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Rodimus Prime (Animated)

2012-02-25T23:30:25Z

98.81.161.30: /* Animated */

{{faction|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Rodimus}}
:''Rodimus Prime is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]]. He is sometimes called '''Rodimus Minor'''.''
[[Image:RodimusAnimated-charactermodel.jpg|right|thumb|250px|I'm thinkin' of tryin' out for a scholarship.]]

To call the commander of [[Team Athenia]] a prodigy is an understatement. Though his drill sergeant [[Kup (Animated)|Kup]] took him for a turbo-revving punk at first, '''Hot Rod''', the young bot who would one day be called '''Rodimus Prime''', distinguished himself during a live-fire exercise by throwing himself in front of a grenade to save his mentor. From there the higher-ups took special interest in him, and he was accepted into the [[Autobot Academy]] a full decade before his boot camp peers. In the Academy he continued to dazzle command, mastering servo-to-servo combat and a wide arrange of weaponry, as well as designing the energy bow that became his signature weapon. Some even began to refer to him as the "chosen one" after seeing him in action, and when he became the youngest Autobot to be assigned his own command, many felt he was on the fast-track to becoming [[Magnus]].

{{TOCclear}}
==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Judd Nelson]] (English), [[Hiroya Ishimaru]] (Japanese)
{{Idw-tfa}}

[[Image:Animated Rodimus Bow.jpg|left|thumb|300px|[[Visionaries|''Three suns aligned / Pour forth their light / And fill the archer's bow with MIGHT!'']]]]

The Autobot who would later be named Hot Rod was the youngest Autobot ever to receive the [[Valor's Flame]]. <ref>According to Rodimus Minor's "Galactic Powers and Abilities"</ref>

''Eight hundred [[Units of time|stellar cycle]]s ago, Hot Rod, [[Skram (Animated)|Skram]], [[Quickslinger (Animated)|Quickslinger]], and [[Blaster (Animated)|Blaster]] were assigned to the drill instructor Kup. Kup named Hot Rod because of his punk attitude and the flames on his chest. At first Kup thought Hot Rod was all smoke and no flame, but during their final training exercise, Skram tripped and dropped a grenade near Kup, causing Hot Rod to jump on top of the grenade to save his instructor. Thankfully, the grenade was a dud, but this event changed Kup's perception of the youngster dramatically.

''Hot Rod got into the Academy one decade before the rest of his peers and earned himself the nickname "the chosen one." Years of studying taught him every form of hand-to-hand combat and all forms of Autobot weaponry. Soon, he renamed himself Rodimus, and centuries later, he was assigned leadership of Team Athenia. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}''

[[Image:TransWarpedRodimusCosmicRust.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Well, I'm free the Saturday after that. Beyond that, I'm going to have to check my calendar.]]

Rodimus Prime and his team, [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]], [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]], [[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]], and [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]], defended [[space bridge 687-030]] from [[Team Chaar]]. Rodimus ordered Brawn and Ironhide to fall back so they could protect the bridge, but a combo attack from [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] and [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] took down both [[Autobot]]s. Rodimus managed to evade [[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]]'s tentacle-attack and incapacitate the monster, but he was quickly knocked aside by [[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]]'s power-stomp attack.

As the Decepticons moved in, Rodimus defiantly growled that they'd have to go through him. In response, Oil Slick threw a vial of [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] at Rodimus' feet, which quickly spread across his body and paralyzed him. {{storylink|TransWarped}} ''The infection ravaged his body, and he was slow to recover, earning the pity of his old trainer, Kup. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}''

Rodimus and the rest of Team Athenia had a private box for the opening night of [[The Motor Master]]'s Stunt Convoy show. Apparently, that healing went well. {{storylink|The Stunti-Con Job}}
{{--}}

===''The Cool'' comic===
Defending a space bridge outpost, Rodimus Prime and his crew encountered a [[Rock Lord]] and did battle with it. Although unsure of what the creature actually was, and bemoaning that had he had some Energon gum on himself he might have been able to befriend the creature, Rodimus nonetheless was able to quickly discover a weak spot on the beast. He then lead his team to victory in slaying the creature, delivering the finishing blow himself.{{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 2|The Cool Extra #2}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
{{anchor|SonsofCybertron}}
[[Image:Takara_animated_crystal_rodimus.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Transforms to cameo to minor character and back!]]
*'''Sons of Cybertron: Optimus Prime and Rodimus''' (Deluxe 2-pack, [[July 24]]th 2010)
**''Accessories'': "Energy Bow", 2 missiles

: "Sons of Cybertron" ''Animated'' [[Optimus Prime (Animated)/toys#SonsofCybertron|Optimus Prime]] and Rodimus are translucent [[redeco]]es of their respective Deluxe Class molds. In addition to being part of [[TakaraTomy|Takara's]] ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Transformers 2010]]'' celebration, the set was also sold as an exclusive at Shanghai Con.

: This version of the mold was the first one available, beating out both standard Hasbro and TakaraTomy versions.

{{-}}
[[Image:Animated Rodimus Minor toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Arise...Rodimus minor?!]]
[[Image:AnimatedDeluxeRodimusJapan.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Rodimus Minor''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-33'''
**''Accessories'': "Energy Bow", 2 missiles

: Available [[exclusive]]ly at [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]] in the US, Rodimus Minor transforms into a futuristic car that is an homage to the vehicle mode of Generation 1 [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. A panel on the car's hood, which is also the figure's chest, can be flipped to either show an engine block or the figure's Autobot [[insignia]]. The figure comes with an Energy Bow, capable of firing two missiles. His bow can be tabbed to the roof of his car mode or snapped on his hand. The tabs that secure his bow in vehicle mode are 5mm wide, making it useable by other figures as well. For reasons unknown, Rodimus' shoulders are actually cast out of the same gold plastic as used on parts of his bow, but painted over entirely to match the color of the rest of car... instead of, y'know, just being red plastic like the rest.

: Rodimus and his casemate [[Ironhide (Animated)#Toys|Ironhide]] are the first ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' figures to be secured by twisted paper strips instead of metal and plastic twist-ties.

:The mass retail Japanese version, released [[August 28]]th 2010, is covered mostly in metallic purple paint, though there are some unpainted purple parts due to [[unpaintable plastic]].

:Rodimus was redecoed as [[Dark Rodimus|Black Rodimus]] and [[retool]]ed as ''Animated'' [[Breakdown (Animated)|Breakdown]] and [[Sideswipe (Animated)|Sideswipe]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Autobot/RodimusMinor/rodimusminor.htm More information on Rodimus Minor at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
*Rodimus shares his [[Hot Rod (G1)|Generation 1 counterpart]]'s original voice actor, Judd Nelson. He's also the first new incarnation of Rodimus to share the original Generation 1 cartoon character's burgundy coloration, instead of a red one.
*Originally, Rodimus was going to be the [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|jerk]] character of ''Animated''. This means his team is roughly 60% [[Hot Shot (Animated)|scrapped]] [[Red Alert (Animated)|ideas]], although 40% of those are because of the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]].
*According to [[Eric Siebenaler]] at [[BotCon 2009]], Rodimus' design was influenced by the fact that many ''Animated'' characters had large, boot-like feet. In an attempt to move away from this for variety's sake, Rodimus was given skinnier legs by putting most of his mass in his torso.
*Given the bow and helmet design, Rodimus' design also owes a bit to [[Marvel Comics]]' [[Wikipedia:Hawkeye (comics) |Hawkeye]].
*Despite being credited by the show's creators<ref>''Animated'' [[Tech Spec]] by [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 24|''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' #24.]]</ref> as having the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] rank and clearly being the leader of a team like [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|another bloke]], his toy is listed as "Rodimus Minor" for the fact, revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2009, that "there were already too many Primes in the toy line". Within the series, he is only ever called or credited as "Rodimus".
* Rodimus's "popped collar" was apparently inspired by Hot Rod fan and [[Unofficial conventions|TFcon]] staff member, [[User:Protoman|Daniel "Protoman" Arseneault]]. <ref>http://www.formspring.me/DerrickJWyatt/q/164802542423798204</ref>
*Additionally, Rodimus is the only character in ''Animated'' to share a voice actor with his G1 counterpart in both the English and Japanese dubs. Someone in the studios must love him!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Rodimus''' (ロディマス ''Rodimasu'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Animated Autobots]]
[[Category:Primes]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]

Prowl (Animated)

2012-02-25T23:27:07Z

98.81.161.30: /* Transformers Animated */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Prowl}}
:''Prowl is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AniProwlPromoModel.jpg|right|250px|thumb|True warriors must move like water. NINJA water.]]
Some people are team players, and some... well, aren't. '''Prowl''' falls into the latter category. A loner at heart, he has little interest in teamwork, something [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] finds extremely frustrating. Prowl feels cooperation with the [[Bumblebee (Animated)|loud]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|unsubtle]] Autobots around him would cramp his style: a keen [[Cyber-Ninja]] prowess with elements of [[Circuit-Su]]<ref>Prowl's on-package [[bio]]</ref> and [[Metallikato]].<ref name="TEG">"[[The Elite Guard]]"</ref>

Seemingly bound up in his martial-arts philosophy is his deep, deep fascination with [[Earth]]'s natural environment. His quarters on [[Earth]] is missing most of its ceiling, allowing him a permanent window into nature. In fact, he seems to have a deeper appreciation of his new surroundings than the [[Human|humans]] who grew up with them. The phrase "stop and smell the roses" is a life truth for Prowl, and he can spend hours motionless, watching the organic world play out around him.

When called to battle, Prowl uses an array of throwing weapons, such as cutting discs, that he can hurl with high accuracy. While useful as projectiles, these weapons tend to be far more damaging at close range and will occasionally bounce off their target with little damage if thrown from too great a distance. He can project [[Hologram|holograms]] of himself, using them to misdirect his enemies. He is also the only member of his team with a jetpack, granting him limited flight.

Prowl is probably the most skilled fighter of his comrades, but this might not be saying much, as they were a mere [[space bridge]] repair crew before finding themselves suddenly defending the [[AllSpark]] against the resurgent [[Decepticon|Decepticons]].<ref>"[[Transform and Roll Out]]"</ref> In fact, [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]], witnessing him in action, remarked that Prowl must not have ''finished'' his cyber ninja training.<ref name="TEG">"[[The Elite Guard]]"</ref> The true story is more complex: having failed to protect the infant protoforms<ref>"[[Five Servos of Doom]]"</ref>, Prowl ended his studies in disgrace, seeking to commune with the Allspark. His quest for redemption and inner peace has ended in failure...so far.

{{bigquote|Stillness... then ''strike''.|Prowl getting past motion detectors|"[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English), [[Kōji Yusa]] (Japanese), [[Lutz Schnell]] (German), [[Louis van Beek]] (Dutch), [[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian) [[Fritz Gianvitto]] (Portuguese)
[[Image:TFA Five Servos Yoketron vs Prowl.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Go ninja go!Go ninja go!]]
A young Prowl tried to avoid being drafted into fighting in the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] but was apprehended by [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]] and taken to [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]]. Seeing potential in the young bot, Yoketron offered to teach Prowl in exchange for having the charges against him dropped. Under Yoketron's guidance, Prowl's fighting skills vastly improved over time, until Yoketron deemed him worthy to be a Cyber-Ninja and rewarded him with two shurikens. Yoketron showed Prowl a hidden room in the [[Cyber-Ninja Dojo|dojo]], accessed via a secret door opened by [[processor-over-matter]]. Entering the hidden chamber, Prowl learned from Yoketron that the mission of the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]] was to protect the [[protoform]]s in the room, lest they be needed to fight against the [[Decepticon]]s if [[Project Omega]] failed. Exiting the room, Prowl was unable to complete the Yoketron's request to close the door with his mind. Prowl was thus sent on an optics quest to master the skill and be a true Cyber-Ninja. Some time later, having not yet succeeded, Prowl returned to Yoketron's dojo, only to find it in ruin and his master beaten to near-death. Panicked, Prowl managed to find one protoform and transferred Yoketron's spark into it. However, all he had done was make his master unhappy by sacrificing a little of the future to save the past. Assured by Yoketron that he would understand some day Prowl watched his sensei's spark expire and mourned his loss. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

Following this, Prowl secluded himself in meditation to try and commune with the AllSpark. One million stellar cycles later, he was discovered by [[space bridge]] technicians [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]. Seeing if the ninja-bot was in stasis lock, Prowl angrily told them he was trying to meditate, and all he had to show for his million long efforts was a massive processor ache. Bumblebee and Bulkhead promised to work around him, but an [[energon cube]] [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] was setting up fell into the cavern the three were in. All though they managed to get out unharmed, Prowl's ship was destroyed in the explosion. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] offered to take him back to Cybertron after they were finished in this sector. Unfortunately, it would be some fifty to sixty stellar cycles before they were done, though Optimus mentioned that Prowl's help would make it go faster. Striking a rock in anger, Prowl ranted about how his path had taken so many twists and turns that he didn't even know where he was. Optimus said that he could relate to that. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

Prowl showed a lack of interest in both teamwork (as a loner type) and in the motivational (kinda long-winded) speeches of Optimus Prime. He did not obey orders at first and learned of the consequences firsthand as he was nearly killed by a nanite-enhanced cockroach. After his revival at the hands of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] and the [[AllSpark|AllSpark-empowered]] [[AllSpark Key|Key]], he showed that he had become a valuable team player when he headed out with Bumblebee and Sari to save [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] and [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] from [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

Later, Prowl was watching a [[Skippy|cat]] stalk a bird. He found it fascinating, but was aggravated when he was interrupted by human fans. Returning to base, he hid out in his Japanese-themed room, only to be interrupted by Prime and Bumblebee. Even worse, Sari threw a slumber party, pushing Prowl to the edge with the commotion. Ironically, when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] took over the factory, Prowl was able to show Bumblebee the value of stillness in battle, something the pair would work on later in a game of Twister™. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

In an attempt to get [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to be less bumbling and destructive, he tried to teach his comrade how to move with ninja-like grace as he did. It...did not go well. Bulkhead's effectiveness in battle was undermined until Prowl realized Bulkhead's approach had its place and encouraged him to "do what you do." He also sensed [[Spark|sparks]] within the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] and, unwilling to let them be destroyed, secretly hid them on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|a small island]] before they were melted down. As he explained to Bulkhead, "Just because something's big and lumbering and destructive, doesn't mean you give up on it." {{storylink|Blast from the Past}}

Reasoning correctly that the Decepticons would target Sari to get at the AllSpark Key, Prowl took to instructing her in the art of "ninja nerve blows." It was shortly after one of these sessions that his decision to save the Dinobots seemingly came back to haunt him when the gargantuan robots kidnapped the girl. He headed to their island home with Bulkhead in tow, the suspicious [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] shadowing them somewhat clumsily the whole way. However, the police captain was not prepared for the environmental hazards of the secluded island and had to be rescued by the pair of Autobots. Together, the three of them discovered that the Dinobots had been coerced into kidnapping Sari by [[Meltdown (Animated)|Prometheus Black]], whose corrosive touch they had come to fear. Forced along with Fanzone to fight the mad geneticist's [[Fusion creature|creations]] in a gladiatorial arena, Prowl began to develop a bond with the captain, who in turn came to trust Prowl. {{storylink|Survival of the Fittest}}

When Decepticon energy signals were detected, the Autobots quickly realized that they were outnumbered. Bulkhead mentioned that the Dinobots might be able to help, not aware that Prowl hadn't told Optimus they had moved them to Dinobot Island. Prime was furious and ordered the two to take him there at once. After searching the island, the Autobots found the Dinobots. Prime's introduction was less than friendly, and Prowl was forced to smooth things over with Grimlock. They were unwilling to help, so the Autobots left, unsure of their next move. When Bumblebee contacted Prime, saying that Starscream was at Sumdac Tower, he ordered him to stand down. When they arrived at the tower, they saw Bumblebee fighting Starscream. Prime dryly noted that disobeying orders was becoming a habit, but Prowl wasn't too insulted.

