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Scraplet

2010-01-18T23:29:00Z

99.17.32.97: /* Shattered Glass */

:''Scraplets is an alien disease from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]], the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] and the [[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] [[Continuity family|continuity families]].''

[[Image:Scraplets.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This is the face of genital herpes.]]
'''Scraplets''' is alleged to be the deadliest disease known to mechanical lifeforms in the entire galaxy. It is a complicated form of alien parasite, which lives solely to eat, reproduce, and eat some more.

Scraplets have evolved to resemble pink and blue nuts and bolts, washers and screws. However, when brought in contact with mechanical life, Scraplets instantly and painfully embed themselves into the skin of said creature and rapidly begin to self-replicate. The living metal around a Scraplet quickly corrodes, decaying and cracking away as the embedded Scraplet feasts. This process is painful and inevitably fatal for the infected robot. In a matter of hours, a single Scraplet can reproduce enough to completely infest an average-sized Cybertronian to the point of physical breakdown.

Scraplets are capable of transforming into vaguely humanoid robotic configurations, each capable of elementary speech and reasoning abilities. There are many different forms of humanoid Scraplet; the number of limbs, eyes, fangs and claws vary, though they are all quite tiny by Transformer standards. They use the locomotion afforded by this mode to spread out from a dead or dying host and infect mechanoids whom they might not otherwise be able to come in contact with.

A mass of Scraplets can also merge together into a combined humanoid form. In this form they have enormous strength and agility and a primitive group consciousness. However, this form also carries with it some limitations, as they present a larger target and become vulnerable to conventional assault.

It is said that there is [[Water|a rare chemical of legend that can kill a Scraplet]], but this is doubtful.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Generation 1 comics===
[[Image:Scraplet swarm Marvel US issue 29.jpg|left|250px|thumb|So... just how long have these things been hanging out in the infinite void of deep space, waiting for a living robot to pass by that exact spot?]]
When [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] needed to transport the first prototype [[Wash and Roll]] to [[Earth]], he hired a [[freighter pilot]] to fly the cargo there. Emerging from warp space in Earth's [[solar system]], the pilot exited the craft to perform some necessary repairs. As he did, the ship passed through what seemed to be a cloud of space dust. The "dust" rapidly infected the pilot, who lost control of the ship as it crashed on Earth.

Not hearing back from the pilot, Ratbat sent the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s to investigate. They found the stricken pilot near the crashed ship, but didn't get very far in interrogating him about his failure before they too were infected. When Blaster and Goldbug arrived, Blaster landed in the crater and was soon infected as well. The freighter pilot survived long enough to warn [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] about the infection, just before his head fell off. The Scraplets charged toward the tasty-looking Goldbug, who was defended by his human friend [[Charlie Fong]]. But as the two headed off to try and find a cure, Goldbug hestitated, reluctant to abandon Blaster, and he too was infected. Hours later, the infection was so wide-spread that Goldbug couldn't continue driving. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

[[Image:Scraplets duplicate Marvel US issue 29.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Scraplet reproduction. Woo!]]
Made aware of the infection by [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Ratbat decided to take decisive action to contain it. Rather than risk more Decepticon lives, he captured [[Throttlebot|five Autobots]] and sent them to Earth. His mission for them: use vats of acid spray to destroy all infected Transformers on the planet, Autobot and Decepticon alike!

Charlie Fong pushed Goldbug through the desert to a service station, where the appalled attendants offered him a glass of water. Charlie was shocked when he spilled some on Goldbug to see the Scraplets die and fall off. Holy crap, pinball wizard and a miracle cure: ''water!!''

[[Image:Scraplets robot mode Marvel US issue 30.jpg|left|250px|thumb|And you thought girls had cooties...]]
Before Charlie could grab a hose to "wash his car", the attendants restrained him, thinking he was delusional. Two of the Throttlebots arrived just then, regretfully attempting to destroy Goldbug; only Charlie's interence saved him, as he demonstrated the miracle cure. Satisfied, [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] and [[Wide Load]] stood by while Charlie hosed down Goldbug, curing him.

