, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-03'''
**''Accessories:'' 2-part "Molecular Bonding Gun", "JS Laser Gun"

: ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' "Rijie" used the ''Machine Wars'' Mirage mold, but in a much more [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-based coloration and deco. He also came with an extra chrome-silver "JS Laser Gun" (like the other bonus weapons of ''Robot Masters'', it is suspected to be a mold originally developed yet ultimately unused by the cut-short ''[[Microman]] LED Powers'' line).

: Because of legal reasons, "Ligier" could not be used for the name of the ''Robot Masters'' toy, so "Rijie", which has the same pronunciation in Japan, was used instead. Curiously, the toy's instructions still identify it as "Ligier".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/Ligier/ligier.htm More information on ''Robot Masters'' Rijie at TFU.info]

{{-}}
===Alternators===
[[Image:AlternatorsMirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This toy is clearly black, red, and silver. You're just deluding yourself.]]
* '''Mirage''' (Alternator, 2006)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons

: ''[[Transformers: Alternators| Alternators]]'' Mirage transforms into a finely detailed 1:24 scale replica of a Ford GT, featuring opening doors, engine bay and trunk, with a realistic interior. As with most Alternators, his car body is mostly unpainted, but the metallic-flake deep blue plastic makes this hard to see.

: Featuring an innovative, different robot mode, Mirage is not a straight re-interpretation of the original Mirage's robot mode, due to the completely different types of vehicles. But coincidentally the Ford GT's hood features a shape that echoes a F1-type racing car's nose and front spoiler. His engine's supercharger forms two separate tonfa weapons that can also be interpreted as guns.

: Mirage was retooled into [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rodimus]] for the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line, which was further redecoed into ''Alternators'' Rodimus. Later in 2007, he was redecoed in clear plastic colours to represent his 'invisibility mode' as an [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive in the ''[[Binaltech]]'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/AltMirage/mirage.htm More information on Alternators Mirage at TFU.info]

===Universe===
*'''Mirage''' (Spy Changer, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: For ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'', Mirage is identical to the last [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] redeco of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots In Disguise]]'' [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]], transforming into a translucent green Lola Indy car. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Universe'' Mirage at TFU.info]
{{-}}

===Classics===
[[Image:Classics Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Applied to [[Revoltech]] club; rejected for lacking thigh joints.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Classics Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Mirage was released in November 2006 in wave 2, along with the [[shortpacking|shortpacked]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]. He transforms into a closed-canopy Formula racer concept car. Mirage's paint details contain a few ''Transformers'' in-jokes in the form of sponsor logos such as "[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Witwicky Sparkplugs]]" and "[[Lithone (planet)|Lithonian]] Drivetrain." Additionally, his racing number is still 26, as it was on the original toy. Other logos, which include "Plasma Injection Energy" and "F.P. Racing," refer to "pie" and the initials of [[Joe Kyde|the deco artist]]'s super-secret non-gay friendship cult, respectively.

:The front detaches to become a handheld electro-disruptor weapon which is said to be able to create illusions and allow him to appear invisible. (This is a reconciliation of Mirage's illusion-creation ability from his original tech spec profile and his invisibility power from the animated series.) He is ''extremely'' poseable for his time, featuring double-jointed elbows and knees, ball-jointed spoiler "toes", and waist articulation, among others.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Fracture (Movie)|Fracture]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/ClassicsMirage/mirage.htm More information on Classics Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Timelines===
[[Image:BotCon2007freeMirage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I leave your toilets fresh and blue every time you flush!]]
*'''Hologram Mirage''' (BotCon, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler

:A redeco of Classics Mirage in translucent and opaque blue, Mirage was available only as a "freebie" gift to attendees at BotCon 2007.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/BCMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
* '''Rijie''' (e-Hobby exclusive, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-18'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons

:Rijie is a redeco of ''Alternators'' Mirage using mostly transparent plastic. The toy was exclusively available from [[e-HOBBY]] in September 2007.

:Even though Takara had briefly contemplated releasing a [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rodimus]] (Hot Rod) retool of Alternators Mirage as the next ''Binaltech'' toy after [[Ginrai]] (both toys would ultimately come out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line instead), they apparently never created any [[die-cast]] molds for the Ford GT sculpt. To justify the absence of diecast parts from a ''Binaltech'' toy, Takara decided to use clear plastic parts to represent an "invisible" mode, officially called an "Electro-Disrupter" {{sic}} mode on the packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Cybertron/Rijie/rijie.htm More information on ''Binaltech'' Rijie at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Sculpted in 2006. Decoed in the late 70s.]]
*'''Ligier''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler

: ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' Ligier is a redeco of ''Classics'' Mirage. In an effort to make him appear more accurate to Mirage's cartoon appearances, Ligier lacks most of the sponsorship tampographs that appeared on ''Classics'' Mirage. As with all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign seen on the ''Classics'' version, but features [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] parts: his rear spoiler and his front spoiler.

{{-}}
[[Image:HenkeiElectroDisruptorLigier.jpg|thumb|200px|Clear, black, '''and''' chrome? It's like he's a living embodiment of Takara itself!]]
*'''Electro Disruptor Ligier''' (Deluxe, 2009)

: Electro Disruptor Ligier is a translucent plastic version of ''Henkei'' Ligier offered as a mail-away exclusive to those who have bought the book [[Transformers Generations 2009|Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1]].

: This toy was repurposed as "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]" [[Mirage (SG)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Cybertron/EDLigier/ligier.htm More information on Electro Disruptor Ligier at TFU.info]

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)

*'''Mirage''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''20'''

: The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Decoy Mirage at TFU.info]''

===Choro-Q===
*'''Ligier''' (2000)

:''[[Choro-Q]]'' Ligier is a mostly translucent [[redeco]] of the Honda Jordan F1 toy from Takara's ''Choro-Q'' toyline of non-transforming [[Super deformed|super-deformed]] vehicles. He was an [[exclusive]] at [[BotCon]] Japan 2000, and features a [[pull-back motor]] and a rear license plate that reads "BotCon Japan 2000".

:Along with ''Choro-Q'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise|Convoy]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], Ligier was given out randomly to convention attendees. Each toy was limited to 1000 pieces.

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:RH Mirage vs Starscream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'm too rich to be cute.]]
* '''Mirage Vs Starscream''' (2007)

:Packaged with [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]], Mirage is a two-inch-high robot sculpted in super deformed style with articulation at the head and shoulders. The toy has a sculpted missile launcher, like the original character, but oddly it is resting on the figure's back instead of the shoulder. This mold was later redecoed into ''Hologram'' Mirage.

{{-}}
[[Image:Hologram Robot Hero Mirage.jpg|right|150px|thumb|What he said.]]
* '''Decepticon Sneak Attack''' (2007)

:Hologram Mirage is a recolor of the two-pack Mirage cast in transparent blue with slightly different paint details. Most notably, the Autobot symbols on his arms have been replaced with part of the word "Citanes", to evoke the original toy. Mirage was packed with ''Metallic Finish'' Optimus Prime, ''Metallic Finish'' Megatron, Cliffjumper, and Skywarp. This pack was sold exclusively in Walmart, and Walmart.com.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G2MirageVaultArt.jpg|thumb|250px|Most preppies just wear an alligator '''shirt''', Mirage.]]
* Mirage is absent from the fictional events of 2005 and 2006 without explanation; a storyboarded scene from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' featuring Mirage was cut from the finished film. Amidst the transformation of [[Autobot City]], Mirage was to ambush the Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and then be fired upon by Megatron. Whether or not this would have killed Mirage is not made clear, but given the film's casual body count, it seems highly probable.
*Someone at Hasbro in the '90s must have had Mirage on the brain. Aside from the released Go-Bot and the Flipchanger created in his image, concept art for a green and pink redeco of Mirage's original toy (with alligator decals!) meant for the ''Generation 2'' toyline surfaced in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' collector's book. In an unusual coincidence, ''Transformers'' fan and rarities-hunter Maziar "Maz" Shahsafdari [http://www.tf-1.com/articles/other/g2mirage_template.html unveiled a pictorial review of the mock-up] done for this redeco on his website TF-1.com shortly after the book came out, entirely unaware of its inclusion in the tome.
* Mirage has been a traitor/suspected traitor in nearly every continuity he's popped up in. You just can't trust those coastal elite.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ligier''' or '''Rijie''' (リジェ ''Rije'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Délibáb''' ("Mirage")
*''Italian:'' '''Mistero''' ("Mystery")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Hǎi-shr-shèn-lóu''' (Taiwan, 海市蜃樓, "Mirage"), '''Hàun-yǐng''' (Taiwan, 幻影, "Phantom")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Miragem''' ("Mirage")

==External links==
* [http://www.toybin.org/search.php?q=1984+Autobot+Mirage ToyBin Mirage Toy Gallery]
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm Mirage at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Mirage Mirage's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Autobots]]
[[Category:Saboteurs]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]

Mirage (G1)

2012-04-03T02:44:41Z

97.100.57.102: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{picsneeded|Fiction appearances, toys}}
{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Mirage}}
:''Mirage is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Mirageg1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"The ship was... full."]]

'''Mirage''' is what [[human]]s call "old money." Before the war, he was a member of affluent [[Cybertronian (disambiguation)|Cybertronian]] society, with his own large estate and high-priced [[Mirage's friends|friends]]. He enjoyed the finer things in life: vintage [[energon]], swank evening events, and [[turbofox]] hunts on the grounds. But when the war started, he was forced to choose sides and found himself banded with a group of commoners he didn't really understand.

Some of the other Autobots don't trust Mirage. He feels the war, even after all these millions of years, is beneath him. War is not, after all, how civilized, erudite beings conduct themselves. He often questions the Autobots' violent means, and not-so-secretly hopes they and the [[Decepticon]]s can get along. Because of this, he has been labelled by a few others as a Decepticon sympathizer. Still, he sided with the Autobots for a reason, and he is there for the Autobots when they need him.

Although the details vary by continuity, Mirage has the ability to create illusions which typically either render him invisible or make him appear to be somewhere he isn't.

He sounds like [[wikipedia:Dean Martin|Dean Martin]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Miragebluestreakfirst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mirage tells the story of how he got his name every five minutes.]]
Mirage was one of the Autobots on board the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crashed, and was subsequently reactivated in 1984. At first, Mirage was reluctant to full-on attack his Decepticon opponents, instead trying to reason with them. However, after a battle with the relentless [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], Mirage learned that sometimes diplomacy is not an option. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

[[Image:Mirageg1enemywithin.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Punk'd!]]
''During an accident on the Ark, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] suffered an extreme neuro-shock, causing him to rebel and turn against his teammates. Mirage helped the Autobots hunt him down and tranquilize him. This same accident also amplified Mirage's ability to create illusions, which he later used to trick the Decepticons into believing that a duel between Brawn and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ended with Brawn's death. The Decepticons felt totally stupid.'' {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

In the wake of a disastrous mission to rescue [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s captive head from the Decepticons, most of the Autobots were rendered inoperative. Mirage was one of a handful of Autobots who remained active, accompanying Optimus and various newer Autobots on several subsequent missions. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}} {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

''Mirage lucked out during the Dinobot Hunt—he was assigned to B-Team, whose quarry, Snarl, was knocked out by the destruction of a human military base in the [[Black Rock Desert]] in [[Nevada]], leaving him inert and easy to capture.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

Long after, he was blown to pieces by [[Octane]] during an Arctic battle arranged by Starscream. He recovered in time to be destroyed again in [[New York City]] by Starscream himself (empowered by the [[Underbase]]). {{storylink|Dark Star}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Mirageg2die.jpg|left|120px|thumb|"Got to—" '''SPOOM!''']]
Disobeying [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s orders, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] led a covert team (which included Mirage) onto the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] ship ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]'' to defeat [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his army of "evolved Decepticons". Grimlock's plan was an utter failure, ending in [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s death and the Autobots' capture. Mirage was destroyed by enemy fire during the following prison break. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

{{-}}
====Classics====
{{note| The Classics comic takes place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a new timeline that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or Generation 2.}}
Having been revived (presumably by [[Nucleon]]), Mirage was the happiest of them all, until he saw just how badly his way of life was affected by warfare. Mirage found that ages of warfare had made him bitter. Eventually, he decided to join Optimus Prime in returning to Earth, and war with Megatron. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 13|Mirage's extended ''Classics'' profile}}

His actions include evacuating [[Armored Robot Hunters|RUNTs]] and their pilots, holding [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] at gunpoint, and revealing that his illusion powers (in this continuity) now ''include'' invisibility. {{storylink|Crossing Over}}

He later secretly followed [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] to a meeting from his crew of the ''[[Graviton (Classics)|Graviton]]''. Unfortunately, he tried to crash Starscream's meeting with [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]]. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]'s infra-red sensors, and [[Weirdwolf]]'s keen nose allowed the Decepticons to find him, and he was gift-wrapped for Megatron. When the Gravitron crew led by Grimlock and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] attacked the Decepticon base, Mirage was rescued by [[Strongarm (Classics)|Strongarm]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Elita One]]. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese), [[Juan Carralero]] (Latin American, Season 1), [[Guillermo Romano]] (Latin American, Season 2)
[[Image:MTMTE2 Mirage talking to Spike.jpg|right|240px|thumb| Tellin' ya all it's a sabotage!]]
Mirage was part of the bridge crew of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. A volcanic eruption in 1984 awakened the Ark's inhabitants, including Mirage, who was reformatted by [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to have a terrestrial alternate mode of a Formula-1 racer. His first mission came when the Autobots rolled out to stop the Decepticons attacking an oil rig. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} After the battle, he got to show off his invisibility power to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Following another failed battle at [[Sherman Dam]], he suggested they simply leave Earth to the Decepticons and return to Cybertron, a suggestion soundly rejected by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:MTMtE Part3 Mirage HALOjump.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ever get the feeling Pat Lee just looked at this image and thought "By jove! This must be what perspective is!"?]]
At the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]], when Optimus was caught in an explosion, Mirage helped right him. He expressed hope that with the Decepticons perished in the explosion, they'd be able to return to Cybertron, but his optimism was quashed a few moments later when their foe emerged, functional and with more energy to fuel their [[Victory (G1)|new star cruiser]]. While guarding Ravage, Mirage gave Hound the idea to spring a trap on the Decepticons using a holographic rocket base. Unfortunately the Decepticons saw through the plan and raided the real rocket base, attaining the rest of the energy they needed. During the final Autobot operation to try and prevent the launch of the Decepticon cruiser, Mirage used his cloaking ability to sneak aboard. While the Decepticons were squabbling, he uncloaked and opened fire, blasting away at the ship's controls. He then bailed from the doomed cruiser, floating back to Earth's surface on a parasail as the Decepticons crashed into the ocean. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

After [[Chip Chase]] was kidnapped by the Decepticons who were after the antimatter formula the boy had memorised, Hound and Mirage utilised their respective powers to sneak into the antimatter laboratory. They were able to rescue Chip, but the Decepticons had managed to get the formula and use it to create Energon. Mirage subsequently helped defend Autobot Headquarters. {{storylink|Roll for It}} Mirage rolled out to protect Autobot Headerquarters while [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] worked to save Prime's life, after the Autobot leader was badly damaged in a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} He took part in the construction of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]... and then had to try to stop them when they ran wild. He, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] sealed the three Dinobots in a cave, but were mighty grateful when, after almost all of the Autobots were captured by the Decepticons, the Dinobots were released to come to the rescue. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

[[Image:CountdowntoExtinction Mirage firing missile.jpg|right|210px|thumb]]
When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] was using [[hypno-chip]]ped humans to load Energon onto their shuttle for transport to Cybertron, Mirage used his invisibility to sneak on board and order the humans to start unloading the Energon again. He was blasted in the back a short time later by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} When the Autobots were caught in quicksand while pursuing the Decepticons, Mirage used his shoulder missile to shoot down [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}} Mirage turned out with the other Autobots to watch Optimus and Megatron engage in single combat as per Cybertronian law. To their horror, Optimus lost, but they later discovered that Megatron had cheated, so the results were nullified. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

[[Image:CityOfSteel Mirage carrying alligatorcon.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Think, Mirage, what would [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] do?]]
Mirage rolled out to attack Megatron's [[Solar Needle]] and rescue [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], but didn't play much role in the battle. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was on Ratchet's team, entering the sewers of [[New York City]] in an attempt to rescue Optimus. After tangling with an [[Alligatorcon]], they found Prime... in pieces. The Alligatorcon had been built from Optimus's parts, and Mirage, Ratchet and Hound had to capture it so Ratchet could rebuild their leader. Once Optimus had been put back together, they proceeded to the surface and battled Decepticons, [[battle taxi]]s and Prime's own severed arm. {{storylink|City of Steel}}

[[Image:Traitor Mirage cerebro shell implant.jpg|thumb|right|200px|After seeing his ''[[Dark of the Moon]]'' [[Mirage (DOTM)|incarnation]], Mirage just had to take a blaster to his head.]]
The spotlight shone on Mirage again when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] suspected him of disloyalty. The discovery of a Decepticon installation in a sector Mirage had recently scouted caused Cliffjumper to leap the incorrect conclusion that Mirage had concealed the information and was a traitor to the Autobots. During a battle with the Decepticons at the site, Mirage was injured, but managed to rip a Decepticon [[Insignia|seal]] off [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Mirage risked the trust of his comrades by sneaking away to perform a plan of his own, framing the Decepticons for stealing [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]] from the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Spotted carrying the cubes by Cliffjumper, Mirage's guilt seemed all but confirmed, and before he could reveal his innocence, he was captured and brainwashed by one of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s mind-controlling [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shells]]. Under Bombshell's control, Mirage led the Autobots into an ambush, but at the battle’s end, the assorted manipulations were revealed and Cliffjumper apologized to Mirage. {{storylink|Traitor}}

[[Image:AutobotRun Jazz Mirage vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|left|240px]]
Mirage took part in a charity race organised by the Autobots. While they raced and performed stunts, the Autobots were affected by Megatron's latest invention, the [[Transfixatron]], which locked them in their vehicle modes. They were herded by the Decepticons to a ghost town, where the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s had created a machine to destroy them. It was only through an intervention of Ratchet and Wheeljack's counter invention that they were saved. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}}

[[Image:EntertheNightbird invisible Mirage.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Engage active camouflage! Reveal yourselves only after [[Keith David|the Arbiter]] has joined battle with the enemy!]]
Mirage came with the other Autobots when they were hired by [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] to protect [[Nightbird (G1)|his latest invention]] when it was being unveiled. When Decepticons attacked, Mirage became invisible and attacked Soundwave. Megatron offered to make Mirage disappear for good, but Optimus Prime saw to it that it wouldn't come true. After the Decepticons made off with Nightbird, Mirage and Ratchet insisted that [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] stay behind at Autobot base for repairs. As Brawn and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] were being repaired, Optimus detected an intruder. Mirage went to investigate, only to be beaten up by a Decepticon-reprogrammed Nightbird. Mirage pursued her with the other Autobots. When they caught up with her, Mirage became invisible in order to return Optimus Prime's laser rifle undetected, giving him the advantage. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

When Mirage and the other Autobots found they mysteriously had two Optimus Primes, the duo were subjected to a series of inconclusive tests. Before any further testing could be done, they had to roll out to a crevasse filled with [[korlonium crystal]]s to investigate strange readings. During the battle with the Decepticons that followed, the real Prime's identity was soon revealed. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}} Mirage was part of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'s team when they stumbled on the Decepticons' drilling operation. As [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] blasted him off a cliff, Mirage became invisible so the Decepticons would "never find [his] pieces". Of course, he survived and he and Sunstreaker used his grappling hook to take down Devastator. Back at Headquarters, a plan was hatched to plant [[dominator disc]]s on the Constructicons. Mirage took part, planting two of the discs at once, and Devastator was soon under Autobot control. Alas, it didn't last long — while they were trying to stop the Decepticons drilling to the Earth's core, Megatron retook control of the combiner. {{storylink|The Core}}

Mirage was at Headquarters when [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] reported the discovery of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Through a cunning plan on Megatron's part, the Autobots were found guilty of stealing energy and forced to leave Earth in a spaceship supplied by [[Shawn Berger]]. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} They soon discovered that the spacecraft was locked on course to the [[Sun]]. Through the heroic efforts of Chip Chase and bungling of [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], as well as the use of [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s force fields, the Autobots returned to Earth, where the Decepticons had already revealed their true nature. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[Image:DesertionDinobots1 Mirage steals fusion cannon.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Have you seen "Night at the Museum III"? See it now! All rights reserved!]]
During an attempt by the Decepticons to steal the plans to the [[Ultra Plane]], Mirage used his invisibility to steal Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] right off the Decepticon leader's arm. A brief tug-of-war ensued over the weapon, which Mirage lost, but Megatron retreated in the end anyhow. Later, as the Dinobots were being repaired after another battle, Mirage reminisced about how great Cybertron was. When [[cybertonium]] depletion started affecting all of the Transformers, Mirage's invisibility power went on the fritz — instead of making him invisible, it merely altered his color scheme slightly. Unfortunately he didn't find this out until after he tried to sneak up on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and was promptly blasted into a wall. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} The Autobots' condition worsened, until they were unable to move. They remained this way until the Dinobots, Spike and [[Carly]] managed to retrieve more Cybertonium from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:GoldenLagoon Mirage reports to Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|220px]]
Mirage rolled out for [[Haley Observatory]] when Megatron stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], but went missing somewhere along the way, and didn't arrive with the rest of the group. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He was part of an Autobot team who faced [[electrum]]-plated Decepticons with little success. He had to retreat back to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s position for reinforcements. When even Omega fell before the Decepticons, Mirage returned to Headquarters to break the news, and Teletraan I soon worked out how the Decepticons had become invincible. Soon the Autobots had found the electrum pool and, coating themselves, were able to defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} After a number of Autobots were abducted by big game hunter [[Chumley|Lord Chumley]], Mirage was present at Headquarters when Cosmos finally located the missing Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}} He also helped coat the [[Statue of Liberty]] with [[corrostop]], Perceptor's latest invention. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

Mirage was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], with Mirage's alternate mode making him the perfect choice to masquerade as [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]. Penetrating the Decepticon camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. With a combination of [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s magnetic powers and Mirage’s illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too. Though the deception was soon revealed, they were still able to thwart the Decepticons’ plans. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

{{note|An unused scene from the storyboard for [[The Transformers: The Movie]] showed Mirage wounded (possibly killed) by Megatron after getting back at Bombshell for [[Traitor|jeopardizing his career]]. Given the high body count, his death is still likely.}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
Mirage was among the Autobots stationed at [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]] in [[Arizona]] when [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the Decepticons attacked. Though the Autobots were ultimately victorious, the entire attack was actually just a distraction so that [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] could go perform ''evil'' somewhere in Japan. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #2}}

Mirage later appeared at the Autobots' newly constructed Japanese base, welcoming the small [[human]] boy, [[Kenji]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #4}}

=====''Full Throttle Scramble Power!''=====
{{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Robot Masters'' pack-in comics=====

=====''Robot Masters'' online comics=====
{{charstubfiction}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Mirage volunteered for an experimental new Binaltech upgrade that boosted the [[power chip rectifier]] in his revamped body to the Nth degree, making him permanently invisible thanks to his electro-disruptor. This proved to be key in a special mission conceived of by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. Having uncovered several secrets from the files of the time-traveling [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], the Autobots learned of a mysterious [[Large switch|switch]] hidden away on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] which, when pulled, would instantaneously immobilize all Transformers throughout the universe. Having lost Cybertron to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s tyrannical rule and facing considerable odds in the Sol System as well, Prime decided it was necessary to activate the switch in order to end the war.

With [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and several [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] [[Genetronic Translink System|GTs]] awaiting his signal as back-up, Mirage invisibly infiltrated Decepticon-controlled Cybertron and made his way to the switch. After throwing the switch, though, Mirage was surprised to find that he was still mobile. It seemed the Binaltech warriors (both Autobot and Decepticon) were significantly different enough from regular Transformers to be unaffected by the immobilization wave. With the Autobots now vastly outnumbering the Decepticons still in operation, the tide of the war had irreparably shifted. {{storylink|Kill Switch}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
[[Image:JHeadmasters01VariousGuys.jpg|thumb|200px|Combined screenshot used to avoid having to put up two tiny ones. Ignore the bottom!]]
Some time before the Transformers' war left Cybertron, Mirage engaged the Decepticons in battle with his comrades. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

{{note|For whatever reason, this pre-title screen Cybertronian skirmish was left out of both the United Kingdom and Australian DVD releases of the ''Headmasters'' series.}}

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===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Despite his misgiving about the war effort, Mirage's tenure with the Autobot cause dates back to the time of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When Shockwave staged a disastrous offensive against [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Mirage was there defending the [[Decagon]] alongside Prowl and the other Autobot soldiers. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} During the [[Dark Ages]], he continued serving under Prowl as part of the main Autobot faction at [[Virtue's Forum]], in the remains of Iacon. Alongside Jazz and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], he tried defending their prisoner, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Experiment D-43]], against the intruder known as [[The Fallen]], but failed miserably in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Four million years ago, Mirage crash-landed on the planet Earth aboard the shuttle known as the Ark, with more than two dozen of his fellow Autobots and Decepticons. They remained inactive in stasis lock at the base of a volcano until 1984, when volcanic activity shook them back on-line. The war began again, but without reinforcements or connection to Cybertron, Megatron and his Decepticons were eventually defeated and taken prisoner by the Autobots. Mirage and the rest of the Transformers were prepared to fly back to Cybertron in a new spacecraft, the ''[[Ark II]]'', when it exploded on its maiden voyage, leaving them all believed dead.

Not so. Most of the Transformers had been salvaged by a mercenary named [[Lazarus]], who spent the next few years repairing and reprogramming the Cybertronians to use as weapons of mass destruction at his command. Optimus Prime was reactivated by the United States military to oppose Lazarus, and he in turn used the power of the Matrix to revive several other Autobots who had escaped Lazarus' salvage crews, including Mirage. After rescuing some of their number from the human mercenaries, Mirage and the Autobots had to race against time putting their friends back together after the Decepticons escaped to wreak havoc. What's worse, a mechanizing virus had been released by Megatron, turning organic life into inanimate mechanical matter. Mirage exhausted a good percentage of his energon reserves fighting back the tide of the virus, but the Autobots were eventually successful. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

''Mirage was remarkably unhelpful during the war with the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]]. After Optimus Prime was forced to give the Matrix over to Megatron as a debt of honor, Mirage sniped about the decision worse than any of the Autobots. His criticisms only got louder after a news report from [[Washington, D.C.]] made it clear that Megatron had found one of his warriors, the already mighty [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]], who could actually wield the power of the Matrix directly. Now that Prime had actually strengthened their enemies as well as weakening the Autobots, Mirage just wouldn't shut up about it. The final straw was when [[Franklin Townsend]], a crazed augment working for the Keepers, idly strolled into the Ark, took over control of [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s mind, and made his getaway. Mirage was ready to brazenly disobey Prime's orders and charge right after Bluestreak, until Optimus physically slammed him into a wall and forced him to obey his commanding officer. ''

''When you're being so much of a dick that the legendary patience of Optimus Prime runs out, it's time to rein it in, Mirage. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] came to Earth and announced that the Autobot/Decepticon wars were over and that the two factions had been united, Mirage was one of the first to fall in with the new regime. The rest of the Autobots were wary of this development, and so a few (especially [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]) considered Mirage a traitor. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} Mirage quickly realigned himself with the Autobot cause when Shockwave's true plan was revealed, and Cliffjumper seemed to forgive him, as Mirage had saved Cliffjumper from [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] by sneaking up on him invisibly. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

Unfortunately for Mirage, the Autobots' acting commander Prowl soon came to the conclusion that they needed to return to Earth and establish a more significant beach-head there for the future. Mirage tried to argue against the idea, as he was more than thrilled to finally be back home on Cybertron, but then [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] cut in and reminded Mirage that Shockwave's united government had sold off his riches and property while he was gone. Ooooh—burn. {{storylink|Atonement}} The Autobots readied themselves for the return mission on a new shuttle, and began construction of Autobot City upon their arrival on Earth. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:GIJoevsTF4_Mirage_Ferret.jpg|thumb|left|250px|]]
[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] found Mirage's holo-projector aboard the ''Ark'', and used it to make a better holographic driver for himself than [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] could. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}}

Meanwhile, Mirage was among the dormant Transformers discovered by [[Cobra]], reprogrammed for nefarious purposes, and given new alternate modes (Mirage now transformed into a Cobra [[Ferret]]). Upon being freed from Cobra's control by Wheeljack, Mirage's group located Optimus Prime and helped fight back against the newly freed Decepticons. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} He later stood watch as the damaged Prime was formulating a plan to defeat Megatron. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave ''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' comics===
Mirage was apparently among the Autobots awakened on the [[Fera Islands]] in [[1939]], as Optimus Prime mentioned that he had been killed in the battle against [[Cobra]]. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Mirage was a suspect in the assassination attempts on [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], as he was one of only four Autobots present on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub|Hub]] during both attacks. He and two of the other Autobots were cleared when it was discovered that a mind-controlled [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] was the true culprit. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, he delivered information to the Autobots that there was a power-struggle among the Decepticons, information that turned out to be false and drew Optimus and an Autobot team (including the former ''[[Ark-19]]'' crew) into a hideous ambush that left them trapped on Cybertron. Before dumping them on Cybertron, Megatron revealed that there had been a willing traitor collaborator involved in his trap, and Mirage was the prime suspect {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} with everyone but [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] believing he'd betrayed them to the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

[[Image:AHM7_Ironhide_assaults_Mirage.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[All Hail Megatron issue 4|Ironhide. Punches. ''Everyone.'']]]]
It's not all bad, though; he got to use his invisibility trick to sneak up on [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s crew when Jazz was trying to prove his command skills. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Not long after, a raging [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] dragged the "traitor" into a corner and blamed him for the trap, which had nearly killed Optimus Prime. Mirage could only protest weakly as Ironhide beat him half to death and ripped off his Autobot badge. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

It was eventually revealed that [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] had been the real traitor, and Ironhide tried to apologize to Mirage. Mirage wouldn't accept his apology, however, leaving his badge off out of spite and warning Ironhide against ever talking to him again. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} However, despite his harsh words, Mirage came to Ironhide's rescue during a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack, urging his comrade to save himself. Ironhide refused, and instead proved that he trusted Mirage again by staying behind to help him fight the monstrosities. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} After the Autobots were saved by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], they returned to Earth and fought against the Decepticons in [[New York City]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}}

Three years later, the Autobots were still squatting on Earth at Optimus Prime's insistence, keeping the humans "safe" from the Decepticons while being hunted by those very same humans. Mirage was present when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] finally went stir-crazy and demanded some action. That "action" led to Ironhide's death and Prime surrendering himself to the human robot-hunters, [[Skywatch]]. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Along with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and several others, Mirage joined Hot Rod in breaking off from what remained of the Autobot forces to leave the planet of mud and water behind. At first, they tried convincing Omega Supreme to leave with them, but Hot Rod's speeches failed to overcome Omega's loyalty to Optimus Prime. Instead, they found unlikely allies in a pack of roving Decepticons led by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} With the additional manpower, they began construction of a new space cruiser to leave Earth forever, despite the unease the new allies had for one another. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}} Mirage busied himself checking a datapad for the new flight control systems. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}}

Unsurprisingly, the Decepticons eventually betrayed Hot Rod's team and attempted to take the space cruiser for themselves. Mirage and the others fought against their new creation, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], and eventually brought him down. Mirage was one of several Autobots who were injured in the battle, and was repaired by Skywatch technicians. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

Looking to make up for his mistake of trusting the Decepticons, Hot Rod (or "Rodimus") left Earth for some time, returning months later with a previously-presumed-dead Sunstreaker in tow. Mirage initially had trouble facing Sunstreaker, what with having been blamed for his betrayal years earlier, but his anger was soon overcome by the joy of being reunited with old friends. The Autobots then left Earth to return to Cybertron, which according to Rodimus had been restored but conquered by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix}} Once back home, they fought against both Galvatron's [[Sweep]]s and Megatron's Decepticons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

After the battle ended with Cybertron restored to a primordial state and most Decepticons in captivity, Mirage witnessed the disastrous launch of Rodimus's ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} Some time later he was walking around in a crowd of [[NAIL|unaligned Cybertronians]] who had returned home following the end of the war. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson}}

{{note|The events of ''Spotlight: Mirage'' possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
[[Image:SpotlightMirage trappedHound.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This didn't actually happen. Or did it? No, it didn't.]]
Mirage was haunted repeatedly by dreams of being a Decepticon. Or actually ''is'' a Decepticon from another universe who, after helping kill the last Autobots, got blown back through time and space to the main universe. Or via [[Zodiac]] energy has gained flashbacks of an alternate Decepticon Mirage. God knows what's going on there. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
While invisible, Mirage managed to sneak up on [[Octane]] and blast him off-line with his [[electro-disrupter]], saving [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] from a nasty beating. Both Autobots were surprised, then, when Octane got back up despite his circuits being completely shorted out. The ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] revealed himself to Mirage and Ironhide, and floated menacingly before them while they tried to work out if he was real or a hologram. {{storylink|Mirage's Rebirth}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===
{{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}} {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}} {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{-}}
==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Mirage could involve himself in the quest through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===The Transformers (1985)===
Mirage was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
{{picsneeded|G2 Go Bot, Universe Spychanger, Binaltech}}
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I don't need to be street-legal; I'm rich.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1986/1991)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''07'''
**''Accessories:'' "Rocket-Dart Hunting Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles

: Mirage was part of the original 1984 Autobot car assortment. His mold was originally used for a ''[[Diaclone]]'' F-1 [[wikipedia:Ligier JS11|Ligier JS11]] racer. The toy was specifically designed to work with the launcher mechanism contained in the Optimus Prime / Battle Convoy trailer. This toy is easily broken at the waist pivot. The labels on the toy are references to several real-world companies. The largest name, Citanes, is a deliberate corruption of Gitanes, a French cigarette company. (Quite unusual for a child's toy, but not the only [[Marlboor Wheeljack|cigarette reference in ''Diaclone'']].) The toy included Gitanes' logo of a dancing gypsy woman on what ends up as Mirage's belt in robot form. "Ligier" is the name of the company that manufactured the JS-11 chassis and fielded the team, traditionally wearing 25 and 26 on the F1 grid, while "elf" is a reference to a French oil company that has since merged with TotalFina to become TotalFinaElf.