He was too busy being shocked by Megatron bursting through Sumdac Tower. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

Quickly regaining their composure, the Autobots attacked, only for Megatron to defeat all three of them himself. After the battle, Sumdac revealed that he had helped rebuild Megatron. Prowl was furious, but Prime said that it was unimportant. Using residual AllSpark Key energy in Sumdac's lab, the Autobots repaired themselves, and Prime apologized for his harsh words. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and Sari came in the ship, but it was shot down over Dinobot Island. During the subsequent battle, Prowl noticed that [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing's]] multiple personalities were connected to his [[Alternate mode|alternate modes]]. To cause his hotheaded side to emerge and transform into a tank, Prowl suggested that Bumblebee use his greatest strength—his obnoxious personality. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

[[Image:Samprowl.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Got to get back... Back to the past. Samurai <strike>Jack</strike> <strike>Jazz</strike> Prowl.]]
While responding to a report of rampages on Dinobot Island, Prowl and Bulkhead were given Ratchet's EMP generator and stasis cuffs to detain the Dinobots. Discovering that Grimlock had a metal shard wedged in his foot, Prowl used the generator to dull Grimlock's sensors and remove the shard. However, they then received a call from [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] that Starscream had escaped. Heading to the Autobots' crashed ship, Prowl used [[Teletran-1]] to scan for Starscream, discovering him on the Moon. Prowl suggested that they go after Starscream, but Bulkhead thought it was suicide. So Prowl stole a shuttle and went off by himself. Locating Starscream on the Moon, he managed to place stasis cuffs on the Decepticon, but [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] appeared to take Starscream off Prowl's hands. During their fight, Starscream escaped and destroyed Prowl's shuttle. Stowing away on Lockdown's ship, Prowl suggested an alliance to capture him. Lockdown gave him a set of armor that would assist him in the hunt. Discovering a purple (and frightened) Starscream, they captured him, but Lockdown revealed that he was working for Megatron. Prowl would not allow Starscream to be taken, but Lockdown tied Prowl up and left.

[[Image:Samurai prowl altmode.jpg|thumb|right|150px|]]
The other Autobots arrived and chewed out Prowl for his actions, but Prowl insisted that they retrieve Starscream first. During their pursuit, Starscream somehow showed up and offered an alliance against Megatron. Prowl took down Starscream, but in his actions, he destroyed a bird's nest. Realizing that the modifications he had were going to his head, he resolved to abandon them... once they got Starscream. Prowl initially flubbed an attempt to spy on the meet between Megatron and Lockdown and quickly found himself outgunned until the other Autobots arrived with the second Starscream. During the standoff that followed, the two Starscreams revealed that they had bombs inside them. Prowl used the armor he had been given to send them into the sky, saving Detroit from destruction. Lockdown then contacted Prowl, offering him a partnership, but Prowl declined and returned Ratchet's EMP generator. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

When Bulkhead was kidnapped, Bumblebee brought the Autobot intelligence agent [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] to the plant, who revealed that Megatron was building a space bridge to conquer Cybertron from within. As Sari and Ratchet went to repair the ship, Prowl went with the others to rescue Bulkhead and shut down the space bridge. However, they were incapacitated by the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]]... just in time for Starscream and [[Starscream clone (Animated)|his clones]] to attack. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

Escaping the Constructicons, Prowl was able to lock stasis cuffs on [[Ramjet (Animated)|a lying clone]], but was soon occupied with [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]. When Prowl managed to disengage long enough to check on an injured Prime, [[Sunstorm (Animated)|a fawning clone]] managed to place stasis cuffs on him. Once he came back online, Prowl began using the [[processor-over-matter]] technique to disable his stasis cuffs, which would theoretically work if he had completed his training. Fortunately, it did work, and Prowl was able to throw a shuriken at Prime's stasis cuffs as he was being thrown through the space bridge. Unfortunately, power problems with the bridge arose, causing Megatron to add Starscream's AllSpark infused head to the mix. This caused a power overload which sucked up Megatron and Starscream, and nearly sucked up the Autobots as well. Fortunately, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] arrived and sacrificed himself to save the Autobots by allowing himself to be sucked into the portal. After escaping from the self-destructing bridge, Optimus Prime asked if everyone was okay, and Prowl gave an affirmative nod.

Unfortunately, Sari was not okay, for the skin of her right arm had been torn, revealing robotic circuitry underneath! {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

Hearing of Professor Sumdac's sketchy explanation of Sari's origins, Prowl infiltrated Sumdac's lab, scanned the professor and accessed his computer data. He later revealed his conclusions: Sari had begun her existence as a Cybertronian protoform. How or why that protoform had shown up in Sumdac's lab was still a mystery, however. When a [[Rock Lord]] was TransWarped to Earth with Bumblebee inside, Prowl was surprised that Ratchet was taking his EMP generator into battle again. They barely got a chance to face the thing when Sari upgraded herself with her key and smashed the Rock Lord into bits. Unfortunately her upgrades went out of control and she wounded Bumblebee. While Ratchet tended to Bumblebee, Prime, Bulkhead and Prowl attempted to remove Sari's key from her. Prowl's ninja moves allowed him to extract the key and he rushed it back to Ratchet, only to find its charge had been expended.

After all that excitement was done, the Autobots were surprised when Omega Supreme, now under Megatron's control, TransWarped into view and attacked them. Optimus and Prowl infiltrated the giant's leg, and Prowl headed for Omega's spark chamber while Optimus went to keep Megatron distracted. Prowl jacked in to Omega's memory, and was able to successfully encourage Omega Supreme to reject Megatron's control and reassert his own. The victory was short-lived, as Starscream took the opportunity to take over and eject both Prowl and Optimus from Omega Supreme. The problem was later solved via the application of a [[plasma dynamic thruster]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

With Professor Sumdac back on their side, the Autobots set about tracking down the dispersed Decepticons. The first one they ran into was Lugnut. Optimus and Prowl managed to get stasis cuff onto him while the others kept him distracted. Of course, then they had the problem of getting him out of the crater, but while they were doing that, Bulkhead got into some trouble with the Constructicons and they were forced to go help. Prowl warned Bumblebee not to make any sparks because there was oil everywhere, but otherwise stood around watching everyone else win the fight. {{storylink|Three's a Crowd}} Prowl's keen ninja senses somehow failed to detect when [[Wasp]] switched identities with Bumblebee. He and Bulkhead hunted the city for the now fugitive "Wasp" and found him attacking a [[Hot Dog Bot]]. He managed to convince the pair he was Bumblebee, but they were attacked by [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]]. Prowl eventually clarified Bulkhead's garbled explanation to Optimus and Sentinel, after which they returned to the plant to unsuccessfully try to catch the real Wasp. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

Assisting Optimus and the Elite Guard in hunting down a Decepticon, Prowl was as stunned as anyone else when Sentinel Prime apparently caught their quarry all by himself{{m-}}and it was only the most recent of several solo captures Sentinel had made. He then learned that Optimus had spotted a silhouette wearing a unique helmet that evening. Going over the helmets in the data banks with Optimus, Prowl was amazed when his commander identified Yoketron's old helmet as the one he'd seen. He went to share his thoughts with Jazz, a fellow student of Yoketron's, but Sentinel dismissed any notion that Yoketron was even online, much less on Earth. An attempt to shadow Sentinel failed, and Prowl returned to the Elite Guard ship, only to find Sentinel had captured [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] too! Realizing that all the captured Decepticons were missing their unique weapons and modifications, Prowl began to voice his suspicions, but Sentinel shut him up by revealing Lugnut's power-punch mods in storage. Prowl still suspected something was up, however, and his theories were supported when he overheard Sentinel talking via communicator to an unknown party before leaving again. Alerting Jazz, Prowl set out after Sentinel and discovered he'd been working with none other than Lockdown, who was wearing Yoketron's helmet. However, even as Prowl watched, Lockdown and the Starscream clone he'd just captured double-crossed Sentinel, and Lockdown revealed he'd been a student of Yoketron's too. Realizing who'd killed his sensei and destroyed the protoforms, Prowl attacked Lockdown and demanded the helmet. Lockdown complied, but the helmet had been rigged to spring a trap, and Prowl found himself bound tight and hauled aboard Lockdown's ship, there to have his mods removed and added to a duplicate of the power armor sidecar Lockdown had once lent him. However, Prowl was able to master the processor-over-matter technique to free himself, don the armor and battle Lockdown back outside. They landed by the Starscream clone just in time to have a scoreboard fall on them, but Prowl's processor-over-matter saved them from injury.

[[Image:TFA Five Servos processor over matter.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Everyone knows ninjas have magical powers like that.]]
The clone was captured, though Lockdown got away, and with a line to Cybertron finally open, Prime reported to [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] that Prowl was responsible for capturing all the Decepticons they had on the ship. Back in his quarters, Prowl graciously accepted Jazz's compliment that Yoketron would approve of the helmet's new owner, vowing to do all he could to be worthy of it. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

Prowl turned out with the other Autobots to see off Sentinel and his team as they left Earth for Cybertron. {{storylink|Predacons Rising}}

At [[Christmas]], Prowl theorized that [[Santa Claus]] could use holograms to deliver billions of presents in one night. He joined the other Autobots in drinking [[oilnog]], and they soon turned in for the night for a [[stasis lock|stasis nap]], however the next morning, they found they'd somehow been turned into humans. Prowl seemed most at ease, taking the opportunity to experience snow from a human perspective. When they stopped off at a [[Burger Bot]] on the way to Sumdac Tower, Prowl stuck with the vegetarian menu, and set about amusing the [[Nancy Witwicky|baby]] of one of the other patrons. The peace was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and the Autobots helped rescue people from a damaged building. Prowl dashed inside to rescue [[Gary]], exiting the building with a spectacular leap that ''should'' have been impossible. After an abortive attempt to fight the Decepticons in their new human forms, Prowl suggested they proceed to Sumdac Tower by bus.

They reached the tower, only to see the planet Cybertron hove into view and blast it. As Megatron and a host of Decepticons landed, Prowl and Optimus began to come to the realization that none of what they were experiencing was real. When Megatron picked up Prowl, the Autobot was able to slice Megatron's arm off with one blow and resist being stepped on by Blitzwing. Prowl proceeded to float in the air, menacing Starscream before phasing through his foe's head. After the Decepticons evaporated, the Autobots found they were able to return to their robot forms just by willing it. At that point, a giant [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] scooped them up. In the real world, Soundwave had jacked the five Autobots into a virtual reality, and planned to reprogram them as Decepticons. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

After Soundwave's reprogramming was interrupted, Prowl used processor over matter to escape the virtual world. Soundwave promptly caught him trying to free Optimus and put him back under. What's worse, the Autobots were returned to their human forms, and had to chase a virtual Soundwave in vehicles identical to their alternate modes. They had great difficulty adapting to driving and Prowl inadvertently did wheelies on his police cycle. The five Autobots were cornered by Soundwave, who began reprogramming them. Prowl was successful in using Processor over Matter to resist Soundwave's control, and when Soundwave used the Autobots in the real world to attack Sari and the group of "[[Substitute Autobot]]s" she'd gathered, he carefully made sure no one was harmed. As Soundwave focused on getting Optimus to offline Sari, Prowl took the opportunity to knock [[Ratbat (Animated)|Ratbat]] out of the Decepticon's hands, breaking his control. Soundwave responded by having Ratbat grab Prowl, lift him into the air and drop him into a building. After Optimus managed to defeat Soundwave, the Autobots reassembled, and Prowl reflected on how much they'd learned about what it meant to be organic. {{storylink|Human Error, Part II}}

When Omega Supreme's energy signature was detected on the Moon, Optimus decided that he needed an upgrade to keep up with Megatron. Prowl offered his boosters for Ratchet to study, and also offered to go to the Moon to check things out. Jazz insisted he stay on Earth and try to complete his cyber-ninja training. The pair retired to some woods, where Prowl was able to reconstitute an AllSpark fragment through meditation. After returning to base, they watch Ratchet repair Optimus after the testing of Prime's boosters, and Prowl encouraged his leader to take up the [[Magnus Hammer]]. As the Autobots discovered when they rushed outside, Megatron had created three clones of Omega Supreme, and they were on their way to Detroit. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

[[Image:EndgamePart2-Prowlsmiles.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Prowl turns that frown (and his sunglasses) upside down.]]

With the three [[Lugnut Supreme]]s bearing in on the city, Optimus had serious doubts over whether he could take them. Prowl reassured him, saying that he'd be behind Optimus every step of the way. The two took to the sky, but despite their best efforts, the Lugnut Supremes couldn't be taken individually. When Prowl suggested looking for a way to remove them all at the same time, Prime used his Magnus Hammer to carry them away to Dinobot Island with a whirlwind. This destroyed one and disabled flight capabilities for the remaining two, but still they advanced.

Prime ordered Prowl and Jazz to help evacuate the city's humans towards Sumdac Tower, since its force shields should make it a safe place. After this was accomplished, Prowl and Jazz tried to stop the Lugnut Supremes with their melee weapons, but they were ineffectual. Prime radioed Prowl, telling him that the only way to stop them from destroying the city was to gather the power of the AllSpark. Prowl took Jazz back with him to the tower, which had just lost its force shield. As the two cyber-ninjas meditated, fragments of the AllSpark were telekinetically gathered from all corners of the city, thanks to their mastery of [[Processor-over-matter]]. Starscream was an unwitting casualty of this, as the Decepticon had flown too close, and the AllSpark fragment that kept him alive was yanked from his skull.