: In 1986, he was made available as a mail-away item (as he was no longer shipping to retail shelves) in multiple offers, including a [[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (G1)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]] flier packed with most boxed ''Transformers'' toys. He cost $8 and two [[Robot Point]]s. In Japan Mirage was also included in the 1986 ''Goodbye Convoy'' [[giftset]]. This was the final release of the mold, making Mirage the only one of the original Autobots not to have been reissued in some form.

: Hasbro and/or Takara have announced that the mold for Mirage is [[Mold#Issues with Reissues|either lost or damaged]], so a reissue is unlikely. This presumably excludes the molds obtained by [[Knockoff|certain Chinese companies]] to produce several Mirage "perfect" bootlegs in a variety of flavors including original, clear, smoke, and red, based on the ultra-rare version from the [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Diaclone Powered Convoy]] giftset.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Mirage at TFU.info]

===Generation 2===
* '''Mirage''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: Mirage was released in 1995 as a black and yellow recolor of the [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[Double Clutch (G2)|Double Clutch]], transforming into a 1:64-scale Lola T94 Indy car with through-axle construction, making him compatible with racing sets from the "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" toylines.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1995/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Go-Bots Mirage at TFU.info]

{{note|Mirage was also planned to be released in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as a flipchanger, but the line was canceled to make way for ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]''. The unreleased mold was first used in ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' (see below).}}

{{-}}

===Machine Wars===
[[Image:Mwmirage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Gah! I'm teal! Somebody recolor me, please!]]
* '''Mirage''' (Basic, 1997)
**''Accessories:'' 2-part rifle

: Mirage's form in ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' transforms into a blue and white Indycar. Like the other Machine Wars basics, the toy is a flipchanger (having a one-step, spring-loaded transformation), and his weapons are hidden in his alt mode. Unlike most of the ''Machine Wars'' toys, the head looks very similar to his Generation 1 form. This is because the mold was originally designed as Mirage for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''.

: This mold was also used to make ''Machine Wars'' [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Machine Wars'' Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}
===Robot Masters===
[[Image:RMRijie toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Phew. Thanks.]]
* '''Rijie''' (Basic, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-03'''
**''Accessories:'' 2-part "Molecular Bonding Gun", "JS Laser Gun"

: ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' "Rijie" used the ''Machine Wars'' Mirage mold, but in a much more [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-based coloration and deco. He also came with an extra chrome-silver "JS Laser Gun" (like the other bonus weapons of ''Robot Masters'', it is suspected to be a mold originally developed yet ultimately unused by the cut-short ''[[Microman]] LED Powers'' line).

: Because of legal reasons, "Ligier" could not be used for the name of the ''Robot Masters'' toy, so "Rijie", which has the same pronunciation in Japan, was used instead. Curiously, the toy's instructions still identify it as "Ligier".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/Ligier/ligier.htm More information on ''Robot Masters'' Rijie at TFU.info]

{{-}}
===Alternators===
[[Image:AlternatorsMirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This toy is clearly black, red, and silver. You're just deluding yourself.]]
* '''Mirage''' (Alternator, 2006)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons

: ''[[Transformers: Alternators| Alternators]]'' Mirage transforms into a finely detailed 1:24 scale replica of a Ford GT, featuring opening doors, engine bay and trunk, with a realistic interior. As with most Alternators, his car body is mostly unpainted, but the metallic-flake deep blue plastic makes this hard to see.

: Featuring an innovative, different robot mode, Mirage is not a straight re-interpretation of the original Mirage's robot mode, due to the completely different types of vehicles. But coincidentally the Ford GT's hood features a shape that echoes a F1-type racing car's nose and front spoiler. His engine's supercharger forms two separate tonfa weapons that can also be interpreted as guns.

: Mirage was retooled into [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rodimus]] for the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line, which was further redecoed into ''Alternators'' Rodimus. Later in 2007, he was redecoed in clear plastic colours to represent his 'invisibility mode' as an [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive in the ''[[Binaltech]]'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/AltMirage/mirage.htm More information on Alternators Mirage at TFU.info]

===Universe===
*'''Mirage''' (Spy Changer, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: For ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'', Mirage is identical to the last [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] redeco of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots In Disguise]]'' [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]], transforming into a translucent green Lola Indy car. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Universe'' Mirage at TFU.info]
{{-}}

===Classics===
[[Image:Classics Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Applied to [[Revoltech]] club; rejected for lacking thigh joints.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Classics Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Mirage was released in November 2006 in wave 2, along with the [[shortpacking|shortpacked]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]. He transforms into a closed-canopy Formula racer concept car. Mirage's paint details contain a few ''Transformers'' in-jokes in the form of sponsor logos such as "[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Witwicky Sparkplugs]]" and "[[Lithone (planet)|Lithonian]] Drivetrain." Additionally, his racing number is still 26, as it was on the original toy. Other logos, which include "Plasma Injection Energy" and "F.P. Racing," refer to "pie" and the initials of [[Joe Kyde|the deco artist]]'s super-secret non-gay friendship cult, respectively.

:The front detaches to become a handheld electro-disruptor weapon which is said to be able to create illusions and allow him to appear invisible. (This is a reconciliation of Mirage's illusion-creation ability from his original tech spec profile and his invisibility power from the animated series.) He is ''extremely'' poseable for his time, featuring double-jointed elbows and knees, ball-jointed spoiler "toes", and waist articulation, among others.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Fracture (Movie)|Fracture]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/ClassicsMirage/mirage.htm More information on Classics Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Timelines===
[[Image:BotCon2007freeMirage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I leave your toilets fresh and blue every time you flush!]]
*'''Hologram Mirage''' (BotCon, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler

:A redeco of Classics Mirage in translucent and opaque blue, Mirage was available only as a "freebie" gift to attendees at BotCon 2007.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/BCMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
* '''Rijie''' (e-Hobby exclusive, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-18'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons

:Rijie is a redeco of ''Alternators'' Mirage using mostly transparent plastic. The toy was exclusively available from [[e-HOBBY]] in September 2007.

:Even though Takara had briefly contemplated releasing a [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rodimus]] (Hot Rod) retool of Alternators Mirage as the next ''Binaltech'' toy after [[Ginrai]] (both toys would ultimately come out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line instead), they apparently never created any [[die-cast]] molds for the Ford GT sculpt. To justify the absence of diecast parts from a ''Binaltech'' toy, Takara decided to use clear plastic parts to represent an "invisible" mode, officially called an "Electro-Disrupter" {{sic}} mode on the packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Cybertron/Rijie/rijie.htm More information on ''Binaltech'' Rijie at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Sculpted in 2006. Decoed in the late 70s.]]
*'''Ligier''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler

: ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' Ligier is a redeco of ''Classics'' Mirage. In an effort to make him appear more accurate to Mirage's cartoon appearances, Ligier lacks most of the sponsorship tampographs that appeared on ''Classics'' Mirage. As with all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign seen on the ''Classics'' version, but features [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] parts: his rear spoiler and his front spoiler.

{{-}}
[[Image:HenkeiElectroDisruptorLigier.jpg|thumb|200px|Clear, black, '''and''' chrome? It's like he's a living embodiment of Takara itself!]]
*'''Electro Disruptor Ligier''' (Deluxe, 2009)

: Electro Disruptor Ligier is a translucent plastic version of ''Henkei'' Ligier offered as a mail-away exclusive to those who have bought the book [[Transformers Generations 2009|Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1]].

: This toy was repurposed as "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]" [[Mirage (SG)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Cybertron/EDLigier/ligier.htm More information on Electro Disruptor Ligier at TFU.info]

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)

*'''Mirage''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''20'''

: The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Decoy Mirage at TFU.info]''

===Choro-Q===
*'''Ligier''' (2000)

:''[[Choro-Q]]'' Ligier is a mostly translucent [[redeco]] of the Honda Jordan F1 toy from Takara's ''Choro-Q'' toyline of non-transforming [[Super deformed|super-deformed]] vehicles. He was an [[exclusive]] at [[BotCon]] Japan 2000, and features a [[pull-back motor]] and a rear license plate that reads "BotCon Japan 2000".

:Along with ''Choro-Q'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise|Convoy]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], Ligier was given out randomly to convention attendees. Each toy was limited to 1000 pieces.

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:RH Mirage vs Starscream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'm too rich to be cute.]]
* '''Mirage Vs Starscream''' (2007)

:Packaged with [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]], Mirage is a two-inch-high robot sculpted in super deformed style with articulation at the head and shoulders. The toy has a sculpted missile launcher, like the original character, but oddly it is resting on the figure's back instead of the shoulder. This mold was later redecoed into ''Hologram'' Mirage.

{{-}}
[[Image:Hologram Robot Hero Mirage.jpg|right|150px|thumb|What he said.]]
* '''Decepticon Sneak Attack''' (2007)

:Hologram Mirage is a recolor of the two-pack Mirage cast in transparent blue with slightly different paint details. Most notably, the Autobot symbols on his arms have been replaced with part of the word "Citanes", to evoke the original toy. Mirage was packed with ''Metallic Finish'' Optimus Prime, ''Metallic Finish'' Megatron, Cliffjumper, and Skywarp. This pack was sold exclusively in Walmart, and Walmart.com.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G2MirageVaultArt.jpg|thumb|250px|Most preppies just wear an alligator '''shirt''', Mirage.]]
* Mirage is absent from the fictional events of 2005 and 2006 without explanation; a storyboarded scene from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' featuring Mirage was cut from the finished film. Amidst the transformation of [[Autobot City]], Mirage was to ambush the Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and then be fired upon by Megatron. Whether or not this would have killed Mirage is not made clear, but given the film's casual body count, it seems highly probable.
*Someone at Hasbro in the '90s must have had Mirage on the brain. Aside from the released Go-Bot and the Flipchanger created in his image, concept art for a green and pink redeco of Mirage's original toy (with alligator decals!) meant for the ''Generation 2'' toyline surfaced in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' collector's book. In an unusual coincidence, ''Transformers'' fan and rarities-hunter Maziar "Maz" Shahsafdari [http://www.tf-1.com/articles/other/g2mirage_template.html unveiled a pictorial review of the mock-up] done for this redeco on his website TF-1.com shortly after the book came out, entirely unaware of its inclusion in the tome.
* Mirage has been a traitor/suspected traitor in nearly every continuity he's popped up in. You just can't trust those coastal elite.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ligier''' or '''Rijie''' (リジェ ''Rije'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Délibáb''' ("Mirage")
*''Italian:'' '''Mistero''' ("Mystery")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Hǎi-shr-shèn-lóu''' (Taiwan, 海市蜃樓, "Mirage"), '''Hàun-yǐng''' (Taiwan, 幻影, "Phantom")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Miragem''' ("Mirage")

==External links==
* [http://www.toybin.org/search.php?q=1984+Autobot+Mirage ToyBin Mirage Toy Gallery]
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm Mirage at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Mirage Mirage's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Autobots]]
[[Category:Saboteurs]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]

Mirage (G1)

2012-04-03T02:43:15Z

97.100.57.102: /* The Transformers cartoon */

{{picsneeded|Fiction appearances, toys}}
{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Mirage}}
:''Mirage is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Mirageg1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"The ship was... full."]]

'''Mirage''' is what [[human]]s call "old money." Before the war, he was a member of affluent [[Cybertronian (disambiguation)|Cybertronian]] society, with his own large estate and high-priced [[Mirage's friends|friends]]. He enjoyed the finer things in life: vintage [[energon]], swank evening events, and [[turbofox]] hunts on the grounds. But when the war started, he was forced to choose sides and found himself banded with a group of commoners he didn't really understand.

Some of the other Autobots don't trust Mirage. He feels the war, even after all these millions of years, is beneath him. War is not, after all, how civilized, erudite beings conduct themselves. He often questions the Autobots' violent means, and not-so-secretly hopes they and the [[Decepticon]]s can get along. Because of this, he has been labelled by a few others as a Decepticon sympathizer. Still, he sided with the Autobots for a reason, and he is there for the Autobots when they need him.

Although the details vary by continuity, Mirage has the ability to create illusions which typically either render him invisible or make him appear to be somewhere he isn't.

He sounds like [[wikipedia:Dean Martin|Dean Martin]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:Miragebluestreakfirst.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mirage tells the story of how he got his name every five minutes.]]
Mirage was one of the Autobots on board the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crashed, and was subsequently reactivated in 1984. At first, Mirage was reluctant to full-on attack his Decepticon opponents, instead trying to reason with them. However, after a battle with the relentless [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], Mirage learned that sometimes diplomacy is not an option. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

[[Image:Mirageg1enemywithin.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Punk'd!]]
''During an accident on the Ark, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] suffered an extreme neuro-shock, causing him to rebel and turn against his teammates. Mirage helped the Autobots hunt him down and tranquilize him. This same accident also amplified Mirage's ability to create illusions, which he later used to trick the Decepticons into believing that a duel between Brawn and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] ended with Brawn's death. The Decepticons felt totally stupid.'' {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

In the wake of a disastrous mission to rescue [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s captive head from the Decepticons, most of the Autobots were rendered inoperative. Mirage was one of a handful of Autobots who remained active, accompanying Optimus and various newer Autobots on several subsequent missions. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}} {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}} {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

''Mirage lucked out during the Dinobot Hunt—he was assigned to B-Team, whose quarry, Snarl, was knocked out by the destruction of a human military base in the [[Black Rock Desert]] in [[Nevada]], leaving him inert and easy to capture.'' {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt!}}

Long after, he was blown to pieces by [[Octane]] during an Arctic battle arranged by Starscream. He recovered in time to be destroyed again in [[New York City]] by Starscream himself (empowered by the [[Underbase]]). {{storylink|Dark Star}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Mirageg2die.jpg|left|120px|thumb|"Got to—" '''SPOOM!''']]
Disobeying [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s orders, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] led a covert team (which included Mirage) onto the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]] ship ''[[Twilight (G2)|Twilight]]'' to defeat [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his army of "evolved Decepticons". Grimlock's plan was an utter failure, ending in [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s death and the Autobots' capture. Mirage was destroyed by enemy fire during the following prison break. {{storylink|Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|Devices and Desires!}}

{{-}}
====Classics====
{{note| The Classics comic takes place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a new timeline that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or Generation 2.}}
Having been revived (presumably by [[Nucleon]]), Mirage was the happiest of them all, until he saw just how badly his way of life was affected by warfare. Mirage found that ages of warfare had made him bitter. Eventually, he decided to join Optimus Prime in returning to Earth, and war with Megatron. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 13|Mirage's extended ''Classics'' profile}}

His actions include evacuating [[Armored Robot Hunters|RUNTs]] and their pilots, holding [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] at gunpoint, and revealing that his illusion powers (in this continuity) now ''include'' invisibility. {{storylink|Crossing Over}}

He later secretly followed [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] to a meeting from his crew of the ''[[Graviton (Classics)|Graviton]]''. Unfortunately, he tried to crash Starscream's meeting with [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]]. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]'s infra-red sensors, and [[Weirdwolf]]'s keen nose allowed the Decepticons to find him, and he was gift-wrapped for Megatron. When the Gravitron crew led by Grimlock and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] attacked the Decepticon base, Mirage was rescued by [[Strongarm (Classics)|Strongarm]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Elita One]]. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese), [[Juan Carralero]] (Latin American, Season 1), [[Guillermo Romano]] (Latin American, Season 2)
[[Image:MTMTE2 Mirage talking to Spike.jpg|right|240px|thumb| Tellin' ya all it's a sabotage!]]
Mirage was part of the bridge crew of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. A volcanic eruption in 1984 awakened the Ark's inhabitants, including Mirage, who was reformatted by [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]] to have a terrestrial alternate mode of a Formula-1 racer. His first mission came when the Autobots rolled out to stop the Decepticons attacking an oil rig. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} After the battle, he got to show off his invisibility power to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]. Following another failed battle at [[Sherman Dam]], he suggested they simply leave Earth to the Decepticons and return to Cybertron, a suggestion soundly rejected by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 2}}

[[Image:MTMtE Part3 Mirage HALOjump.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Ever get the feeling Pat Lee just looked at this image and thought "By jove! This must be what perspective is!"?]]
At the [[ruby crystal mines of Burma]], when Optimus was caught in an explosion, Mirage helped right him. He expressed hope that with the Decepticons perished in the explosion, they'd be able to return to Cybertron, but his optimism was quashed a few moments later when their foe emerged, functional and with more energy to fuel their [[Victory (G1)|new star cruiser]]. While guarding Ravage, Mirage gave Hound the idea to spring a trap on the Decepticons using a holographic rocket base. Unfortunately the Decepticons saw through the plan and raided the real rocket base, attaining the rest of the energy they needed. During the final Autobot operation to try and prevent the launch of the Decepticon cruiser, Mirage used his cloaking ability to sneak aboard. While the Decepticons were squabbling, he uncloaked and opened fire, blasting away at the ship's controls. He then bailed from the doomed cruiser, floating back to Earth's surface on a parasail as the Decepticons crashed into the ocean. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

After [[Chip Chase]] was kidnapped by the Decepticons who were after the antimatter formula the boy had memorised, Hound and Mirage utilised their respective powers to sneak into the antimatter laboratory. They were able to rescue Chip, but the Decepticons had managed to get the formula and use it to create Energon. Mirage subsequently helped defend Autobot Headquarters. {{storylink|Roll for It}} Mirage rolled out to protect Autobot Headerquarters while [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] worked to save Prime's life, after the Autobot leader was badly damaged in a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer}} He took part in the construction of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]... and then had to try to stop them when they ran wild. He, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] sealed the three Dinobots in a cave, but were mighty grateful when, after almost all of the Autobots were captured by the Decepticons, the Dinobots were released to come to the rescue. {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

[[Image:CountdowntoExtinction Mirage firing missile.jpg|right|210px|thumb]]
When [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] was using [[hypno-chip]]ped humans to load Energon onto their shuttle for transport to Cybertron, Mirage used his invisibility to sneak on board and order the humans to start unloading the Energon again. He was blasted in the back a short time later by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} When the Autobots were caught in quicksand while pursuing the Decepticons, Mirage used his shoulder missile to shoot down [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction}} Mirage turned out with the other Autobots to watch Optimus and Megatron engage in single combat as per Cybertronian law. To their horror, Optimus lost, but they later discovered that Megatron had cheated, so the results were nullified. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

[[Image:CityOfSteel Mirage carrying alligatorcon.jpg|thumb|left|210px|Think, Mirage, what would [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] do?]]
Mirage rolled out to attack Megatron's [[Solar Needle]] and rescue [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], but didn't play much role in the battle. {{storylink|Changing Gears}} He was on Ratchet's team, entering the sewers of [[New York City]] in an attempt to rescue Optimus. After tangling with an [[Alligatorcon]], they found Prime... in pieces. The Alligatorcon had been built from Optimus's parts, and Mirage, Ratchet and Hound had to capture it so Ratchet could rebuild their leader. Once Optimus had been put back together, they proceeded to the surface and battled Decepticons, [[battle taxi]]s and Prime's own severed arm. {{storylink|City of Steel}}

[[Image:Traitor Mirage cerebro shell implant.jpg|thumb|right|200px|After seeing his ''[[Dark of the Moon]]'' [[Mirage (DOTM)|incarnation]], Mirage just had to take a blaster to his head.
The spotlight shone on Mirage again when [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] suspected him of disloyalty. The discovery of a Decepticon installation in a sector Mirage had recently scouted caused Cliffjumper to leap the incorrect conclusion that Mirage had concealed the information and was a traitor to the Autobots. During a battle with the Decepticons at the site, Mirage was injured, but managed to rip a Decepticon [[Insignia|seal]] off [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. Mirage risked the trust of his comrades by sneaking away to perform a plan of his own, framing the Decepticons for stealing [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]] from the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. Spotted carrying the cubes by Cliffjumper, Mirage's guilt seemed all but confirmed, and before he could reveal his innocence, he was captured and brainwashed by one of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s mind-controlling [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shells]]. Under Bombshell's control, Mirage led the Autobots into an ambush, but at the battle’s end, the assorted manipulations were revealed and Cliffjumper apologized to Mirage. {{storylink|Traitor}}

[[Image:AutobotRun Jazz Mirage vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|left|240px]]
Mirage took part in a charity race organised by the Autobots. While they raced and performed stunts, the Autobots were affected by Megatron's latest invention, the [[Transfixatron]], which locked them in their vehicle modes. They were herded by the Decepticons to a ghost town, where the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s had created a machine to destroy them. It was only through an intervention of Ratchet and Wheeljack's counter invention that they were saved. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}}

[[Image:EntertheNightbird invisible Mirage.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Engage active camouflage! Reveal yourselves only after [[Keith David|the Arbiter]] has joined battle with the enemy!]]
Mirage came with the other Autobots when they were hired by [[Doctor Fujiyama the Famous Scientist]] to protect [[Nightbird (G1)|his latest invention]] when it was being unveiled. When Decepticons attacked, Mirage became invisible and attacked Soundwave. Megatron offered to make Mirage disappear for good, but Optimus Prime saw to it that it wouldn't come true. After the Decepticons made off with Nightbird, Mirage and Ratchet insisted that [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] stay behind at Autobot base for repairs. As Brawn and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] were being repaired, Optimus detected an intruder. Mirage went to investigate, only to be beaten up by a Decepticon-reprogrammed Nightbird. Mirage pursued her with the other Autobots. When they caught up with her, Mirage became invisible in order to return Optimus Prime's laser rifle undetected, giving him the advantage. {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}}

When Mirage and the other Autobots found they mysteriously had two Optimus Primes, the duo were subjected to a series of inconclusive tests. Before any further testing could be done, they had to roll out to a crevasse filled with [[korlonium crystal]]s to investigate strange readings. During the battle with the Decepticons that followed, the real Prime's identity was soon revealed. {{storylink|A Prime Problem}} Mirage was part of [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'s team when they stumbled on the Decepticons' drilling operation. As [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] blasted him off a cliff, Mirage became invisible so the Decepticons would "never find [his] pieces". Of course, he survived and he and Sunstreaker used his grappling hook to take down Devastator. Back at Headquarters, a plan was hatched to plant [[dominator disc]]s on the Constructicons. Mirage took part, planting two of the discs at once, and Devastator was soon under Autobot control. Alas, it didn't last long — while they were trying to stop the Decepticons drilling to the Earth's core, Megatron retook control of the combiner. {{storylink|The Core}}

Mirage was at Headquarters when [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] reported the discovery of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} Through a cunning plan on Megatron's part, the Autobots were found guilty of stealing energy and forced to leave Earth in a spaceship supplied by [[Shawn Berger]]. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} They soon discovered that the spacecraft was locked on course to the [[Sun]]. Through the heroic efforts of Chip Chase and bungling of [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], as well as the use of [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s force fields, the Autobots returned to Earth, where the Decepticons had already revealed their true nature. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

[[Image:DesertionDinobots1 Mirage steals fusion cannon.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Have you seen "Night at the Museum III"? See it now! All rights reserved!]]
During an attempt by the Decepticons to steal the plans to the [[Ultra Plane]], Mirage used his invisibility to steal Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] right off the Decepticon leader's arm. A brief tug-of-war ensued over the weapon, which Mirage lost, but Megatron retreated in the end anyhow. Later, as the Dinobots were being repaired after another battle, Mirage reminisced about how great Cybertron was. When [[cybertonium]] depletion started affecting all of the Transformers, Mirage's invisibility power went on the fritz — instead of making him invisible, it merely altered his color scheme slightly. Unfortunately he didn't find this out until after he tried to sneak up on [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and was promptly blasted into a wall. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}} The Autobots' condition worsened, until they were unable to move. They remained this way until the Dinobots, Spike and [[Carly]] managed to retrieve more Cybertonium from Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}}

[[Image:GoldenLagoon Mirage reports to Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|220px]]
Mirage rolled out for [[Haley Observatory]] when Megatron stole the [[Voltronic Galaxer]], but went missing somewhere along the way, and didn't arrive with the rest of the group. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} He was part of an Autobot team who faced [[electrum]]-plated Decepticons with little success. He had to retreat back to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s position for reinforcements. When even Omega fell before the Decepticons, Mirage returned to Headquarters to break the news, and Teletraan I soon worked out how the Decepticons had become invincible. Soon the Autobots had found the electrum pool and, coating themselves, were able to defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon}} After a number of Autobots were abducted by big game hunter [[Chumley|Lord Chumley]], Mirage was present at Headquarters when Cosmos finally located the missing Autobots. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}} He also helped coat the [[Statue of Liberty]] with [[corrostop]], Perceptor's latest invention. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

Mirage was among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], with Mirage's alternate mode making him the perfect choice to masquerade as [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]. Penetrating the Decepticon camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. With a combination of [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s magnetic powers and Mirage’s illusion-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too. Though the deception was soon revealed, they were still able to thwart the Decepticons’ plans. {{storylink|Masquerade}}

{{note|An unused scene from the storyboard for [[The Transformers: The Movie]] showed Mirage wounded (possibly killed) by Megatron after getting back at Bombshell for [[Traitor|jeopardizing his career]]. Given the high body count, his death is still likely.}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
Mirage was among the Autobots stationed at [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]] in [[Arizona]] when [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and the Decepticons attacked. Though the Autobots were ultimately victorious, the entire attack was actually just a distraction so that [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] could go perform ''evil'' somewhere in Japan. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 2|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #2}}

Mirage later appeared at the Autobots' newly constructed Japanese base, welcoming the small [[human]] boy, [[Kenji]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 4|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #4}}

=====''Full Throttle Scramble Power!''=====
{{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Robot Masters'' pack-in comics=====

=====''Robot Masters'' online comics=====
{{charstubfiction}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
Mirage volunteered for an experimental new Binaltech upgrade that boosted the [[power chip rectifier]] in his revamped body to the Nth degree, making him permanently invisible thanks to his electro-disruptor. This proved to be key in a special mission conceived of by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]. Having uncovered several secrets from the files of the time-traveling [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], the Autobots learned of a mysterious [[Large switch|switch]] hidden away on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] which, when pulled, would instantaneously immobilize all Transformers throughout the universe. Having lost Cybertron to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s tyrannical rule and facing considerable odds in the Sol System as well, Prime decided it was necessary to activate the switch in order to end the war.

With [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and several [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] [[Genetronic Translink System|GTs]] awaiting his signal as back-up, Mirage invisibly infiltrated Decepticon-controlled Cybertron and made his way to the switch. After throwing the switch, though, Mirage was surprised to find that he was still mobile. It seemed the Binaltech warriors (both Autobot and Decepticon) were significantly different enough from regular Transformers to be unaffected by the immobilization wave. With the Autobots now vastly outnumbering the Decepticons still in operation, the tide of the war had irreparably shifted. {{storylink|Kill Switch}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
[[Image:JHeadmasters01VariousGuys.jpg|thumb|200px|Combined screenshot used to avoid having to put up two tiny ones. Ignore the bottom!]]
Some time before the Transformers' war left Cybertron, Mirage engaged the Decepticons in battle with his comrades. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

{{note|For whatever reason, this pre-title screen Cybertronian skirmish was left out of both the United Kingdom and Australian DVD releases of the ''Headmasters'' series.}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave comics continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
Despite his misgiving about the war effort, Mirage's tenure with the Autobot cause dates back to the time of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When Shockwave staged a disastrous offensive against [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Mirage was there defending the [[Decagon]] alongside Prowl and the other Autobot soldiers. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} During the [[Dark Ages]], he continued serving under Prowl as part of the main Autobot faction at [[Virtue's Forum]], in the remains of Iacon. Alongside Jazz and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], he tried defending their prisoner, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Experiment D-43]], against the intruder known as [[The Fallen]], but failed miserably in the process. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Four million years ago, Mirage crash-landed on the planet Earth aboard the shuttle known as the Ark, with more than two dozen of his fellow Autobots and Decepticons. They remained inactive in stasis lock at the base of a volcano until 1984, when volcanic activity shook them back on-line. The war began again, but without reinforcements or connection to Cybertron, Megatron and his Decepticons were eventually defeated and taken prisoner by the Autobots. Mirage and the rest of the Transformers were prepared to fly back to Cybertron in a new spacecraft, the ''[[Ark II]]'', when it exploded on its maiden voyage, leaving them all believed dead.