[[Image:EndgamePart2-lastminutesave.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Who's that playing "Unchained Melody"?]]

But Prowl and Jazz couldn't muster enough AllSpark fragments to serve their needs. Some of it was missing! With the Lugnut Supremes now threatening to blow up the city and everything else in a 100-mile radius, Prowl made a tough choice. He levitated himself up towards their growing AllSpark fragment collection and relinquished his own [[spark]], despite Jazz's protests. With one last serene smile, Prowl was lost momentarily in a flash of light. His uncolored body fell into Jazz's arms as the light dimmed.

This last, desperate act enveloped the final Lugnut Supreme in an AllSpark-powered shell, capturing both Optimus Prime and Megatron inside. Prowl appeared once more, as an AllSpark ghost, to carry Prime away to safety.

With Megatron seemingly destroyed, Jazz carried the dead body of Prowl to the others. But before the Autobots could begin to mourn, Megatron reappeared, though heavily damaged. Prime fought the Decepticon leader with renewed vigor in the knowledge that this battle cost the life of his friend, but he stopped just short of killing the villain. Megatron and the other Decepticons were taken in captivity back to Cybertron, along with Prowl's body. Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Bulkhead were Prowl's pallbearers, and the crowds of Cybertron cheered their victory. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}

===''Be the Hero'' books===
{{Note|As the following stories are [[multipath adventure]]s, details will vary depending on the path taken. See individual pages for information on alternate paths.}}
====''Prime Suspect''====
When the police began pursuing [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] for breaking and entering, Prowl protected [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] and [[You|another kid]] who had been caught up in things, using his holograms to distract the cops. The trail led the Autobots to [[HomeTech]]'s laboratory, where the two kids were sent in to find the security footage of Prime apparently breaking in, which later necessitated a rescue by Prowl and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. The Autobots continued to follow the clues to HomeTech's main warehouse, where they fought [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]], the real mastermind behind the theft. {{storylink|Prime Suspect}}
====''Quest for the AllSpark''====
Prowl chose [[Texas]] to conceal a fake [[AllSpark]] when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] took control of [[Detroit]]'s robot workforce in an attempt to locate the artifact. He returned to Detroit in time to join [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] as they went to help Optimus and [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] fight [[Crush-A]]. {{storylink|Quest for the AllSpark}}
====''Web of Deception''====
Prowl saved Sari and her friend from drowning after their [[Sumdac Aquaskimmer Mk 1|Aquaskimmer]] was destroyed on the surface of Lake Erie. He, Bumblebee and Bulkhead subsequently found that the Autobot ship was offline and Optimus missing. Once everything was working again, Ratchet's scans located [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]]'s ship parked on the lake bed nearby, sending Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Prowl and the two young humans on a mission to investigate. While fighting the bounty hunter, they discovered the involvement of [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], who wanted revenge on Prime. After the clash, Prowl found he had to use [[Circuit-Su]] mediation to realign his inner processes before he could continue, however the delay led to Sari's young friend locating Blackarachnia and her eventual defeat. {{storylink|Web of Deception}}
====''Time-Quake''====
When strange time distortions began occurring across Detroit, the Autobots split up with special scanners to try and track down the cause of the problem. Prowl traced the signal to a disused warehouse on the Detroit River, arriving at around the same time as Bulkhead and a random [[You|human]]. Within, Prowl narrowly rescued the human when the floor collapsed, and in the basement the trio found a time machine. After Bulkhead and the human were plunged back in time, Prowl remained at the warehouse, but it was several days before the pair returned, having jaunted around history. Meanwhile, the other Autobots had tracked down the culprit behind the strange machine. Prowl and Bulkhead joined them at said culprit's hideout, but the foe was able to keep the Autobots at bay, forcing the human to go in to wrap things up. {{storylink|Time-Quake}}

===Titan Magazines===
When [[Quake-Maker]] attacked Detroit with, yep, earthquakes, Prowl was there saving people from falling rubble before the villain temporarily buried him. Once he got out, he found himself following the orders of new arrival [[Afterburn]] and helped beat Quake-Maker. {{storylink|Burnout}}

On his day off, Prowl went to a basketball game with Bulkhead, Sari and Afterburn. The speed, grace and tactics of the game thrilled him, leaving him with the belief they could learn much from basketball. Unfortunately he had to duck out of the game to stop the supervillain [[Crossroads]], who was causing robotic systems across Detroit. Working out with Sari that this was a diversionary tactic so Crossroads could reach [[Sumdac Tower]], Prowl and the others headed for the building, and Prowl disabled the villain's robot-controlling gauntlets with well-aimed shurikens. And he spouted basketball terms while doing this for... well, we dunno.

He stood in front of Afterburn while saying they should all keep their eyes out for the enemy. Surely a coincidental posing! {{storylink|Crossroads!}}

[[Image:Prowl_CRUNK!.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Take that, ''Shattered Glass'' Bumblebee!]]

When Bumblebee was boasting about his incredible speed, Prowl pointed out that he was also reckless and a dangerous driver. Why, if Bumblebee had to follow rules when he drove, Prowl could whip him! This throwing of the gauntlet led to the two Autobots having a race at [[Crazy Coyote Canyon]], with Bulkhead joining in for the heck of it. With his superior reflexes and ''driving over'' his opponent, Prowl shot into the lead, smugly noting that reckless actions get you into trouble...

...and then, not looking where he was going, ran into a Decepticon trap. With Lugnut planning to use him as a pinata, only Bumblebee's arrival saved him, and reckless action saw the two escape. If that wasn't embarrassing enough for Prowl, Bumblebee beat him in the rest of the race and ''Bulkhead'' won the whole thing... ! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|The Race}}

{{--}}

===''The Cool'' comic===

Witnessing the mysterious Allspark being uncovered, Prowl along with the rest of Optimus Prime's crew fled through a space bridge gate in order to keep the artifact out of Decepticon clutches. Unfortunately, Megatron was able to board their ship and left Prowl defeated on the floor, leaving Optimus to deal with the Decepticon leader by himself. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 3}}

Prowl was among the Autobots who traveled to the [[Earth]] city of [[Detroit]] in order to protect the [[AllSpark]] from the Decepticons. When [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] attacked, Prowl joined in the fray, pitting his skills against Blackarachnia. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 1}}

[[Image:The CoolAutobotsRevivePrime01.jpg|thumb|200px|right|]]

The Autobots were unable to prevent Starscream from seizing the AllSpark, however, and Prowl was helpless to defend himself from Starscream's AllSpark-powered aerial attacks. When [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] died stopping Starscream, and was subsequently revived by the power of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s [[AllSpark Key|key]], Prowl was there to greet him. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 2}}

Prowl later took part in defending [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] from a Decepticon raid. He expressed displeasure at [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]]'s aerial bombardments, observing that their weapons didn't have the range to counterattack. Once the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobot]]s saved the day, however, Prowl saw them off along with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 3}}

Prowl was present at [[Sumdac Systems]] headquarters when Megatron was revived in a new body. He fared poorly in battle, as Megatron swatted him away with a single blast of his [[fusion cannon]]. Prowl survived the fight and later greeted the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] when they arrived on Earth. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 5}}

Later, Prowl joined up with Lockdown, donning a set of power-boosting armor in order to take down [[Clone number 3370318|Clone #3370318]] (whom he mistook for the real Starscream). When Prowl learned that Lockdown would be selling "Starscream" to Megatron rather than Ultra Magnus, he attempted to stop his ex-partner, only to be subdued and rendered unconscious. Prowl eventually came to, joining the rest of the Autobots as [[Clone number 2716057|Clone #2716057]] attacked. Prowl defeated the clone, but destroyed an entire city park in the process. Prowl then recalled a lesson from his [[Cyber-Ninja Corps|Cyber-Ninja]] master, [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]], regarding power and choices. Realizing there was one Starscream too many, Prowl and the Autobots then rushed to a warehouse where Lockdown was meeting Megatron. The ''real'' Starscream had rigged the clones to explode and kill everyone. Using his head, Prowl attached his armor's rocket packs to the clones and sent them flying; harmlessly detonating in the sky. Prowl then discarded his armor, vowing to the memory of Yoketron that he would start his training over from scratch. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 6}}

Prowl then joined in the battle for the Decepticon [[space bridge#Animated cartoon|Space Bridge]]. He registered horror at the sight of Optimus Prime being blasted by [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]]. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 7|The Cool #7}} When the battle for the Space Bridge had ended, Prowl joined the other Autobots in bidding farewell to [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], who sacrificed himself in the fight. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 8}}

At Autobot HQ, Prowl performed a full body-scan on Sari and determined that she was originally a Transformer [[protoform]] that scanned Professor Sumdac's DNA, creating an entirely new lifeform. Suddenly, the Autobots were attacked by Starscream in Omega Supreme's body! Prowl encouraged Bulkhead to keep the fiend busy until Optimus could return from wherever it is that he went. Once Optimus ''did'' return and vanquished the Decepticon, Prowl was put in charge of finding Starscream's leftovers and pulling them out of Omega Supreme. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 9}}

Prior to the final confrontation against the Decepticons, Prowl stood heroically alongside his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 1}}

When Optimus was nearly killed during his epic showdown with Megatron, Prowl joined the rest of the Autobots in looking on in horror. However, when the Autobots returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] victorious, Prowl was nowhere to be seen. His fate remains a mystery. {{storylink|The Cool Episode Final}}

==Games==
===Transformers Animated: The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English)
[[Image:TFAnimated Game Prowl.jpg|thumb|left|120px]]
Prowl set up the Autobots' headquarters into an obstacle course for [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to practice their skills on. When Ratchet picked up a Decepticon signal, Optimus dispatched Prowl to investigate. Taking to the roads, Prowl located a [[Decepticon Transmitter Drone]] and shot it down. After Ratchet modified the drone to return home, it escaped from the Autobot base and Prowl chased after it but failed to catch up with it. He later tracked down and captured [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]], after the bounty hunter gave Bumblebee some trouble. He joined Bumblebee at the Decepticon mine base, and offered [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] a lift back to headquarters. Following the safe return from Cybertron of Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, he expressed incredulity that Optimus had turned down the chance to join the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The Game}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Transformers Animated===
[[Image:Prowl anim toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|No, you're not seeing things, both of his wheels are part of his robot mode, and it's still symmetrical.]]
*'''Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-05'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 traffic light "chain" weapon

: Prowl transforms into a black and gold police "superbike" of made-up model. Two of his hubcaps are removable, and they both can reconfigure into three-bladed "mecha stars" which he can hold in robot mode. The mecha stars have a pseudo-automorph feature; pulling out on one blade simultaneously opens the other two. He also comes with a traffic light "chain" weapon which he can hold in robot mode, but it cannot be stowed in superbike mode. As advertised on the back of the box, his bike mode lights can flip forward to form "flash blasters".

:Partly due to his lithe proportions and the double-jointed knees required for his transformation, Prowl is extremely poseable.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Prowl/prowl.htm Prowl at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|RescueRatchet}}
[[Image:Legends animated prowl.jpg|right|300px|thumb| The itty bitty ninja just kicked his universe veirson down the page.]]
*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Animated 3-pack, 2008)

: A Legends-class Prowl came packaged with this version of [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], as well as a Legends [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. It features a slightly different deco from the ''Universe'' release of the mold, including a silver chevron and a silver Autobot sigil.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/AniLegendsProwl/prowl.htm Prowl (Rescue Ratchet 3-pack) at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|BattleInSpace}}
*'''Battle in Space''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 street lamp "chain" weapon

: This Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] two-pack features an unchanged Deluxe Prowl and an unchanged Battle Damaged Deluxe [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] from the ''Battle Begins'' two-pack. The bundle was a 2008 [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] release for 2008.

{{-}}{{anchor|Samurai}}
[[Image:Samuraiprowldeluxe.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Bludgeon redeco in 5...4...3...]]
*'''Samurai Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-34'''
**''Accessories'': Sidecar/battle armor, wheel/"sword", 2 bladed mecha stars

:This heavy [[retool]] of Prowl includes an all-new sidecar which transforms into the "samurai" armor that appeared in "[[A Fistful of Energon]]." Roughly 80% of the original robot mode is retooled, replaced or redecoed, leaving only parts such as the biceps, interior of the arms, and the lower legs untouched. The robot mode "wings" are now designed to fold upwards, and a pair of slots were added to accommodate the body of the samurai armor. A new, smaller head with translucent plastic lightpiping replaces the original head so that the samurai helmet can fit, and either of the new pegs on his forearms can be used to mount the new wheel/blade weapon.

[[Image:Samuraiprowlsplitwheels.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Yours won't do this.]]
:A change was made to the wheel/sword weapon between the photography and final production stages. The Hasbro stock photography shows that the wheel was originally able to split down the middle, with each half pegging onto a forearm. However, this is not possible on the production version. The two halves are screwed together, and there's no hint of a second connection piece when disassembled. It's probable that the divided pieces constituted [[For safety reasons|a choking hazard]]. This modification, on the other hand, allows the sidecar to actually roll.

:Prowl's bladed ninja stars don't really seem to be intended to be removed from his legs, but with a bit of force, you can still jimmy them out of there. They have, however, been remolded so they no longer open, but they are exchangeable with the stars from the original Deluxe Prowl. He also lacks the chain traffic light from Original Prowl but can still hold it if you've got it.

:Prowl loses a lot of his original maneuverability when you put his Samurai armor on, and also becomes a little more tricky to balance, but that's the price you pay for the ability to blind your enemies with overexposure to pure awesomeness and blue translucent plastic.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/SamuraiProwl/prowl.htm Samurai Prowl at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|ClearSmokeLOC}}
[[Image:AniLegendsProwlClearSmoke.jpg|thumb|300px|Clear smoke? Future Detroit's air filtration systems are truly amazing!]]
*'''Prowl Clear Smoke Ver.''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

: A redeco of Legends Prowl in smokey translucent black, with some opaque grey parts. He was only available at Apita stores in Japan, given away for free to customers who purchased Voyager-class [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] or [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]].

{{-}}
[[Image:AniEZLimited.jpg|300px|thumb]]
*'''EZ Collection Limited Clear Version''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set included a redeco of Legends Prowl in mostly translucent black with some opaque parts. The set was given away at Family Mart stores in Japan as part of their raffle token promotion. Unlike Prowl Clear Smoke Version, this version of Prowl is painted to resemble his normal coloration, only clear. The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set was prize D, and included four different translucent EZ Collection figures, the other three being Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Starscream.

{{-}}{{anchor|EliteGuard}}
[[Image:AniDeluxeEliteGuardProwl.jpg|thumb|300px|Now he's a different kind of assassin.]]
*'''Prowl Elite Guard Ver.''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 street lamp "chain" weapon

:Available [[exclusive]]ly at Tokyo Toy Show 2010, Prowl Elite Guard Ver. is a redeco of the original Deluxe-class Prowl toy in a color scheme based on [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]]. The packaging is unchanged from the original retail release, bar a sticker on the front of the bubble.

{{-}}{{anchor|EliteGuardLOC}}
*'''Prowl Elite Guard Version''' (EZ Collection, 2010)
[[Image:AniEZEliteGuardProwl.jpg|thumb|300px|This needs Saba badly.]]
:A white, black and gold redeco of Legends Prowl, Prowl Elite Guard Version shares its overall deco with the above Tokyo Toy Show exclusive. It was only available blindpacked in TakaraTomy's EZ Collection Volume 4.

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Legends animated prowl.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Itty-bitty ninja.]]
*'''Prowl''' (Legends, 2008)

:A Legends-scale version of Animated Prowl, featuring a simplified transformation scheme. As with all current Legends class toys, it was offered under the Universe toyline.

: This toy can also be found as part of the ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Rescue Ratchet]] three-pack with Legends [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], and as part of a ''Universe'' three-pack with Legends [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and Legends [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Prowl's eyes are a reference to [[wikipedia:2000_AD_(comic)|2000 AD]]'s [[wikipedia:ABC_Warriors|ABC Warriors]].<ref>[https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=8564559979841180115 Comment section for "Back from Botcon" entry in Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref>
* Prowl's general robot mode design, down to his khaki legs, tall boots, and helmet-shaped head, is meant to evoke a [[wikipedia:California Highway Patrol|California Highway Patrol]] motorcycle cop, circa ''[[wikipedia:CHiPs|CHiPs]]''. Eat your heart out, [[wikipedia:Erik_Estrada|Erik Estrada]].<ref name="Hey">[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Derrick Wyatt explains Prowl's design in his personal blog]</ref>
* Despite his alternate mode being the smallest among the core cast, [[Size changing|Prowl's robot mode is about the same height as Ratchet's, and much taller than Bumblebee's]].
* Since he was in the AllSpark energy and able to save Optimus Prime after he relinquished his spark he seems to have fused with it much like [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Vector Sigma]]. It also seems possible that his spark, rather than truly being extinguished has fused with the AllSpark since he did appear as a spark ghost.
* Amazingly, Hasbro hadn't originally intended to make a Samurai Prowl toy until one of their team saw the episode.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html Derrick J. Wyatt Q&A... answers!]</ref> The on-show introduction of the samurai armor certainly wasn't your typical [[To sell toys|marketing vehicle]], considering Prowl's speech about how he didn't need the armor after all and everybody crediting him with a wise choice when he abandoned and destroyed it.
* Prowl's retractable [[mouthplate]] was inspired by [[Snake-Eyes]] from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]<ref>[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Response to comments in "Hey Everybody, It's Prowl!" article on Derrick Wyatt's blog]]</ref>
* When asked about the possibility of Prowl returning, Derrick J. Wyatt said that immediately after Prowl's funeral, his body would be ceremoniously melted down into raw material for new protoforms.<ref>[http://www.formspring.me/DerrickJWyatt/q/802241551 Derrick Wyatt explains that Prowl is dead-dead on his personal blog]</ref>
* Prowl shares his [[body-type]] with fellow Autobots [[Horsepower (Animated)|Horsepower]] and [[Sparkride (Animated)|Sparkride]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Prowl''' (プロール ''Purōru'')
*''Russian:'' '''Syshhik''' (Сыщик, "Detective")

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Animated Autobots]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Prowl (Animated)

2012-02-25T23:25:05Z

98.81.161.30: /* Animated cartoon */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Prowl}}
:''Prowl is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AniProwlPromoModel.jpg|right|250px|thumb|True warriors must move like water. NINJA water.]]
Some people are team players, and some... well, aren't. '''Prowl''' falls into the latter category. A loner at heart, he has little interest in teamwork, something [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] finds extremely frustrating. Prowl feels cooperation with the [[Bumblebee (Animated)|loud]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|unsubtle]] Autobots around him would cramp his style: a keen [[Cyber-Ninja]] prowess with elements of [[Circuit-Su]]<ref>Prowl's on-package [[bio]]</ref> and [[Metallikato]].<ref name="TEG">"[[The Elite Guard]]"</ref>

Seemingly bound up in his martial-arts philosophy is his deep, deep fascination with [[Earth]]'s natural environment. His quarters on [[Earth]] is missing most of its ceiling, allowing him a permanent window into nature. In fact, he seems to have a deeper appreciation of his new surroundings than the [[Human|humans]] who grew up with them. The phrase "stop and smell the roses" is a life truth for Prowl, and he can spend hours motionless, watching the organic world play out around him.

When called to battle, Prowl uses an array of throwing weapons, such as cutting discs, that he can hurl with high accuracy. While useful as projectiles, these weapons tend to be far more damaging at close range and will occasionally bounce off their target with little damage if thrown from too great a distance. He can project [[Hologram|holograms]] of himself, using them to misdirect his enemies. He is also the only member of his team with a jetpack, granting him limited flight.

Prowl is probably the most skilled fighter of his comrades, but this might not be saying much, as they were a mere [[space bridge]] repair crew before finding themselves suddenly defending the [[AllSpark]] against the resurgent [[Decepticon|Decepticons]].<ref>"[[Transform and Roll Out]]"</ref> In fact, [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]], witnessing him in action, remarked that Prowl must not have ''finished'' his cyber ninja training.<ref name="TEG">"[[The Elite Guard]]"</ref> The true story is more complex: having failed to protect the infant protoforms<ref>"[[Five Servos of Doom]]"</ref>, Prowl ended his studies in disgrace, seeking to commune with the Allspark. His quest for redemption and inner peace has ended in failure...so far.

{{bigquote|Stillness... then ''strike''.|Prowl getting past motion detectors|"[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English), [[Kōji Yusa]] (Japanese), [[Lutz Schnell]] (German), [[Louis van Beek]] (Dutch), [[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian) [[Fritz Gianvitto]] (Portuguese)
[[Image:TFA Five Servos Yoketron vs Prowl.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Go ninja go!Go ninja go!]]
A young Prowl tried to avoid being drafted into fighting in the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] but was apprehended by [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]] and taken to [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]]. Seeing potential in the young bot, Yoketron offered to teach Prowl in exchange for having the charges against him dropped. Under Yoketron's guidance, Prowl's fighting skills vastly improved over time, until Yoketron deemed him worthy to be a Cyber-Ninja and rewarded him with two shurikens. Yoketron showed Prowl a hidden room in the [[Cyber-Ninja Dojo|dojo]], accessed via a secret door opened by [[processor-over-matter]]. Entering the hidden chamber, Prowl learned from Yoketron that the mission of the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]] was to protect the [[protoform]]s in the room, lest they be needed to fight against the [[Decepticon]]s if [[Project Omega]] failed. Exiting the room, Prowl was unable to complete the Yoketron's request to close the door with his mind. Prowl was thus sent on an optics quest to master the skill and be a true Cyber-Ninja. Some time later, having not yet succeeded, Prowl returned to Yoketron's dojo, only to find it in ruin and his master beaten to near-death. Panicked, Prowl managed to find one protoform and transferred Yoketron's spark into it. However, all he had done was make his master unhappy by sacrificing a little of the future to save the past. Assured by Yoketron that he would understand some day Prowl watched his sensei's spark expire and mourned his loss. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

Following this, Prowl secluded himself in meditation to try and commune with the AllSpark. One million stellar cycles later, he was discovered by [[space bridge]] technicians [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]. Seeing if the ninja-bot was in stasis lock, Prowl angrily told them he was trying to meditate, and all he had to show for his million long efforts was a massive processor ache. Bumblebee and Bulkhead promised to work around him, but an [[energon cube]] [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] was setting up fell into the cavern the three were in. All though they managed to get out unharmed, Prowl's ship was destroyed in the explosion. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] offered to take him back to Cybertron after they were finished in this sector. Unfortunately, it would be some fifty to sixty stellar cycles before they were done, though Optimus mentioned that Prowl's help would make it go faster. Striking a rock in anger, Prowl ranted about how his path had taken so many twists and turns that he didn't even know where he was. Optimus said that he could relate to that. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

Prowl showed a lack of interest in both teamwork (as a loner type) and in the motivational (kinda long-winded) speeches of Optimus Prime. He did not obey orders at first and learned of the consequences firsthand as he was nearly killed by a nanite-enhanced cockroach. After his revival at the hands of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] and the [[AllSpark|AllSpark-empowered]] [[AllSpark Key|Key]], he showed that he had become a valuable team player when he headed out with Bumblebee and Sari to save [[Isaac Sumdac|Professor Sumdac]] and [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] from [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

Later, Prowl was watching a [[Skippy|cat]] stalk a bird. He found it fascinating, but was aggravated when he was interrupted by human fans. Returning to base, he hid out in his Japanese-themed room, only to be interrupted by Prime and Bumblebee. Even worse, Sari threw a slumber party, pushing Prowl to the edge with the commotion. Ironically, when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] took over the factory, Prowl was able to show Bumblebee the value of stillness in battle, something the pair would work on later in a game of Twister™. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

In an attempt to get [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to be less bumbling and destructive, he tried to teach his comrade how to move with ninja-like grace as he did. It...did not go well. Bulkhead's effectiveness in battle was undermined until Prowl realized Bulkhead's approach had its place and encouraged him to "do what you do." He also sensed [[Spark|sparks]] within the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] and, unwilling to let them be destroyed, secretly hid them on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|a small island]] before they were melted down. As he explained to Bulkhead, "Just because something's big and lumbering and destructive, doesn't mean you give up on it." {{storylink|Blast from the Past}}

Reasoning correctly that the Decepticons would target Sari to get at the AllSpark Key, Prowl took to instructing her in the art of "ninja nerve blows." It was shortly after one of these sessions that his decision to save the Dinobots seemingly came back to haunt him when the gargantuan robots kidnapped the girl. He headed to their island home with Bulkhead in tow, the suspicious [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] shadowing them somewhat clumsily the whole way. However, the police captain was not prepared for the environmental hazards of the secluded island and had to be rescued by the pair of Autobots. Together, the three of them discovered that the Dinobots had been coerced into kidnapping Sari by [[Meltdown (Animated)|Prometheus Black]], whose corrosive touch they had come to fear. Forced along with Fanzone to fight the mad geneticist's [[Fusion creature|creations]] in a gladiatorial arena, Prowl began to develop a bond with the captain, who in turn came to trust Prowl. {{storylink|Survival of the Fittest}}

When Decepticon energy signals were detected, the Autobots quickly realized that they were outnumbered. Bulkhead mentioned that the Dinobots might be able to help, not aware that Prowl hadn't told Optimus they had moved them to Dinobot Island. Prime was furious and ordered the two to take him there at once. After searching the island, the Autobots found the Dinobots. Prime's introduction was less than friendly, and Prowl was forced to smooth things over with Grimlock. They were unwilling to help, so the Autobots left, unsure of their next move. When Bumblebee contacted Prime, saying that Starscream was at Sumdac Tower, he ordered him to stand down. When they arrived at the tower, they saw Bumblebee fighting Starscream. Prime dryly noted that disobeying orders was becoming a habit, but Prowl wasn't too insulted.

He was too busy being shocked by Megatron bursting through Sumdac Tower. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

Quickly regaining their composure, the Autobots attacked, only for Megatron to defeat all three of them himself. After the battle, Sumdac revealed that he had helped rebuild Megatron. Prowl was furious, but Prime said that it was unimportant. Using residual AllSpark Key energy in Sumdac's lab, the Autobots repaired themselves, and Prime apologized for his harsh words. [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and Sari came in the ship, but it was shot down over Dinobot Island. During the subsequent battle, Prowl noticed that [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing's]] multiple personalities were connected to his [[Alternate mode|alternate modes]]. To cause his hotheaded side to emerge and transform into a tank, Prowl suggested that Bumblebee use his greatest strength—his obnoxious personality. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

[[Image:Samprowl.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Got to get back... Back to the past. Samurai <strike>Jack</strike> <strike>Jazz</strike> Prowl.]]
While responding to a report of rampages on Dinobot Island, Prowl and Bulkhead were given Ratchet's EMP generator and stasis cuffs to detain the Dinobots. Discovering that Grimlock had a metal shard wedged in his foot, Prowl used the generator to dull Grimlock's sensors and remove the shard. However, they then received a call from [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] that Starscream had escaped. Heading to the Autobots' crashed ship, Prowl used [[Teletran-1]] to scan for Starscream, discovering him on the Moon. Prowl suggested that they go after Starscream, but Bulkhead thought it was suicide. So Prowl stole a shuttle and went off by himself. Locating Starscream on the Moon, he managed to place stasis cuffs on the Decepticon, but [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] appeared to take Starscream off Prowl's hands. During their fight, Starscream escaped and destroyed Prowl's shuttle. Stowing away on Lockdown's ship, Prowl suggested an alliance to capture him. Lockdown gave him a set of armor that would assist him in the hunt. Discovering a purple (and frightened) Starscream, they captured him, but Lockdown revealed that he was working for Megatron. Prowl would not allow Starscream to be taken, but Lockdown tied Prowl up and left.

[[Image:Samurai prowl altmode.jpg|thumb|right|150px|]]
The other Autobots arrived and chewed out Prowl for his actions, but Prowl insisted that they retrieve Starscream first. During their pursuit, Starscream somehow showed up and offered an alliance against Megatron. Prowl took down Starscream, but in his actions, he destroyed a bird's nest. Realizing that the modifications he had were going to his head, he resolved to abandon them... once they got Starscream. Prowl initially flubbed an attempt to spy on the meet between Megatron and Lockdown and quickly found himself outgunned until the other Autobots arrived with the second Starscream. During the standoff that followed, the two Starscreams revealed that they had bombs inside them. Prowl used the armor he had been given to send them into the sky, saving Detroit from destruction. Lockdown then contacted Prowl, offering him a partnership, but Prowl declined and returned Ratchet's EMP generator. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

When Bulkhead was kidnapped, Bumblebee brought the Autobot intelligence agent [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] to the plant, who revealed that Megatron was building a space bridge to conquer Cybertron from within. As Sari and Ratchet went to repair the ship, Prowl went with the others to rescue Bulkhead and shut down the space bridge. However, they were incapacitated by the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]]... just in time for Starscream and [[Starscream clone (Animated)|his clones]] to attack. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

Escaping the Constructicons, Prowl was able to lock stasis cuffs on [[Ramjet (Animated)|a lying clone]], but was soon occupied with [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]. When Prowl managed to disengage long enough to check on an injured Prime, [[Sunstorm (Animated)|a fawning clone]] managed to place stasis cuffs on him. Once he came back online, Prowl began using the [[processor-over-matter]] technique to disable his stasis cuffs, which would theoretically work if he had completed his training. Fortunately, it did work, and Prowl was able to throw a shuriken at Prime's stasis cuffs as he was being thrown through the space bridge. Unfortunately, power problems with the bridge arose, causing Megatron to add Starscream's AllSpark infused head to the mix. This caused a power overload which sucked up Megatron and Starscream, and nearly sucked up the Autobots as well. Fortunately, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] arrived and sacrificed himself to save the Autobots by allowing himself to be sucked into the portal. After escaping from the self-destructing bridge, Optimus Prime asked if everyone was okay, and Prowl gave an affirmative nod.