Not so. Most of the Transformers had been salvaged by a mercenary named [[Lazarus]], who spent the next few years repairing and reprogramming the Cybertronians to use as weapons of mass destruction at his command. Optimus Prime was reactivated by the United States military to oppose Lazarus, and he in turn used the power of the Matrix to revive several other Autobots who had escaped Lazarus' salvage crews, including Mirage. After rescuing some of their number from the human mercenaries, Mirage and the Autobots had to race against time putting their friends back together after the Decepticons escaped to wreak havoc. What's worse, a mechanizing virus had been released by Megatron, turning organic life into inanimate mechanical matter. Mirage exhausted a good percentage of his energon reserves fighting back the tide of the virus, but the Autobots were eventually successful. {{storylink|Prime Directive}}

''Mirage was remarkably unhelpful during the war with the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]]. After Optimus Prime was forced to give the Matrix over to Megatron as a debt of honor, Mirage sniped about the decision worse than any of the Autobots. His criticisms only got louder after a news report from [[Washington, D.C.]] made it clear that Megatron had found one of his warriors, the already mighty [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]], who could actually wield the power of the Matrix directly. Now that Prime had actually strengthened their enemies as well as weakening the Autobots, Mirage just wouldn't shut up about it. The final straw was when [[Franklin Townsend]], a crazed augment working for the Keepers, idly strolled into the Ark, took over control of [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'s mind, and made his getaway. Mirage was ready to brazenly disobey Prime's orders and charge right after Bluestreak, until Optimus physically slammed him into a wall and forced him to obey his commanding officer. ''

''When you're being so much of a dick that the legendary patience of Optimus Prime runs out, it's time to rein it in, Mirage. {{storylink|Fusion (novel)|Fusion}}''

When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] came to Earth and announced that the Autobot/Decepticon wars were over and that the two factions had been united, Mirage was one of the first to fall in with the new regime. The rest of the Autobots were wary of this development, and so a few (especially [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]) considered Mirage a traitor. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}} Mirage quickly realigned himself with the Autobot cause when Shockwave's true plan was revealed, and Cliffjumper seemed to forgive him, as Mirage had saved Cliffjumper from [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] by sneaking up on him invisibly. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

Unfortunately for Mirage, the Autobots' acting commander Prowl soon came to the conclusion that they needed to return to Earth and establish a more significant beach-head there for the future. Mirage tried to argue against the idea, as he was more than thrilled to finally be back home on Cybertron, but then [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] cut in and reminded Mirage that Shockwave's united government had sold off his riches and property while he was gone. Ooooh—burn. {{storylink|Atonement}} The Autobots readied themselves for the return mission on a new shuttle, and began construction of Autobot City upon their arrival on Earth. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:GIJoevsTF4_Mirage_Ferret.jpg|thumb|left|250px|]]
[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] found Mirage's holo-projector aboard the ''Ark'', and used it to make a better holographic driver for himself than [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] could. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}}

Meanwhile, Mirage was among the dormant Transformers discovered by [[Cobra]], reprogrammed for nefarious purposes, and given new alternate modes (Mirage now transformed into a Cobra [[Ferret]]). Upon being freed from Cobra's control by Wheeljack, Mirage's group located Optimus Prime and helped fight back against the newly freed Decepticons. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} He later stood watch as the damaged Prime was formulating a plan to defeat Megatron. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave ''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' comics===
Mirage was apparently among the Autobots awakened on the [[Fera Islands]] in [[1939]], as Optimus Prime mentioned that he had been killed in the battle against [[Cobra]]. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Mirage was a suspect in the assassination attempts on [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], as he was one of only four Autobots present on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub|Hub]] during both attacks. He and two of the other Autobots were cleared when it was discovered that a mind-controlled [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] was the true culprit. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

A year later, he delivered information to the Autobots that there was a power-struggle among the Decepticons, information that turned out to be false and drew Optimus and an Autobot team (including the former ''[[Ark-19]]'' crew) into a hideous ambush that left them trapped on Cybertron. Before dumping them on Cybertron, Megatron revealed that there had been a willing traitor collaborator involved in his trap, and Mirage was the prime suspect {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} with everyone but [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] believing he'd betrayed them to the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}}

[[Image:AHM7_Ironhide_assaults_Mirage.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[All Hail Megatron issue 4|Ironhide. Punches. ''Everyone.'']]]]
It's not all bad, though; he got to use his invisibility trick to sneak up on [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s crew when Jazz was trying to prove his command skills. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Not long after, a raging [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] dragged the "traitor" into a corner and blamed him for the trap, which had nearly killed Optimus Prime. Mirage could only protest weakly as Ironhide beat him half to death and ripped off his Autobot badge. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

It was eventually revealed that [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] had been the real traitor, and Ironhide tried to apologize to Mirage. Mirage wouldn't accept his apology, however, leaving his badge off out of spite and warning Ironhide against ever talking to him again. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} However, despite his harsh words, Mirage came to Ironhide's rescue during a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack, urging his comrade to save himself. Ironhide refused, and instead proved that he trusted Mirage again by staying behind to help him fight the monstrosities. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} After the Autobots were saved by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], they returned to Earth and fought against the Decepticons in [[New York City]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}}

Three years later, the Autobots were still squatting on Earth at Optimus Prime's insistence, keeping the humans "safe" from the Decepticons while being hunted by those very same humans. Mirage was present when [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] finally went stir-crazy and demanded some action. That "action" led to Ironhide's death and Prime surrendering himself to the human robot-hunters, [[Skywatch]]. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Along with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and several others, Mirage joined Hot Rod in breaking off from what remained of the Autobot forces to leave the planet of mud and water behind. At first, they tried convincing Omega Supreme to leave with them, but Hot Rod's speeches failed to overcome Omega's loyalty to Optimus Prime. Instead, they found unlikely allies in a pack of roving Decepticons led by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} With the additional manpower, they began construction of a new space cruiser to leave Earth forever, despite the unease the new allies had for one another. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}} Mirage busied himself checking a datapad for the new flight control systems. {{storylink|Seasons in Flight}}

Unsurprisingly, the Decepticons eventually betrayed Hot Rod's team and attempted to take the space cruiser for themselves. Mirage and the others fought against their new creation, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], and eventually brought him down. Mirage was one of several Autobots who were injured in the battle, and was repaired by Skywatch technicians. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

Looking to make up for his mistake of trusting the Decepticons, Hot Rod (or "Rodimus") left Earth for some time, returning months later with a previously-presumed-dead Sunstreaker in tow. Mirage initially had trouble facing Sunstreaker, what with having been blamed for his betrayal years earlier, but his anger was soon overcome by the joy of being reunited with old friends. The Autobots then left Earth to return to Cybertron, which according to Rodimus had been restored but conquered by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix}} Once back home, they fought against both Galvatron's [[Sweep]]s and Megatron's Decepticons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

After the battle ended with Cybertron restored to a primordial state and most Decepticons in captivity, Mirage witnessed the disastrous launch of Rodimus's ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} Some time later he was walking around in a crowd of [[NAIL|unaligned Cybertronians]] who had returned home following the end of the war. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson}}

{{note|The events of ''Spotlight: Mirage'' possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
[[Image:SpotlightMirage trappedHound.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This didn't actually happen. Or did it? No, it didn't.]]
Mirage was haunted repeatedly by dreams of being a Decepticon. Or actually ''is'' a Decepticon from another universe who, after helping kill the last Autobots, got blown back through time and space to the main universe. Or via [[Zodiac]] energy has gained flashbacks of an alternate Decepticon Mirage. God knows what's going on there. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comic===
While invisible, Mirage managed to sneak up on [[Octane]] and blast him off-line with his [[electro-disrupter]], saving [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] from a nasty beating. Both Autobots were surprised, then, when Octane got back up despite his circuits being completely shorted out. The ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] revealed himself to Mirage and Ironhide, and floated menacingly before them while they tried to work out if he was real or a hologram. {{storylink|Mirage's Rebirth}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===
{{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}} {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Appears!}} {{storylink|Kingdom of Giants}} {{storylink|The Enemy from the Arctic}} {{storylink|Wataru's Power}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{-}}
==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Mirage could involve himself in the quest through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===The Transformers (1985)===
Mirage was among the few remaining Autobots in the wake of the Decepticon creation of ROBO-CLONING technology. With his energy-starved comrades, he desperately sought pieces of the Autobot Energon Cube before the Decepticons could get their hands on them. {{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
{{picsneeded|G2 Go Bot, Universe Spychanger, Binaltech}}
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I don't need to be street-legal; I'm rich.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1986/1991)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''07'''
**''Accessories:'' "Rocket-Dart Hunting Rifle", missile launcher, 3 missiles

: Mirage was part of the original 1984 Autobot car assortment. His mold was originally used for a ''[[Diaclone]]'' F-1 [[wikipedia:Ligier JS11|Ligier JS11]] racer. The toy was specifically designed to work with the launcher mechanism contained in the Optimus Prime / Battle Convoy trailer. This toy is easily broken at the waist pivot. The labels on the toy are references to several real-world companies. The largest name, Citanes, is a deliberate corruption of Gitanes, a French cigarette company. (Quite unusual for a child's toy, but not the only [[Marlboor Wheeljack|cigarette reference in ''Diaclone'']].) The toy included Gitanes' logo of a dancing gypsy woman on what ends up as Mirage's belt in robot form. "Ligier" is the name of the company that manufactured the JS-11 chassis and fielded the team, traditionally wearing 25 and 26 on the F1 grid, while "elf" is a reference to a French oil company that has since merged with TotalFina to become TotalFinaElf.

: In 1986, he was made available as a mail-away item (as he was no longer shipping to retail shelves) in multiple offers, including a [[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (G1)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]] flier packed with most boxed ''Transformers'' toys. He cost $8 and two [[Robot Point]]s. In Japan Mirage was also included in the 1986 ''Goodbye Convoy'' [[giftset]]. This was the final release of the mold, making Mirage the only one of the original Autobots not to have been reissued in some form.

: Hasbro and/or Takara have announced that the mold for Mirage is [[Mold#Issues with Reissues|either lost or damaged]], so a reissue is unlikely. This presumably excludes the molds obtained by [[Knockoff|certain Chinese companies]] to produce several Mirage "perfect" bootlegs in a variety of flavors including original, clear, smoke, and red, based on the ultra-rare version from the [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Diaclone Powered Convoy]] giftset.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Mirage at TFU.info]

===Generation 2===
* '''Mirage''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: Mirage was released in 1995 as a black and yellow recolor of the [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[Double Clutch (G2)|Double Clutch]], transforming into a 1:64-scale Lola T94 Indy car with through-axle construction, making him compatible with racing sets from the "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" toylines.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1995/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Go-Bots Mirage at TFU.info]

{{note|Mirage was also planned to be released in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as a flipchanger, but the line was canceled to make way for ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]''. The unreleased mold was first used in ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' (see below).}}

{{-}}

===Machine Wars===
[[Image:Mwmirage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Gah! I'm teal! Somebody recolor me, please!]]
* '''Mirage''' (Basic, 1997)
**''Accessories:'' 2-part rifle

: Mirage's form in ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' transforms into a blue and white Indycar. Like the other Machine Wars basics, the toy is a flipchanger (having a one-step, spring-loaded transformation), and his weapons are hidden in his alt mode. Unlike most of the ''Machine Wars'' toys, the head looks very similar to his Generation 1 form. This is because the mold was originally designed as Mirage for ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''.

: This mold was also used to make ''Machine Wars'' [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Skid-Z (RID)|Skid-Z]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Machine Wars'' Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}
===Robot Masters===
[[Image:RMRijie toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Phew. Thanks.]]
* '''Rijie''' (Basic, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-03'''
**''Accessories:'' 2-part "Molecular Bonding Gun", "JS Laser Gun"

: ''[[Robot Masters (franchise)|Robot Masters]]'' "Rijie" used the ''Machine Wars'' Mirage mold, but in a much more [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-based coloration and deco. He also came with an extra chrome-silver "JS Laser Gun" (like the other bonus weapons of ''Robot Masters'', it is suspected to be a mold originally developed yet ultimately unused by the cut-short ''[[Microman]] LED Powers'' line).

: Because of legal reasons, "Ligier" could not be used for the name of the ''Robot Masters'' toy, so "Rijie", which has the same pronunciation in Japan, was used instead. Curiously, the toy's instructions still identify it as "Ligier".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/Ligier/ligier.htm More information on ''Robot Masters'' Rijie at TFU.info]

{{-}}
===Alternators===
[[Image:AlternatorsMirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This toy is clearly black, red, and silver. You're just deluding yourself.]]
* '''Mirage''' (Alternator, 2006)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons

: ''[[Transformers: Alternators| Alternators]]'' Mirage transforms into a finely detailed 1:24 scale replica of a Ford GT, featuring opening doors, engine bay and trunk, with a realistic interior. As with most Alternators, his car body is mostly unpainted, but the metallic-flake deep blue plastic makes this hard to see.

: Featuring an innovative, different robot mode, Mirage is not a straight re-interpretation of the original Mirage's robot mode, due to the completely different types of vehicles. But coincidentally the Ford GT's hood features a shape that echoes a F1-type racing car's nose and front spoiler. His engine's supercharger forms two separate tonfa weapons that can also be interpreted as guns.

: Mirage was retooled into [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rodimus]] for the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line, which was further redecoed into ''Alternators'' Rodimus. Later in 2007, he was redecoed in clear plastic colours to represent his 'invisibility mode' as an [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive in the ''[[Binaltech]]'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/AltMirage/mirage.htm More information on Alternators Mirage at TFU.info]

===Universe===
*'''Mirage''' (Spy Changer, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

: For ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'', Mirage is identical to the last [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] redeco of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots In Disguise]]'' [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]], transforming into a translucent green Lola Indy car. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Universe'' Mirage at TFU.info]
{{-}}

===Classics===
[[Image:Classics Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Applied to [[Revoltech]] club; rejected for lacking thigh joints.]]
*'''Mirage''' (Classics Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler
:''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Mirage was released in November 2006 in wave 2, along with the [[shortpacking|shortpacked]] [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]. He transforms into a closed-canopy Formula racer concept car. Mirage's paint details contain a few ''Transformers'' in-jokes in the form of sponsor logos such as "[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Witwicky Sparkplugs]]" and "[[Lithone (planet)|Lithonian]] Drivetrain." Additionally, his racing number is still 26, as it was on the original toy. Other logos, which include "Plasma Injection Energy" and "F.P. Racing," refer to "pie" and the initials of [[Joe Kyde|the deco artist]]'s super-secret non-gay friendship cult, respectively.

:The front detaches to become a handheld electro-disruptor weapon which is said to be able to create illusions and allow him to appear invisible. (This is a reconciliation of Mirage's illusion-creation ability from his original tech spec profile and his invisibility power from the animated series.) He is ''extremely'' poseable for his time, featuring double-jointed elbows and knees, ball-jointed spoiler "toes", and waist articulation, among others.

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Movie (toyline)|Movie]]'' [[Fracture (Movie)|Fracture]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/ClassicsMirage/mirage.htm More information on Classics Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Timelines===
[[Image:BotCon2007freeMirage.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I leave your toilets fresh and blue every time you flush!]]
*'''Hologram Mirage''' (BotCon, 2007)
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler

:A redeco of Classics Mirage in translucent and opaque blue, Mirage was available only as a "freebie" gift to attendees at BotCon 2007.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Autobot/BCMirage/mirage.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Mirage at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
* '''Rijie''' (e-Hobby exclusive, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-18'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/tonfa weapons

:Rijie is a redeco of ''Alternators'' Mirage using mostly transparent plastic. The toy was exclusively available from [[e-HOBBY]] in September 2007.

:Even though Takara had briefly contemplated releasing a [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rodimus]] (Hot Rod) retool of Alternators Mirage as the next ''Binaltech'' toy after [[Ginrai]] (both toys would ultimately come out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' line instead), they apparently never created any [[die-cast]] molds for the Ford GT sculpt. To justify the absence of diecast parts from a ''Binaltech'' toy, Takara decided to use clear plastic parts to represent an "invisible" mode, officially called an "Electro-Disrupter" {{sic}} mode on the packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Cybertron/Rijie/rijie.htm More information on ''Binaltech'' Rijie at TFU.info]

{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Mirage toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Sculpted in 2006. Decoed in the late 70s.]]
*'''Ligier''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-04'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/front spoiler

: ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' Ligier is a redeco of ''Classics'' Mirage. In an effort to make him appear more accurate to Mirage's cartoon appearances, Ligier lacks most of the sponsorship tampographs that appeared on ''Classics'' Mirage. As with all ''Henkei'' toys, he lacks the heat-sensitive rubsign seen on the ''Classics'' version, but features [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] parts: his rear spoiler and his front spoiler.

{{-}}
[[Image:HenkeiElectroDisruptorLigier.jpg|thumb|200px|Clear, black, '''and''' chrome? It's like he's a living embodiment of Takara itself!]]
*'''Electro Disruptor Ligier''' (Deluxe, 2009)

: Electro Disruptor Ligier is a translucent plastic version of ''Henkei'' Ligier offered as a mail-away exclusive to those who have bought the book [[Transformers Generations 2009|Transformers Generations 2009 Volume 1]].

: This toy was repurposed as "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]" [[Mirage (SG)|Mirage]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Cybertron/EDLigier/ligier.htm More information on Electro Disruptor Ligier at TFU.info]

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)

*'''Mirage''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''20'''

: The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Mirage/mirage.htm More information on Decoy Mirage at TFU.info]''

===Choro-Q===
*'''Ligier''' (2000)

:''[[Choro-Q]]'' Ligier is a mostly translucent [[redeco]] of the Honda Jordan F1 toy from Takara's ''Choro-Q'' toyline of non-transforming [[Super deformed|super-deformed]] vehicles. He was an [[exclusive]] at [[BotCon]] Japan 2000, and features a [[pull-back motor]] and a rear license plate that reads "BotCon Japan 2000".

:Along with ''Choro-Q'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise|Convoy]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Megatron]], Ligier was given out randomly to convention attendees. Each toy was limited to 1000 pieces.

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:RH Mirage vs Starscream.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I'm too rich to be cute.]]
* '''Mirage Vs Starscream''' (2007)

:Packaged with [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]], Mirage is a two-inch-high robot sculpted in super deformed style with articulation at the head and shoulders. The toy has a sculpted missile launcher, like the original character, but oddly it is resting on the figure's back instead of the shoulder. This mold was later redecoed into ''Hologram'' Mirage.

{{-}}
[[Image:Hologram Robot Hero Mirage.jpg|right|150px|thumb|What he said.]]
* '''Decepticon Sneak Attack''' (2007)

:Hologram Mirage is a recolor of the two-pack Mirage cast in transparent blue with slightly different paint details. Most notably, the Autobot symbols on his arms have been replaced with part of the word "Citanes", to evoke the original toy. Mirage was packed with ''Metallic Finish'' Optimus Prime, ''Metallic Finish'' Megatron, Cliffjumper, and Skywarp. This pack was sold exclusively in Walmart, and Walmart.com.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G2MirageVaultArt.jpg|thumb|250px|Most preppies just wear an alligator '''shirt''', Mirage.]]
* Mirage is absent from the fictional events of 2005 and 2006 without explanation; a storyboarded scene from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' featuring Mirage was cut from the finished film. Amidst the transformation of [[Autobot City]], Mirage was to ambush the Insecticon [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and then be fired upon by Megatron. Whether or not this would have killed Mirage is not made clear, but given the film's casual body count, it seems highly probable.
*Someone at Hasbro in the '90s must have had Mirage on the brain. Aside from the released Go-Bot and the Flipchanger created in his image, concept art for a green and pink redeco of Mirage's original toy (with alligator decals!) meant for the ''Generation 2'' toyline surfaced in the ''[[Transformers Vault]]'' collector's book. In an unusual coincidence, ''Transformers'' fan and rarities-hunter Maziar "Maz" Shahsafdari [http://www.tf-1.com/articles/other/g2mirage_template.html unveiled a pictorial review of the mock-up] done for this redeco on his website TF-1.com shortly after the book came out, entirely unaware of its inclusion in the tome.
* Mirage has been a traitor/suspected traitor in nearly every continuity he's popped up in. You just can't trust those coastal elite.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ligier''' or '''Rijie''' (リジェ ''Rije'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Délibáb''' ("Mirage")
*''Italian:'' '''Mistero''' ("Mystery")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Hǎi-shr-shèn-lóu''' (Taiwan, 海市蜃樓, "Mirage"), '''Hàun-yǐng''' (Taiwan, 幻影, "Phantom")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Miragem''' ("Mirage")

==External links==
* [http://www.toybin.org/search.php?q=1984+Autobot+Mirage ToyBin Mirage Toy Gallery]
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Mirage/mirage.htm Mirage at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Mirage Mirage's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go-Bots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robot Masters Autobots]]
[[Category:Saboteurs]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]

Jetfire (Movie)

2012-04-03T02:26:50Z

97.100.57.102: /* Revenge of the Fallen film */

{{factions|decepticonfilm|autobotfilm}}
{{disambig3|Jetfire}}
{{featured}}

:''Jetfire is a [[Decepticon]] and later an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ROTF_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|351px|Get off my lawn, you young whippersnippers!]]

In his day, '''Jetfire''' was a living legend both in the air and on the battlefield. Sadly, his day has long since passed. His body went south years back. His bunny is dead on the wheel. He's got rust in places he didn't even know he had. Basically, Jetfire's old! An ancient Decepticon [[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]], Jetfire was around long before the war broke out, and unlike many, came to see his "comrades" for what they were. This caused him to defect to the Autobots, something virtually unheard of. As a consequence, Jetfire never managed to fully obtain the trust of the others back in the day<ref>[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/Battle-Bios.cfm Hasbro Jetfire Battle Bio]</ref>.

He's still a fine asset, powerful and able to activate a [[space bridge]] to teleport across great distances. This is slightly offset by the fact he's so old.
After years without a proper source of energon, he's practically falling apart. His processor gave up the ghost millennia ago. These days he has a hard enough time remembering his name, and he's lucky if his teleporting puts him on the right planet. It makes him a bit crotchety and also leaves him with the nagging feeling he's forgotten something important.

{{quote|[[Relatives|My father]], why, he was a wheel! The ''first'' wheel! And do you know what he transformed into? ''Nothing!'' But he did so ''with honor! Dignity, damn it!''|Jetfire suffers the seven signs of aging|[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]}}

==Fiction==
===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
[[Image:Defiance4_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Hopefully I won't end up on some [[earth|godforsaken planet]] and be infested with [[Maximal|disgusting little critters.]]]]
In the distant past, the [[AllSpark]] Cube created [[Thirteen|a race]] of powerful, trans-dimensional beings as the first inhabitants of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The Cube gave these beings mighty powers, as well as terraforming their world, but it was not limitless, and gradually became depleted. The first beings learned that the AllSpark's power could be replenished by harvesting the energy of stars, but they were unable to locate new stars to suit their purposes, despite their amazing ability to travel between dimensions. Once again, the Cube came to the rescue, creating a race of workers who had the ability to change their shape.

Jetfire was among the very first of these new beings, a "[[Seeker (ROTF)|Seeker]]" with the ability to travel across the vastness of space in search of new suns. Once located, he would lead others and his masters back to it so a [[Star Harvester|harvester]] could be constructed to drain the energy of these stars, thus replenishing the AllSpark. {{Storylink|Defiance issue 4|Defiance #4}}

[[Image:JetfireROTF-TalesoftheFallen.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Not a great judge of character, that Jetfire.]]

Jetfire served directly under the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] who would become [[The Fallen]], finding for him various stars to harvest, believing he was serving the [[Dynasty of Primes]] as a whole, rather than The Fallen's machinations in specific. Over time, The Fallen began to open up to Jetfire, his most loyal and capable Seeker, and told him that the Dynasty no longer served Cybertron's best interests. Jetfire had unwittingly sacrificed a populated star system under The Fallen's misdirection, and became confused.

Still, Jetfire continued to work with The Fallen, despite his doubts. His master and a small army of [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] drones had fashioned a new, secret faction called the Decepticons with the intention of eventually subverting the Dynasty. Jetfire followed them to a desert on a small blue planet to build another star harvester when [[human|primitive]] life made itself known. The Dynasty arrived soon thereafter to put an end to The Fallen's betrayal. Jetfire realized too late that he was on the wrong side, and so The Fallen warped Jetfire and the other "underlings" ''into orbit'' so that the Primes could face each other alone. As they fell planetward, Jetfire fought the Constructicons, and was eventually victorious, but with a price. He crashed from orbit into the Earth and laid dormant for thousands of years.

[[Image:Sector7_Jetfire.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

After he awoke, Jetfire began wandering the Earth {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 3}} periodically adopting new alternate modes to remain hidden. In [[1898]], while disguised as a portion of the [[United States Navy]] vessel the [[USS Maine|USS]] ''[[USS Maine|Maine]]'', Jetfire sensed energy similar to the Fallen's, and broke away from the wooden housing that form the rest of his alternate mode (inadvertently leading his human crew to believe they had been attacked, thereby initiating the Spanish-American War) that he might settle the score. Tracking the signal to the Arctic, he instead found a near-comatose robot bearing the Decepticon mark instead. Upon discovering that he was ''not'' The Fallen, but someone Jetfire had never heard of named [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], the Seeker just punched him and turned to leave. At this point, Jetfire realized he had an audience: a [[First Seven|group of humans]] who had been studying Megatron, and who reacted to Jetfire's presence by shooting at him. Jetfire promptly seized [[Billy North|his attacker]] and hurled him to his death, while the other humans used explosives to crack the ice sheets and send Jetfire plummeting into the frigid depths. {{storylink|Original}}

[[Image:Sector7 2 Jetfire.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

At the bottom of the ocean, Jetfire discovered a subterranean cave network in which he took refuge. Sensing a familiar energy source somewhere on the planet, the Seeker began to seek... but he was growing progressively low on power, and it took him fifteen years of crawling about underground before he could track the signal to its source. Along the way, he was confronted by [[Cave brute|strange, inhuman beasts]] that inhabited the caves, and slew all those that dared attack him. Finally, in [[1913]], addled and sluggish from lack of energy, he found the source of the signal: the AllSpark itself, which was in the process of being excavated by the same humans he had met in the Arctic! Fending off another attack on his person, Jetfire reached for the cube, inadvertently triggering a discharge of [[Energon]] from it that brought [[AllSpark Mutation|several surrounding machines to life]], and overloaded his systems. To expend the excess energy, Jetfire promptly teleported via [[space bridge]] to parts unknown. {{storylink|Irreplaceable}}

[[Image:Sector 7 4 Jetfire and Panzer-Giganten.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]

Jetfire next surfaced in [[1944]], in the form of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, when he was captured by [[Nazi]] scientists during [[World War II]] and imprisoned in a cryo-chamber in [[Castle Neuschwanstein]]. The Nazis studied his body and mind, reverse-engineering transforming tank-mecha from his systems and prising a map of the cave system from his memory. When [[Sector Seven]]—the government organization which had grown out of that original group of humans Jetfire had fought in the Arctic—got wind of the new Nazi technology, they dispatched a unit led by [[William Simmons]] to find and destroy Jetfire. Simmons was the only survivor of the team, and made it into Castle Neuschwanstein before being confronted by the Nazis' ultimate creation, the [[Panzer-Giganten]], which he tried to destroy by throwing a satchel of explosives at it. The explosives instead struck Jetfire's chamber, freeing the Seeker from his confinement, and he proceeded to stop the Panzer-Giganten by tearing out of its human components. Demanding to know how humans could do something so hideous to their own kind, Jetfire was told by Simmons that it was not his doing, and that he believed his bomb would have killed them all, prompting Jetfire to inquire why he valued his life so little. Simmons retorted that he did value his life, but valued freedom more, something that gave Jetfire pause, reminding him of his reasons for turning on The Fallen millennia before. Seeing a kinship in Simmons and in humanity that he had not felt before, he silently destroyed the castle and everyone in it, then flew Simmons to an Allied outpost before disappearing once more. {{storylink|Weapon (issue)|Weapon}}

[[Image:Sector7 5 Jetfire.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]

Jetfire's experience with Simmons deeply affected him, and he evidently shadowed the man and his organization over the following five years, taking the form of a Lockheed U-2 spy plane. In [[1954]], he was present when sabotage at Sector Seven's Arctic base left Simmons and a small crew trapped with a rapidly-thawing Megatron. [[Walter Simmons]] called for liquid nitrogen bombs to be dropped on the complex, at which point Jetfire swooped to intervene, transforming and shielding the younger Simmons's wife [[Anne Fischer|Anne]] and [[Philip Nolan]] from the freezing blast. When Jetfire sadly informed Walter that he had been unable to save William, Walter could only ask why he had done anything at all. Jetfire explained that William's nobility had driven him to atone for past sins: before departing, Jefire told him that he was no longer the creature Walter had met in those caves half a century before... and Walter did not have to be either. {{storylink|Frozen}}

[[Image:Talesofthefallen3_Jetfire_Altmode.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]]

At some point in the latter half of the twentieth century, Jetfire was wandering in a desert when an SR-71 Blackbird crashed into him and exploded. Amidst the chaos, he took its form. {{storylink|Tales of the Fallen issue 3}}
{{-}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Mark Ryan]] (English), [[Kenji Nomura]] (Japanese), [[Engelbert von Nordhausen]] (German), [[Idzi Dutkiewicz]] (Latin American-Spanish)

Jetfire was one of the Seekers dispatched by The Fallen to locate the [[Matrix of Leadership]] after the [[Dynasty of Primes]] hid it on Earth. However, Jetfire and the other Seekers were unable to locate the [[Tomb of the Primes|Tomb]] that the Primes had forged. The only clue they could find was a riddle: "When dawn alights the Dagger's tip, Three Kings will reveal the Doorway". Eventually, the Fallen abandoned the Seekers and they were forced to go into stasis lock out of a lack of energon.

[[Image:ROTF behold Jetfire.jpg|thumb|left|350px|Why am I in some mausoleum? I ain't dead! ...am I?]]

For many years, a dormant Jetfire had hidden in his alternate mode at the [[Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]]'s [[wikipedia:Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center|Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], until [[Seymour Simmons]], [[Sam Witwicky]], [[Mikaela Banes]], [[Leo Spitz]] and [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] broke in with a small fragment of the [[AllSpark]]. It was only after the AllSpark shard hit Jetfire that they bothered to check which side he was on. The sight of the Decepticon [[insignia]] sent the humans scrambling for cover, but the surge of energy awoke him. Confused at the "hideous mausoleum" he was held in, Jetfire decided to head outside to get a better handle on where he was. After his attempts at overriding and shooting the doors failed, Jetfire smashed them aside, then wandered about the planes outside, damaging a few. When the humans tried to talk to them, he initially claimed that he couldn't deal with them, as he had a mission, but did ask what planet he was (he wasn't too fond of the name "Earth", feeling it might as well be called "Dirt"). Jetfire inquired on the state of the civil war, and revealed that he had defected to the Autobots (it's an intensely personal decision). This led the smaller Wheelie to defect to a [[Mikaela Banes|human female]] he dubbed "warrior goddess". After the human Sam asked what he was saying, Jetfire, still confused, pounded the ground and shouted that he had a lot of issues regarding his mother, and that his father was the first wheel, who did not transform but performed his functions with honor and dignity. At which point a parachute stored in him suddenly popped open, bringing him down. Sam then tried to explain what was going on.