Unfortunately, Sari was not okay, for the skin of her right arm had been torn, revealing robotic circuitry underneath! {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

Hearing of Professor Sumdac's sketchy explanation of Sari's origins, Prowl infiltrated Sumdac's lab, scanned the professor and accessed his computer data. He later revealed his conclusions: Sari had begun her existence as a Cybertronian protoform. How or why that protoform had shown up in Sumdac's lab was still a mystery, however. When a [[Rock Lord]] was TransWarped to Earth with Bumblebee inside, Prowl was surprised that Ratchet was taking his EMP generator into battle again. They barely got a chance to face the thing when Sari upgraded herself with her key and smashed the Rock Lord into bits. Unfortunately her upgrades went out of control and she wounded Bumblebee. While Ratchet tended to Bumblebee, Prime, Bulkhead and Prowl attempted to remove Sari's key from her. Prowl's ninja moves allowed him to extract the key and he rushed it back to Ratchet, only to find its charge had been expended.

After all that excitement was done, the Autobots were surprised when Omega Supreme, now under Megatron's control, TransWarped into view and attacked them. Optimus and Prowl infiltrated the giant's leg, and Prowl headed for Omega's spark chamber while Optimus went to keep Megatron distracted. Prowl jacked in to Omega's memory, and was able to successfully encourage Omega Supreme to reject Megatron's control and reassert his own. The victory was short-lived, as Starscream took the opportunity to take over and eject both Prowl and Optimus from Omega Supreme. The problem was later solved via the application of a [[plasma dynamic thruster]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

With Professor Sumdac back on their side, the Autobots set about tracking down the dispersed Decepticons. The first one they ran into was Lugnut. Optimus and Prowl managed to get stasis cuff onto him while the others kept him distracted. Of course, then they had the problem of getting him out of the crater, but while they were doing that, Bulkhead got into some trouble with the Constructicons and they were forced to go help. Prowl warned Bumblebee not to make any sparks because there was oil everywhere, but otherwise stood around watching everyone else win the fight. {{storylink|Three's a Crowd}} Prowl's keen ninja senses somehow failed to detect when [[Wasp]] switched identities with Bumblebee. He and Bulkhead hunted the city for the now fugitive "Wasp" and found him attacking a [[Hot Dog Bot]]. He managed to convince the pair he was Bumblebee, but they were attacked by [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]]. Prowl eventually clarified Bulkhead's garbled explanation to Optimus and Sentinel, after which they returned to the plant to unsuccessfully try to catch the real Wasp. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

Assisting Optimus and the Elite Guard in hunting down a Decepticon, Prowl was as stunned as anyone else when Sentinel Prime apparently caught their quarry all by himself{{m-}}and it was only the most recent of several solo captures Sentinel had made. He then learned that Optimus had spotted a silhouette wearing a unique helmet that evening. Going over the helmets in the data banks with Optimus, Prowl was amazed when his commander identified Yoketron's old helmet as the one he'd seen. He went to share his thoughts with Jazz, a fellow student of Yoketron's, but Sentinel dismissed any notion that Yoketron was even online, much less on Earth. An attempt to shadow Sentinel failed, and Prowl returned to the Elite Guard ship, only to find Sentinel had captured [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] too! Realizing that all the captured Decepticons were missing their unique weapons and modifications, Prowl began to voice his suspicions, but Sentinel shut him up by revealing Lugnut's power-punch mods in storage. Prowl still suspected something was up, however, and his theories were supported when he overheard Sentinel talking via communicator to an unknown party before leaving again. Alerting Jazz, Prowl set out after Sentinel and discovered he'd been working with none other than Lockdown, who was wearing Yoketron's helmet. However, even as Prowl watched, Lockdown and the Starscream clone he'd just captured double-crossed Sentinel, and Lockdown revealed he'd been a student of Yoketron's too. Realizing who'd killed his sensei and destroyed the protoforms, Prowl attacked Lockdown and demanded the helmet. Lockdown complied, but the helmet had been rigged to spring a trap, and Prowl found himself bound tight and hauled aboard Lockdown's ship, there to have his mods removed and added to a duplicate of the power armor sidecar Lockdown had once lent him. However, Prowl was able to master the processor-over-matter technique to free himself, don the armor and battle Lockdown back outside. They landed by the Starscream clone just in time to have a scoreboard fall on them, but Prowl's processor-over-matter saved them from injury.

[[Image:TFA Five Servos processor over matter.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Everyone knows ninjas have magical powers like that.]]
The clone was captured, though Lockdown got away, and with a line to Cybertron finally open, Prime reported to [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] that Prowl was responsible for capturing all the Decepticons they had on the ship. Back in his quarters, Prowl graciously accepted Jazz's compliment that Yoketron would approve of the helmet's new owner, vowing to do all he could to be worthy of it. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

Prowl turned out with the other Autobots to see off Sentinel and his team as they left Earth for Cybertron. {{storylink|Predacons Rising}}

At [[Christmas]], Prowl theorized that [[Santa Claus]] could use holograms to deliver billions of presents in one night. He joined the other Autobots in drinking [[oilnog]], and they soon turned in for the night for a [[stasis lock|stasis nap]], however the next morning, they found they'd somehow been turned into humans. Prowl seemed most at ease, taking the opportunity to experience snow from a human perspective. When they stopped off at a [[Burger Bot]] on the way to Sumdac Tower, Prowl stuck with the vegetarian menu, and set about amusing the [[Nancy Witwicky|baby]] of one of the other patrons. The peace was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and the Autobots helped rescue people from a damaged building. Prowl dashed inside to rescue [[Gary]], exiting the building with a spectacular leap that ''should'' have been impossible. After an abortive attempt to fight the Decepticons in their new human forms, Prowl suggested they proceed to Sumdac Tower by bus.

They reached the tower, only to see the planet Cybertron hove into view and blast it. As Megatron and a host of Decepticons landed, Prowl and Optimus began to come to the realization that none of what they were experiencing was real. When Megatron picked up Prowl, the Autobot was able to slice Megatron's arm off with one blow and resist being stepped on by Blitzwing. Prowl proceeded to float in the air, menacing Starscream before phasing through his foe's head. After the Decepticons evaporated, the Autobots found they were able to return to their robot forms just by willing it. At that point, a giant [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] scooped them up. In the real world, Soundwave had jacked the five Autobots into a virtual reality, and planned to reprogram them as Decepticons. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

After Soundwave's reprogramming was interrupted, Prowl used processor over matter to escape the virtual world. Soundwave promptly caught him trying to free Optimus and put him back under. What's worse, the Autobots were returned to their human forms, and had to chase a virtual Soundwave in vehicles identical to their alternate modes. They had great difficulty adapting to driving and Prowl inadvertently did wheelies on his police cycle. The five Autobots were cornered by Soundwave, who began reprogramming them. Prowl was successful in using Processor over Matter to resist Soundwave's control, and when Soundwave used the Autobots in the real world to attack Sari and the group of "[[Substitute Autobot]]s" she'd gathered, he carefully made sure no one was harmed. As Soundwave focused on getting Optimus to offline Sari, Prowl took the opportunity to knock [[Ratbat (Animated)|Ratbat]] out of the Decepticon's hands, breaking his control. Soundwave responded by having Ratbat grab Prowl, lift him into the air and drop him into a building. After Optimus managed to defeat Soundwave, the Autobots reassembled, and Prowl reflected on how much they'd learned about what it meant to be organic. {{storylink|Human Error, Part II}}

When Omega Supreme's energy signature was detected on the Moon, Optimus decided that he needed an upgrade to keep up with Megatron. Prowl offered his boosters for Ratchet to study, and also offered to go to the Moon to check things out. Jazz insisted he stay on Earth and try to complete his cyber-ninja training. The pair retired to some woods, where Prowl was able to reconstitute an AllSpark fragment through meditation. After returning to base, they watch Ratchet repair Optimus after the testing of Prime's boosters, and Prowl encouraged his leader to take up the [[Magnus Hammer]]. As the Autobots discovered when they rushed outside, Megatron had created three clones of Omega Supreme, and they were on their way to Detroit. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

[[Image:EndgamePart2-Prowlsmiles.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Prowl turns that frown (and his sunglasses) upside down.]]

With the three [[Lugnut Supreme]]s bearing in on the city, Optimus had serious doubts over whether he could take them. Prowl reassured him, saying that he'd be behind Optimus every step of the way. The two took to the sky, but despite their best efforts, the Lugnut Supremes couldn't be taken individually. When Prowl suggested looking for a way to remove them all at the same time, Prime used his Magnus Hammer to carry them away to Dinobot Island with a whirlwind. This destroyed one and disabled flight capabilities for the remaining two, but still they advanced.

Prime ordered Prowl and Jazz to help evacuate the city's humans towards Sumdac Tower, since its force shields should make it a safe place. After this was accomplished, Prowl and Jazz tried to stop the Lugnut Supremes with their melee weapons, but they were ineffectual. Prime radioed Prowl, telling him that the only way to stop them from destroying the city was to gather the power of the AllSpark. Prowl took Jazz back with him to the tower, which had just lost its force shield. As the two cyber-ninjas meditated, fragments of the AllSpark were telekinetically gathered from all corners of the city, thanks to their mastery of [[Processor-over-matter]]. Starscream was an unwitting casualty of this, as the Decepticon had flown too close, and the AllSpark fragment that kept him alive was yanked from his skull.

[[Image:EndgamePart2-lastminutesave.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Who's that playing "Unchained Melody"?]]

But Prowl and Jazz couldn't muster enough AllSpark fragments to serve their needs. Some of it was missing! With the Lugnut Supremes now threatening to blow up the city and everything else in a 100-mile radius, Prowl made a tough choice. He levitated himself up towards their growing AllSpark fragment collection and relinquished his own [[spark]], despite Jazz's protests. With one last serene smile, Prowl was lost momentarily in a flash of light. His uncolored body fell into Jazz's arms as the light dimmed.

This last, desperate act enveloped the final Lugnut Supreme in an AllSpark-powered shell, capturing both Optimus Prime and Megatron inside. Prowl appeared once more, as an AllSpark ghost, to carry Prime away to safety.

With Megatron seemingly destroyed, Jazz carried the dead body of Prowl to the others. But before the Autobots could begin to mourn, Megatron reappeared, though heavily damaged. Prime fought the Decepticon leader with renewed vigor in the knowledge that this battle cost the life of his friend, but he stopped just short of killing the villain. Megatron and the other Decepticons were taken in captivity back to Cybertron, along with Prowl's body. Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Bulkhead were Prowl's pallbearers, and the crowds of Cybertron cheered their victory. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}

===''Be the Hero'' books===
{{Note|As the following stories are [[multipath adventure]]s, details will vary depending on the path taken. See individual pages for information on alternate paths.}}
====''Prime Suspect''====
When the police began pursuing [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] for breaking and entering, Prowl protected [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] and [[You|another kid]] who had been caught up in things, using his holograms to distract the cops. The trail led the Autobots to [[HomeTech]]'s laboratory, where the two kids were sent in to find the security footage of Prime apparently breaking in, which later necessitated a rescue by Prowl and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. The Autobots continued to follow the clues to HomeTech's main warehouse, where they fought [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]], the real mastermind behind the theft. {{storylink|Prime Suspect}}
====''Quest for the AllSpark''====
Prowl chose [[Texas]] to conceal a fake [[AllSpark]] when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] took control of [[Detroit]]'s robot workforce in an attempt to locate the artifact. He returned to Detroit in time to join [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] as they went to help Optimus and [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] fight [[Crush-A]]. {{storylink|Quest for the AllSpark}}
====''Web of Deception''====
Prowl saved Sari and her friend from drowning after their [[Sumdac Aquaskimmer Mk 1|Aquaskimmer]] was destroyed on the surface of Lake Erie. He, Bumblebee and Bulkhead subsequently found that the Autobot ship was offline and Optimus missing. Once everything was working again, Ratchet's scans located [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]]'s ship parked on the lake bed nearby, sending Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Prowl and the two young humans on a mission to investigate. While fighting the bounty hunter, they discovered the involvement of [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], who wanted revenge on Prime. After the clash, Prowl found he had to use [[Circuit-Su]] mediation to realign his inner processes before he could continue, however the delay led to Sari's young friend locating Blackarachnia and her eventual defeat. {{storylink|Web of Deception}}
====''Time-Quake''====
When strange time distortions began occurring across Detroit, the Autobots split up with special scanners to try and track down the cause of the problem. Prowl traced the signal to a disused warehouse on the Detroit River, arriving at around the same time as Bulkhead and a random [[You|human]]. Within, Prowl narrowly rescued the human when the floor collapsed, and in the basement the trio found a time machine. After Bulkhead and the human were plunged back in time, Prowl remained at the warehouse, but it was several days before the pair returned, having jaunted around history. Meanwhile, the other Autobots had tracked down the culprit behind the strange machine. Prowl and Bulkhead joined them at said culprit's hideout, but the foe was able to keep the Autobots at bay, forcing the human to go in to wrap things up. {{storylink|Time-Quake}}

===Titan Magazines===
When [[Quake-Maker]] attacked Detroit with, yep, earthquakes, Prowl was there saving people from falling rubble before the villain temporarily buried him. Once he got out, he found himself following the orders of new arrival [[Afterburn]] and helped beat Quake-Maker. {{storylink|Burnout}}

On his day off, Prowl went to a basketball game with Bulkhead, Sari and Afterburn. The speed, grace and tactics of the game thrilled him, leaving him with the belief they could learn much from basketball. Unfortunately he had to duck out of the game to stop the supervillain [[Crossroads]], who was causing robotic systems across Detroit. Working out with Sari that this was a diversionary tactic so Crossroads could reach [[Sumdac Tower]], Prowl and the others headed for the building, and Prowl disabled the villain's robot-controlling gauntlets with well-aimed shurikens. And he spouted basketball terms while doing this for... well, we dunno.

He stood in front of Afterburn while saying they should all keep their eyes out for the enemy. Surely a coincidental posing! {{storylink|Crossroads!}}

[[Image:Prowl_CRUNK!.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Take that, ''Shattered Glass'' Bumblebee!]]

When Bumblebee was boasting about his incredible speed, Prowl pointed out that he was also reckless and a dangerous driver. Why, if Bumblebee had to follow rules when he drove, Prowl could whip him! This throwing of the gauntlet led to the two Autobots having a race at [[Crazy Coyote Canyon]], with Bulkhead joining in for the heck of it. With his superior reflexes and ''driving over'' his opponent, Prowl shot into the lead, smugly noting that reckless actions get you into trouble...

...and then, not looking where he was going, ran into a Decepticon trap. With Lugnut planning to use him as a pinata, only Bumblebee's arrival saved him, and reckless action saw the two escape. If that wasn't embarrassing enough for Prowl, Bumblebee beat him in the rest of the race and ''Bulkhead'' won the whole thing... ! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|The Race}}

{{--}}

===''The Cool'' comic===

Witnessing the mysterious Allspark being uncovered, Prowl along with the rest of Optimus Prime's crew fled through a space bridge gate in order to keep the artifact out of Decepticon clutches. Unfortunately, Megatron was able to board their ship and left Prowl defeated on the floor, leaving Optimus to deal with the Decepticon leader by himself. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 3}}

Prowl was among the Autobots who traveled to the [[Earth]] city of [[Detroit]] in order to protect the [[AllSpark]] from the Decepticons. When [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] attacked, Prowl joined in the fray, pitting his skills against Blackarachnia. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 1}}

[[Image:The CoolAutobotsRevivePrime01.jpg|thumb|200px|right|]]

The Autobots were unable to prevent Starscream from seizing the AllSpark, however, and Prowl was helpless to defend himself from Starscream's AllSpark-powered aerial attacks. When [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] died stopping Starscream, and was subsequently revived by the power of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s [[AllSpark Key|key]], Prowl was there to greet him. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 2}}

Prowl later took part in defending [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] from a Decepticon raid. He expressed displeasure at [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]]'s aerial bombardments, observing that their weapons didn't have the range to counterattack. Once the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobot]]s saved the day, however, Prowl saw them off along with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 3}}

Prowl was present at [[Sumdac Systems]] headquarters when Megatron was revived in a new body. He fared poorly in battle, as Megatron swatted him away with a single blast of his [[fusion cannon]]. Prowl survived the fight and later greeted the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] when they arrived on Earth. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 5}}

Later, Prowl joined up with Lockdown, donning a set of power-boosting armor in order to take down [[Clone number 3370318|Clone #3370318]] (whom he mistook for the real Starscream). When Prowl learned that Lockdown would be selling "Starscream" to Megatron rather than Ultra Magnus, he attempted to stop his ex-partner, only to be subdued and rendered unconscious. Prowl eventually came to, joining the rest of the Autobots as [[Clone number 2716057|Clone #2716057]] attacked. Prowl defeated the clone, but destroyed an entire city park in the process. Prowl then recalled a lesson from his [[Cyber-Ninja Corps|Cyber-Ninja]] master, [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]], regarding power and choices. Realizing there was one Starscream too many, Prowl and the Autobots then rushed to a warehouse where Lockdown was meeting Megatron. The ''real'' Starscream had rigged the clones to explode and kill everyone. Using his head, Prowl attached his armor's rocket packs to the clones and sent them flying; harmlessly detonating in the sky. Prowl then discarded his armor, vowing to the memory of Yoketron that he would start his training over from scratch. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 6}}

Prowl then joined in the battle for the Decepticon [[space bridge#Animated cartoon|Space Bridge]]. He registered horror at the sight of Optimus Prime being blasted by [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]]. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 7|The Cool #7}} When the battle for the Space Bridge had ended, Prowl joined the other Autobots in bidding farewell to [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], who sacrificed himself in the fight. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 8}}

At Autobot HQ, Prowl performed a full body-scan on Sari and determined that she was originally a Transformer [[protoform]] that scanned Professor Sumdac's DNA, creating an entirely new lifeform. Suddenly, the Autobots were attacked by Starscream in Omega Supreme's body! Prowl encouraged Bulkhead to keep the fiend busy until Optimus could return from wherever it is that he went. Once Optimus ''did'' return and vanquished the Decepticon, Prowl was put in charge of finding Starscream's leftovers and pulling them out of Omega Supreme. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 9}}

Prior to the final confrontation against the Decepticons, Prowl stood heroically alongside his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 1}}

When Optimus was nearly killed during his epic showdown with Megatron, Prowl joined the rest of the Autobots in looking on in horror. However, when the Autobots returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] victorious, Prowl was nowhere to be seen. His fate remains a mystery. {{storylink|The Cool Episode Final}}

==Games==
===Transformers Animated: The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English)
[[Image:TFAnimated Game Prowl.jpg|thumb|left|120px]]
Prowl set up the Autobots' headquarters into an obstacle course for [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to practice their skills on. When Ratchet picked up a Decepticon signal, Optimus dispatched Prowl to investigate. Taking to the roads, Prowl located a [[Decepticon Transmitter Drone]] and shot it down. After Ratchet modified the drone to return home, it escaped from the Autobot base and Prowl chased after it but failed to catch up with it. He later tracked down and captured [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]], after the bounty hunter gave Bumblebee some trouble. He joined Bumblebee at the Decepticon mine base, and offered [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] a lift back to headquarters. Following the safe return from Cybertron of Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, he expressed incredulity that Optimus had turned down the chance to join the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The Game}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Transformers Animated===
[[Image:Prowl anim toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|No, you're not seeing things, both of his wheels are part of his robot mode, and it's still symmetrical.]]
*'''Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-05'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 traffic light "chain" weapon

: Prowl transforms into a black and gold police "superbike" of made-up model. Two of his hubcaps are removable, and they both can reconfigure into three-bladed "mecha stars" which he can hold in robot mode. The mecha stars have a pseudo-automorph feature; pulling out on one blade simultaneously opens the other two. He also comes with a traffic light "chain" weapon which he can hold in robot mode, but it cannot be stowed in superbike mode. As advertised on the back of the box, his bike mode lights can flip forward to form "flash blasters".

:Partly due to his lithe proportions and the double-jointed knees required for his transformation, Prowl is extremely poseable.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Prowl/prowl.htm Prowl at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|RescueRatchet}}
[[Image:Legends animated prowl.jpg|right|300px|thumb| Even as a legend he keeps the epic transformation.]]
*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Animated 3-pack, 2008)

: A Legends-class Prowl came packaged with this version of [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], as well as a Legends [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. It features a slightly different deco from the ''Universe'' release of the mold, including a silver chevron and a silver Autobot sigil.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/AniLegendsProwl/prowl.htm Prowl (Rescue Ratchet 3-pack) at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|BattleInSpace}}
*'''Battle in Space''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 street lamp "chain" weapon

: This Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] two-pack features an unchanged Deluxe Prowl and an unchanged Battle Damaged Deluxe [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] from the ''Battle Begins'' two-pack. The bundle was a 2008 [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] release for 2008.

{{-}}{{anchor|Samurai}}
[[Image:Samuraiprowldeluxe.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Bludgeon redeco in 5...4...3...]]
*'''Samurai Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-34'''
**''Accessories'': Sidecar/battle armor, wheel/"sword", 2 bladed mecha stars

:This heavy [[retool]] of Prowl includes an all-new sidecar which transforms into the "samurai" armor that appeared in "[[A Fistful of Energon]]." Roughly 80% of the original robot mode is retooled, replaced or redecoed, leaving only parts such as the biceps, interior of the arms, and the lower legs untouched. The robot mode "wings" are now designed to fold upwards, and a pair of slots were added to accommodate the body of the samurai armor. A new, smaller head with translucent plastic lightpiping replaces the original head so that the samurai helmet can fit, and either of the new pegs on his forearms can be used to mount the new wheel/blade weapon.

[[Image:Samuraiprowlsplitwheels.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Yours won't do this.]]
:A change was made to the wheel/sword weapon between the photography and final production stages. The Hasbro stock photography shows that the wheel was originally able to split down the middle, with each half pegging onto a forearm. However, this is not possible on the production version. The two halves are screwed together, and there's no hint of a second connection piece when disassembled. It's probable that the divided pieces constituted [[For safety reasons|a choking hazard]]. This modification, on the other hand, allows the sidecar to actually roll.

:Prowl's bladed ninja stars don't really seem to be intended to be removed from his legs, but with a bit of force, you can still jimmy them out of there. They have, however, been remolded so they no longer open, but they are exchangeable with the stars from the original Deluxe Prowl. He also lacks the chain traffic light from Original Prowl but can still hold it if you've got it.

:Prowl loses a lot of his original maneuverability when you put his Samurai armor on, and also becomes a little more tricky to balance, but that's the price you pay for the ability to blind your enemies with overexposure to pure awesomeness and blue translucent plastic.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/SamuraiProwl/prowl.htm Samurai Prowl at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|ClearSmokeLOC}}
[[Image:AniLegendsProwlClearSmoke.jpg|thumb|300px|Clear smoke? Future Detroit's air filtration systems are truly amazing!]]
*'''Prowl Clear Smoke Ver.''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

: A redeco of Legends Prowl in smokey translucent black, with some opaque grey parts. He was only available at Apita stores in Japan, given away for free to customers who purchased Voyager-class [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] or [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]].

{{-}}
[[Image:AniEZLimited.jpg|300px|thumb]]
*'''EZ Collection Limited Clear Version''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set included a redeco of Legends Prowl in mostly translucent black with some opaque parts. The set was given away at Family Mart stores in Japan as part of their raffle token promotion. Unlike Prowl Clear Smoke Version, this version of Prowl is painted to resemble his normal coloration, only clear. The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set was prize D, and included four different translucent EZ Collection figures, the other three being Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Starscream.

{{-}}{{anchor|EliteGuard}}
[[Image:AniDeluxeEliteGuardProwl.jpg|thumb|300px|Now he's a different kind of assassin.]]
*'''Prowl Elite Guard Ver.''' (Deluxe, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, 1 street lamp "chain" weapon

:Available [[exclusive]]ly at Tokyo Toy Show 2010, Prowl Elite Guard Ver. is a redeco of the original Deluxe-class Prowl toy in a color scheme based on [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]]. The packaging is unchanged from the original retail release, bar a sticker on the front of the bubble.

{{-}}{{anchor|EliteGuardLOC}}
*'''Prowl Elite Guard Version''' (EZ Collection, 2010)
[[Image:AniEZEliteGuardProwl.jpg|thumb|300px|This needs Saba badly.]]
:A white, black and gold redeco of Legends Prowl, Prowl Elite Guard Version shares its overall deco with the above Tokyo Toy Show exclusive. It was only available blindpacked in TakaraTomy's EZ Collection Volume 4.

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Legends animated prowl.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Itty-bitty ninja.]]
*'''Prowl''' (Legends, 2008)

:A Legends-scale version of Animated Prowl, featuring a simplified transformation scheme. As with all current Legends class toys, it was offered under the Universe toyline.

: This toy can also be found as part of the ''Animated'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Rescue Ratchet]] three-pack with Legends [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], and as part of a ''Universe'' three-pack with Legends [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and Legends [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
* Prowl's eyes are a reference to [[wikipedia:2000_AD_(comic)|2000 AD]]'s [[wikipedia:ABC_Warriors|ABC Warriors]].<ref>[https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=8564559979841180115 Comment section for "Back from Botcon" entry in Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref>
* Prowl's general robot mode design, down to his khaki legs, tall boots, and helmet-shaped head, is meant to evoke a [[wikipedia:California Highway Patrol|California Highway Patrol]] motorcycle cop, circa ''[[wikipedia:CHiPs|CHiPs]]''. Eat your heart out, [[wikipedia:Erik_Estrada|Erik Estrada]].<ref name="Hey">[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Derrick Wyatt explains Prowl's design in his personal blog]</ref>
* Despite his alternate mode being the smallest among the core cast, [[Size changing|Prowl's robot mode is about the same height as Ratchet's, and much taller than Bumblebee's]].
* Since he was in the AllSpark energy and able to save Optimus Prime after he relinquished his spark he seems to have fused with it much like [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Vector Sigma]]. It also seems possible that his spark, rather than truly being extinguished has fused with the AllSpark since he did appear as a spark ghost.
* Amazingly, Hasbro hadn't originally intended to make a Samurai Prowl toy until one of their team saw the episode.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html Derrick J. Wyatt Q&A... answers!]</ref> The on-show introduction of the samurai armor certainly wasn't your typical [[To sell toys|marketing vehicle]], considering Prowl's speech about how he didn't need the armor after all and everybody crediting him with a wise choice when he abandoned and destroyed it.
* Prowl's retractable [[mouthplate]] was inspired by [[Snake-Eyes]] from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]<ref>[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Response to comments in "Hey Everybody, It's Prowl!" article on Derrick Wyatt's blog]]</ref>
* When asked about the possibility of Prowl returning, Derrick J. Wyatt said that immediately after Prowl's funeral, his body would be ceremoniously melted down into raw material for new protoforms.<ref>[http://www.formspring.me/DerrickJWyatt/q/802241551 Derrick Wyatt explains that Prowl is dead-dead on his personal blog]</ref>
* Prowl shares his [[body-type]] with fellow Autobots [[Horsepower (Animated)|Horsepower]] and [[Sparkride (Animated)|Sparkride]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Prowl''' (プロール ''Purōru'')
*''Russian:'' '''Syshhik''' (Сыщик, "Detective")

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Animated Autobots]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Ultra Magnus (Animated)

2012-02-25T23:23:07Z

98.81.161.30: /* Transformers Animated */

{{factions|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Ultra Magnus}}
:''Ultra Magnus is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TFA Ultra Magnus promoimage.JPG|right|350px|thumb|He can deal with you. He'd just rather not.]]

Wise{{fact}}, powerful, and utterly committed to keeping the peace of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] at any cost, '''Ultra Magnus''' is the [[Magnus]] and [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots and the leader of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]]. A veteran of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], Magnus is exceptionally straightforward in his dealings on every level. He makes no bones about some of the [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|questionable]] [[Safeguard (Animated)|projects]] he's enacted in order to counter the threat of the more heavily-armed [[Decepticon]]s, and doles out both praise and admonishments to his subordinates without hesitation. Magnus may not be the most likable bot around, but he is completely honest at every level.

Magnus is no slouch when it comes to combat, either. When he needs to enter the fray, the [[Magnus Hammer]]—his symbol of office—can call down devastating lightning from the sky.