[[Image:Jetfire-ROTFstandingindesert.jpg|thumb|right|350px|In the time, before time, the Great Spirit descended from the heavens, carrying we, the ones called the Mator-oops, wrong franchise.]]
When Sam was finished carving [[Cyberglyphics|Cybertronian symbols]] on the ground, he mentioned Megatron and [[The Fallen]]. Jetfire ranted that The Fallen was the original Decepticon and had left him on Earth to rust. The symbols were a part of Jetfire's mission, and they jogged his memory banks enough to convince him to open a [[space bridge]], teleporting the entire group (including [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], [[Skids (ROTF)|the]] [[Mudflap (ROTF)|twins]], and Wheelie) to [[Egypt]]. Thankful that he had managed to stay on the planet, Jetfire then told them the story of the Dynasty of Primes and The Fallen, Cybertron's first contact with Earth, the [[Star Harvester]] which could destroy a [[Sun]] and convert it to energon, and the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate it, hidden on Earth. He revealed that only a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] could kill The Fallen, but he believed that none were left. Sam told him of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]; this caught the ancient Seeker's interest, revealing eagerness in the Prime's whereabouts, but became distraught to hear of Prime's death. Sam then wondered if the Matrix could restore Optimus to life. Jetfire said it was not the Matrix's intended use, but that the power within was unlike any known. Sadly, this was all Jetfire could do for the group, and after telling them of the riddle, he urged them to hurry off and find the [[Tomb of the Primes]].

[[Image:Jetfire-ROTFripoutspark.jpg|left|thumb|350px|Oh, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], you emotionless monster.]]

During the final [[Operation: Firestorm|battle]] around the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] (which contained the Star Harvester), Jetfire arrived and attempted to "stick" the landing, which didn't go quite as he planned. He immediately decided to "show how they brought the pain in my day", using his axe to slice [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] across the chest and decapitate the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]. He was critically wounded by a surprise attack from [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] and although he managed to crush the Decepticon's head, the injury was fatal. Fortunately, Jetfire was treated to one last wonder, as Sam Witwicky used the Matrix to resurrect Optimus. Jetfire was overjoyed of the moment, hardly believing that he was seeing a living [[Prime (rank)|Prime]]. Unfortunately, The Fallen teleported in and attacked, damaging Optimus and stealing the Matrix, placing it in the harvester. As he lay dying, Jetfire, who felt that during his entire life he'd never done a thing worth doing, offered his parts to Optimus Prime, saying that they would give him "a power like you've never known". Telling Optimus to fulfill his destiny, Jetfire ripped out his spark core and died.

[[Image:ROTF movie Powered-Up Optimus Prime.jpg|right|thumb|300px|I'd rather be a part of someone than in a nursing home!]]

Jetfire's sacrifice was not in vain: within moments of his death, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] instructed [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] to begin a full transplant of the afterburners and weapons systems onto Optimus. Now equipped with Jetfire's powerful weapons and engines, Optimus broke through a blockade of debris The Fallen had telekinetically erected around the Pyramid and destroyed the Star Harvester before it could be used against the Earth's Sun. Prime then faced the Fallen and Megatron, using his afterburners to send Megatron flying through some ruins. During the battle, The Fallen pulled off the left wing and afterburner, using them to strike Prime in the face, but Optimus ultimately triumphed and ripped out the Fallen's spark core, killing the treacherous Prime. After the battle, Optimus quickly detached Jetfire's parts. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
{{--}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen'' novel adaptation===
Immediately after arriving in Egypt, Jetfire was attacked by [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]]. Calling Jetfire a traitor, the smaller Seeker fired a single shot which bounced off his target, and Jetfire promptly stomped Ransack to death, muttering how he'd never liked that guy. {{Storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}

===Toy bios===

Sickened by the war, the Decepticon Jetfire left Cybertron and went into hiding on Earth. When the war came to Earth and woke him up, {{storylink|#Leader Class|Jetfire}} he decided to rejoin the fight on the side of the Autobots and use his might to bring his former comrades to justice. {{storylink|#Fast Action Battlers|Photon Missile Jetfire}}

===Titan Magazines===

Jetfire harkens from a time when warriors stood by a code of honour. He was first sent to Earth by the Fallen, and believed he was working in the best interests of Cybertron, and so was a ''little'' upset to find the Fallen was actually an evil bastard. After seeing the Fallen imprison the [[Dynasty of Primes|other Primes]], Jetfire went into hiding. In [[1998]], he took advantage of the SR-71 being retired to hole up in the National Air and Space Museum as a permanent resident.

At some point, he found himself at odds with the Decepticons' credo and switched sides. ''When'' is not clear. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.8|Jetfire profile}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game===
[[Image:Jetfire-ROTFvideogame.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Jetfire only likes to play multiplayer, not solo, if you know what we mean.]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Clive Revill]]

{{note|On [[August 27]], [[2009]], Jetfire was one of a handful of downloadable characters in a DLC pack for XBox 360 and Sony Playstation 3. He could be used in multiplayer games only.}}

====Xbox 360/Sony PS3/PC====
=====Autobot campaign=====
Jetfire had been dormant for years in the Smithsonian Museum, but that changed after [[Sam Witwicky]] got a tip from [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] about his location, and that he would know where the [[Tomb of the Primes|Tomb of the Twelve]] was. Sam woke Jetfire up, and got the sort-of-cryptic clue "When dawn alights the Dagger's tip, Three Kings will reveal the Doorway". After that, Jetfire transported Sam to [[Cairo]] via [[space bridge]] to look for the Tomb, and the Autobots followed.

In Cairo, Jetfire assisted [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] in battle against [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. The battle went in the Autobots' favor, but Megatron was able to stab Jetfire to death. A while later, Optimus was wearing a new Jetfire suit. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

=====Decepticon campaign=====
Starscream was sent to destroy the Smithsonian Museum, where Jetfire laid dormant. He succeeded, but it was too late: both Jetfire and Sam Witwicky had already left for Cairo through a space bridge.

In Cairo, Jetfire battled Megatron alongside [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. He was killed. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)}}

====Wii/PS2====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Clive Revill]]
Jetfire was hiding in a museum at one point, until [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] found and captured him with some [[drone]]s. Starscream reported to [[The Fallen]] that he had found Jetfire.

Jetfire was kept in the [[Decepticon]] base. After the Decepticons captured [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], Jetfire went to rescue him. Bumblebee thought he was a enemy, but Jetfire explained to Bumblebee that he defected to the [[Autobot]]s at one point in the war and about the Fallen's plans. Later he showed Bumblebee some escape pods, and they witnessed the battle with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. Jetfire put Prime in one of the escape pods, and he left to spy on Megatron and Starscream.

After the two Decepticons got an artifact, Jetfire chased after them but Megatron shot at him. Jetfire followed them by tracking Energon radiation. Meanwhile Starscream found Optimus and attempted to kill him, but Jetfire took the shot that was meant for Optimus. Later he combined with Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Wii/PS2)|Revenge of the Fallen (Wii/PS2)}}

===Transformers Autobots/Decepticons===
{{charstubfiction}}
In Autobots, Jetfire appears after you beat [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. The seeker doesn't appear again until after [[you]] beat Megatron. He doesn't get turned into a corpse backpack, and is standing silently next to [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]].
{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen: Autobots/Decepticons}}

===Revenge of the Fallen (mobile game)===
Jetfire was an old friend of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s who defected from the Decepticons when [[The Fallen]] changed the Decepticon cause from rebellion to conquest. He ended up on [[Earth]] in [[Egypt]], where he was soundly defeated by [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]. Before he fell unconscious, he told [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] that Optimus should salvage his parts in order to gain the power needed to defeat [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. While he was unconscious, Optimus did just that, terminating Jetfire's life. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (Glu)}}

==Toys==
===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF Jetfire 2009 Legends.JPG|right|300px|thumb|It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage.]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Legends, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''EZ-05'''
[[Image:ROTF Legends Prime Jetfire combo.jpg|thumb|left|Don't I look glorious as a corpse backpack?]]
:[[Size class|Legends]] class ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Jetfire transforms from a tiny [[Wikipedia: SR-71 Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird]] spy plane to a sort of hunchback robot. In a bit of character design accuracy, his left arm has a cane.

:The upper fuselage of the plane mode has a thin rectangular peg to slot into the back of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Revenge of The Fallen|Legends class Optimus Prime]] to recreate the powered up mode at the end of the movie. There are no instructions on the packaging making mention of this, but they're hardly needed, as it's as simple as plugging him on and folding his wings backwards.
{{-}}

{{anchor|WarfortheSkies}}
*'''War for the Skies''' (Legends multipack, 2009)
[[Image:KMartROTFJetfire.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] Jetfire.]]

:Available only as part of the [[Kmart]]-[[exclusive]] "War for the Skies" Legends battlepack, this release of Legends class Jetfire is a grey and black [[redeco]] - essentially inverting the colors of the regular toy, give or take a few paint operations.

:He comes with the Legends-class figures [[Blades (ROTF)|Autobot Blades]], [[Thundercracker (Movie)|Thundercracker]] and [[Spinister (ROTF)|Spinister]].
{{-}}

====Voyager Class toys====
[[Image:ROTF_Voyager_JetPowerOptimusPrime_toy.jpg|thumb|301px|Use your friends wisely.]]
*'''Jet Power Optimus Prime''' (Voyager, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''UA-01'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 rifle/smokestack-fuel tank assemblies, 2 missiles, [[Sword]], Jetfire armour parts
:Jetfire appears in this set as snap-on armour parts for a redeco of Voyager-Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#VoyagerJetPower|Optimus Prime]]. Obviously, the armour fits onto Optimus Prime's robot mode to form the Jet Power Optimus combination, but when removed, can be assembled into a gun platform, or can be fitted to Optimus' vehicle mode as some sort of rocket booster. Optimus Prime himself has been redecoed similarly to Buster Optimus Prime, in that he has an extensive, [[Show-accuracy|movie-accurate]] paint scheme.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

====Leader Class toys====
[[Image:Jetfire ROTF leader toy.jpg|thumb|right|400px|"You know, I've personally flown over 194 missions, and I was shot down on every one. Come to think of it, I've never landed a plane in my life."]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Leader, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RA-13'''
**''Accessories:'' Front landing gear/walking stick, rotary cannon missile launcher, projectile, back panel/cannon

:Jetfire transforms into an [[wikipedia:SR-71 Blackbird|SR-71 Blackbird]] spy plane, quite possibly the largest alternate mode yet for the [[size class|Leader class]] price point. Unfortunately, the vehicle mode he has chosen means that he also has one of the largest amounts of underside robot [[kibble]] ''ever'', with his bulky robot mode parts being blatantly visible underneath his sleek jet mode parts.

:Jetfire features several electronic lights and sounds; in jet mode, pushing the button on his back activates a "swooshing" noise. Pressing the tab on Jetfire's chest activates his moving [[Mech Alive]] gears and head, accompanied by Jetfire announcing: "Jetfire's mah name!". The European version has the clip abbreviated to "Jetfire" (humorously, due to the way that the original clip is trimmed, the end of the word is cut off, so it sounds like "Jetfi-"). Unlike previous ROTF Leader Class toys, this is not the version sold in the UK. In contrast to the film, where the character speaks with a Yorkshire accent, the toy is positively Scottish.

[[Image:ROTF_Leader_Jetfire_PowerUpPrime_toy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Jetfire died to become a power mushroom. There have been worse fates.]]
:As seen in the movie, he can combine with [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Revenge of The Fallen|Leader Class Optimus Prime]] to form Prime's powered-up mode, albeit at the cost of Optimus Prime's leg articulation. During combination, the (difficult to open) panel on Jetfire's back is removed, revealing on his rear (beside the "swooshing noise" button) a new button that triggers a mechanical stomp sound. The panel itself is transformed and combined with his walking stick to form a skinny, less slender, and somewhat-inaccurate version of the cannon that Optimus wielded in his combined form.

:A few inaccuracies are present in the combination instructions: for instance, while the instructions say to position the cockpit halves behind Prime's shoulders, they actually are meant to sit on top of them (as seen to the left), and feature small grooves into which the small silver triangular prongs lock. In addition, while Optimus' rear cab sections are shown as being folded out like rectangular wings in the instructions, it appears they are intended to sit flat against the sides of the portion of Jetfire that connects to Prime's back. Jetfire has two tabs that sit directly above the panels when folded back which better support the weight of Jetfire. The struts on which Jetfire's engines are mounted also pivot back to allow exactly enough space for the folded cab panels to fit.

:The remarkably small text written under the cockpit windows is: ''[[Brawley (ROTF)|LT. COL. BRAWLEY]] WARNING THIS AIRCRAFT CONTAINS A SEAT CONTAINING AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE SEE MAINTENANCE MANUAL BEFORE REMOVING''.

:Despite the back of the package showing two lights within Jetfire's torso, he only has one light, in his left side, while the other socket that would normally house the light is replaced with a button that emits Jetfire's transformation noise when the toy is transformed.

:Amusingly, the two jet kibble panels above his head like to pop off their [[ball joint]] sockets during transformation. It makes him a little more screen accurate, after all...
{{-}}

{{anchor|JetfireBuster}}
* '''Jetpower Optimus Prime''' (Leader 2-pack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Front landing gear/walking stick, rotary cannon missile launcher, projectile, back panel/cannon

:This [[TakaraTomy]] Asian market [[exclusive]] Leader class two pack consists of a redecoed Jetfire and an altered [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#JetfireBuster|Buster Optimus Prime]]. Jetfire has a more subtle, more [[show-accuracy|movie-accurate]] colour scheme, replacing his white and gunmetal blue parts with gunmetal brown. Buster Optimus Prime has the [[faceplate]]d head of the first release of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Leader class Optimus Prime instead of the new head sculpted for Buster Optimus Prime, and prop vehicle-accurate blue pin striping instead of CGI-accurate white.

:In mid 2010, this set was released in Australia. In late 2011, [[#DOTMJetfireBuster|this set]] was [[Rebranding|re-released]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' packaging.
{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

====Fast Action Battlers====
[[Image:Jetfire ROTF FAB toy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|NOBODY MOVE... I dropped me cane...]]
*'''Photon Missile Jetfire''' (Fast Action Battler, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' "Photon Missile" projectile

: [[Fast Action Battlers]] Jetfire is a simplified, roughly Deluxe-sized toy of Jetfire. In vehicle mode, he transforms into a sort of cute, super-deformed SR-71 Blackbird jet. As with most ''Transformers'' toy jets, he has a fair bit of undercarriage junk from his robot mode, though not to the extent of the Leader class toy. In robot mode he has a reasonably accurate depiction of Jetfire's design, though his right arm ends in a spring-loaded projectile launcher shaped like a rotary cannon. It also combines with Optimus Prime.
{{picsneeded|Combined mode with FAB Optimus}}
{{-}}

====Robot Replicas====
[[Image:ROTF Robot Replica Jetfire.jpg|thumb|right|150px|With genuine simulated robo-bursitis!]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Robot Replica, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' Cane

: [[Robot Replicas]] Jetfire is a non-transformable, intended-to-be-accurate representation of his CGI model from the film. He is highly posable, and not much else. Due to his unusually large head and shortened neck, he appears based on the promotional art seen at the very top of this page, whose head and neck are severely foreshortened.
{{-}}

===Transformers (2010)===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:TF2010toy-VictoryofTheFallen.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Blue <strike>haired</strike> limbed old <strike>lady</strike> robot.]]
*'''The Victory of The Fallen''' (Legends 5-pack, 2010)
:Jetfire is a redeco of his Legends-class toy with light blue arms, hips, and knees. He comes bundled in a Kmart-[[exclusive]] pack with redecos of Legends-class The Fallen, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream.

:To date, this is the only Hasbro release of this figure that acknowledges the combining feature between Jetfire and Optimus Prime.
{{-}}

*'''Jetfire''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:This Japanese exclusive release of Jetfire features much more black colouring than his previous releases, so as to be used with the similarly-repainted Legends Optimus Prime figure to form the Optimus' powered up combination.
{{-}}

===Dark of the Moon===
====Leader Class toys====
{{anchor|DOTMJetfireBuster}}
* '''Jetpower Optimus Prime''' (Leader 2-pack, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' Front landing gear/walking stick, rotary cannon missile launcher, projectile, back panel/cannon

:A re-release of the [[#JetfireBuster|Jetpower Optimus Prime two-pack]], this time in ''Dark of the Moon''-branded packaging. Both toys are unchanged.
{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroesmegatronfallenprimejetfireironhide.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Kinda morbid, really.]]
*'''Battle for the Fallen''' (box set, 2009)
:This ''Robot Heroes'' box set of figures comes with [[The Fallen]], [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|Megatron]] (tank mode), [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and Jetfire combined, and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] (truck mode).
{{-}}

===RPMs - Robot Powered Machines===
[[Image:ROTF-toy_RPM_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jetfire forgot to tell Hasbro he's claustrophobic.]]
*'''Jetfire''' (R.P.M. Mini-Vehicle, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''
:''[[Robot Powered Machines]]'' Jetfire is a die-cast Blackbird with wheels. It can stand up to reveal a sculpted image of Jetfire's robot mode, and the wings are jointed so that it fits into the package better. The wheels feature through-axle construction, allowing the toy to roll well on flat surfaces.
{{-}}

[[Image:ROTFRPMBattleSeries2JetfireRetail.jpg|thumb|250px]]
[[Image:ROTFRPMBattleSeries2JetfireCardback.jpg|thumb|250px]]
*'''Jetfire VS Megatron''' (two-pack, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Battle Series 2'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''

:This two-pack contains a metallic purple [[redeco]] of ''RPM'' [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] and... a barely-changed Jetfire. It lacks some red detailing, and changes the tail Autobot symbol to silver.

:Unusually, the back of the packaging features a significantly different deco for the toy, with brighter silver and more red. Though this particular redeco was seen at [[Toy Fair 2010]], it was never released anywhere.

:As part of the final wave of RPMs, Battle Series 2 did not get released through normal retail outlets in the United States, instead showing up for sale first in Canada, Asia and Europe. Later, though, it would show up in the US though [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs Express]] mall stores and discount chains like Ross and TJ Maxx.

{{-}}

===Speed Stars===
[[Image:SpeedStars_MetalHeroes_Jetfire.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
*'''Jetfire''' (Mini-Vehicle, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Metal Heroes'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''

:Jetfire was also made available in ''[[Speed Stars]]'', the follow-up to ''Robot Powered Machines''. This version has a different color layout from the RPM release, and is less detailed in its [[paint operation]]s.

{{-}}
[[Image:SpeedStars_BattleSeries_JetfireVSMegatron.jpg|thumb|right|300px|He's red, he's blue. [[FIBRIR|Not that confusing]].]]
*'''Jetfire VS Megatron''' (two-pack, 2010)
**''Series:'' '''Battle Series 2'''
**''Number:'' '''02 of 08'''

:Battle Series 2 was released normally in the United States under the ''Speed Stars'' banner, though with various changes. Jetfire's colors are similar to his original RPM toy.

{{-}}

==Notes==
* While all the fictions agree that Jetfire was a Decepticon Seeker who defected and has been stuck on Earth for a long time, none agree on when and why he came to Earth, when and why he defected, or how long he snoozed. Random, confused mythos divergence? Now ''that's'' 80s nostalgia!

* Jetfire's head was redesigned so [[Industrial Light & Magic]] could animate a smirk on the character. This early, mouthless head was still used for the toy designs and promotional art though.<ref>[http://vfxworld.com/?atype=articles&id=4003 Scott Farrar's VFXWorld interview]</ref>

* Jetfire's ancient Cybertronian vehicle mode as seen in [[IDW Publishing]]'s [[Defiance issue 4|''Defiance'' #4]] bears more than a passing similarity with the starship ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''.

* Apparently, Jetfire was briefly active during the Cuban Missile Crisis, according to one of his comments in the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' video game]]. This might explain his current alt-mode in the movie.

* According to an extended bio unlocked on the [[Hunt for the Decepticons]] website by a code on "The Victory of The Fallen" toys box, Jetfire's body is filled with mysterious, powerful technology lost to the Autobots for centuries, which explains why it gave Optimus the boost he needed to defeat The Fallen.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jetfire''' (ジェットファイア ''Jettofaia'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Röptűz''' ("Flyfire")

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/MovieJetfire/jetfire.htm Jetfire at TFU.info]

[[Category:Dark of the Moon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Elderly Transformers]]
[[Category:Kmart exclusives]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Autobots]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Seekers]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Autobots]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Humanization

2012-04-03T02:06:19Z

97.100.57.102: /* Urination */

Throughout the various Transformers [[canon]], there have been several instances of [[Transformer]]s with humanistic traits and having very [[human]] actions that possibly conflict with their status as mechanical robots. Many of these instances can be dismissed as stylistic choices by the artists or as gags not to be taken seriously.

==Glandular, digestive, and respiratory==
===Sweating===
[[Image:LandsharkWOH-energondelivery.jpg|right|thumb|180px|]]

* In [[Prime Time!|issue twelve]] of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Generation 1'' comic]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is seen leaking lubricant from his head during a stressful confrontation with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (as Shockwave points out), in a manner resembling sweating.
* Numerous times in the Marvel UK comic, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] can be seen "sweating".
* ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured Transformers displaying the traditional anime "sweat drop", a giant bead of liquid appearing at the side of the head to convey embarrassment or exasperation.
* [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] sweatdrops upon seeing a particularly scary expression on [[Lori]]'s face. {{storylink|Ambush}}
* [[Leozack]] sweatdrops oil when [[Landshark]] attacks him. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

===Coughing===
* In the G1 episode "[[Roll for It]]", when the Autobots emerge from the ruins of a demolished [[antimatter]] laboratory, they are coughing.
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] coughs when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] surrounds him with smoke.{{storylink|Triple Takeover}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] coughs while infected with Cosmic Rust. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}
* In "[[Call of the Primitives]]", a fiery blast from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] causes both the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to cough.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] begins to cough for no reason while making a triumphant speech. Much like Powerglide's "heart", this could be a one-shot joke. He also coughs while sleeping, and when amidst the smoky remains of an electrical fire.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] fake-coughed in the episode "[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]" of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast machines'' cartoon]] to draw [[Optimus Primal]]'s attention to the matter of [[Noble]].
* In the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' episode "[[Secret Weapon: D-5]]", [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]], and [[Dark Scream]] all cough after inhaling smoke.
* In the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' episode "[[Mortal Combat]]", right after Optimus Prime says "I wish I could accommodate you," he coughs silently.
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] visibly coughs after [[Sam Witwicky]] uses the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to restore him to life in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', even expelling what appears to be dust.
* On [[Rock Bottom]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] coughs after escaping the collapsed mine. Ironically, Bulkhead later claims ''in the same episode'' that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Breathing===
On ''[http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation]'', it was explained that the android [http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Data Data]'s breathing served to cool his inner components, but mostly so that he doesn't appear unnatural to the humans he was designed to resemble. He also blinks for this reason. It could be argued that breathing serves the same "cooling" purpose in Transformers, as its possible for their internal systems to overheat with use, but this explanation is always going to smack of desperation.

* In an ''Energon'' episode, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] instructs [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] that they have to synchronize their breathing before they can [[Powerlinx|powerlink]].
* At the climax of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] tries to strangle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], complete with sounds of Hot Rod gagging and struggling to breathe. It's possible that Galvatron was trying to compress Hot Rod's neck until the Autobot's head popped off, but that isn't likely.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], calling for help as a python constricts him, says he can't breathe. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}}
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] is shown to be breathing heavily after trying to chase down Blurr, even though he quips in a previous episode that not needing to breathe is useful for an Autobot. {{storylink|Velocity}}
**Blurr did the same thing when he had completed running all the way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* On the [[Nemesis (ROTF)| Nemesis]], [[Megatron (Movie)| Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Movie)| Starscream's]] breath can be seen due to condensation in the cold ship. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] breathes heavily as he runs in fear from [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] and the slave mines on [[Dread (planet)|Dread]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}}
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is visibly breathing while in stasis. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}
* "[[A Team Effort]]" confirms that Transformers require ventilation airways in their neck to prevent system overheating, as when [[Charger]] strangles [[Roadgrabber]] in a fit of rage.

===Spitting===
* Throughout his term on the Marvel UK comic letters page, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] would regularly say "(Puttup)" after mentioning the Autobots or an Autobot's name to represent him spitting in disgust. This habit made an in-story appearance, with him spitting at [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]] despite his [[mouthplate]]. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}
* After [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] escapes from the Decepticons's New Jersey base via a sewer, he spits as he complains about their poor choice of back door.{{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Tangled Web]]", [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] "spits" after reissuing his challenge to tangle with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], despite the fact that, like Soundwave, he has no apparent mouth.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] repeatedly spits while talking to [[Sam Witwicky]] and his companions. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] also has to spit his mouth clean after being blasted across a forest by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] spits twice: once at Sam while in the [[Broadwater Metal Works]] foundry, and again when he mentions Prime's name. [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] also spits, albeit for no real reason, when addressing Sam and the humans outside of [[Chicago]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]].''
* [[Galvatron II|Galvatron II]] is seen spitting and drooling while explaining the situation.{{storylink|Out of Time!}} Both Megatron and Galvatron II are seen both spitting on each other. Gross!.{{storylink|Exodus!}}

===Crying===
[[Image:Omega Supreme tears up.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Tissue: desired.]]

* A twinkle of light that may not literally be a tear, but is clearly intended to imply one, can be seen in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s eye at the end of "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]".
* When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dies in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is seen to dab at her eyes.
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] told his colleagues he was about to "leak optical lubricant" when they wouldn't stop about giving up on [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}
* In "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] has tears falling from his eyes, presumably in pain, during his monstrous disfigurement after he gains the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].
* There is a teardrop on young [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]'s face after being beaten by Deathsaurus. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* At the end of "[[Heroic! The Victory War]]", some Decepticons are crying over their defeat.
* As he mourns his dead friend [[Snowstalker]] and decides he can never fight again, [[Tigatron]] cries a single tear in beast mode.
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] wiped a fake tear when [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] put on the heroic act. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* When pondering [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s fate in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] is shown to shed a single tear from one of her spider eyes. This may be due to her technoganic nature though. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}
[[Image:Bw2 ep6 twinwaterfalls.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Surf's up—and I'm talkin' ''up''!]]
* Throughout ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and occasionally in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, several characters are seen crying in hyperbolic anime fashion.
* Tears can be seen welling up in [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s eyes and falling to the ground in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' as he mourns a fallen comrade.
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] told [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] to "cry him a river". {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}
* Ratchet ''actually'' cries tears of defeat when outwitted by Megatron. {{storylink|Warrior School!}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] cries over [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s death in [[The Art of War issue 5|''The Art of War'' #5]].
* In ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]'', [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] cries, though this "ability" could be part of her partially organic nature. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}}
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] cries after [[Sam Witwicky]] tells him cars are not allowed on campus, although he was exaggerating his sorrow and was likely deliberately leaking fluids to enhance the visual. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''
* [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] was crying in the corner for not being in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]] game. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] had to talk to him. Again. {{Storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.12#Law and Disorder|Law and Disorder}}

===Eating===
[[Image:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Probably contains [[energon goodie]]s in the shape of a happy face.]]

* There are references to [[Cybertronian food]].
* [[Skullcruncher]] has been known to eat Autobots as well as humans and other organics, despite not needing to do so to survive. Other Decepticons are disgusted by this practice.
* There are Pepsi and [[Destron Pizza|pizza]] in the refrigerator in [[Pepsi Convoy]]'s home.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', the Maximals and Predacons are shown to eat:
**[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] even displays something of a voracious appetite, eating rats and leaving webs to catch prey. At one point, he captures Cheetor and prepares to drain the Maximal's fluids, claiming that it is the act he prefers over the nourishment (which adds just another level of creepy to the already creepy Tarantulas). {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Rattrap]] eats apples. {{storylink|The Web}}
**And garbage {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] eats a bird. {{storylink|Power Surge}}
**[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] eats [[Clone One|his clone]]. [[Optimus Primal]] remarks that he is "disgusting". {{storylink|Double Dinobot}}
**While suffering from an [[Energon discharge virus]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] eats wild beans to build up his power. This later ends disastrously for [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Low Road}}
* In ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Optimus Primal]] wants to eat the underground tree's fruit; [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] protests that "we don't eat food, we process [[energon]]—PERIOD!", but is overruled. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}
* According to [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] eats [[Autobot]] [[Protoform]]s for breakfast. But of course that could just be a rumour. {{Storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* [[Brains]] is seen chewing on a screw, while [[Igor]] and the [[hatchling]]s are clearly shown to be ingesting minerals. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

===Flatulence===
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[The Low Road]]", Rhinox lets out an extreme amount of flatulence after consuming wild bean vines. This could be due to Maximals having organic parts in their makeup.
* In the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Bad Spark]]", [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] also lets out flatulence, blaming it on a large buildup of energy from his [[Transmetal]] body.
* Just go watch ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Happens every five minutes. You can set a clock by it.
* One of the [[Mini-Constructicon]]s "cuts one", causing the others to laugh and request someone to open a window in "[[Spotlight: Ramjet]]".

===Urination===
* [[Tasmania Kid]] urinates (in beast mode) to put out a fire.
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] performs a similar action on [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] by popping off his automobile oil filter in robot mode. Optimus Prime claims that 'Bee is just leaking [[lubricant]]s on him. Presumably, this action was inspired from witnessing a [[Mojo|similar incident]].
* [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]] apparently urinates himself in [[Do Over]].
* In Beast Wars II, [[DJ (BWII)|DJ]] is known for wetting himself whenever he drinks too much oil.
* [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] claims that he "sprung a leak" after freaking out about [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s goal to take on [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}
*In Transformers Prime, when [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] shot at [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to test an energy shield he retrieved, Knock Out claimed that the trauma caused him to "leak some transmission fluid." {{storylink|Operation: Bumblebee Part 2}}

===Defecation===
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] defecates on [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' from Marvel UK issue [[Robo-Capers issue 87|#87]].