{{bigquote|Whoa... now I get why they call you 'Ultra' Magnus.|Bumblebee is impressed|"[[The Elite Guard]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English), [[Banjō Ginga]] (Japanese), [[Gerald Paradies]] (German), [[Riccardo Rovatti]] (Italian), [[Marcelo Pissardini]] (Portuguese), [[Marco Antonio Espina]] (Latin American Spanish, season 1), [[Marcelo Liapiz]] (Latin American Spanish, season 2)
''In [[Autobot boot camp|boot camp]], [[Impactor Major|Impactor]] gave Ultra his name. 12 million [[stellar cycle]]s ago, as the Decepticons began to rally around the insurgent named [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], Ultra Prime was sworn in as [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]] in replacement of [[Powered Convoy]]. Ultra Magnus immediately passed the [[Decepticon Registration Act]], and two million stellar cycles later, the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] had begun. First there was an attack on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself by the Decepticons, and then one by one, the other planets in the Commonwealth fell to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}''

''The Decepticons continued dealing the Autobots defeats. After the experimental [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]] toxin made a battle for the [[Hydrax Plateau]] particularly costly, {{storylink|Bots of Science}} putting the Autobots in a sinkhole of morale, Ultra Magnus did his best to rally the troops behind him once more. The tide began to turn when Ultra Magnus made the drastic decision to hide the [[AllSpark]] from both Autobot and Decepticon by launching it into the cosmos. After this, the war began to cool down. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}''

[[Image:TransWarped1-UltraMagnus.jpg|right|thumb|300px| Old timey pictures on Cybertron look like old timey pictures from Earth. Both are in black and white, though Cybertron could at least afford some color.]]

''The Autobot ninja [[Dai Atlas (Animated)|Dai Atlas]] would end up as Ultra Magnus' right hand, acting as general of all ground forces and the Elite Guard under his orders. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}''

Towards the end of the Great War, an Autobot intelligence agent named [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] was in danger of falling into [[Decepticon]] hands. Ultra Magnus sent Ratchet to recover her so the access codes she held in her data banks couldn't be used to deal a devastating blow to the Autobots. He specifically ordered Ratchet to bring Arcee back in one piece, but due to a run-in with [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]], her memory was erased by Ratchet's EMP generator. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

Desperate for the access codes she'd been carrying, Magnus had Ratchet perform open-processor surgery on her. When Ratchet's proximity triggered a failsafe data transfer, Magnus assigned the medic to take her place as the activator/mentor to the Autobots' ultimate weapon: [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

''Omega Supreme was just the first of Ultra Magnus's [[Project Omega]], and the fleet of [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinel]]s was instrumental to helping end the war. Finally, with the [[Battle for Iacon]] won and the [[Tyrest Accord]] signed, the Decepticons were defeated. Ultra Magnus granted the surviving Decepticons amnesty so long as they stayed in exile. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II}}''

''Long after the end of the war, Ultra Magnus took a strong interest in [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Cadet Optimus]], noting his combat simulator scores were higher than anyone else had ever managed.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 5|Survival Skills}} He had high hopes, believing Optimus could even become a Magnus, but then Optimus, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Cadet Sentinel]], and Cadet [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] took an unauthorised trip to an organic planet. Elita-1 was MIA, Sentinel blamed Optimus for the loss, and Optimus took full responsibility for the screw-up. Ultra Magnus' judgement was that the offending cadet was to be expelled from the Autobot Academy and be ineligible for service in the Cybertron Elite Guard. However, still impressed by Optimus' service, he had him bumped up to [[Prime (rank)|Prime rank]] and given a ship to command. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

Later, Optimus attempted to contact Magnus to report that 1) he and his maintenance ship crew had discovered the legendary AllSpark, and 2) they were now being pursued by Decepticons. Though nearly denied by [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus Prime got patched through to Ultra Magnus to report on the discovery. Magnus still didn't believe the Decepticons would pose much of a threat, but agreed to dispatch some ships to escort [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Optimus's ship]]. He warned Prime not to pull any heroics, as it wasn't in Prime's programming.

This, of course, would all go out the window once it was discovered that the Decepticons in pursuit were in [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron's]] [[Nemesis (Animated)|flagship]], at which point the Autobots decided that they should book it. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

[[Image:Eliteguardleaveshuttle.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Airport management, the FAA and the airlines—they're all cheats and liars. All right, let's get outta here.]]

Eventually, Ultra Magnus located Earth with Sentinel Prime and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]]. Upon landing on [[Earth]], Magnus seemed to trust Sentinel's judgment regarding the planet. This might well have been because the big blue lug wouldn't let anyone else get a word in edgewise. Hearing that the AllSpark had been supposedly destroyed, Magnus announced that he intended to take these charges very seriously and investigate. Adopting the vehicle mode suggested by his subordinate, the Autobot Supreme Commander proceeded to drive around downtown [[Detroit]] as a massive military vehicle. Smooth.

[[Image:Ani Ultra Magnus alt.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Not just heavy duty. Ultra heavy duty.]]
However, once he was led to [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]], he had to bail out that same subordinate, who had angered the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]]. After a distress call from [[Sumdac Systems]] was answered, he turned the tide in a battle against malfunctioning [[police drone]]s. As Optimus Prime acted bravely, loyally, and with sound tactical judgment during that incident, he commended the wayward Academy bot, simultaneously putting Sentinel in his place, much to Sentinel's chagrin. Seeing evidence that the AllSpark indeed still existed scattered about the city, he settled in for the long haul. {{storylink|The Elite Guard}}

Ultra Magnus was unable to come to the press meeting, so Sentinel Prime went in his place. Supreme Commander Magnus wanted a report about the reported Decepticon activity, and about Sentinel "losing [his] head". Optimus covered for Sentinel, stretching the truth in front of him. Magnus left to report to [[Cybertron Command]] on "a matter of great importance". {{storylink|The Return of the Headmaster}}

Upon his return, Magnus received a report from [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] that there was an increased amount of Decepticon activity at the galaxy's rim, particularly targeting [[space bridge]]s. Ironhide was unable to report further, as the Decepticon attack destroyed the transmitter. Since Magnus had still not seen any evidence of Decepticon activity on Earth, he reasoned that resources were better dedicated to the defense of Cybertron and its colonies, and thus ordered Optimus and his crew to prepare for departure.

Taking Optimus Prime aside, he expressed concern that should the general population come to believe that Megatron was still alive, it would incite a panic and embolden the Decepticons. Optimus objected, but Magnus felt that easing the concerns of the civilians was their duty to Cybertron. Optimus continued to drag his heels until Magnus was alerted to AllSpark activity on a commuter train. Ordering Sentinel to remain behind to keep an eye on Optimus, he left with Jazz to investigate.

After his hammer proved insufficient to dislodge the AllSpark shard, he was ultimately saved by the insubordinate Optimus and his crew, particularly the intervention of [[Sari Sumdac|the little organic]] with the [[AllSpark Key]]. Optimus insisted that the whole event was a Decepticon trap, just as Sentinel Prime arrived with charges of assaulting a fellow officer. Finally having enough of the insubordinate repairbot, Magnus was about to give Optimus Prime a serious reprimand—right when evidence of Decepticon activity quite literally fell into his lap as [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] was knocked from the sky. As Starscream rebooted, Magnus turned and ordered his subordinates to stay back while he dealt with Starscream. He was rather surprised to find Starscream pointing a blaster in his face when he decided to turn around again, and even more so when the flying traitor blasted him point-blank. Magnus was repaired by Ratchet and Sari while the remainder of the Autobots brought Starscream into custody. Once all was said and done, Magnus apologized for doubting Optimus Prime's claims of Decepticon activity, and again praised Optimus's decision-making skills and scolded Sentinel for insisting that things be done "by the book". He also decided that while he was needed to direct the war effort on Cybertron, the Decepticons on Earth had to be dealt with as well. Therefore, Ultra Magnus and the Elite Guard left for Cybertron, while Optimus Prime's crew remained on Earth to locate the AllSpark shards and capture the Decepticons. Magnus helpfully left a box of stasis cuffs to make their jobs somewhat easier. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}}

Ultra Magnus later witnessed Starscream's escape from his ship and contacted Optimus Prime to inform him of the breakout. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

Ultra Magnus contacted the Earth Autobots to inform them that a convicted traitor named [[Wasp]] had escaped from prison. After finding out [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] had some history with him, Magnus requested he keep an optic out, on the off chance the traitor showed up on Earth. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

In the wake of Megatron's return, Magnus found himself faced with ever-mounting attacks by Decepticons on space bridge outposts all over the galactic rim. As a security measure, he ordered the entire space bridge nexus on Cybertron shut down, much to the consternation of Intel Chief [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]]. He then convened a meeting of the Autobot High Council, at which he announced that the level of coordination in the Decepticon uprisings indicated an inside source, a Decepticon double agent on Cybertron. Longarm Prime was quick to assert that the agent in question was Wasp, as the Decepticon activity had occurred following the fugitive's escape. Magnus assigned Sentinel Prime and Jazz to assemble an Elite Guard unit to track down Wasp, then ordered that they contact Optimus Prime, as the Earth Autobots had been out of touch for [[units of time|decacycles]]. He was a bit nonplussed at Longarm Prime's insistence that all communications with Earth be filtered through Longarm himself first—Longarm assured him this was for security reasons. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

[[Image:WhereIsThySting-UltraMagnusDamaged.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"I can drop mine down a staircase and it's perfectly fine."]]
Despite Longarm's request, Magnus ordered Jazz and Sentinel Prime to pursue Wasp to Earth without letting Longarm know, lest word of the pursuit somehow reach Wasp and give him warning. Unfortunately, Magnus was preparing against the wrong traitor. Caught off-guard by a desperate Shockwave, Magnus was left heavily damaged and bereft of his hammer, barely able to tell [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] who was responsible. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] informed Sentinel Prime of the details, noting that the Autobots had been thrown into shock and despair. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

Though Ultra Magnus survived the attack, he was left incapacitated and on [[spark support]]. Sentinel Prime returned to Cybertron to assume command as a "temporary Magnus," though the other members of the Autobot Council disapproved of his rush to take control and his penchant for secrecy. In his inaugural parade, Sentinel swore that Ultra Magnus would be avenged, and the crowd cheered approvingly. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}

[[Image:TFA-ThisIsWhyIHateMachines-UltraMagnusSparkSupport.jpg|thumb|210px|"I will deal with you now."]]
His image was used—kind of gratuitously—in an anti-Decepticon propaganda ad by [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]]. Comatose in the [[Cybertron Central Infirmary]], he was seen by [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and the Decepticon spy [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] as their fight spilled over into the room he was being held in. With a final goodbye to his former boss, Shockwave was preparing to deal the fatal blow with Magnus' hammer, when Ratchet blasted it and then Shockwave with his EMP Generator, saving Ultra Magnus (for the time being). {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}}

{{-}}

===''The Cool'' comic===
[[Image:TheCoolEliteGuard01.jpg|thumb|200px|left|]]

Ultra Magnus and the Elite Guard journeyed to Earth in order to extract an explanation from Optimus Prime regarding why he had yet to return to Cybertron with his crew. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 5}}

[[Image:TheCool11TitlePage01.jpg|right|thumb|200px|"Tell Optimus I said: Bleh."]]

As Ultra Magnus lay on his death bed, he told [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] that he wanted him to deliver the Magnus hammer to [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. He also wanted him to tell Optimus that he should return to the elite guard and tell him he was wrong to have discharged him so cruelly. Ratchet assured him he would be able to tell Prime himself. After Magnus said this, [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] showed up to finish him off. Ratchet defended his supreme commander by using his magnets to throw things at the Decepticon spy. Unfortunately Ratchet had also thrown the Magnus hammer at Shockwave, so he could now use that to destroy both of them. When suddenly the Magnus hammer activated, electrocuting the spy.

Shockwave was dead and it turned out the one who had activated the hammer was Ultra Magnus.

After an undetermined portion of time, the Magnus hammer was delivered to Optimus Prime who also had a new wingblade jetpack. He prepared to use these weapons in his battle with the three [[Lugnut Supreme]]s. Optimus Prime swore that his team would show Ultra Magnus victory. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 1}}

{{-}}

==Games==
===Transformers Animated: The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English)
[[Image:TFAnimated Game Ultra Magnus.jpg|thumb|left|135px]]
After [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and his team succeeded in driving [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] off [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Ultra Magnus contacted them to let them know the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] had likewise driven the Decepticon forces away from the Space Bridge terminals. Stressing the great debt that Cybertron owed Optimus, Ultra Magnus offered him a place in the Elite Guard, but Optimus turned him down on the basis there was more work to do on Earth. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The Game}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Transformers Animated===
[[Image:Leaderanimatedultramagnus.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Mild-mannered alter-ego mode.]]
* '''Ultra Magnus''' (Leader, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TA-27'''
**''Accessories'': Hammer

:Having broken free of his forefathers' reliance on [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|redecos]], Ultra Magnus transforms into an 8-wheeled [[wikipedia:Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck|Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck]], and if his ''twelve'' guns aren't quite enough, he wields a giant hammer with which to... hammer things. He can simply grip it in his hand or one can attach it by inserting the tab on the handle into the slot in his palm. Pressing the red switch on the side of the vehicle mode activates laser sound effects and causes his guns to light up yellow. Rotating his shoulders down or up activates transformation noises. In robot mode, pressing his Autobot symbol will make his mouth move, and he will say one of three phrases: "Don't be a hero, Optimus. It's not in your programming," "Ultra Magnus here," and "We must return the Allspark to Cybertron." Unlike his fellow speaking ''Animated'' toys, however, he is ''not'' voiced by Magnus's in-show actor Jeff Glen Bennett—although somewhat ironically, whoever is providing the toy's voice actually does a ''better'' [[Robert Stack]] impression than Bennett does. His guns can be hidden in both modes for show-accuracy, or deployed for Blowing-Everything-Up-accuracy. And to make it even better, he's compatible with the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] accessory! (But just like Leader class Megatron, it does nothing.)

:[[Image:Leaderclass_animated_ultramagnus_battlemode.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Too... awesome... should've sent... a poet...]] Unfortunately, there are reports of problems with the sounds on several units. Some have partial sounds or no sounds at all, while others have overly sensitive sensors for the shoulder joints, leading to transformation sounds every time you move the arms. Also, an inordinate number of units suffer from notably poor quality control of the face's paint applications. (At least this can be checked before you buy, since the toy is packaged in robot mode.)

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/UltraMagnus/ultramagnus.htm More information on Ultra Magnus at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Roadbuster}}
[[Image:RBAniMagnus.jpg||250px|thumb|Roadbuster called. He wants his colors back..]]
* '''Roadbuster Ultra Magnus''' (Leader, 2009)
**''Accessories'': Hammer

: The only toy in the fourth wave of ''Animated'' Leaders, Magnus gains a new coloration based on the ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' character [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (hence the name). He retains all of his previous [[gimmick]]ry and sound effects from the original release.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/RoadbusterUltraMagnus/ultramagnus.htm More information on Roadbuster Ultra Magnus at TFU.info]''

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:AllSparkAlmanacI-MotormasterUltraMagnus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Ultra Prime, is that you?]]

* In the early stages of ''Transformers: Animated'', [[redeco]] possibilities were brainstormed using the existing character models. Concepts for [[Motormaster (Animated)|Motormaster]] and Ultra Magnus, using an early [[character model]] for [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], were published in the ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]''.

* In voicing Magnus, Jeff Glen Bennett seems to be channeling [[Robert Stack]], who voiced [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|the original Ultra Magnus]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

* He actually isn't the [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|first]] full-sized Ultra Magnus not to be an Optimus Prime redeco, though he's the first one in about 7 years.

* Ultra Magnus was planned to go off-line in season 4 according to ''The AllSpark Almanac II''.

* Derrick J. Wyatt has confirmed that one of the unidentifiable busts of [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]]'s star pupils is, in fact, Ultra Magnus.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Ultra Magnus''' (ウルトラマグナス ''Urutora Magunasu'')

[[Category:Animated Autobots]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Primes]]

Nova Prime

2012-02-25T23:18:37Z

98.81.161.30: /* IDW comics continuity */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig2|the Matrix bearer from the IDW comics|the Matrix bearer from the Marvel Comics|Prime Nova}}
{{disambig2|the undead Prime from the IDW comics who is also known as Nemesis Prime|other evil primes|Nemesis Prime (disambiguation)}}

:''Nova Prime may be an [[Autobot]] in the [[IDW Publishing]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He is also known as '''Nemesis Prime'''.''

[[Image:Novaprime.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Furmanism|Ahead, hovering, like some vast, predatory bird...]]]]
'''Nova Prime''' was the predecessor to <strike>[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]</strike> [[Nominus Prime]]. An expansionist and a supremacist, Nova Prime believed that [[Transformers]] were the greatest among all life forms and that they should bring their glory to the myriad of lesser races throughout the universe.

After being sucked into the [[Dead Universe]], Nova was chosen to be the host for [[Darkness (G1)|the Darkness]], an otherworldly counterpart of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] which worked by transforming the inhabitants of the Dead Universe into [[Zombie|undead wielders of anti-life]]. Upon merging, Nova was reborn as the sinister and extremely powerful '''Nemesis Prime'''. He now sees it as his mission to fulfil the Darkness' imperative by expanding the Dead Universe's hold into the living realm.

Nemesis may seem to hold sway over both his troops and the Darkness, but nothing could be further from the truth. The powerful [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] sees the Darkness as his rightful inheritance. And then, there is the fear. The fear that the Darkness has more in common with the Matrix than Nemesis is comfortable with. He feels he has earned this power, and isn't willing to see it follow its natural path. It is for this reason he must eliminate Optimus Prime. And it is for this reason he fears to face his successor.

{{bigquote|''Nova was forever seeking, forever testing the limits of science and faith. He had a certain moral...ambiguity about the Cybertronian ideal''.|[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]''}}
{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===IDW comics continuity===
Long ago in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron's]] past, before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], Nova Prime made efforts to evolve the Cybertronians in preparation for their "destiny". At his behest, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], his chief technical adviser, altered [[Pretender Monster|six Transformers]] to be able to [[Combiner|combine]] into a being of higher intellect and strength. However they were driven mad by the merging, and they devolved into [[Monstructor (G1)|a monster]]. After this, he ordered the construction of the first ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Despite [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme's]] objections, Nova deceived the Cybertronian populace into believing that the ''Ark'' was intended for exploration, rather than its true mission of conquest. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} Nova Prime disappeared along with the rest of the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew into an anomaly in the [[Benzuli Expanse]] and was presumed dead. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} Despite his aggressive intentions, these never came to light, and the Transformers honored Nova Prime's memory with a statue. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

[[Image:Jhiaxusnemesisprimedevastation.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Not even a toy yet and he's a evil [[black repaint]].]]
However, countless years later, when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] downloaded himself into [[infraspace]] to survive an attack from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], he sensed the presence of Nova Prime... and was filled with an incredible sense of dread. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} These feelings led Optimus Prime to seek information from Omega Supreme, and shared with him his belief that Nova might still be alive, and his feelings of dread. In turn, Omega told Optimus of Nova's story, and later learned of Monstructor. Optimus was left with the knowledge that the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] lineage was corrupt, and it gave the Autobot leader something to ponder about. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}

It was later learned that Optimus Prime's assessment was right: Nova Prime was still functioning, though in a strange half-dead state in the [[Dead Universe]], and was now the fearsome figure known as Nemesis Prime, powered by the almighty mind-altering anti-Matrix, the [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]], which ruled the Dead Universe. His grand plan, the [[Expansion]], was intended to merge the Dead Universe with the real one, allowing him to both return home at long last ''and'' direct the merged universe into a new, more ''ordered'' era.

He already had an outpost and minions on [[Gorlam Prime]], ready to direct his coming Expansion. He'd had already had [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] captured by [[Sports Car Patrol|some of his minions]] and programmed {{storylink|Spotlight: Nightbeat}} to assassinate Optimus Prime at a set time, {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}, as he subconsciously knew the Darkness would behave like the Matrix and jump from him to Optimus if given the chance. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

With that secured, Nemesis Prime decided that the Expansion was ready to begin. He dispatched [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in a mission to secure [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], kill the Autobots guarding him, and bring the [[Pretender]] to the Dead Universe. Galvatron secured Thunderwing, but spared the Autobots, viewing it as a small rebellion against Nova. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} After observing the [[Reaper|Reapers]] about to destroy [[Earth]], he ordered Galvatron there to stop them, since the Earth was part of their expansion plan. {{storylink|Devastation issue 3|Devastation #3}} Galvatron performed his task well, but Prime remarked to Jhiaxus that he was aware that Galvatron had his own agendas and secrets. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}

After [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] secured the [[Nega-Core]] and activated its guardian, Nemesis Prime initiated the [[Expansion]] with the rest of the [[Dead Universe]] crew. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}

Nemesis Prime was found by Jhiaxus on the remains of the ''Ark'', thinking back on old times and planning for the future. Upon receiving the latest intelligence on both Cyclonus and Nightbeat, he dismissed the former and requested Jhiaxus take care of the Nightbeat situation personally. When Jhiaxus reported Nightbeat's death, Nemesis was unmoved, deciding he would take over Nightbeat's mission and deal with Optimus Prime himself. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}

[[Image:DarknessNemesis.jpg|250px|thumb|He's an 8.5 on the Kirby Dot Scale!]]
Nemesis Prime attacked the prison facility on [[Garrus-9]] while Optimus Prime was inspecting it. The Autobot defense forces were helpless against him: Nemesis was immune to all their firepower and used his deadly decaying touch to instantly snuff out their lives. Seeing that conflict was futile, Optimus Prime ordered all the defenders to retreat, then faced Nemesis Prime directly. Nemesis gloated about the upcoming Expansion, then revealed to Optimus Prime the nature of the Darkness and channeled it as a weapon against Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}

Unfortunately for Nemesis, the Darkness ''did'' want to leap to Optimus as he'd feared, and it would do so if he either used it or touched Optimus. Enraged, Nemesis backed off and resorted to firing a torrent of normal energy. Optimus was able to withstand the blast however, but their fight ended abruptly when Nemesis, distracted by the battle, was shot in the back and killed by Galvatron, as part of his plan to claim the Darkness for himself.

Though Optimus Prime soon destroyed the Darkness-infused Galvatron (or so he thought), Optimus remarked that he couldn't mourn his predecessor, noting that Nova Prime was long dead. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Nemesis Prime resurfaced years later, alive and with his wounds pulsating with dark energy. He appeared from a portal to the Dead Universe on the planet [[Dykayra]], greeting a shocked Galvatron. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 3}} He claimed that [[D-Void]], a malevolent and powerful entity within the Dead Universe, had restored his spark, allowing him to take revenge on Galvatron and take back the Darkness. After a brief battle between the two, Galvatron's minions intervened, but Nemesis brushed off their firepower and destroyed several of them by devouring their energy. He then mutated into a gigantic, horrible monster, seemingly falling under D-Void's direct control in the process, and continued the fight against Galvatron. In the end, Galvatron was able to summon his army and force Nemesis Prime's body back through the portal before destroying it. {{storylink|Heart of Darkness issue 4}}

{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:NovaPrime variousmodes.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Nova Prime's smaller inner robot. Toy, Hasbro, please? Pretty please?]]
* Nova Prime was actually an Optimus Prime design that artist [[Don Figueroa]] had made for [[Hasbro]], but it was never made as a toy. In fact, part of the combined super robot mode concept art was first seen on the [[BotCon 2005]]-exclusive cover for [[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' issue 0]].
* It's unclear when the Autobots evolved as a faction in the IDW-verse. Clearly, by ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'', they were a police force working for the [[Senate]]. However, it's not known for sure if they existed during Nova Prime's era; therefore, Nova may '''not''' be an Autobot.
* According to Nova Prime's design sketches by Don, seen in the back of ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'', the form seen in the story is Nova Prime's winged cab/trailer super robot. He also has a smaller robot mode consisting of only the cab. The transformation of the cab is pretty similar to that of [[Rodimus (Energon)|''Energon'' Rodimus]].
* Apparently, being an undead Prime means you have to reverse your colour scheme.

[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Primes]]

Rubsign

2012-02-25T23:16:28Z

98.81.161.30: /* Operating principles */

[[Image:Rubsign.gif|right|304px|thumb|Wax on, wax off.]]
A '''rubsign''' is a small pre-applied heat-sensitive sticker. Rubbing the sticker reveals a hidden symbol.

==Operating principles==
[[Image:Rubsign inactive.png|left|37px|]]Slaves make the color change. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a Slave owner, and should be burned, burned at the stake. Death to the South!
''Ahem''. The working part of a rubsign is a layer of Mylar plastic which contains thermochromic liquid crystals. At different temperatures, the liquid crystals' molecular structure changes, reflecting different wavelengths of light, and making a visible [[Insignia|faction symbol]] appear. [[wikipedia:Mood_ring|Mood rings]] work by the same principle, but have more bogus magical properties.

==Generation 1==
The [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Mini-spy|Mini-spies]] were the first toys to debut with rubsigns. They came packaged with [[Mini Vehicle]]s in early 1985. The faction of Mini-spy remained hidden until someone opened up the package and rubbed the rubsign, revealing an Autobot or Decepticon [[insignia]].

Beginning in the second year of [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]], all Transformers featured a rubsign that revealed an Autobot or Decepticon insignia in addition to other standard insignia [[sticker]]s. The purpose of these rubsigns was to help consumers distinguish genuine [[toy|Transformers toys]] from the many [[knockoff]]s their success inspired (off-brand versions of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], and his [[Mini-Cassette|cassettes]] were particularly common in 84/85), as well as [[Tonka]]'s ''[[GoBots (franchise)|GoBots]]'' toys and similar toys of other competitors.

By 1988, rubsigns were dropped from the line (presumably as most of the competition had been long-buried), even though several toys from that year still had molded spots for them.

[[Image:Fastlane.png|left|37px|]]
[[Image:Pounce.png|right|37px|]]
[[Image:Cloudraker.png|left|37px|]]
[[Image:Wingspan.png|right|37px|]]
The [[Clone (subgroup)|Clones]] had special rubsigns that revealed their personal insignia. The rubsign could be activated so their true identity could be revealed without having to transform them (or, you know, [[Kibble|rotate them slightly]]).
{{--}}

==Beast Wars==
Rubsigns would not appear again on ''Transformers'' toys until the second year of ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' product in 1997, called "[[hidden Energon chips]]". They continued through the next year's [[Fuzor]]s and [[Transmetal]]s, but were replaced by the time of the [[Transmetal 2|Transmetal 2]]s (and in the ''[[Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' new-mold toys) with "[[spark crystal]]s".

==Classics==
Rubsigns reintroduced to the ''Transformers'' line in 2006 with the [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] series. They are also on most of the [[Generation 1 reissues]] from both Takara and Hasbro.

==Reveal the Shield==
Rubsigns were used as the main [[gimmick]] of the ''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' [[subline imprint]] of the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'' toy line]]. The toy packaging directed people to "Press to reveal Autobot or Decepticon allegiance." However, the back of the packaging ''also'' featured a large faction symbol for the character, spoiling the mystery of the character's allegiance.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Condor-Verlag Transformers Comic-Magazin=====
{{TransformersComicMagazin}}
Needlenose, [[Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind]] were hiding in an airbase in Nevada, before revealing their liquid crystal Decepticon insignia and flying off.{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 6#Transformers in the Battle for Peace: A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}}

====Dreamwave continuity====
[[Image:Rubsign Smokescreen.JPG|left|180px|thumb|]]
[[Dreamwave Productions]], famous for their re-launching Transformers comics and generally toy-accurate artwork, featured a few [[posters]] of Transformers featuring a rubsign.

Rubsigns were used as a way of disguising [[Autobot]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]'s faction symbol (which had been outlawed). {{storylink|War and Peace}}
{{-}}

====IDW continuity====
[[Image:Rubsign Soundwave.JPG|right|180px|thumb|RUBSIGN DEPLOY. OPERATION: TOY NOSTALGIA]]
[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] used a rubsign to gain access to the illegal gladiatorial games. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}}
{{-}}

===''Animated''===
The bounty hunter [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] appears to sport a rubsign, probably to indicate that he's just in it for the parts and hunts he gets out of it. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

After being 'dishonorably discharged' and sent to the Stockade, [[Wasp]] has been seen wearing a rubsign, probably to indicate he's not with the Autobots anymore. When he was reformatted into Waspinator, he completely changed sides and sported a Decepticon insignia. {{storylink|Predacons Rising}}
{{-}}

==Commercial Appearances==
===Generation 1===
[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] let a yellow Mini-spy into the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. They then got suspicious and rubbed his rubsign revealing him to be a Decepticon. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* The original patent for the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' rubsigns is shared by [[Henry Orenstein]] and [[George Dunsay]]. The patent term expired a few years ago.
* A variation on the rubsigns were also used in the spin-off [[Hasbro]]/[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toy line ''[[Beastformer|Battle Beasts]]''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Secret Emblem''' (シークレットエンプレム ''Shīkuretto Enburemu'')

==See also==
*[[Pre Rub]]

==External link==
* [http://www.google.com/patents?id=RxA6AAAAEBAJ&dq=us+patent++4674985 The original patent for the Transformers rubsigns on Google Patents]
* [http://www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/cpmt/presentations/cpmt0201b.pdf Paper on the uses of liquid crystal thermography, apparently but not actually written by Generation 1 Perceptor.]

[[Category:Classics]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]