===Blushing===
[[Image:SeaChange Seaspray Blush.JPEG|right|thumb|180px|]]
* In the G1 episode "[[Sea Change]]", [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] has his whole face turn bright red, even before he jumps into the [[Well of Transformation|Well of Transformation]] and gets turned into a humanoid.
* ''Transformers Animated'' Bumblebee has also been shown to be able to blush in a few episodes. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}
*''Transformers Cybertron'' Override blushes when speaking to Lori, which is an indication of the character's original male gender in ''Galaxy Force''. {{storylink|Honor}}

===Intoxication===
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episode "[[Microbots]]", the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] behaving in a noticeably intoxicated fashion after consuming high-grade [[energon]]. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] refers to this as "over-energizing".
* In the UK comic, the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] frequent a "bar" on Cybertron called [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where they consume high-grade energon, presumably for the purposes of getting intoxicated. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] pay a visit to this establishment in a later story, and get so hammered that they don't even notice [[Quickswitch]] fighting with some [[Mecannibal]]s.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] gets "drunk" on numerous occasions.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, [[Lio Convoy]] gets drunk once and messes up [[Apache]]'s room.{{storylink|Recover the Bonds Lost!}}
* The [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] in ''Animated'', whose personalities are shout-outs to construction worker stereotypes, seem to drink oil the way humans drink beer. However, they never actually get drunk.
**However, the Autobots did feel dizzy after a mini Soundwave spiked the oil nog. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Miscellaneous===
[[Image:Cigarchomping.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Bet it's imported from Cubatron.]]
* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] once gets a cold, causing him to cough and have a fever, in an issue of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]]. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] got a bump on his head after being hit by Deathsaurus with a staff when they were young boys. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* In ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] chomps on a [[cy-gar|cy-]][[Cigar|gar]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Bumblebee (Animated)| Bumblebee]] has bandages wrapped around his middle after Sari is knocked out and the Autobots return to their base. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] wore a cast over his arm after being hit by a falling building. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

{{-}}

==Body parts==
===Mouths/teeth/tongues===
{{Main|Teeth}}
{{Main|Tongue}}
{{Main|Mouthplate}}

* The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon series]] is the only major piece of fiction to ''not'' present Transformers as possessing [[teeth]] and/or [[Tongue|tongues]]. The features appear in both the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comics, [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|''The Battlestars'' manga]], the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' animated series (where teeth would even be knocked out on occasion), the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon, and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons and comics.
* In an episode of [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]], [[Browning]] sticks his tongue out at [[Wilder]] and [[Bullhorn]] after they insult [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]].
*In the [[live-action film series]], the more human-like the robot, the more they are likely to have teeth. In the case of, say, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], his teeth are mechanical cubes overlaid on each other, while [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] has bona fide fangs. Optimus spits out a piece of his shattered faceplate in the second film, which is intended to resemble a boxer spitting out a tooth after a brutal match. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* One of the most prevalent examples of this tradition is the [[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|''Kiss Players'' manga]], in which a [[Legion]] character is equipped with a distinctive prehensile (and phallic) tongue.

===Eyeballs/eyelashes===
[[Image:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Oh, my eyes!!]]

* Most Transformers have eyes. They see with them.
* In the episode "[[Auto Berserk]]", Optimus Prime's eyes are closed (apparently to shield them against the smoke) much like a human's when the Autobots stagger out of the fire and smoke of the Negavator's destruction.
* While dying from life force depletion, [[Elita One]] occasionally closes her eyes. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] clench their eyes shut when their ship is grabbed by a claw. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}
* Cyclonus also closes his eyes when Galvatron is about to go through the [[Alya]] treatment and he cannot bear to watch. {{storylink|Webworld}}
* [[Lyzack]] sports some pretty heavy-duty eyelashes for her brief appearance in the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]'' manga. So does [[Esmeral (Victory)|Esmeral]]. {{storylink|Heroic! The Victory War}}
* In [[Spotlight: Hot Rod]], Hot Rod is shown to have what appears to be blast shields for his optics when he passes out after landing. Dealer's optics are mostly covered by his eyelids, so he looks half-passed out. ''Per an email query to IDW, their response is that Transformers do not have eyelids, that it's just artistic license.''
* The robots in the [[live-action film series]] have eyes designed to resemble cameras, enabling them to dilate and blink.
* ''Animated'' [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] has eyelids. He also blinks frequently.
* The cyborg [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], as portrayed in the animated cartoon, do in fact possess eyelids (when the eyes aren't covered by a visor) and frequently blink. Some also have visible pupils.
* Most robots in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' possess camera-like eyes similar to those seen in the live-action films, which dilate, contract, and blink in a highly human-like fashion. Notably, they also replicate the involuntary, back-and-forth movements of the human eye when idle.

<center><gallery>
Image:Esmeral-manga.jpg
Image:LyzackEyelashes01.jpg|About 15 gallons of mascara for those things.
Image:HotRodOpticShields.jpg|Hey, wake up!
Image:Dealerseyelids.jpg|Got munchies?
</gallery></center>

===Obesity===
Although Transformers come in all shapes and sizes anyway, some characters have particularly round appearances that suggest something equivalent to human obesity.

* In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams #94]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] mentioned that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] weighs a little over 90 tons and "could stand to lose a little around the fuel storage system".
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] complained that the Decepticons had grown "fat and complacent" under [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s rule. {{storylink|Surrender!}}
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] is virtually as wide as he is tall and is depicted as extremely round, with very short, stubby legs. It gives him more than a passing resemblance to a heavily obese person, or at best one of those huge, flabby, off-season wrestlers.
* Much the same could be said of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Being big-chassised is no excuse to let yourself go.
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|''Animated'' Ratchet]] has a prominent gut that resembles a human paunch. Although ordinarily this might be considered merely a feature of his transformation scheme (ala [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]), he is specifically designed to be a crotchety "old man" character, and in flashback sequences to his younger days in the Great War, he notably ''lacks'' said paunch.
* [[Gnaw]]. Well, all the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], really, but seriously. It's kind of comically appropriate that the robots which do absolutely nothing but hang out and eat stuff all day are so roly-poly.
* [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] has a set of metal plates that form the front of his Alt-mode forming a sort of "beer gut" on his abdomen.

===Masculine characteristics===
====Facial hair====
{{Main|Facial hair}}

* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Unicron]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] all sport "facial hair" in the G1 cartoon. In addition to that, ''Energon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], the films' Optimus (who has a goatee), [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]], and [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|the other Wreck-Gar]] all have varying amounts of facial hair. (The last of these was modeled after [["Weird Al" Yankovic|his voice actor's]] own, prior to his appearance's overhaul.) The Shattered Glass versions of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]] also have "facial hair", probably as a homage to Evil Spock's appearance in Star Trek.
* Many characters in the live-action series have facial hair, like [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]],[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and [[The Fallen]].

====Nuts, Bolts and Screws====
[[Image:LightfootDramaticEncounter Gilmer's injury.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Hit a Decepticon in it's voonerables, he said, and you've killed it.]]
* [[Gilmer]] got rammed in his crotch by [[Lightfoot]], causing it to become red and Gilmer to clutch it, groaning he got "kicked in the balls". {{storylink|Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter}}
* [[Rattrap]] kicks [[Waspinator]] in the groin, causing apparent pain and giving him a high-pitched voice. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}
* [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] once suggested a kick to the "unmentionables" as a workable battle tactic. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 3|The Ascending #3}}
* [[Heinrad]] has a set in [[Beast mode|tanuki mode]]. Since tanuki are known for their massive testicles, his equipment's existence actually makes sense.
* [[Flareup (Timelines)|Flareup]] interpreted the word "[[AllSpark Key|key]]" in "[[Wikipedia:Ghostbusters|keymaster]]" a little differently than [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] intended. {{storylink|Bee in the City}}
* [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] has a pair of dangling wrecking balls in a... very unfortunate place. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Dickbot the blender guy|Blenderbot]] has a... well... [[:Image:Appliancebots2.jpg|just look for yourself (NSFW?)]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

===Feminine characteristics===
[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|right|230px|thumb|I'd tap it like the fist of an angry god.]]
{{main|Female Transformer}}

====Breasts====
Some female Transformers, such as [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Elita One]] (not to mention the ''other'' [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]]) have a protruding chest area that bears no apparent relation to their alt mode [[kibble]], but bears some vague resemblance to clothed human breasts, or a "monoboob", if you will. Some females even have two separate and even more distinctly rounded breast-like protuberances, particularly in their fictional depictions. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] and [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] all fall into this category. One, [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)| Thunderblast]], even has [[:Image:ThunderblastBoobsAndNipples01.jpg|visible nipples]]. ''(You're going to look, aren't you...?)''

====Lips====
[[Image:G1 Silverbolt cartoon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Though not female, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s got <s>sexy</s> nice lips.]]
Another common feature to denote gender in female Transformers is distinctly fuller, plumper lips than is standard, such as Blackarachnia's in ''Beast Wars''. Sometimes, however, they will additionally have red or otherwise different/darker coloration to their lips, with an evident similarity to human lipstick. Such paint-mouthed femmes include Blackarachnia in ''Beast Machines'', her [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' cousin]], and the [[Female Autobots|G1 Female Autobots]].

As far as males go, none of them have differently colored lips, but some do have noticeably thicker lips. Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and [[Shōki]], for instance, have lips that can easily compete with the females', as does [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' Optimus Prime]].

====Hips====
[[Image:SpacePirates Arcee Bunsofsteel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Dan Reed, you perv.]]

Alike to humans, many a female Transformer has a distinctly more curving hipstructure.

:''See also the '''[[Humanization#Sexuality|Sexuality]]''' section below.

{{--}}

===Questionable body parts===
[[Image:Powerglide heart.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Not [[Wikipedia:Astroboy|Astroboy]], we swear!]]

* Nearly all Transformers seem to possess noses for no discernible functional reason, ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' characters and movieverse [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] being exceptions. Movie [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] also notes that he can smell [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] when the latter is trying to escape from him, and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] remarks that he can "smell" [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]. This would seem to imply that movieverse Transformers have a form of olfactory systems. The idea of noses is somewhat 'fixed' in ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers Prime]]'' by having the noses be a visible part of the robot's helmet as opposed to being part of their face.
* At the end of the G1 episode "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]", [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is seen to have the LED outline of a cartoon heart within his chassis. This is somewhat nonsensical even within in the context of the show (the contents of Transformers chest cavities had been shown several times before), and is doubtless merely meant as a one-off sight gag.
* Although listed separately above, breasts and "nuts, bolts and screws" would also fit under this category quite well, seeing as there doesn't appear to be any use for them on Transformers, other than to show them off.

;Brains
[[Image:PredaBrain1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Predaking: All brawn AND brains!]]

* [[Predaking]] has an organic brain when he is sliced in half in the [[Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!|''Zone'' cartoon]].
* [[Unicron]] also has an organic brain in the G.I. Joe crossover, [[Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2|Black Horizon Part 2]]. Later handwaved by explaining that the particular Unicron in the crossover came from the [[universal stream]] Gargent 984.08 Alpha and had taken on an organic brain in a similar fashion as the native [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]].
*[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon's]] Sentinel Prime seemed to have something in his head resembling a brain after Optimus executed him.
{{-}}

==Other biological functions==
===Sleep===
* In the G1 comic, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] plays a prank on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] while he is in "rest mode." {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Trailbreaker's ''Universe'' profile}} [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] falls asleep and dreams (or rather, has a nightmare), an experience Prime refers to as an "involuntary systems shutdown". {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Kup later attempts to rouse a vision-struck Optimus Prime by urging him to "wake up"—then reminds himself that "we don't sleep!" {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} When [[Donny Finkleberg]] remarks that unlike machines, humans need to rest, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] informs him Transformers need to as well to conserve fuel. Skids also has an on/off button in his dashboard. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}
* In the [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] is able to use a form of hypnotism on the Autobots, which can include lulling them to sleep.
* This ability is also shown by [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Victory'' cartoon]].
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', it has been firmly established that (perhaps partially due to their organic components), all Transformers within the cartoon sleep. Some prime examples of this are:
**Megatron has been shown to sleep in the command chair of the ''Darksyde'', while his dino head mounted on the end of his arm stays awake, looks around, and smiles slyly. Wonder what it thinks about...
** Cheetor has been shown asleep at many points, complete with (occasionally prophetic) dreams. In "[[Feral Scream Part 2]]", he also purrs when he's asleep. How cute!
** In "[[Call of the Wild]]", the Maximals are kept awake for two days by the Predacons' non-stop attacks on their base, which exacerbate their beast instincts overriding their logic circuits.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] often nods off in a narcoleptic-like fashion.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, Lio Convoy sleeps and has a nightmare at one point.
* ''Armada'' [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] is quite fond of catching forty winks when possible. [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] does the same on one occasion. Armada Megatron is also seen asleep twice in the episode "Rebellion".
* ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] enters a form of sleep he calls a "stasis nap", during which he gets several parking tickets. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* Also in ''Animated'', when the Autobots feel tired after drinking an oil-nog (which Soundwave had spiked), they decide to go to sleep, pardon, to take a stasis nap. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] even yawns. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Aging===
{{main|Life cycle}}
Some Transformers have been depicted as aging.

* [[Image:Alpha Trion through the epochs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]][[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] has been depicted in three different eras: 11 million years in the past, 9 million years in the past, and the present day. Though his [[character model]] undergoes many changes, his facial hair changes seem to mimic human aging. In his (chronologically) earliest depiction, he has a small black mustache. In his second depiction, his mustache has turned white. By the modern era, he sports a long mustache and beard.

* The [[Overlord (rank)|Overlord]] was so old that his body needed a regular energy supply to keep him functioning. {{storylink|State Games}}

[[Image:MangaYoungDeathyStarSaber.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Young and Innocent]]
* [[Xaaron]] couldn't transform anymore because he was old.

* In an issue of the Marvel UK G1 comics, Kup's systems are going to shut down because he is too old.

* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] are depicted in flashbacks as "child" Transformers, complete with childlike temperaments. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}

* [[Cohrada]] is depicted as "child" in his flashback in the issue "[[A Battle Fought Alone]]".

* Movieverse [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] has a cane and is rusting. Some parts even fall off him when he transforms! However, he states that the reason for his decrepit condition is not just that he is very, very old, but mainly due to the fact that his Energon supplies are very low.

* [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] claimed to have been a classic car when he was younger, and a tricycle when he was younger. While he was lying, his story was plausible enough for [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]]. On the other hand, Slapper is an idiot.

{{-}}

===Sexuality===
[[Image:Sideburnhearts.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sorry, Side Burn, I don't think Wedge rolls that way.]]
{{Main|Transformer romance}}
{{Main|Reproduction}}

One of the most controversial aspects of Transformers is the idea of sexuality. While it is established in most continuities that Transformers do not reproduce sexually, most continuities nonetheless have distinctive male and [[Female Transformer|female characters]] and sometimes drops a hint Transformers may engage in (recreational) sex.

The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] brought the first official female Transformers into the canon, including [[Elita One]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. The characters are noticeably more feminine in design and some have clearly defined romantic relationships with male Transformers. In contrast, such relations between two individuals of the same gender are [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|virtually]] unheard of.

{{--}}
==Accents==
{{Main|Accents}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:Transformer anatomy|Transformer anatomy]]
* [[Anatomic euphemism]]
* [[Relatives]]
* [[Transformer clothing|Clothing]]

==External links==
* [http://transfans.co.uk/comics_guide_detail.php?id=106&page=5 Transformers #94 Letters Page on Transfans.co.uk]

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Humanization

2012-04-03T02:06:00Z

97.100.57.102: /* Urination */

Throughout the various Transformers [[canon]], there have been several instances of [[Transformer]]s with humanistic traits and having very [[human]] actions that possibly conflict with their status as mechanical robots. Many of these instances can be dismissed as stylistic choices by the artists or as gags not to be taken seriously.

==Glandular, digestive, and respiratory==
===Sweating===
[[Image:LandsharkWOH-energondelivery.jpg|right|thumb|180px|]]

* In [[Prime Time!|issue twelve]] of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Generation 1'' comic]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is seen leaking lubricant from his head during a stressful confrontation with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (as Shockwave points out), in a manner resembling sweating.
* Numerous times in the Marvel UK comic, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] can be seen "sweating".
* ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured Transformers displaying the traditional anime "sweat drop", a giant bead of liquid appearing at the side of the head to convey embarrassment or exasperation.
* [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] sweatdrops upon seeing a particularly scary expression on [[Lori]]'s face. {{storylink|Ambush}}
* [[Leozack]] sweatdrops oil when [[Landshark]] attacks him. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

===Coughing===
* In the G1 episode "[[Roll for It]]", when the Autobots emerge from the ruins of a demolished [[antimatter]] laboratory, they are coughing.
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] coughs when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] surrounds him with smoke.{{storylink|Triple Takeover}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] coughs while infected with Cosmic Rust. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}
* In "[[Call of the Primitives]]", a fiery blast from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] causes both the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to cough.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] begins to cough for no reason while making a triumphant speech. Much like Powerglide's "heart", this could be a one-shot joke. He also coughs while sleeping, and when amidst the smoky remains of an electrical fire.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] fake-coughed in the episode "[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]" of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast machines'' cartoon]] to draw [[Optimus Primal]]'s attention to the matter of [[Noble]].
* In the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' episode "[[Secret Weapon: D-5]]", [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]], and [[Dark Scream]] all cough after inhaling smoke.
* In the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' episode "[[Mortal Combat]]", right after Optimus Prime says "I wish I could accommodate you," he coughs silently.
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] visibly coughs after [[Sam Witwicky]] uses the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to restore him to life in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', even expelling what appears to be dust.
* On [[Rock Bottom]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] coughs after escaping the collapsed mine. Ironically, Bulkhead later claims ''in the same episode'' that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Breathing===
On ''[http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation]'', it was explained that the android [http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Data Data]'s breathing served to cool his inner components, but mostly so that he doesn't appear unnatural to the humans he was designed to resemble. He also blinks for this reason. It could be argued that breathing serves the same "cooling" purpose in Transformers, as its possible for their internal systems to overheat with use, but this explanation is always going to smack of desperation.

* In an ''Energon'' episode, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] instructs [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] that they have to synchronize their breathing before they can [[Powerlinx|powerlink]].
* At the climax of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] tries to strangle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], complete with sounds of Hot Rod gagging and struggling to breathe. It's possible that Galvatron was trying to compress Hot Rod's neck until the Autobot's head popped off, but that isn't likely.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], calling for help as a python constricts him, says he can't breathe. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}}
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] is shown to be breathing heavily after trying to chase down Blurr, even though he quips in a previous episode that not needing to breathe is useful for an Autobot. {{storylink|Velocity}}
**Blurr did the same thing when he had completed running all the way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* On the [[Nemesis (ROTF)| Nemesis]], [[Megatron (Movie)| Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Movie)| Starscream's]] breath can be seen due to condensation in the cold ship. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] breathes heavily as he runs in fear from [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] and the slave mines on [[Dread (planet)|Dread]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}}
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is visibly breathing while in stasis. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}
* "[[A Team Effort]]" confirms that Transformers require ventilation airways in their neck to prevent system overheating, as when [[Charger]] strangles [[Roadgrabber]] in a fit of rage.

===Spitting===
* Throughout his term on the Marvel UK comic letters page, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] would regularly say "(Puttup)" after mentioning the Autobots or an Autobot's name to represent him spitting in disgust. This habit made an in-story appearance, with him spitting at [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]] despite his [[mouthplate]]. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}
* After [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] escapes from the Decepticons's New Jersey base via a sewer, he spits as he complains about their poor choice of back door.{{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Tangled Web]]", [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] "spits" after reissuing his challenge to tangle with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], despite the fact that, like Soundwave, he has no apparent mouth.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] repeatedly spits while talking to [[Sam Witwicky]] and his companions. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] also has to spit his mouth clean after being blasted across a forest by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] spits twice: once at Sam while in the [[Broadwater Metal Works]] foundry, and again when he mentions Prime's name. [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] also spits, albeit for no real reason, when addressing Sam and the humans outside of [[Chicago]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]].''
* [[Galvatron II|Galvatron II]] is seen spitting and drooling while explaining the situation.{{storylink|Out of Time!}} Both Megatron and Galvatron II are seen both spitting on each other. Gross!.{{storylink|Exodus!}}

===Crying===
[[Image:Omega Supreme tears up.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Tissue: desired.]]

* A twinkle of light that may not literally be a tear, but is clearly intended to imply one, can be seen in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s eye at the end of "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]".
* When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dies in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is seen to dab at her eyes.
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] told his colleagues he was about to "leak optical lubricant" when they wouldn't stop about giving up on [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}
* In "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] has tears falling from his eyes, presumably in pain, during his monstrous disfigurement after he gains the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].
* There is a teardrop on young [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]'s face after being beaten by Deathsaurus. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* At the end of "[[Heroic! The Victory War]]", some Decepticons are crying over their defeat.
* As he mourns his dead friend [[Snowstalker]] and decides he can never fight again, [[Tigatron]] cries a single tear in beast mode.
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] wiped a fake tear when [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] put on the heroic act. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* When pondering [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s fate in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] is shown to shed a single tear from one of her spider eyes. This may be due to her technoganic nature though. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}
[[Image:Bw2 ep6 twinwaterfalls.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Surf's up—and I'm talkin' ''up''!]]
* Throughout ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and occasionally in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, several characters are seen crying in hyperbolic anime fashion.
* Tears can be seen welling up in [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s eyes and falling to the ground in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' as he mourns a fallen comrade.
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] told [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] to "cry him a river". {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}
* Ratchet ''actually'' cries tears of defeat when outwitted by Megatron. {{storylink|Warrior School!}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] cries over [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s death in [[The Art of War issue 5|''The Art of War'' #5]].
* In ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]'', [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] cries, though this "ability" could be part of her partially organic nature. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}}
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] cries after [[Sam Witwicky]] tells him cars are not allowed on campus, although he was exaggerating his sorrow and was likely deliberately leaking fluids to enhance the visual. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''
* [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] was crying in the corner for not being in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]] game. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] had to talk to him. Again. {{Storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.12#Law and Disorder|Law and Disorder}}

===Eating===
[[Image:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Probably contains [[energon goodie]]s in the shape of a happy face.]]

* There are references to [[Cybertronian food]].
* [[Skullcruncher]] has been known to eat Autobots as well as humans and other organics, despite not needing to do so to survive. Other Decepticons are disgusted by this practice.
* There are Pepsi and [[Destron Pizza|pizza]] in the refrigerator in [[Pepsi Convoy]]'s home.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', the Maximals and Predacons are shown to eat:
**[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] even displays something of a voracious appetite, eating rats and leaving webs to catch prey. At one point, he captures Cheetor and prepares to drain the Maximal's fluids, claiming that it is the act he prefers over the nourishment (which adds just another level of creepy to the already creepy Tarantulas). {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Rattrap]] eats apples. {{storylink|The Web}}
**And garbage {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] eats a bird. {{storylink|Power Surge}}
**[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] eats [[Clone One|his clone]]. [[Optimus Primal]] remarks that he is "disgusting". {{storylink|Double Dinobot}}
**While suffering from an [[Energon discharge virus]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] eats wild beans to build up his power. This later ends disastrously for [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Low Road}}
* In ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Optimus Primal]] wants to eat the underground tree's fruit; [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] protests that "we don't eat food, we process [[energon]]—PERIOD!", but is overruled. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}
* According to [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] eats [[Autobot]] [[Protoform]]s for breakfast. But of course that could just be a rumour. {{Storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* [[Brains]] is seen chewing on a screw, while [[Igor]] and the [[hatchling]]s are clearly shown to be ingesting minerals. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

===Flatulence===
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[The Low Road]]", Rhinox lets out an extreme amount of flatulence after consuming wild bean vines. This could be due to Maximals having organic parts in their makeup.
* In the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Bad Spark]]", [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] also lets out flatulence, blaming it on a large buildup of energy from his [[Transmetal]] body.
* Just go watch ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Happens every five minutes. You can set a clock by it.
* One of the [[Mini-Constructicon]]s "cuts one", causing the others to laugh and request someone to open a window in "[[Spotlight: Ramjet]]".

===Urination===
* [[Tasmania Kid]] urinates (in beast mode) to put out a fire.
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] performs a similar action on [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] by popping off his automobile oil filter in robot mode. Optimus Prime claims that 'Bee is just leaking [[lubricant]]s on him. Presumably, this action was inspired from witnessing a [[Mojo|similar incident]].
* [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]] apparently urinates himself in [[Do Over]].
* In Beast Wars II, [[DJ (BWII)|DJ]] is known for wetting himself whenever he drinks too much oil.
* [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] claims that he "sprung a leak" after freaking out about [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s goal to take on [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}
*In Transformers Prime, when [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] shot at [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to test an energy shield he retrieved, Knock Out claimed that the trauma caused him to "leak some transmission fluid." {{storylink|Operation: Bumblebee, Part 2}}

===Defecation===
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] defecates on [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' from Marvel UK issue [[Robo-Capers issue 87|#87]].

===Blushing===
[[Image:SeaChange Seaspray Blush.JPEG|right|thumb|180px|]]
* In the G1 episode "[[Sea Change]]", [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] has his whole face turn bright red, even before he jumps into the [[Well of Transformation|Well of Transformation]] and gets turned into a humanoid.
* ''Transformers Animated'' Bumblebee has also been shown to be able to blush in a few episodes. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}
*''Transformers Cybertron'' Override blushes when speaking to Lori, which is an indication of the character's original male gender in ''Galaxy Force''. {{storylink|Honor}}

===Intoxication===
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episode "[[Microbots]]", the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] behaving in a noticeably intoxicated fashion after consuming high-grade [[energon]]. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] refers to this as "over-energizing".
* In the UK comic, the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] frequent a "bar" on Cybertron called [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where they consume high-grade energon, presumably for the purposes of getting intoxicated. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] pay a visit to this establishment in a later story, and get so hammered that they don't even notice [[Quickswitch]] fighting with some [[Mecannibal]]s.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] gets "drunk" on numerous occasions.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, [[Lio Convoy]] gets drunk once and messes up [[Apache]]'s room.{{storylink|Recover the Bonds Lost!}}
* The [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] in ''Animated'', whose personalities are shout-outs to construction worker stereotypes, seem to drink oil the way humans drink beer. However, they never actually get drunk.
**However, the Autobots did feel dizzy after a mini Soundwave spiked the oil nog. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Miscellaneous===
[[Image:Cigarchomping.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Bet it's imported from Cubatron.]]
* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] once gets a cold, causing him to cough and have a fever, in an issue of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]]. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] got a bump on his head after being hit by Deathsaurus with a staff when they were young boys. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* In ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] chomps on a [[cy-gar|cy-]][[Cigar|gar]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Bumblebee (Animated)| Bumblebee]] has bandages wrapped around his middle after Sari is knocked out and the Autobots return to their base. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] wore a cast over his arm after being hit by a falling building. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

{{-}}

==Body parts==
===Mouths/teeth/tongues===
{{Main|Teeth}}
{{Main|Tongue}}
{{Main|Mouthplate}}

* The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon series]] is the only major piece of fiction to ''not'' present Transformers as possessing [[teeth]] and/or [[Tongue|tongues]]. The features appear in both the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comics, [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|''The Battlestars'' manga]], the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' animated series (where teeth would even be knocked out on occasion), the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon, and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons and comics.
* In an episode of [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]], [[Browning]] sticks his tongue out at [[Wilder]] and [[Bullhorn]] after they insult [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]].
*In the [[live-action film series]], the more human-like the robot, the more they are likely to have teeth. In the case of, say, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], his teeth are mechanical cubes overlaid on each other, while [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] has bona fide fangs. Optimus spits out a piece of his shattered faceplate in the second film, which is intended to resemble a boxer spitting out a tooth after a brutal match. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* One of the most prevalent examples of this tradition is the [[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|''Kiss Players'' manga]], in which a [[Legion]] character is equipped with a distinctive prehensile (and phallic) tongue.

===Eyeballs/eyelashes===
[[Image:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Oh, my eyes!!]]

* Most Transformers have eyes. They see with them.
* In the episode "[[Auto Berserk]]", Optimus Prime's eyes are closed (apparently to shield them against the smoke) much like a human's when the Autobots stagger out of the fire and smoke of the Negavator's destruction.
* While dying from life force depletion, [[Elita One]] occasionally closes her eyes. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] clench their eyes shut when their ship is grabbed by a claw. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}
* Cyclonus also closes his eyes when Galvatron is about to go through the [[Alya]] treatment and he cannot bear to watch. {{storylink|Webworld}}
* [[Lyzack]] sports some pretty heavy-duty eyelashes for her brief appearance in the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]'' manga. So does [[Esmeral (Victory)|Esmeral]]. {{storylink|Heroic! The Victory War}}
* In [[Spotlight: Hot Rod]], Hot Rod is shown to have what appears to be blast shields for his optics when he passes out after landing. Dealer's optics are mostly covered by his eyelids, so he looks half-passed out. ''Per an email query to IDW, their response is that Transformers do not have eyelids, that it's just artistic license.''
* The robots in the [[live-action film series]] have eyes designed to resemble cameras, enabling them to dilate and blink.
* ''Animated'' [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] has eyelids. He also blinks frequently.
* The cyborg [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], as portrayed in the animated cartoon, do in fact possess eyelids (when the eyes aren't covered by a visor) and frequently blink. Some also have visible pupils.
* Most robots in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' possess camera-like eyes similar to those seen in the live-action films, which dilate, contract, and blink in a highly human-like fashion. Notably, they also replicate the involuntary, back-and-forth movements of the human eye when idle.

<center><gallery>
Image:Esmeral-manga.jpg
Image:LyzackEyelashes01.jpg|About 15 gallons of mascara for those things.
Image:HotRodOpticShields.jpg|Hey, wake up!
Image:Dealerseyelids.jpg|Got munchies?
</gallery></center>

===Obesity===
Although Transformers come in all shapes and sizes anyway, some characters have particularly round appearances that suggest something equivalent to human obesity.

* In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams #94]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] mentioned that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] weighs a little over 90 tons and "could stand to lose a little around the fuel storage system".
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] complained that the Decepticons had grown "fat and complacent" under [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s rule. {{storylink|Surrender!}}
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] is virtually as wide as he is tall and is depicted as extremely round, with very short, stubby legs. It gives him more than a passing resemblance to a heavily obese person, or at best one of those huge, flabby, off-season wrestlers.
* Much the same could be said of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Being big-chassised is no excuse to let yourself go.
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|''Animated'' Ratchet]] has a prominent gut that resembles a human paunch. Although ordinarily this might be considered merely a feature of his transformation scheme (ala [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]), he is specifically designed to be a crotchety "old man" character, and in flashback sequences to his younger days in the Great War, he notably ''lacks'' said paunch.
* [[Gnaw]]. Well, all the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], really, but seriously. It's kind of comically appropriate that the robots which do absolutely nothing but hang out and eat stuff all day are so roly-poly.
* [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] has a set of metal plates that form the front of his Alt-mode forming a sort of "beer gut" on his abdomen.

===Masculine characteristics===
====Facial hair====
{{Main|Facial hair}}

* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Unicron]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] all sport "facial hair" in the G1 cartoon. In addition to that, ''Energon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], the films' Optimus (who has a goatee), [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]], and [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|the other Wreck-Gar]] all have varying amounts of facial hair. (The last of these was modeled after [["Weird Al" Yankovic|his voice actor's]] own, prior to his appearance's overhaul.) The Shattered Glass versions of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]] also have "facial hair", probably as a homage to Evil Spock's appearance in Star Trek.
* Many characters in the live-action series have facial hair, like [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]],[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and [[The Fallen]].

====Nuts, Bolts and Screws====
[[Image:LightfootDramaticEncounter Gilmer's injury.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Hit a Decepticon in it's voonerables, he said, and you've killed it.]]
* [[Gilmer]] got rammed in his crotch by [[Lightfoot]], causing it to become red and Gilmer to clutch it, groaning he got "kicked in the balls". {{storylink|Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter}}
* [[Rattrap]] kicks [[Waspinator]] in the groin, causing apparent pain and giving him a high-pitched voice. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}
* [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] once suggested a kick to the "unmentionables" as a workable battle tactic. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 3|The Ascending #3}}
* [[Heinrad]] has a set in [[Beast mode|tanuki mode]]. Since tanuki are known for their massive testicles, his equipment's existence actually makes sense.
* [[Flareup (Timelines)|Flareup]] interpreted the word "[[AllSpark Key|key]]" in "[[Wikipedia:Ghostbusters|keymaster]]" a little differently than [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] intended. {{storylink|Bee in the City}}
* [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] has a pair of dangling wrecking balls in a... very unfortunate place. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Dickbot the blender guy|Blenderbot]] has a... well... [[:Image:Appliancebots2.jpg|just look for yourself (NSFW?)]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

===Feminine characteristics===
[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|right|230px|thumb|I'd tap it like the fist of an angry god.]]
{{main|Female Transformer}}

====Breasts====
Some female Transformers, such as [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Elita One]] (not to mention the ''other'' [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]]) have a protruding chest area that bears no apparent relation to their alt mode [[kibble]], but bears some vague resemblance to clothed human breasts, or a "monoboob", if you will. Some females even have two separate and even more distinctly rounded breast-like protuberances, particularly in their fictional depictions. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] and [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] all fall into this category. One, [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)| Thunderblast]], even has [[:Image:ThunderblastBoobsAndNipples01.jpg|visible nipples]]. ''(You're going to look, aren't you...?)''

====Lips====
[[Image:G1 Silverbolt cartoon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Though not female, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s got <s>sexy</s> nice lips.]]
Another common feature to denote gender in female Transformers is distinctly fuller, plumper lips than is standard, such as Blackarachnia's in ''Beast Wars''. Sometimes, however, they will additionally have red or otherwise different/darker coloration to their lips, with an evident similarity to human lipstick. Such paint-mouthed femmes include Blackarachnia in ''Beast Machines'', her [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' cousin]], and the [[Female Autobots|G1 Female Autobots]].

As far as males go, none of them have differently colored lips, but some do have noticeably thicker lips. Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and [[Shōki]], for instance, have lips that can easily compete with the females', as does [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' Optimus Prime]].

====Hips====
[[Image:SpacePirates Arcee Bunsofsteel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Dan Reed, you perv.]]

Alike to humans, many a female Transformer has a distinctly more curving hipstructure.

:''See also the '''[[Humanization#Sexuality|Sexuality]]''' section below.

{{--}}

===Questionable body parts===
[[Image:Powerglide heart.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Not [[Wikipedia:Astroboy|Astroboy]], we swear!]]

* Nearly all Transformers seem to possess noses for no discernible functional reason, ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' characters and movieverse [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] being exceptions. Movie [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] also notes that he can smell [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] when the latter is trying to escape from him, and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] remarks that he can "smell" [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]. This would seem to imply that movieverse Transformers have a form of olfactory systems. The idea of noses is somewhat 'fixed' in ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers Prime]]'' by having the noses be a visible part of the robot's helmet as opposed to being part of their face.
* At the end of the G1 episode "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]", [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is seen to have the LED outline of a cartoon heart within his chassis. This is somewhat nonsensical even within in the context of the show (the contents of Transformers chest cavities had been shown several times before), and is doubtless merely meant as a one-off sight gag.
* Although listed separately above, breasts and "nuts, bolts and screws" would also fit under this category quite well, seeing as there doesn't appear to be any use for them on Transformers, other than to show them off.

;Brains
[[Image:PredaBrain1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Predaking: All brawn AND brains!]]

* [[Predaking]] has an organic brain when he is sliced in half in the [[Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!|''Zone'' cartoon]].
* [[Unicron]] also has an organic brain in the G.I. Joe crossover, [[Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2|Black Horizon Part 2]]. Later handwaved by explaining that the particular Unicron in the crossover came from the [[universal stream]] Gargent 984.08 Alpha and had taken on an organic brain in a similar fashion as the native [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]].
*[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon's]] Sentinel Prime seemed to have something in his head resembling a brain after Optimus executed him.
{{-}}

==Other biological functions==
===Sleep===
* In the G1 comic, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] plays a prank on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] while he is in "rest mode." {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Trailbreaker's ''Universe'' profile}} [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] falls asleep and dreams (or rather, has a nightmare), an experience Prime refers to as an "involuntary systems shutdown". {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Kup later attempts to rouse a vision-struck Optimus Prime by urging him to "wake up"—then reminds himself that "we don't sleep!" {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} When [[Donny Finkleberg]] remarks that unlike machines, humans need to rest, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] informs him Transformers need to as well to conserve fuel. Skids also has an on/off button in his dashboard. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}
* In the [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] is able to use a form of hypnotism on the Autobots, which can include lulling them to sleep.
* This ability is also shown by [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Victory'' cartoon]].
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', it has been firmly established that (perhaps partially due to their organic components), all Transformers within the cartoon sleep. Some prime examples of this are:
**Megatron has been shown to sleep in the command chair of the ''Darksyde'', while his dino head mounted on the end of his arm stays awake, looks around, and smiles slyly. Wonder what it thinks about...
** Cheetor has been shown asleep at many points, complete with (occasionally prophetic) dreams. In "[[Feral Scream Part 2]]", he also purrs when he's asleep. How cute!
** In "[[Call of the Wild]]", the Maximals are kept awake for two days by the Predacons' non-stop attacks on their base, which exacerbate their beast instincts overriding their logic circuits.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] often nods off in a narcoleptic-like fashion.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, Lio Convoy sleeps and has a nightmare at one point.
* ''Armada'' [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] is quite fond of catching forty winks when possible. [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] does the same on one occasion. Armada Megatron is also seen asleep twice in the episode "Rebellion".
* ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] enters a form of sleep he calls a "stasis nap", during which he gets several parking tickets. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* Also in ''Animated'', when the Autobots feel tired after drinking an oil-nog (which Soundwave had spiked), they decide to go to sleep, pardon, to take a stasis nap. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] even yawns. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Aging===
{{main|Life cycle}}
Some Transformers have been depicted as aging.

* [[Image:Alpha Trion through the epochs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]][[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] has been depicted in three different eras: 11 million years in the past, 9 million years in the past, and the present day. Though his [[character model]] undergoes many changes, his facial hair changes seem to mimic human aging. In his (chronologically) earliest depiction, he has a small black mustache. In his second depiction, his mustache has turned white. By the modern era, he sports a long mustache and beard.

* The [[Overlord (rank)|Overlord]] was so old that his body needed a regular energy supply to keep him functioning. {{storylink|State Games}}

[[Image:MangaYoungDeathyStarSaber.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Young and Innocent]]
* [[Xaaron]] couldn't transform anymore because he was old.

* In an issue of the Marvel UK G1 comics, Kup's systems are going to shut down because he is too old.

* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] are depicted in flashbacks as "child" Transformers, complete with childlike temperaments. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}

* [[Cohrada]] is depicted as "child" in his flashback in the issue "[[A Battle Fought Alone]]".

* Movieverse [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] has a cane and is rusting. Some parts even fall off him when he transforms! However, he states that the reason for his decrepit condition is not just that he is very, very old, but mainly due to the fact that his Energon supplies are very low.

* [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] claimed to have been a classic car when he was younger, and a tricycle when he was younger. While he was lying, his story was plausible enough for [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]]. On the other hand, Slapper is an idiot.

{{-}}

===Sexuality===
[[Image:Sideburnhearts.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sorry, Side Burn, I don't think Wedge rolls that way.]]
{{Main|Transformer romance}}
{{Main|Reproduction}}

One of the most controversial aspects of Transformers is the idea of sexuality. While it is established in most continuities that Transformers do not reproduce sexually, most continuities nonetheless have distinctive male and [[Female Transformer|female characters]] and sometimes drops a hint Transformers may engage in (recreational) sex.

The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] brought the first official female Transformers into the canon, including [[Elita One]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. The characters are noticeably more feminine in design and some have clearly defined romantic relationships with male Transformers. In contrast, such relations between two individuals of the same gender are [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|virtually]] unheard of.

{{--}}
==Accents==
{{Main|Accents}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:Transformer anatomy|Transformer anatomy]]
* [[Anatomic euphemism]]
* [[Relatives]]
* [[Transformer clothing|Clothing]]

==External links==
* [http://transfans.co.uk/comics_guide_detail.php?id=106&page=5 Transformers #94 Letters Page on Transfans.co.uk]

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Humanization

2012-04-03T02:05:39Z

97.100.57.102: /* Urination */

Throughout the various Transformers [[canon]], there have been several instances of [[Transformer]]s with humanistic traits and having very [[human]] actions that possibly conflict with their status as mechanical robots. Many of these instances can be dismissed as stylistic choices by the artists or as gags not to be taken seriously.

==Glandular, digestive, and respiratory==
===Sweating===
[[Image:LandsharkWOH-energondelivery.jpg|right|thumb|180px|]]

* In [[Prime Time!|issue twelve]] of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Generation 1'' comic]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is seen leaking lubricant from his head during a stressful confrontation with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (as Shockwave points out), in a manner resembling sweating.
* Numerous times in the Marvel UK comic, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] can be seen "sweating".
* ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured Transformers displaying the traditional anime "sweat drop", a giant bead of liquid appearing at the side of the head to convey embarrassment or exasperation.
* [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] sweatdrops upon seeing a particularly scary expression on [[Lori]]'s face. {{storylink|Ambush}}
* [[Leozack]] sweatdrops oil when [[Landshark]] attacks him. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

===Coughing===
* In the G1 episode "[[Roll for It]]", when the Autobots emerge from the ruins of a demolished [[antimatter]] laboratory, they are coughing.
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] coughs when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] surrounds him with smoke.{{storylink|Triple Takeover}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] coughs while infected with Cosmic Rust. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}
* In "[[Call of the Primitives]]", a fiery blast from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] causes both the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to cough.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] begins to cough for no reason while making a triumphant speech. Much like Powerglide's "heart", this could be a one-shot joke. He also coughs while sleeping, and when amidst the smoky remains of an electrical fire.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] fake-coughed in the episode "[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]" of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast machines'' cartoon]] to draw [[Optimus Primal]]'s attention to the matter of [[Noble]].
* In the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' episode "[[Secret Weapon: D-5]]", [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]], and [[Dark Scream]] all cough after inhaling smoke.
* In the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' episode "[[Mortal Combat]]", right after Optimus Prime says "I wish I could accommodate you," he coughs silently.
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] visibly coughs after [[Sam Witwicky]] uses the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to restore him to life in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', even expelling what appears to be dust.
* On [[Rock Bottom]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] coughs after escaping the collapsed mine. Ironically, Bulkhead later claims ''in the same episode'' that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Breathing===
On ''[http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation]'', it was explained that the android [http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Data Data]'s breathing served to cool his inner components, but mostly so that he doesn't appear unnatural to the humans he was designed to resemble. He also blinks for this reason. It could be argued that breathing serves the same "cooling" purpose in Transformers, as its possible for their internal systems to overheat with use, but this explanation is always going to smack of desperation.

* In an ''Energon'' episode, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] instructs [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] that they have to synchronize their breathing before they can [[Powerlinx|powerlink]].
* At the climax of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] tries to strangle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], complete with sounds of Hot Rod gagging and struggling to breathe. It's possible that Galvatron was trying to compress Hot Rod's neck until the Autobot's head popped off, but that isn't likely.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], calling for help as a python constricts him, says he can't breathe. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}}
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] is shown to be breathing heavily after trying to chase down Blurr, even though he quips in a previous episode that not needing to breathe is useful for an Autobot. {{storylink|Velocity}}
**Blurr did the same thing when he had completed running all the way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* On the [[Nemesis (ROTF)| Nemesis]], [[Megatron (Movie)| Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Movie)| Starscream's]] breath can be seen due to condensation in the cold ship. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] breathes heavily as he runs in fear from [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] and the slave mines on [[Dread (planet)|Dread]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}}
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is visibly breathing while in stasis. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}
* "[[A Team Effort]]" confirms that Transformers require ventilation airways in their neck to prevent system overheating, as when [[Charger]] strangles [[Roadgrabber]] in a fit of rage.

===Spitting===
* Throughout his term on the Marvel UK comic letters page, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] would regularly say "(Puttup)" after mentioning the Autobots or an Autobot's name to represent him spitting in disgust. This habit made an in-story appearance, with him spitting at [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]] despite his [[mouthplate]]. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}
* After [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] escapes from the Decepticons's New Jersey base via a sewer, he spits as he complains about their poor choice of back door.{{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Tangled Web]]", [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] "spits" after reissuing his challenge to tangle with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], despite the fact that, like Soundwave, he has no apparent mouth.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] repeatedly spits while talking to [[Sam Witwicky]] and his companions. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] also has to spit his mouth clean after being blasted across a forest by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] spits twice: once at Sam while in the [[Broadwater Metal Works]] foundry, and again when he mentions Prime's name. [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] also spits, albeit for no real reason, when addressing Sam and the humans outside of [[Chicago]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]].''
* [[Galvatron II|Galvatron II]] is seen spitting and drooling while explaining the situation.{{storylink|Out of Time!}} Both Megatron and Galvatron II are seen both spitting on each other. Gross!.{{storylink|Exodus!}}

===Crying===
[[Image:Omega Supreme tears up.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Tissue: desired.]]

* A twinkle of light that may not literally be a tear, but is clearly intended to imply one, can be seen in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s eye at the end of "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]".
* When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dies in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is seen to dab at her eyes.
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] told his colleagues he was about to "leak optical lubricant" when they wouldn't stop about giving up on [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}
* In "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] has tears falling from his eyes, presumably in pain, during his monstrous disfigurement after he gains the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].
* There is a teardrop on young [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]'s face after being beaten by Deathsaurus. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* At the end of "[[Heroic! The Victory War]]", some Decepticons are crying over their defeat.
* As he mourns his dead friend [[Snowstalker]] and decides he can never fight again, [[Tigatron]] cries a single tear in beast mode.
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] wiped a fake tear when [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] put on the heroic act. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* When pondering [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s fate in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] is shown to shed a single tear from one of her spider eyes. This may be due to her technoganic nature though. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}
[[Image:Bw2 ep6 twinwaterfalls.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Surf's up—and I'm talkin' ''up''!]]
* Throughout ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and occasionally in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, several characters are seen crying in hyperbolic anime fashion.
* Tears can be seen welling up in [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s eyes and falling to the ground in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' as he mourns a fallen comrade.
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] told [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] to "cry him a river". {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}
* Ratchet ''actually'' cries tears of defeat when outwitted by Megatron. {{storylink|Warrior School!}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] cries over [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s death in [[The Art of War issue 5|''The Art of War'' #5]].
* In ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]'', [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] cries, though this "ability" could be part of her partially organic nature. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}}
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] cries after [[Sam Witwicky]] tells him cars are not allowed on campus, although he was exaggerating his sorrow and was likely deliberately leaking fluids to enhance the visual. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''
* [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] was crying in the corner for not being in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]] game. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] had to talk to him. Again. {{Storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.12#Law and Disorder|Law and Disorder}}

===Eating===
[[Image:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Probably contains [[energon goodie]]s in the shape of a happy face.]]

* There are references to [[Cybertronian food]].
* [[Skullcruncher]] has been known to eat Autobots as well as humans and other organics, despite not needing to do so to survive. Other Decepticons are disgusted by this practice.
* There are Pepsi and [[Destron Pizza|pizza]] in the refrigerator in [[Pepsi Convoy]]'s home.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', the Maximals and Predacons are shown to eat:
**[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] even displays something of a voracious appetite, eating rats and leaving webs to catch prey. At one point, he captures Cheetor and prepares to drain the Maximal's fluids, claiming that it is the act he prefers over the nourishment (which adds just another level of creepy to the already creepy Tarantulas). {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Rattrap]] eats apples. {{storylink|The Web}}
**And garbage {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] eats a bird. {{storylink|Power Surge}}
**[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] eats [[Clone One|his clone]]. [[Optimus Primal]] remarks that he is "disgusting". {{storylink|Double Dinobot}}
**While suffering from an [[Energon discharge virus]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] eats wild beans to build up his power. This later ends disastrously for [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Low Road}}
* In ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Optimus Primal]] wants to eat the underground tree's fruit; [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] protests that "we don't eat food, we process [[energon]]—PERIOD!", but is overruled. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}
* According to [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] eats [[Autobot]] [[Protoform]]s for breakfast. But of course that could just be a rumour. {{Storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* [[Brains]] is seen chewing on a screw, while [[Igor]] and the [[hatchling]]s are clearly shown to be ingesting minerals. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

===Flatulence===
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[The Low Road]]", Rhinox lets out an extreme amount of flatulence after consuming wild bean vines. This could be due to Maximals having organic parts in their makeup.
* In the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Bad Spark]]", [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] also lets out flatulence, blaming it on a large buildup of energy from his [[Transmetal]] body.
* Just go watch ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Happens every five minutes. You can set a clock by it.
* One of the [[Mini-Constructicon]]s "cuts one", causing the others to laugh and request someone to open a window in "[[Spotlight: Ramjet]]".

===Urination===
* [[Tasmania Kid]] urinates (in beast mode) to put out a fire.
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] performs a similar action on [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] by popping off his automobile oil filter in robot mode. Optimus Prime claims that 'Bee is just leaking [[lubricant]]s on him. Presumably, this action was inspired from witnessing a [[Mojo|similar incident]].
* [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]] apparently urinates himself in [[Do Over]].
* In Beast Wars II, [[DJ (BWII)|DJ]] is known for wetting himself whenever he drinks too much oil.
* [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] claims that he "sprung a leak" after freaking out about [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s goal to take on [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}
*In Transformers Prime, when [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] shot at [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to test an energy shield he retrieved, Knock Out claimed that the trauma caused him to "leak some transmission fluid." {{storylink|Operation: Bumblebee, Part II}}

===Defecation===
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] defecates on [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' from Marvel UK issue [[Robo-Capers issue 87|#87]].

===Blushing===
[[Image:SeaChange Seaspray Blush.JPEG|right|thumb|180px|]]
* In the G1 episode "[[Sea Change]]", [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] has his whole face turn bright red, even before he jumps into the [[Well of Transformation|Well of Transformation]] and gets turned into a humanoid.
* ''Transformers Animated'' Bumblebee has also been shown to be able to blush in a few episodes. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}
*''Transformers Cybertron'' Override blushes when speaking to Lori, which is an indication of the character's original male gender in ''Galaxy Force''. {{storylink|Honor}}

===Intoxication===
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episode "[[Microbots]]", the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] behaving in a noticeably intoxicated fashion after consuming high-grade [[energon]]. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] refers to this as "over-energizing".
* In the UK comic, the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] frequent a "bar" on Cybertron called [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where they consume high-grade energon, presumably for the purposes of getting intoxicated. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] pay a visit to this establishment in a later story, and get so hammered that they don't even notice [[Quickswitch]] fighting with some [[Mecannibal]]s.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] gets "drunk" on numerous occasions.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, [[Lio Convoy]] gets drunk once and messes up [[Apache]]'s room.{{storylink|Recover the Bonds Lost!}}
* The [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] in ''Animated'', whose personalities are shout-outs to construction worker stereotypes, seem to drink oil the way humans drink beer. However, they never actually get drunk.
**However, the Autobots did feel dizzy after a mini Soundwave spiked the oil nog. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Miscellaneous===
[[Image:Cigarchomping.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Bet it's imported from Cubatron.]]
* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] once gets a cold, causing him to cough and have a fever, in an issue of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]]. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] got a bump on his head after being hit by Deathsaurus with a staff when they were young boys. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* In ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] chomps on a [[cy-gar|cy-]][[Cigar|gar]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Bumblebee (Animated)| Bumblebee]] has bandages wrapped around his middle after Sari is knocked out and the Autobots return to their base. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] wore a cast over his arm after being hit by a falling building. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

{{-}}

==Body parts==
===Mouths/teeth/tongues===
{{Main|Teeth}}
{{Main|Tongue}}
{{Main|Mouthplate}}

* The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon series]] is the only major piece of fiction to ''not'' present Transformers as possessing [[teeth]] and/or [[Tongue|tongues]]. The features appear in both the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comics, [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|''The Battlestars'' manga]], the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' animated series (where teeth would even be knocked out on occasion), the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon, and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons and comics.
* In an episode of [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]], [[Browning]] sticks his tongue out at [[Wilder]] and [[Bullhorn]] after they insult [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]].
*In the [[live-action film series]], the more human-like the robot, the more they are likely to have teeth. In the case of, say, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], his teeth are mechanical cubes overlaid on each other, while [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] has bona fide fangs. Optimus spits out a piece of his shattered faceplate in the second film, which is intended to resemble a boxer spitting out a tooth after a brutal match. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* One of the most prevalent examples of this tradition is the [[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|''Kiss Players'' manga]], in which a [[Legion]] character is equipped with a distinctive prehensile (and phallic) tongue.

===Eyeballs/eyelashes===
[[Image:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Oh, my eyes!!]]

* Most Transformers have eyes. They see with them.
* In the episode "[[Auto Berserk]]", Optimus Prime's eyes are closed (apparently to shield them against the smoke) much like a human's when the Autobots stagger out of the fire and smoke of the Negavator's destruction.
* While dying from life force depletion, [[Elita One]] occasionally closes her eyes. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] clench their eyes shut when their ship is grabbed by a claw. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}
* Cyclonus also closes his eyes when Galvatron is about to go through the [[Alya]] treatment and he cannot bear to watch. {{storylink|Webworld}}
* [[Lyzack]] sports some pretty heavy-duty eyelashes for her brief appearance in the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]'' manga. So does [[Esmeral (Victory)|Esmeral]]. {{storylink|Heroic! The Victory War}}
* In [[Spotlight: Hot Rod]], Hot Rod is shown to have what appears to be blast shields for his optics when he passes out after landing. Dealer's optics are mostly covered by his eyelids, so he looks half-passed out. ''Per an email query to IDW, their response is that Transformers do not have eyelids, that it's just artistic license.''
* The robots in the [[live-action film series]] have eyes designed to resemble cameras, enabling them to dilate and blink.
* ''Animated'' [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] has eyelids. He also blinks frequently.
* The cyborg [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], as portrayed in the animated cartoon, do in fact possess eyelids (when the eyes aren't covered by a visor) and frequently blink. Some also have visible pupils.
* Most robots in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' possess camera-like eyes similar to those seen in the live-action films, which dilate, contract, and blink in a highly human-like fashion. Notably, they also replicate the involuntary, back-and-forth movements of the human eye when idle.

<center><gallery>
Image:Esmeral-manga.jpg
Image:LyzackEyelashes01.jpg|About 15 gallons of mascara for those things.
Image:HotRodOpticShields.jpg|Hey, wake up!
Image:Dealerseyelids.jpg|Got munchies?
</gallery></center>

===Obesity===
Although Transformers come in all shapes and sizes anyway, some characters have particularly round appearances that suggest something equivalent to human obesity.

* In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams #94]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] mentioned that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] weighs a little over 90 tons and "could stand to lose a little around the fuel storage system".
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] complained that the Decepticons had grown "fat and complacent" under [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s rule. {{storylink|Surrender!}}
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] is virtually as wide as he is tall and is depicted as extremely round, with very short, stubby legs. It gives him more than a passing resemblance to a heavily obese person, or at best one of those huge, flabby, off-season wrestlers.
* Much the same could be said of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Being big-chassised is no excuse to let yourself go.
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|''Animated'' Ratchet]] has a prominent gut that resembles a human paunch. Although ordinarily this might be considered merely a feature of his transformation scheme (ala [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]), he is specifically designed to be a crotchety "old man" character, and in flashback sequences to his younger days in the Great War, he notably ''lacks'' said paunch.
* [[Gnaw]]. Well, all the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], really, but seriously. It's kind of comically appropriate that the robots which do absolutely nothing but hang out and eat stuff all day are so roly-poly.
* [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] has a set of metal plates that form the front of his Alt-mode forming a sort of "beer gut" on his abdomen.

===Masculine characteristics===
====Facial hair====
{{Main|Facial hair}}

* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Unicron]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] all sport "facial hair" in the G1 cartoon. In addition to that, ''Energon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], the films' Optimus (who has a goatee), [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]], and [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|the other Wreck-Gar]] all have varying amounts of facial hair. (The last of these was modeled after [["Weird Al" Yankovic|his voice actor's]] own, prior to his appearance's overhaul.) The Shattered Glass versions of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]] also have "facial hair", probably as a homage to Evil Spock's appearance in Star Trek.
* Many characters in the live-action series have facial hair, like [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]],[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and [[The Fallen]].

====Nuts, Bolts and Screws====
[[Image:LightfootDramaticEncounter Gilmer's injury.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Hit a Decepticon in it's voonerables, he said, and you've killed it.]]
* [[Gilmer]] got rammed in his crotch by [[Lightfoot]], causing it to become red and Gilmer to clutch it, groaning he got "kicked in the balls". {{storylink|Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter}}
* [[Rattrap]] kicks [[Waspinator]] in the groin, causing apparent pain and giving him a high-pitched voice. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}
* [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] once suggested a kick to the "unmentionables" as a workable battle tactic. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 3|The Ascending #3}}
* [[Heinrad]] has a set in [[Beast mode|tanuki mode]]. Since tanuki are known for their massive testicles, his equipment's existence actually makes sense.
* [[Flareup (Timelines)|Flareup]] interpreted the word "[[AllSpark Key|key]]" in "[[Wikipedia:Ghostbusters|keymaster]]" a little differently than [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] intended. {{storylink|Bee in the City}}
* [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] has a pair of dangling wrecking balls in a... very unfortunate place. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Dickbot the blender guy|Blenderbot]] has a... well... [[:Image:Appliancebots2.jpg|just look for yourself (NSFW?)]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

===Feminine characteristics===
[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|right|230px|thumb|I'd tap it like the fist of an angry god.]]
{{main|Female Transformer}}

====Breasts====
Some female Transformers, such as [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Elita One]] (not to mention the ''other'' [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]]) have a protruding chest area that bears no apparent relation to their alt mode [[kibble]], but bears some vague resemblance to clothed human breasts, or a "monoboob", if you will. Some females even have two separate and even more distinctly rounded breast-like protuberances, particularly in their fictional depictions. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] and [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] all fall into this category. One, [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)| Thunderblast]], even has [[:Image:ThunderblastBoobsAndNipples01.jpg|visible nipples]]. ''(You're going to look, aren't you...?)''

====Lips====
[[Image:G1 Silverbolt cartoon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Though not female, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s got <s>sexy</s> nice lips.]]
Another common feature to denote gender in female Transformers is distinctly fuller, plumper lips than is standard, such as Blackarachnia's in ''Beast Wars''. Sometimes, however, they will additionally have red or otherwise different/darker coloration to their lips, with an evident similarity to human lipstick. Such paint-mouthed femmes include Blackarachnia in ''Beast Machines'', her [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' cousin]], and the [[Female Autobots|G1 Female Autobots]].

As far as males go, none of them have differently colored lips, but some do have noticeably thicker lips. Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and [[Shōki]], for instance, have lips that can easily compete with the females', as does [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' Optimus Prime]].

====Hips====
[[Image:SpacePirates Arcee Bunsofsteel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Dan Reed, you perv.]]

Alike to humans, many a female Transformer has a distinctly more curving hipstructure.

:''See also the '''[[Humanization#Sexuality|Sexuality]]''' section below.

{{--}}

===Questionable body parts===
[[Image:Powerglide heart.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Not [[Wikipedia:Astroboy|Astroboy]], we swear!]]

* Nearly all Transformers seem to possess noses for no discernible functional reason, ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' characters and movieverse [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] being exceptions. Movie [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] also notes that he can smell [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] when the latter is trying to escape from him, and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] remarks that he can "smell" [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]. This would seem to imply that movieverse Transformers have a form of olfactory systems. The idea of noses is somewhat 'fixed' in ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers Prime]]'' by having the noses be a visible part of the robot's helmet as opposed to being part of their face.
* At the end of the G1 episode "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]", [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is seen to have the LED outline of a cartoon heart within his chassis. This is somewhat nonsensical even within in the context of the show (the contents of Transformers chest cavities had been shown several times before), and is doubtless merely meant as a one-off sight gag.
* Although listed separately above, breasts and "nuts, bolts and screws" would also fit under this category quite well, seeing as there doesn't appear to be any use for them on Transformers, other than to show them off.

;Brains
[[Image:PredaBrain1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Predaking: All brawn AND brains!]]

* [[Predaking]] has an organic brain when he is sliced in half in the [[Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!|''Zone'' cartoon]].
* [[Unicron]] also has an organic brain in the G.I. Joe crossover, [[Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2|Black Horizon Part 2]]. Later handwaved by explaining that the particular Unicron in the crossover came from the [[universal stream]] Gargent 984.08 Alpha and had taken on an organic brain in a similar fashion as the native [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]].
*[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon's]] Sentinel Prime seemed to have something in his head resembling a brain after Optimus executed him.
{{-}}

==Other biological functions==
===Sleep===
* In the G1 comic, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] plays a prank on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] while he is in "rest mode." {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Trailbreaker's ''Universe'' profile}} [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] falls asleep and dreams (or rather, has a nightmare), an experience Prime refers to as an "involuntary systems shutdown". {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Kup later attempts to rouse a vision-struck Optimus Prime by urging him to "wake up"—then reminds himself that "we don't sleep!" {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} When [[Donny Finkleberg]] remarks that unlike machines, humans need to rest, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] informs him Transformers need to as well to conserve fuel. Skids also has an on/off button in his dashboard. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}
* In the [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] is able to use a form of hypnotism on the Autobots, which can include lulling them to sleep.
* This ability is also shown by [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Victory'' cartoon]].
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', it has been firmly established that (perhaps partially due to their organic components), all Transformers within the cartoon sleep. Some prime examples of this are:
**Megatron has been shown to sleep in the command chair of the ''Darksyde'', while his dino head mounted on the end of his arm stays awake, looks around, and smiles slyly. Wonder what it thinks about...
** Cheetor has been shown asleep at many points, complete with (occasionally prophetic) dreams. In "[[Feral Scream Part 2]]", he also purrs when he's asleep. How cute!
** In "[[Call of the Wild]]", the Maximals are kept awake for two days by the Predacons' non-stop attacks on their base, which exacerbate their beast instincts overriding their logic circuits.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] often nods off in a narcoleptic-like fashion.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, Lio Convoy sleeps and has a nightmare at one point.
* ''Armada'' [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] is quite fond of catching forty winks when possible. [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] does the same on one occasion. Armada Megatron is also seen asleep twice in the episode "Rebellion".
* ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] enters a form of sleep he calls a "stasis nap", during which he gets several parking tickets. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* Also in ''Animated'', when the Autobots feel tired after drinking an oil-nog (which Soundwave had spiked), they decide to go to sleep, pardon, to take a stasis nap. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] even yawns. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Aging===
{{main|Life cycle}}
Some Transformers have been depicted as aging.

* [[Image:Alpha Trion through the epochs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]][[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] has been depicted in three different eras: 11 million years in the past, 9 million years in the past, and the present day. Though his [[character model]] undergoes many changes, his facial hair changes seem to mimic human aging. In his (chronologically) earliest depiction, he has a small black mustache. In his second depiction, his mustache has turned white. By the modern era, he sports a long mustache and beard.

* The [[Overlord (rank)|Overlord]] was so old that his body needed a regular energy supply to keep him functioning. {{storylink|State Games}}

[[Image:MangaYoungDeathyStarSaber.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Young and Innocent]]
* [[Xaaron]] couldn't transform anymore because he was old.

* In an issue of the Marvel UK G1 comics, Kup's systems are going to shut down because he is too old.

* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] are depicted in flashbacks as "child" Transformers, complete with childlike temperaments. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}

* [[Cohrada]] is depicted as "child" in his flashback in the issue "[[A Battle Fought Alone]]".

* Movieverse [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] has a cane and is rusting. Some parts even fall off him when he transforms! However, he states that the reason for his decrepit condition is not just that he is very, very old, but mainly due to the fact that his Energon supplies are very low.

* [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] claimed to have been a classic car when he was younger, and a tricycle when he was younger. While he was lying, his story was plausible enough for [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]]. On the other hand, Slapper is an idiot.

{{-}}

===Sexuality===
[[Image:Sideburnhearts.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sorry, Side Burn, I don't think Wedge rolls that way.]]
{{Main|Transformer romance}}
{{Main|Reproduction}}

One of the most controversial aspects of Transformers is the idea of sexuality. While it is established in most continuities that Transformers do not reproduce sexually, most continuities nonetheless have distinctive male and [[Female Transformer|female characters]] and sometimes drops a hint Transformers may engage in (recreational) sex.

The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] brought the first official female Transformers into the canon, including [[Elita One]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. The characters are noticeably more feminine in design and some have clearly defined romantic relationships with male Transformers. In contrast, such relations between two individuals of the same gender are [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|virtually]] unheard of.

{{--}}
==Accents==
{{Main|Accents}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:Transformer anatomy|Transformer anatomy]]
* [[Anatomic euphemism]]
* [[Relatives]]
* [[Transformer clothing|Clothing]]

==External links==
* [http://transfans.co.uk/comics_guide_detail.php?id=106&page=5 Transformers #94 Letters Page on Transfans.co.uk]

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Humanization

2012-04-03T02:03:47Z

97.100.57.102: /* Urination */

Throughout the various Transformers [[canon]], there have been several instances of [[Transformer]]s with humanistic traits and having very [[human]] actions that possibly conflict with their status as mechanical robots. Many of these instances can be dismissed as stylistic choices by the artists or as gags not to be taken seriously.

==Glandular, digestive, and respiratory==
===Sweating===
[[Image:LandsharkWOH-energondelivery.jpg|right|thumb|180px|]]

* In [[Prime Time!|issue twelve]] of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Generation 1'' comic]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is seen leaking lubricant from his head during a stressful confrontation with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (as Shockwave points out), in a manner resembling sweating.
* Numerous times in the Marvel UK comic, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] can be seen "sweating".
* ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured Transformers displaying the traditional anime "sweat drop", a giant bead of liquid appearing at the side of the head to convey embarrassment or exasperation.
* [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] sweatdrops upon seeing a particularly scary expression on [[Lori]]'s face. {{storylink|Ambush}}
* [[Leozack]] sweatdrops oil when [[Landshark]] attacks him. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

===Coughing===
* In the G1 episode "[[Roll for It]]", when the Autobots emerge from the ruins of a demolished [[antimatter]] laboratory, they are coughing.
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] coughs when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] surrounds him with smoke.{{storylink|Triple Takeover}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] coughs while infected with Cosmic Rust. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}
* In "[[Call of the Primitives]]", a fiery blast from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] causes both the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to cough.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] begins to cough for no reason while making a triumphant speech. Much like Powerglide's "heart", this could be a one-shot joke. He also coughs while sleeping, and when amidst the smoky remains of an electrical fire.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] fake-coughed in the episode "[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]" of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast machines'' cartoon]] to draw [[Optimus Primal]]'s attention to the matter of [[Noble]].
* In the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' episode "[[Secret Weapon: D-5]]", [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]], and [[Dark Scream]] all cough after inhaling smoke.
* In the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' episode "[[Mortal Combat]]", right after Optimus Prime says "I wish I could accommodate you," he coughs silently.
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] visibly coughs after [[Sam Witwicky]] uses the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to restore him to life in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', even expelling what appears to be dust.
* On [[Rock Bottom]], [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] coughs after escaping the collapsed mine. Ironically, Bulkhead later claims ''in the same episode'' that Autobots don't need to breathe.

===Breathing===
On ''[http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation Star Trek: The Next Generation]'', it was explained that the android [http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Data Data]'s breathing served to cool his inner components, but mostly so that he doesn't appear unnatural to the humans he was designed to resemble. He also blinks for this reason. It could be argued that breathing serves the same "cooling" purpose in Transformers, as its possible for their internal systems to overheat with use, but this explanation is always going to smack of desperation.

* In an ''Energon'' episode, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] instructs [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] that they have to synchronize their breathing before they can [[Powerlinx|powerlink]].
* At the climax of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] tries to strangle [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], complete with sounds of Hot Rod gagging and struggling to breathe. It's possible that Galvatron was trying to compress Hot Rod's neck until the Autobot's head popped off, but that isn't likely.
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], calling for help as a python constricts him, says he can't breathe. {{storylink|Dark Voyage}}
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] is shown to be breathing heavily after trying to chase down Blurr, even though he quips in a previous episode that not needing to breathe is useful for an Autobot. {{storylink|Velocity}}
**Blurr did the same thing when he had completed running all the way back to Cybertron. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* On the [[Nemesis (ROTF)| Nemesis]], [[Megatron (Movie)| Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Movie)| Starscream's]] breath can be seen due to condensation in the cold ship. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] breathes heavily as he runs in fear from [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] and the slave mines on [[Dread (planet)|Dread]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}}
* [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] is visibly breathing while in stasis. {{storylink|Deus ex Machina}}
* "[[A Team Effort]]" confirms that Transformers require ventilation airways in their neck to prevent system overheating, as when [[Charger]] strangles [[Roadgrabber]] in a fit of rage.

===Spitting===
* Throughout his term on the Marvel UK comic letters page, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] would regularly say "(Puttup)" after mentioning the Autobots or an Autobot's name to represent him spitting in disgust. This habit made an in-story appearance, with him spitting at [[Donny Finkleberg|Robot-Master]] despite his [[mouthplate]]. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}
* After [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] escapes from the Decepticons's New Jersey base via a sewer, he spits as he complains about their poor choice of back door.{{storylink|...All This and Civil War 2}}
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Tangled Web]]", [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] "spits" after reissuing his challenge to tangle with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], despite the fact that, like Soundwave, he has no apparent mouth.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] repeatedly spits while talking to [[Sam Witwicky]] and his companions. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] also has to spit his mouth clean after being blasted across a forest by [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] spits twice: once at Sam while in the [[Broadwater Metal Works]] foundry, and again when he mentions Prime's name. [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] also spits, albeit for no real reason, when addressing Sam and the humans outside of [[Chicago]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]].''
* [[Galvatron II|Galvatron II]] is seen spitting and drooling while explaining the situation.{{storylink|Out of Time!}} Both Megatron and Galvatron II are seen both spitting on each other. Gross!.{{storylink|Exodus!}}

===Crying===
[[Image:Omega Supreme tears up.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Tissue: desired.]]

* A twinkle of light that may not literally be a tear, but is clearly intended to imply one, can be seen in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s eye at the end of "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme]]".
* When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] dies in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is seen to dab at her eyes.
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] told his colleagues he was about to "leak optical lubricant" when they wouldn't stop about giving up on [[Operation: Volcano]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}}
* In "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] has tears falling from his eyes, presumably in pain, during his monstrous disfigurement after he gains the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].
* There is a teardrop on young [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]'s face after being beaten by Deathsaurus. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* At the end of "[[Heroic! The Victory War]]", some Decepticons are crying over their defeat.
* As he mourns his dead friend [[Snowstalker]] and decides he can never fight again, [[Tigatron]] cries a single tear in beast mode.
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] wiped a fake tear when [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] put on the heroic act. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}
* When pondering [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]'s fate in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] is shown to shed a single tear from one of her spider eyes. This may be due to her technoganic nature though. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}
[[Image:Bw2 ep6 twinwaterfalls.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Surf's up—and I'm talkin' ''up''!]]
* Throughout ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', and occasionally in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, several characters are seen crying in hyperbolic anime fashion.
* Tears can be seen welling up in [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s eyes and falling to the ground in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' as he mourns a fallen comrade.
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] told [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] to "cry him a river". {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}
* Ratchet ''actually'' cries tears of defeat when outwitted by Megatron. {{storylink|Warrior School!}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] cries over [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s death in [[The Art of War issue 5|''The Art of War'' #5]].
* In ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers: Animated]]'', [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] cries, though this "ability" could be part of her partially organic nature. {{storylink|Along Came a Spider}}
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] cries after [[Sam Witwicky]] tells him cars are not allowed on campus, although he was exaggerating his sorrow and was likely deliberately leaking fluids to enhance the visual. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''
* [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] was crying in the corner for not being in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|War for Cybertron]] game. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] had to talk to him. Again. {{Storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.12#Law and Disorder|Law and Disorder}}

===Eating===
[[Image:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Probably contains [[energon goodie]]s in the shape of a happy face.]]

* There are references to [[Cybertronian food]].
* [[Skullcruncher]] has been known to eat Autobots as well as humans and other organics, despite not needing to do so to survive. Other Decepticons are disgusted by this practice.
* There are Pepsi and [[Destron Pizza|pizza]] in the refrigerator in [[Pepsi Convoy]]'s home.
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', the Maximals and Predacons are shown to eat:
**[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] even displays something of a voracious appetite, eating rats and leaving webs to catch prey. At one point, he captures Cheetor and prepares to drain the Maximal's fluids, claiming that it is the act he prefers over the nourishment (which adds just another level of creepy to the already creepy Tarantulas). {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Rattrap]] eats apples. {{storylink|The Web}}
**And garbage {{storylink|The Web}}
**[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] eats a bird. {{storylink|Power Surge}}
**[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] eats [[Clone One|his clone]]. [[Optimus Primal]] remarks that he is "disgusting". {{storylink|Double Dinobot}}
**While suffering from an [[Energon discharge virus]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] eats wild beans to build up his power. This later ends disastrously for [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Low Road}}
* In ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', [[Optimus Primal]] wants to eat the underground tree's fruit; [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] protests that "we don't eat food, we process [[energon]]—PERIOD!", but is overruled. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}}
* According to [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] eats [[Autobot]] [[Protoform]]s for breakfast. But of course that could just be a rumour. {{Storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* [[Brains]] is seen chewing on a screw, while [[Igor]] and the [[hatchling]]s are clearly shown to be ingesting minerals. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon (film)}}

===Flatulence===
* In the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[The Low Road]]", Rhinox lets out an extreme amount of flatulence after consuming wild bean vines. This could be due to Maximals having organic parts in their makeup.
* In the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Bad Spark]]", [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] also lets out flatulence, blaming it on a large buildup of energy from his [[Transmetal]] body.
* Just go watch ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Happens every five minutes. You can set a clock by it.
* One of the [[Mini-Constructicon]]s "cuts one", causing the others to laugh and request someone to open a window in "[[Spotlight: Ramjet]]".

===Urination===
* [[Tasmania Kid]] urinates (in beast mode) to put out a fire.
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] performs a similar action on [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] by popping off his automobile oil filter in robot mode. Optimus Prime claims that 'Bee is just leaking [[lubricant]]s on him. Presumably, this action was inspired from witnessing a [[Mojo|similar incident]].
* [[Scoop (SG)|Scoop]] apparently urinates himself in [[Do Over]].
* In Beast Wars II, [[DJ (BWII)|DJ]] is known for wetting himself whenever he drinks too much oil.
* [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] claims that he "sprung a leak" after freaking out about [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s goal to take on [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}
*In Transformers Prime, when [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] shot at [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] to test an energy shield he retrieved, Knock Out claimed that the trauma caused him to "leak some transmission fluid."

===Defecation===
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] defecates on [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' from Marvel UK issue [[Robo-Capers issue 87|#87]].

===Blushing===
[[Image:SeaChange Seaspray Blush.JPEG|right|thumb|180px|]]
* In the G1 episode "[[Sea Change]]", [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] has his whole face turn bright red, even before he jumps into the [[Well of Transformation|Well of Transformation]] and gets turned into a humanoid.
* ''Transformers Animated'' Bumblebee has also been shown to be able to blush in a few episodes. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}} {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}
*''Transformers Cybertron'' Override blushes when speaking to Lori, which is an indication of the character's original male gender in ''Galaxy Force''. {{storylink|Honor}}

===Intoxication===
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episode "[[Microbots]]", the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] behaving in a noticeably intoxicated fashion after consuming high-grade [[energon]]. [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] refers to this as "over-energizing".
* In the UK comic, the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] frequent a "bar" on Cybertron called [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], where they consume high-grade energon, presumably for the purposes of getting intoxicated. [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] pay a visit to this establishment in a later story, and get so hammered that they don't even notice [[Quickswitch]] fighting with some [[Mecannibal]]s.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] gets "drunk" on numerous occasions.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, [[Lio Convoy]] gets drunk once and messes up [[Apache]]'s room.{{storylink|Recover the Bonds Lost!}}
* The [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] in ''Animated'', whose personalities are shout-outs to construction worker stereotypes, seem to drink oil the way humans drink beer. However, they never actually get drunk.
**However, the Autobots did feel dizzy after a mini Soundwave spiked the oil nog. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Miscellaneous===
[[Image:Cigarchomping.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Bet it's imported from Cubatron.]]
* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] once gets a cold, causing him to cough and have a fever, in an issue of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]]. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] got a bump on his head after being hit by Deathsaurus with a staff when they were young boys. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}
* In ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] chomps on a [[cy-gar|cy-]][[Cigar|gar]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Bumblebee (Animated)| Bumblebee]] has bandages wrapped around his middle after Sari is knocked out and the Autobots return to their base. {{storylink|TransWarped}}
* ''Transformers Animated'' [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] wore a cast over his arm after being hit by a falling building. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

{{-}}

==Body parts==
===Mouths/teeth/tongues===
{{Main|Teeth}}
{{Main|Tongue}}
{{Main|Mouthplate}}

* The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon series]] is the only major piece of fiction to ''not'' present Transformers as possessing [[teeth]] and/or [[Tongue|tongues]]. The features appear in both the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] comics, [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|''The Battlestars'' manga]], the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' animated series (where teeth would even be knocked out on occasion), the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon, and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons and comics.
* In an episode of [[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]], [[Browning]] sticks his tongue out at [[Wilder]] and [[Bullhorn]] after they insult [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]].
*In the [[live-action film series]], the more human-like the robot, the more they are likely to have teeth. In the case of, say, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], his teeth are mechanical cubes overlaid on each other, while [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] has bona fide fangs. Optimus spits out a piece of his shattered faceplate in the second film, which is intended to resemble a boxer spitting out a tooth after a brutal match. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* One of the most prevalent examples of this tradition is the [[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|''Kiss Players'' manga]], in which a [[Legion]] character is equipped with a distinctive prehensile (and phallic) tongue.

===Eyeballs/eyelashes===
[[Image:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Oh, my eyes!!]]

* Most Transformers have eyes. They see with them.
* In the episode "[[Auto Berserk]]", Optimus Prime's eyes are closed (apparently to shield them against the smoke) much like a human's when the Autobots stagger out of the fire and smoke of the Negavator's destruction.
* While dying from life force depletion, [[Elita One]] occasionally closes her eyes. {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}}
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] clench their eyes shut when their ship is grabbed by a claw. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}
* Cyclonus also closes his eyes when Galvatron is about to go through the [[Alya]] treatment and he cannot bear to watch. {{storylink|Webworld}}
* [[Lyzack]] sports some pretty heavy-duty eyelashes for her brief appearance in the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]'' manga. So does [[Esmeral (Victory)|Esmeral]]. {{storylink|Heroic! The Victory War}}
* In [[Spotlight: Hot Rod]], Hot Rod is shown to have what appears to be blast shields for his optics when he passes out after landing. Dealer's optics are mostly covered by his eyelids, so he looks half-passed out. ''Per an email query to IDW, their response is that Transformers do not have eyelids, that it's just artistic license.''
* The robots in the [[live-action film series]] have eyes designed to resemble cameras, enabling them to dilate and blink.
* ''Animated'' [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] has eyelids. He also blinks frequently.
* The cyborg [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]], as portrayed in the animated cartoon, do in fact possess eyelids (when the eyes aren't covered by a visor) and frequently blink. Some also have visible pupils.
* Most robots in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' possess camera-like eyes similar to those seen in the live-action films, which dilate, contract, and blink in a highly human-like fashion. Notably, they also replicate the involuntary, back-and-forth movements of the human eye when idle.

<center><gallery>
Image:Esmeral-manga.jpg
Image:LyzackEyelashes01.jpg|About 15 gallons of mascara for those things.
Image:HotRodOpticShields.jpg|Hey, wake up!
Image:Dealerseyelids.jpg|Got munchies?
</gallery></center>

===Obesity===
Although Transformers come in all shapes and sizes anyway, some characters have particularly round appearances that suggest something equivalent to human obesity.

* In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams #94]], [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] mentioned that [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] weighs a little over 90 tons and "could stand to lose a little around the fuel storage system".
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] complained that the Decepticons had grown "fat and complacent" under [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s rule. {{storylink|Surrender!}}
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] is virtually as wide as he is tall and is depicted as extremely round, with very short, stubby legs. It gives him more than a passing resemblance to a heavily obese person, or at best one of those huge, flabby, off-season wrestlers.
* Much the same could be said of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Being big-chassised is no excuse to let yourself go.
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|''Animated'' Ratchet]] has a prominent gut that resembles a human paunch. Although ordinarily this might be considered merely a feature of his transformation scheme (ala [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]), he is specifically designed to be a crotchety "old man" character, and in flashback sequences to his younger days in the Great War, he notably ''lacks'' said paunch.
* [[Gnaw]]. Well, all the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], really, but seriously. It's kind of comically appropriate that the robots which do absolutely nothing but hang out and eat stuff all day are so roly-poly.
* [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] has a set of metal plates that form the front of his Alt-mode forming a sort of "beer gut" on his abdomen.

===Masculine characteristics===
====Facial hair====
{{Main|Facial hair}}

* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Unicron]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] all sport "facial hair" in the G1 cartoon. In addition to that, ''Energon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]], the films' Optimus (who has a goatee), [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]], and [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|the other Wreck-Gar]] all have varying amounts of facial hair. (The last of these was modeled after [["Weird Al" Yankovic|his voice actor's]] own, prior to his appearance's overhaul.) The Shattered Glass versions of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus Prime]] also have "facial hair", probably as a homage to Evil Spock's appearance in Star Trek.
* Many characters in the live-action series have facial hair, like [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]],[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]] and [[The Fallen]].

====Nuts, Bolts and Screws====
[[Image:LightfootDramaticEncounter Gilmer's injury.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Hit a Decepticon in it's voonerables, he said, and you've killed it.]]
* [[Gilmer]] got rammed in his crotch by [[Lightfoot]], causing it to become red and Gilmer to clutch it, groaning he got "kicked in the balls". {{storylink|Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter}}
* [[Rattrap]] kicks [[Waspinator]] in the groin, causing apparent pain and giving him a high-pitched voice. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}}
* [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] once suggested a kick to the "unmentionables" as a workable battle tactic. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 3|The Ascending #3}}
* [[Heinrad]] has a set in [[Beast mode|tanuki mode]]. Since tanuki are known for their massive testicles, his equipment's existence actually makes sense.
* [[Flareup (Timelines)|Flareup]] interpreted the word "[[AllSpark Key|key]]" in "[[Wikipedia:Ghostbusters|keymaster]]" a little differently than [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] intended. {{storylink|Bee in the City}}
* [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] has a pair of dangling wrecking balls in a... very unfortunate place. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
* [[Dickbot the blender guy|Blenderbot]] has a... well... [[:Image:Appliancebots2.jpg|just look for yourself (NSFW?)]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

===Feminine characteristics===
[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|right|230px|thumb|I'd tap it like the fist of an angry god.]]
{{main|Female Transformer}}

====Breasts====
Some female Transformers, such as [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Elita One]] (not to mention the ''other'' [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]]) have a protruding chest area that bears no apparent relation to their alt mode [[kibble]], but bears some vague resemblance to clothed human breasts, or a "monoboob", if you will. Some females even have two separate and even more distinctly rounded breast-like protuberances, particularly in their fictional depictions. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] and [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] all fall into this category. One, [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)| Thunderblast]], even has [[:Image:ThunderblastBoobsAndNipples01.jpg|visible nipples]]. ''(You're going to look, aren't you...?)''

====Lips====
[[Image:G1 Silverbolt cartoon.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Though not female, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]'s got <s>sexy</s> nice lips.]]
Another common feature to denote gender in female Transformers is distinctly fuller, plumper lips than is standard, such as Blackarachnia's in ''Beast Wars''. Sometimes, however, they will additionally have red or otherwise different/darker coloration to their lips, with an evident similarity to human lipstick. Such paint-mouthed femmes include Blackarachnia in ''Beast Machines'', her [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' cousin]], and the [[Female Autobots|G1 Female Autobots]].

As far as males go, none of them have differently colored lips, but some do have noticeably thicker lips. Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] and [[Shōki]], for instance, have lips that can easily compete with the females', as does [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' Optimus Prime]].

====Hips====
[[Image:SpacePirates Arcee Bunsofsteel.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Dan Reed, you perv.]]

Alike to humans, many a female Transformer has a distinctly more curving hipstructure.

:''See also the '''[[Humanization#Sexuality|Sexuality]]''' section below.

{{--}}

===Questionable body parts===
[[Image:Powerglide heart.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Not [[Wikipedia:Astroboy|Astroboy]], we swear!]]

* Nearly all Transformers seem to possess noses for no discernible functional reason, ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' characters and movieverse [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] being exceptions. Movie [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] also notes that he can smell [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]] when the latter is trying to escape from him, and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] remarks that he can "smell" [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]. This would seem to imply that movieverse Transformers have a form of olfactory systems. The idea of noses is somewhat 'fixed' in ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers Prime]]'' by having the noses be a visible part of the robot's helmet as opposed to being part of their face.
* At the end of the G1 episode "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]", [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] is seen to have the LED outline of a cartoon heart within his chassis. This is somewhat nonsensical even within in the context of the show (the contents of Transformers chest cavities had been shown several times before), and is doubtless merely meant as a one-off sight gag.
* Although listed separately above, breasts and "nuts, bolts and screws" would also fit under this category quite well, seeing as there doesn't appear to be any use for them on Transformers, other than to show them off.

;Brains
[[Image:PredaBrain1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Predaking: All brawn AND brains!]]

* [[Predaking]] has an organic brain when he is sliced in half in the [[Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!|''Zone'' cartoon]].
* [[Unicron]] also has an organic brain in the G.I. Joe crossover, [[Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2|Black Horizon Part 2]]. Later handwaved by explaining that the particular Unicron in the crossover came from the [[universal stream]] Gargent 984.08 Alpha and had taken on an organic brain in a similar fashion as the native [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]].
*[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon's]] Sentinel Prime seemed to have something in his head resembling a brain after Optimus executed him.
{{-}}

==Other biological functions==
===Sleep===
* In the G1 comic, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] plays a prank on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] while he is in "rest mode." {{storylink|The Transformers Universe|Trailbreaker's ''Universe'' profile}} [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] falls asleep and dreams (or rather, has a nightmare), an experience Prime refers to as an "involuntary systems shutdown". {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Kup later attempts to rouse a vision-struck Optimus Prime by urging him to "wake up"—then reminds himself that "we don't sleep!" {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} When [[Donny Finkleberg]] remarks that unlike machines, humans need to rest, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] informs him Transformers need to as well to conserve fuel. Skids also has an on/off button in his dashboard. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}
* In the [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] is able to use a form of hypnotism on the Autobots, which can include lulling them to sleep.
* This ability is also shown by [[Hellbat (Victory)|Hellbat]] in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Victory'' cartoon]].
* In ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', it has been firmly established that (perhaps partially due to their organic components), all Transformers within the cartoon sleep. Some prime examples of this are:
**Megatron has been shown to sleep in the command chair of the ''Darksyde'', while his dino head mounted on the end of his arm stays awake, looks around, and smiles slyly. Wonder what it thinks about...
** Cheetor has been shown asleep at many points, complete with (occasionally prophetic) dreams. In "[[Feral Scream Part 2]]", he also purrs when he's asleep. How cute!
** In "[[Call of the Wild]]", the Maximals are kept awake for two days by the Predacons' non-stop attacks on their base, which exacerbate their beast instincts overriding their logic circuits.
* In ''Beast Wars II'', [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] often nods off in a narcoleptic-like fashion.
* In the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, Lio Convoy sleeps and has a nightmare at one point.
* ''Armada'' [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] is quite fond of catching forty winks when possible. [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] does the same on one occasion. Armada Megatron is also seen asleep twice in the episode "Rebellion".
* ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] enters a form of sleep he calls a "stasis nap", during which he gets several parking tickets. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}
* Also in ''Animated'', when the Autobots feel tired after drinking an oil-nog (which Soundwave had spiked), they decide to go to sleep, pardon, to take a stasis nap. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] even yawns. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

===Aging===
{{main|Life cycle}}
Some Transformers have been depicted as aging.

* [[Image:Alpha Trion through the epochs.jpg|right|250px|thumb|]][[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] has been depicted in three different eras: 11 million years in the past, 9 million years in the past, and the present day. Though his [[character model]] undergoes many changes, his facial hair changes seem to mimic human aging. In his (chronologically) earliest depiction, he has a small black mustache. In his second depiction, his mustache has turned white. By the modern era, he sports a long mustache and beard.

* The [[Overlord (rank)|Overlord]] was so old that his body needed a regular energy supply to keep him functioning. {{storylink|State Games}}

[[Image:MangaYoungDeathyStarSaber.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Young and Innocent]]
* [[Xaaron]] couldn't transform anymore because he was old.

* In an issue of the Marvel UK G1 comics, Kup's systems are going to shut down because he is too old.

* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] are depicted in flashbacks as "child" Transformers, complete with childlike temperaments. {{storylink|The Star of Friendship, Jean and Star Saber!}}

* [[Cohrada]] is depicted as "child" in his flashback in the issue "[[A Battle Fought Alone]]".

* Movieverse [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] has a cane and is rusting. Some parts even fall off him when he transforms! However, he states that the reason for his decrepit condition is not just that he is very, very old, but mainly due to the fact that his Energon supplies are very low.

* [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] claimed to have been a classic car when he was younger, and a tricycle when he was younger. While he was lying, his story was plausible enough for [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]]. On the other hand, Slapper is an idiot.

{{-}}

===Sexuality===
[[Image:Sideburnhearts.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sorry, Side Burn, I don't think Wedge rolls that way.]]
{{Main|Transformer romance}}
{{Main|Reproduction}}

One of the most controversial aspects of Transformers is the idea of sexuality. While it is established in most continuities that Transformers do not reproduce sexually, most continuities nonetheless have distinctive male and [[Female Transformer|female characters]] and sometimes drops a hint Transformers may engage in (recreational) sex.

The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] brought the first official female Transformers into the canon, including [[Elita One]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]. The characters are noticeably more feminine in design and some have clearly defined romantic relationships with male Transformers. In contrast, such relations between two individuals of the same gender are [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|virtually]] unheard of.

{{--}}
==Accents==
{{Main|Accents}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:Transformer anatomy|Transformer anatomy]]
* [[Anatomic euphemism]]
* [[Relatives]]
* [[Transformer clothing|Clothing]]

==External links==
* [http://transfans.co.uk/comics_guide_detail.php?id=106&page=5 Transformers #94 Letters Page on Transfans.co.uk]

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Sick Mind

2012-04-03T01:31:36Z

97.100.57.102: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 13
|prev=Predatory
|next=Out of His Head
|image=SickMind-OPinfected.jpg
|caption=Psychonautobots!
|title="Sick Mind"
|airdate=[[April 30]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Optimus is infected by a Decepticon plague, Arcee and Bumblebee sneak aboard the ''Nemesis'' to find a cure.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Cybonicplague.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Day one-thousand and one. We came in close contact with a hive today...]]
[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] reports that his scans have located the [[Nemesis (Prime)|Decepticon warship]] while experimenting with different frequencies. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] thinks they should strike now, but Ratchet says he's also detected an [[Autobot]] emergency beacon, and [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] decides they should check that out first. He and Ratchet arrive at a centuries-old crashed Autobot ship and venture inside. Though they expect there may be survivors, they find the crew already dead. Ratchet's scans reveal that the crew didn't die in the crash, but had succumbed to [[cybonic plague]]. As the ship shifts, a deceased Autobot hanging from the ceiling drips plague-imbued [[energon]] onto Optimus.

Later at [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], Optimus lays stricken while the others discuss the situation. The plague was developed as part of the Decepticons' [[Decepticon Biological Warfare Program|Biological Warfare Program]], specifically by [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] himself, and Ratchet thinks they might be able to find information in the Decepticon databases. [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] [[GroundBridge]] onto the Decepticon ship and, narrowly hiding from [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], enter the ship's laboratory. Inside, Arcee scours the database, but fails to find a cure for the plague. While she's doing so, Bumblebee stumbles on something just as important—the comatose body of Megatron! Arcee is ready to finish Megatron off then and there, but Ratchet has a better idea—enter Megatron's brain and retrieve the plague cure. Ratchet knows of a procedure to create a [[cortical psychic patch]]. Though such procedures have been banned by the Autobots for years, it will get them into Megatron's brain, and Bumblebee is willing to try it.

On the ship's bridge, [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] complains that the ship's electromagnetic shielding has not been fixed, and directs the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s to hurry up and do so before the Autobots detect them. Afterwards Starscream has a private word with Knock Out, suggesting that the Decepticons deserve a leader who is conscious, and the pair come to an understanding whereby Knock Out will be Starscream's new [[second-in-command]].

[[Image:Megatron_WHY_IN_MY_HEAD.jpg|thumb|250px|right|He ''does'' [[Transform and Roll Out!|eat Autobot protoforms for breakfast]].]]
Arcee plugs Bumblebee into Megatron, and Bumblebee finds himself in a simulation of [[Kaon]]. Ratchet creates a communications downlink, so they can monitor what Bumblebee is doing. Bumblebee wanders though Kaon until he finds what appears to be Optimus, but is just a figment of Megaton's imagination. Megatron appears and slays the false Optimus, who dissolves into smoke. Another Optimus appears, and as Megatron fires his [[fusion cannon]], Bumblebee jumps in the path of the blast, only to find it passes right through him to slay the imaginary Optimus. Megatron, however, has seen Bumblebee and attempts to strike him, but his blows pass clean through the Autobot scout. While Megatron is trying to work out what's going on, Optimus, [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and another Bumblebee appear, all figments of his imagination. Megatron destroys them, but begins to realize that he's in his own subconscious.

Arcee becomes anxious when Starscream, Knock Out and [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] enter the lab, though the two Autobots are hidden well enough that the Decepticons don't see them. Starscream is determined to put on a show for Soundwave, to convince his fellow Decepticon that Megatron is beyond saving. He and Knock Out attempt to persuade Soundwave that putting Megatron out of his misery is the best thing. Arcee and Ratchet overhear their conversation, and Ratchet says terminating Megatron will permanently separate Bumblebee's mind and body.

In the dream world, Megatron ponders what has happened to him, and finds out from Bumblebee about the [[space bridge]] explosion. Short on time, Bumblebee relays the news about Optimus's cybonic plague infection. Megatron is amused that after all this time Optimus will be felled by a virus, but Bumblebee plays on his desire to finish Optimus himself.

Starscream is about to pull the plug on Megatron when Soundwave points out the psychic patch cable. Starscream begins following it, as Arcee observes from her hiding place.

[[Image:SickMind-take me.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"The dream's collapsing!" Braaaahm. Braaahm.]]

Megatron briefly shows Bumblebee the formula for the virus cure, but will only share it if Bumblebee can release him from his mental prison. Unknown to Megatron, Ratchet can still see everything Bumblebee sees. Having ganked the formula, Ratchet tells Arcee to cut the link. Megatron's dream world begins to disintegrate and the Decepticon leader launches himself at the disappearing Bumblebee.

Bumblebee comes around as Starscream finds the two hidden Autobots, and, as they escape through the GroundBridge, Arcee blasts one of the cables attached to Megatron. Starscream is actually pleased that Megatron has flatlined as a result, but at Soundwave's insistence has Knock Out reconnect the cable.

[[Image:SickMind-I'm out.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
A newly-cured Optimus stands up and the Autobots celebrate, but Optimus insists the celebration should be for Ratchet and Bumblebee. On the Decepticon ship, Knock Out observes that Megatron is no longer exhibiting any brainwave activity — there's no one home. Unbeknownst to anyone, Megatron now resides in Bumblebee's head...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Autobot plague victims]] (9)

|c2=*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (10)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (11)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (12)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Jack Darby]] (5)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)

}}

==Quotes==

"Spiking hard. His sick mind's still at work."
:—'''Arcee''' namedrops the title.

"I will NOT allow Optimus to pass knowing that Megatron will outlive him!"
:—'''Ratchet''', increasingly desperate to save Optimus.

"An inglorious fate that he should remain in this vegetative state..."
:—'''Starscream''' composes poetry about Megatron. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sound]] [[Wheelie (G1)|familiar]]?

"You scratch my back, I scratch yours."
:—'''Starscream''' to Knock-Out, who evidently doesn't remember what happened [[Speed Metal|the last time Starscream's claws got close to him]].

"If this is my subconscious... ''WHAT ARE YOU DOING INSIDE MY HEAD?!''"
:—'''Megatron''' unintentionally makes us laugh.

"Cybonic Plague? Someone besides myself is... unwell?"
:—Careful '''Megatron''', you're showing a little too much concern there.

"Speak now, or forever hold your peace."
:—'''Starscream''' to Soundwave as the former is about to take Megatron off life support. And Soundwave STILL won't say a word.

"I'm out... or should I say ''in''?"
:—'''Megatron''' cackles as he awakes in Bumblebee's body.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===

*The spot where the downed Autobot ship was shown on Rachet's map is in a temperate climate. Meaning it should have been in a forest or grassland, not a desert.
*When Knock Out says that there is no brainwave activity, one of the monitors next to Starscream shows brainwave activity in Megatron.

===Continuity errors===
*Since Megatron's dream was, presumably, taking place ''before'' the cortical psychic patch, why is it destroyed once the patch is broken? Shouldn't Bumblebee be the only thing in it to disappear?

===Transformers references===
*[[Kaon]], the Decepticon capital on Cybertron, was first mentioned in the [[Dreamwave]] ''Generation 1'' comics.
*"One shall stand, one shall fall" is used for the [[Darkness Rising, Part 5|second time]] in this series.
*Megatron asks whether or not he [[The Transformers: The Movie|"still functions"]].
*Megatron refuses handing over the formula for the cure to the plague unless Bumblebee helps him escape, or he will let Optimus [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime#The Transformers: The Movie| "fade to gunmetal grey."]]
*The first showdown between Megatron and an Optimus illusion is reminiscent of the [[title sequence]].

===Real-world references===
*[[Cybonic plague]] is a reference to [[wikipedia:bubonic plague|bubonic plague]].
*Bulkhead says that Megatron is "pushing up lugnuts". This is a modification of the human phrase, "pushing up daisies", although it doesn't make much literal sense.
*Oddly enough, Starscream uses two common human phrases, both quoted above. Perhaps Soundwave gets cable?

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Cybonische Pest'''" ("The Cybonic Plague")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 16|16 December]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Elmebaj'''" ("Mental Illness")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 25|25 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mente malata'''" ("Sick Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 5|5 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yukche wa Jeongsin'''" (육체와 정신, "Body and Mind")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 10|10 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 21|21 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 30|30 January]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*This episode was available to watch prior to its intended airdate on some cable providers' Video On Demand services.
*Megatron moves rather quickly in his dreams. After destroying the dream Optimus, Bulkhead and Bumblebee, and realizing it's his subconscious, he takes barely a second to move from his position a few feet away to looming over Bumblebee.
*No character transforms in this episode.
*Ratchet and Optimus entering the wrecked Autobot ship is a very similar event to when two Autobots of the same names entered the ''[[Ark]]'' in ''[[Dark of the Moon]]''. They both even used lasers to enter the wreckage.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Masters & Students

2012-04-03T01:19:07Z

97.100.57.102: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Masters&Students-SkyquakePrimefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one—" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Skyquake battles Optimus Prime, Starscream recovers the nearly dead Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Masters&Students-Nemesisbridgescreen.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Behold the functionality of our newest member: Jumbotron!"]]
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This is what happens when you give a giant alien robot sugar.]]
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. When he realizes that Soundwave means it's Megatron, Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

[[Image:Masters&Students-BeeQuake.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Well, look's like it's time to eject!" "Wait, what about me?!" "...bye!" *Skyquake crashes*]]

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bendy straws slowly sucking the life out of him. Or bendy straws feeding him life. It's confusing.]]

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)
*[[Science fair judge]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle

"Well I'll be a bald eagle..."
:— '''Agent Fowler''', ever the patriot.

"Air superiority achieved!"
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

"And this time...STAY DEAD!"
:— '''Starscream''' pulls off his most hardcore takeover attempt ever!

==Notes==
===Astronomical errors===
*The image displayed on Soundwave's monitor is presumably meant to be the [[Asteroid belt]], as the wreckage is too large to be that of the [[space bridge]]. However, the Asteroid belt lies outside [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], not Earth.

===Animation and technical errors===
* The copies of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]'' that Raf uses to make his paper mache volcano from are printed back-to-front, with the Sports section on the front and the masthead on the back. Since this happened again in "[[Deus ex Machina]]", maybe Jasper just really loves their sports?
[[Image:MastersandStudents-Skyquakeunderjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fowler's jet has this stuff too, but in gray.]]
*Fowler flies a jet without wearing a jumpsuit, helmet, or oxygen mask.
*Weirder still, Fowler's jet already has Skyquake's arms and legs attached as undercarriage. No wonder Skyquake wanted to scan it.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space because he hears Megatron gasping in pain. However, sound cannot travel in a vacuum. It could be excused as Megatron broadcasting via a radio transmission, but a short time later, Starscream is alerted to the presence of Soundwave's drone by the sound of it flying through space. Even more strange is that when Starscream talks in the explosion site, echoes can be heard.
*In the first shot when a Vehicon gets Starscream's attention during the latter's speech about the loss of Megatron, Starscream's image on the screen is seen turning in the opposite direction, as if giving his back to a camera. In the next sequence, the image on the screen is seen as if the camera were now at the same angle of the viewer.
* The close-up on Agent Fowler before Bumblebee jumps off his jet is the same used in the sequence where he says "I still got it", only mirrored. It's ''[[The Transformers]]'' all over again.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claims Skyquake can't transform because he hasn't scanned a vehicle mode yet, but why doesn't he still have a Cybertronian mode?
*Soundwave is on the ground when Skyquake awakens, but is suddenly on top of the canyon behind them when Starscream retreats.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].
*This is not the [[Transport to Oblivion|first]] [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|time]] an incarnation of Megatron has survived a space bridge disaster.
*[[Furmanism|"If Megatron could not conquer Earth, what chance do we have?"]]

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Meister und Schüler'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 28|28 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mesterek és tanítványok'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 16|16 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestri e allievi'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 8|8 October]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seuseung gwa Jeja'''" (스승과 제자, "Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 13|13 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 12|12 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|December 13]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestros y Estudiantes'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]
::*This episode was unexpectedly first aired as part of a ''Transformers: Prime'' marathon instead of the usual time slot.

===Trivia===
[[Image:Masters&Students upcloseandpersonal.jpg|thumb|250px|Seriously, it's not like fans need encouragement at this point.]]
*Starscream is ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* This is the first episode in the series to use the full [[title sequence]].
*An Energon Cube appears in this episode

==Home video releases==
A DVD of "Masters & Students" comes with the entertainment pack containing figures of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]. This DVD is also included in the first-wave Prime Cyberverse Commander figures.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Masters & Students

2012-04-03T01:18:30Z

97.100.57.102: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Masters&Students-SkyquakePrimefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one—" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Skyquake battles Optimus Prime, Starscream recovers the nearly dead Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Masters&Students-Nemesisbridgescreen.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Behold the functionality of our newest member: Jumbotron!"]]
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This is what happens when you give a giant alien robot sugar.]]
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. When he realizes that Soundwave means it's Megatron, Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

[[Image:Masters&Students-BeeQuake.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Well, look's like it's time to eject!" "Wait, what about me?!" "...bye!" *Skyquake crashes*]]

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bendy straws slowly sucking the life out of him. Or bendy straws feeding him life. It's confusing.]]

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)
*[[Science fair judge]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle

"Well I'll be a bald eagle..."
:— '''Agent Fowler''', ever the patriot.

"Air superiority achieved!"
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

"And this time...STAY DEAD!"
:— '''Starscream''' pulls off his most hardcore takeover attempt ever!

==Notes==
===Astronomical errors===
*The image displayed on Soundwave's monitor is presumably meant to be the [[Asteroid belt]], as the wreckage is too large to be that of the [[space bridge]]. However, the Asteroid belt lies outside [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], not Earth.

===Animation and technical errors===
* The copies of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]'' that Raf uses to make his paper mache volcano from are printed back-to-front, with the Sports section on the front and the masthead on the back. Since this happened again in "[[Deus ex Machina]]", maybe Jasper just really loves their sports?
[[Image:MastersandStudents-Skyquakeunderjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fowler's jet has this stuff too, but in gray.]]
*Fowler flies a jet without wearing a jumpsuit, helmet, or oxygen mask.
*Weirder still, Fowler's jet already has Skyquake's arms and legs attached as undercarriage. No wonder Skyquake wanted to scan it.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space because he hears Megatron gasping in pain. However, sound cannot travel in a vacuum. It could be excused as Megatron broadcasting via a radio transmission, but a short time later, Starscream is alerted to the presence of Soundwave's drone by the sound of it flying through space. Even more strange is that when Starscream talks in the explosion site, echoes can be heard.
*In the first shot when a Vehicon gets Starscream's attention during the latter's speech about the loss of Megatron, Starscream's image on the screen is seen turning in the opposite direction, as if giving his back to a camera. In the next sequence, the image on the screen is seen as if the camera were now at the same angle of the viewer.
* The close-up on Agent Fowler before Bumblebee jumps off his jet is the same used in the sequence where he says "I still got it", only mirrored. It's ''[[G1 (The Transformers)]]'' all over again.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claims Skyquake can't transform because he hasn't scanned a vehicle mode yet, but why doesn't he still have a Cybertronian mode?
*Soundwave is on the ground when Skyquake awakens, but is suddenly on top of the canyon behind them when Starscream retreats.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].
*This is not the [[Transport to Oblivion|first]] [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|time]] an incarnation of Megatron has survived a space bridge disaster.
*[[Furmanism|"If Megatron could not conquer Earth, what chance do we have?"]]

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Meister und Schüler'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 28|28 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mesterek és tanítványok'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 16|16 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestri e allievi'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 8|8 October]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seuseung gwa Jeja'''" (스승과 제자, "Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 13|13 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 12|12 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|December 13]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestros y Estudiantes'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]
::*This episode was unexpectedly first aired as part of a ''Transformers: Prime'' marathon instead of the usual time slot.

===Trivia===
[[Image:Masters&Students upcloseandpersonal.jpg|thumb|250px|Seriously, it's not like fans need encouragement at this point.]]
*Starscream is ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* This is the first episode in the series to use the full [[title sequence]].
*An Energon Cube appears in this episode

==Home video releases==
A DVD of "Masters & Students" comes with the entertainment pack containing figures of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]. This DVD is also included in the first-wave Prime Cyberverse Commander figures.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Masters & Students

2012-04-03T01:17:33Z

97.100.57.102: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 6
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 5
|next=Scrapheap (episode)
|image=Masters&Students-SkyquakePrimefaceoff.jpg
|caption="One shall stand, one—" "Yeah yeah, 'one shall fall'. We've all heard it a million times now, Prime."
|title="Masters & Students"
|airdate=[[February 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[David Slack]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Skyquake battles Optimus Prime, Starscream recovers the nearly dead Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Masters&Students-Nemesisbridgescreen.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Behold the functionality of our newest member: Jumbotron!"]]
[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] reviews the footage of [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]]'s destruction and decides to make a rousing speech to the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]] troops. When one of the troops questions whether they have any chance of defeating the Autobots without Megatron, Starscream proclaims himself [[Emperor of Destruction]], but is disappointed with the less-than-enthusiastic response from his men. Starscream recalls that there is a [[Decepticon]] on the planet who is worthy to follow him.

[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] is unhappy about how their recent conflict turned out, as he had still hoped to convince Megatron that peace was possible. His conversation with [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] is interrupted by an explosion, but it's just [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s volcano—the kids are working on their science projects with the help of their guardian [[Autobot]]s. Ratchet's annoyed about the whole matter, but Optimus thinks it's a good opportunity to learn more about Earth.

Hanging out near a canyon in the desert, [[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] detects one of the many warriors left on Earth aeons ago to protect the [[energon]] deposits. He and Starscream head over to find the lost [[Decepticon]].

Raf and Bumblebee discuss 'Bee's lowly status in the Autobot army. Bumblebee aspires to become part of the warrior class, but Optimus says Bumblebee has much to learn before he can reach that rank. The base sensors detect the Decepticon activity in the desert, so Optimus decides to head out with Ratchet. Ratchet makes a quick excuse that he needs to help the kids with their projects, so Optimus takes Bumblebee instead.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Ratch-animator.jpg|thumb|right|250px|This is what happens when you give a giant alien robot sugar.]]
Starscream and Soundwave haul the warrior out of the ground and use an [[energon cube]] to revive him, revealing him to be none other than [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]. Skyquake announces he still serves Megatron, and he doesn't take kindly to Starscream declaring himself leader. They're interrupted by Optimus, who's familiar with Skyquake from the [[Battle of Technar]]. Optimus tries to talk peace, but Starscream will only agree to a truce if Optimus bows to him. Skyquake's patience has run out, and, knocking Starscream aside, he charges Optimus. Starscream retires to a nearby clifftop with Soundwave and muses that all Decepticons will follow him once Skyquake destroys Prime while under his command. Optimus and Skyquake trade fire, but Bumblebee decides to take the initiative and attacks Skyquake as well. Starscream orders Soundwave to record it all. Optimus observes that Skyquake hasn't yet taken on a [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]], so the two Autobots transform and fall back.

Meanwhile Ratchet is "helping" Raf build a volcano, in that's he's pretty much building it himself, and he intends to help Miko and Jack with their projects also.

Having lost sight of the combatants, Soundwave picks up a Decepticon signal from the location of the [[space bridge]] explosion. When he realizes that Soundwave means it's Megatron, Starscream tries to dismiss it as a false signal, but realizes he has to investigate it to keep up appearances. He leaves Soundwave, who surreptitiously dispatches the [[Deployer (Prime)|Minicon]] from his chest to follow his master.

[[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] investigates the communications coming from the area. He arrives on the scene just as Optimus and Bumblebee have managed to knock Skyquake down, and the Decepticon [[Scanning|scans]] his hi-tech jet. Taking to the air, Skyquake strafes the Autobots below, only for Fowler to attack him in turn. Skyquake fires some heat-seeking missiles at the human, who manages to evade them.

[[Image:Masters&Students-BeeQuake.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Well, look's like it's time to eject!" "Wait, what about me?!" "...bye!" *Skyquake crashes*]]

Starscream arrives at the space bridge debris and is disappointed to find Megatron floating in space. The Decepticon leader is barely sustained by a sliver of [[Dark Energon]], which Starscream rips from him. Starscream then spies Soundwave's drone and, realizing he's being watched, is forced to transport Megatron back to the sick bay on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]''.

As the chase below continues, Bumblebee jumps onto Skyquake, who unsuccessfully tries to knock the Autobot off. Optimus asks for Fowler's help, as high above the desert, Bumblebee rips pieces out of Skyquake, sending the Decepticon into a crash dive. Fowler draws alongside so Bumblebee can jump aboard his jet before Skyquake crashes into the ground below. Optimus observes that had Skyquake chosen peace, they would not be burying him.

[[Image:Masters&Students-Megatronstasis.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Bendy straws slowly sucking the life out of him. Or bendy straws feeding him life. It's confusing.]]

Back at base, repairs on Bumblebee are complete, and Prime commends him on his performance. The kids arrive back with the news that Ratchet's science projects did not go down well; the Autobot Medic had built Miko a model of Cybertron rather then the solar system, Jack a flying saw, and Raf a volcano that blew a hole right through the school roof. Ratchet is disappointed.

On board the ''Nemesis'', the Decepticons have gotten Megatron into [[Stasis lock|stasis]], and Starscream ''sincerely'' hopes he gets better.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (10)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (4)
*[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (Prime)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c3=
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (7)
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (9)
*[[Jack Darby]] (11)
*[[William Fowler]] (15)
*[[Science fair judge]] (16)

}}

==Quotes==
"If we failed to conquer Earth under Lord Megatron's command, what hope do we have now while the Autobots still defend it?" 
"Ah, allow me to be crystal clear: I studied for millennia under our former master, thus I am ''equipped'' to lead you—I, Megatron's true heir, Lord Starscream, [[Emperor of Destruction]]!" 
[''Vehicons murmur'']
:— The '''Vehicons''' find '''Starscream''' leaves a lot to be desired.

''[Holding up an exhaust pipe]'' "Maybe it needs one of these doohickeys..." 
"You're a motorcycle, Arcee. Shouldn't you know how to build a motorcycle engine?" 
"You're a human, Jack. Can you build me a small intestine?"
:— '''Arcee''' and '''Jack''' attempt to build a motorcycle

"Well I'll be a bald eagle..."
:— '''Agent Fowler''', ever the patriot.

"Air superiority achieved!"
:— '''Skyquake''' does an impression of [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]].

"And this time...STAY DEAD!"
:— '''Starscream''' pulls off his most hardcore takeover attempt ever!

==Notes==
===Astronomical errors===
*The image displayed on Soundwave's monitor is presumably meant to be the [[Asteroid belt]], as the wreckage is too large to be that of the [[space bridge]]. However, the Asteroid belt lies outside [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], not Earth.

===Animation and technical errors===
* The copies of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]'' that Raf uses to make his paper mache volcano from are printed back-to-front, with the Sports section on the front and the masthead on the back. Since this happened again in "[[Deus ex Machina]]", maybe Jasper just really loves their sports?
[[Image:MastersandStudents-Skyquakeunderjet.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Fowler's jet has this stuff too, but in gray.]]
*Fowler flies a jet without wearing a jumpsuit, helmet, or oxygen mask.
*Weirder still, Fowler's jet already has Skyquake's arms and legs attached as undercarriage. No wonder Skyquake wanted to scan it.
*Starscream finds Megatron in space because he hears Megatron gasping in pain. However, sound cannot travel in a vacuum. It could be excused as Megatron broadcasting via a radio transmission, but a short time later, Starscream is alerted to the presence of Soundwave's drone by the sound of it flying through space. Even more strange is that when Starscream talks in the explosion site, echoes can be heard.
*In the first shot when a Vehicon gets Starscream's attention during the latter's speech about the loss of Megatron, Starscream's image on the screen is seen turning in the opposite direction, as if giving his back to a camera. In the next sequence, the image on the screen is seen as if the camera were now at the same angle of the viewer.
* The close-up on Agent Fowler before Bumblebee jumps off his jet is the same used in the sequence where he says "I still got it", only mirrored. It's G1 ''[[The Transformers]]'' all over again.

===Continuity errors===
*Optimus claims Skyquake can't transform because he hasn't scanned a vehicle mode yet, but why doesn't he still have a Cybertronian mode?
*Soundwave is on the ground when Skyquake awakens, but is suddenly on top of the canyon behind them when Starscream retreats.

===Transformers references===
*Starscream styles himself "[[Emperor of Destruction]]", the title used in the Japanese continuities for the leader of the Decepticons.
*As described in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', Ratchet's model of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has [[Moonbase One|two]] [[Moonbase Two|moons]].
*This is not the [[Transport to Oblivion|first]] [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|time]] an incarnation of Megatron has survived a space bridge disaster.
*[[Furmanism|"If Megatron could not conquer Earth, what chance do we have?"]]

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Meister und Schüler'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 28|28 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mesterek és tanítványok'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 16|16 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestri e allievi'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 8|8 October]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seuseung gwa Jeja'''" (스승과 제자, "Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 13|13 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 12|12 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|December 13]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maestros y Estudiantes'''" ("Masters and Students")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 26|26 November]] [[2011]]
::*This episode was unexpectedly first aired as part of a ''Transformers: Prime'' marathon instead of the usual time slot.

===Trivia===
[[Image:Masters&Students upcloseandpersonal.jpg|thumb|250px|Seriously, it's not like fans need encouragement at this point.]]
*Starscream is ''very'' touchy-feely with Megatron's body at the site of the explosion. The writers walked right into ''that'' slash plot.
*Skyquake is, up to this point, the only 'bot to have a hand-held gun, as everyone else has guns that are either equipped to their wrists or transformed from their hands.
*Fowler's first name is mentioned onscreen for the first time. It had previously been revealed in the credits for "[[Darkness Rising, Part 3]]".
* This is the first episode in the series to use the full [[title sequence]].
*An Energon Cube appears in this episode

==Home video releases==
A DVD of "Masters & Students" comes with the entertainment pack containing figures of [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]], [[Jack Darby|Jack]], [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]. This DVD is also included in the first-wave Prime Cyberverse Commander figures.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masters and Students}}
[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Size changing

2012-03-16T18:21:00Z

97.100.57.102: /* Enlarging */

[[Image:Soundwave_shrinks.gif|right|thumb|250px|A little known fact, but [[Wikipedia:Wasp (comics)|Wasp]] is Soundwave's cousin.]]

Although [[Scale|scale has never exactly been a deep concern]] when it comes to Transformers, given that the series has featured F-15 jets not much larger than sports cars, it is not uncommon for certain Transformers to clearly and deliberately '''change size''' when transforming from one mode to the next. The methods employed for this startling alteration in physicality have differed from timeline to timeline, and have long been a heavily debated aspect of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] technology.

{{quote|Decepticons Skywarp and Thundercracker transform and land. A tape player, three cassette tapes and a Walther P-38 fly forth from the towering twin titans. And astonishingly they enlarge hundreds of times over and change into Soundwave, Megatron, Frenzy, and Ravage!|[[Narrator]]|[[Prisoner of War!]]}}

==Examples==
Note that many of the Transformers named here have also transformed at certain times ''without'' shrinking or enlarging, retaining an alternate mode to scale with their robot mode. It doesn't help mass-shifting logic though. If anything it only results in ''more'' questions.

===Shrinking===
[[Image:DarknessRising3-Arceesizechange.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Where does she ''keep'' it all?]]
The most famous examples of size-changing Transformers are [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who becomes a pistol, and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who both become stereo cassette players. These Transformers visibly shrink as they transform, assuming one of two sizes—one that allows another Transformer to wield or operate them, and another, even smaller size that allows them to be transported in car-alts or used by humans.

Other shrinking Transformers include [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and the [[Mini-Cassette]]s.

[[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]'s ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' bio notes that he has a defect in his transformation circuitry, which often results in him not being able to complete his transformation by not growing back to his [[robot mode]]'s full size.

One of [[Deep Cover]]'s [[ability|abilities]] is being able to shrink to 1/40th his size for brief periods of time.

Shrinking into altmode is a property also shared by [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'']] [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|''Prime'']] [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]]. They both transform from motorcycles, which are about the size of a human, into full-sized Autobot warriors. In Prowl's case, he grows to be bigger than [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who's a car.

''Animated'' [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was deployed undercover within [[Autobot boot camp|the Autobot ranks]] by [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] specifically due to his stated size-changing abilities, allowing him to adopt a smaller Autobot-sized form in the guise of Longarm.

===Enlarging===
Conversely, Transformers have been known to grow in size when assuming their [[Alternate mode|altmodes]]—the most prominent example is surely [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], whose space shuttle mode could become large enough to convey a whole contingent of Decepticon warriors, and even allow [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to form inside him. Similarly, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] transforms from a robot of roughly average size (occasionally depicted as somewhat tall, but never ''huge'') into a jet and then into an entire aircraft carrier, of the type used to transport '''dozens''' of jets. [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] is another good example, who has been able to transport whole Autobots in the back of his ambulance form during the cartoon, even [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], who turns into a jet. Other Transformers that enlarge in such a manner also generally do so for the purposes of transporting others; they include [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]. [[Combiner|Combiners]] are often larger in their combined form than their robot modes would otherwise indicate—in fact, in the episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", [[Predaking]] is explicitly shown to enlarge after his combination is complete. In the original animated series many of the Transformers arguably enlarged or shrank in vehicle mode to a lesser extent, this is most notable among groups such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Decepticon]] [[Conehead|jets]] and [[Mini Vehicle|minibots]], whose altmodes [[Scale|could not possibly turn into robots that are the size they are depicted otherwise]]. Whether this was truly intended to indicate actual size changes, was merely "lazy animation", or was simply a stylistic choice designed to emphasise the awesome stature of robot-mode Cybertronians, is a matter of individual opinion.

[[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]] has a matter-enlarging scope, which he used to make [[Ga'mede]] fit in in the macroverse.

===Implicit size changing===
[[Image:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mass displacement my boron compressor.]]
Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers often implicitly change size to do so. However, size changing is rarely explicitly depicted in these cases. Instead, the following method is used: A character such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] transforms in-frame from robot to shuttle with no visible expansion of size relative to his surroundings. Cut. In the following shot his fellow Decepticons are shown running into frame, suddenly relatively tiny in stature so that they can board the shuttle. Although Astrotrain has not been shown to actually grow, one has to infer that this is more likely than that all his confederates have individually shrunk.

The same change-in-scale-via-implicit-size-changing is used with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and other characters used as transport. For example, in the episode "[[Make Tracks]]", [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], who is depicted as one of the larger Autobots in robot mode, is shown riding inside [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], a Minibot whose truck mode is usually depicted as being smaller than Optimus Prime's. So either Huffer is extremely large in that scene, or Hoist is suddenly the size of a human.

(The other explanation is that the animators simply hoped no one would notice the sudden change in scale. Since ''Transformers'' is usually targeted at kids, there's probably some truth to this.)

===Pretenders===
Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original American cartoon]] did not feature any [[Pretender|Pretenders]], the Japanese-only continuity did, in their series ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]''. Here the Pretenders did not have outer shells so much as ill-defined holistic transformations which explicitly involved size-changing, allowing the Autobots to convincingly pass themselves off as humans. Also, Autobot Pretenders' shells are able to perform size changing in the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' manga. The Decepticons, by comparison, chose to retain their gigantic proportions when in Pretender-mode.

Although never depicted in any of their actual fiction, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia stated that Pretender shells use shrinking technology to achieve the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Masterforce]]''-like capacity to pass the wearer off as a real human (or other small lifeform of choice). (Intriguingly, the profile also obliquely implies that Pretender technology would later lead to the development of the faux-organic beast modes of the [[Beast Era]].)

==Explanations==
Although size-changing has been evident in Transformers from the very beginning, the original animated series and comic books never address the topic, and it was regarded as simply being the way of things. Fandom debate on the topic has seemingly inspired later fiction to offer varying explanations on how it functions.

===Dreamwave===
[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] offered two explanations for size-changing within its continuity.

The first, to explain enlarging, was '''parts compression'''—the notion that the Transformers in question, such as Astrotrain and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], had many dense layers of armor in robot mode, which then slid out, expanding to create a much larger, but less-strongly-armored vehicle mode. Fans have referred to this as the "origami Transformers" explanation, and it appeared in their ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia.

The second explanation, to justify shrinking, was '''mass conversion'''. This method put it that Transformers like Soundwave were genetically endowed with the ability to transform not simply their bodies, but their entire molecular structure. This ability, not under their conscious control, only activates when they transform, shifting their atoms according to a pre-determined schematic.

===IDW===
[[Image:Massdisplacement.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Shrinky-dink.]]
[[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' sees Megatron employ a '''mass-displacement sequence''', physically discarding a portion of his bodily mass to allow himself to shrink to a human-scaled pistol of appropriate weight and density. What with E equalling mc², the loss of this amount of mass (shunted to an undisclosed location in space and time) results in a volatile energy discharge, requiring bystanders to step away lest they be injured by the forces released—not that Megatron would care.

Due to the energy shortage (and seeming near-total depletion of Transformers' primary fuel source, [[Energon]]) caused by their war, mass displacement hasn't been commonplace for a very long time. Since it requires a huge amount of energy, the technology had practically vanished until the discovery of [[Ultra-Energon|Ore-13]] on [[Earth]].

===2007 movie===
The creators of the [[Transformers (film)|2007 live-action movie]] explicitly avoided including any Transformers who could change size, wishing to avoid the necessary suspension of disbelief. Therefore, any observed [[scale]] problems are genuine scale problems. (And there are a few, most notably human-sized [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head turning into a tiny cell phone.) That said, size-changing technology clearly exists in ''some'' form in the movie continuity, as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] somehow shrinks the [[AllSpark]] down to a manageable size and mass. Thus far, there's no evidence this trick can be applied to anything except the AllSpark.

===Fandom explanations===
[[Image:No mass shifting here.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Just when you thought you had it all figured out...]]
The issue of shrinking and enlarging was, in the early days of the online Transformers fandom, a frequently debated subject. The Transformers were clearly displacing their mass, to allow their shrunken forms to be operable—so where was that mass going? The postulated answer to this question was the invention of "[[subspace]]", the void of extradimensional space between realities. Subspace proved a handy answer to various other questions as well - see the concept's own article for details. IDW's "mass displacement" rationale essentially ''is'' the subspace explanation, without actually using the term.

And hey, if any of that doesn't grab you, a [[Beorht|wizard]] did it.

==Note==
*When you see a character's size is [[:Image:Tinybluestreak.jpg|smaller]] [[:Image:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|than]] [[:Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|usual]], well, it's just [[Animation error|a technical issue]].

[[Category:Technology]]