[[Image:Scraplets combined mode Marvel US issue 30.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"NOBODY steps on a church in my town!"]]
Goldbug and company returned to the crash site with two tankers of water to save Blaster, but couldn't do so without also curing the three Decepticons. Before they could take action, thousands of the Scraplets combined into a muscular muave giant, bashing the weaponless Throttlebots around. Goldbug cured the Decepticons, who used their firepower to bring down the giant, which Blaster then destroyed with one of the acid vats. The remaining water was used to remove the Scraplets which infected the Throttlebots during the battle, and the outbreak on Earth was at an end. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

When he returned four missing children to their parents on Earth, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] likened the humans' outraged reactions to what he'd expect if he had been infected with Scraplets. {{storylink|Monstercon from Mars!}}

{{-}}
===Dreamwave Generation 1 comics===
[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] called [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] an "oversized scraplet" during the fight at the [[Praetorus Wharf]]. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation}}

===Shattered Glass===
Scraplets were a potion designed to heal damaged Transformers. They feasted on dead metal, leaving healthy metal untouched. The metal is either recycled into living metal or more scraplets. They're fatal to [[Zombie]]s. They were usually contained in vials, as the air in Cybertron's Shatterverse is loaded with water vapor, which kills them. {{storylink|Dungeons & Dinobots}}
{{stub}}

===Titan Magazines ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics===
[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] accused [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] of behaving like "un-housetrained scraplets". Why anyone would housetrain a scraplet is anyone's guess. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.5|Reversal of Fortune}}

==Notes==
* While using round dialogue bubbles for humans and square dialogue bubbles for robots, letterer [[Janice Chiang]] used various polygons for Scraplet-speak.

{{stub}}

[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass]]
[[Category:Species]]

Silverbolt (Fuzor)

2009-11-23T23:50:06Z

99.17.32.97: /* Notes */

{{factions|predacon|maximal|vehicon|maximalbm|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Silverbolt}}
{{picsneeded|Universe toy}}
:''Silverbolt is a [[Maximal]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Continuity family|continuity family]].''

[[Image:Silverboltfuzor.jpg|right|350px|thumb|He was on "The Daily Show" before Jon Stewart. For real.]]
"Pure, strong, and fast," '''Silverbolt''''s sense of right and wrong is so overdeveloped his fellow Maximals wonder if his programming has a glitch. He speaks in lofty platitudes of chivalry, nobility, and idealized heroism; his speeches make even [[Optimus Primal]] roll his optics. His conviction is both his strength and his weakness. He sees the world in black and white—and not just because his beast mode is partly canine. The only gray area for Silverbolt is [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. His fierce love for the "evil" [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] causes him to question his preconceived notions of right and wrong. He was very proud of his ability to convert Blackarachnia to the Maximals, and, though most of the Maximals are skeptical of her loyalty to the cause and to him, he has nothing but faith in her.

{{bigquote|Though threatening your own comrade is no doubt business as usual in the Predacon guide to villainy... it is simply unacceptable behavior in ''my'' book!|Silverbolt|"[[Bad Spark]]"}}

:''French-Canadian name:'' '''Vif-Argent''' ("Quicksilver" No, not [[wikia:c:Pietro Maximoff (Earth-616)|that guy]].)
:''Chinese name (Taiwan, Beast Wars):'' '''Yín Láng''' (銀狼, "Silver Wolf")
:''Chinese name (Taiwan, Beast Machines):'' '''Yín Shǎn-dìan''' (銀閃電, "Silver Bolt" or "Silver Lightning")
:''Italian name:'' '''Grifo'''
:''Spanish name (toy):'' '''Rayo De Plata''' ("Ray of Silver")
:''Spanish name (cartoon):'' '''Lobo Plateado''' ("Silver-plated Wolf")
:''Polish name:'' '''Srebrny Grom'''

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (English), [[Mitsuo Iwata]] (Japanese), [[Bruno Rocha]] (Portuguese) [[Marco Pagani]] (Italian)

[[Image:Coming of the Fuzors 1 Megatron fuzors.jpg|left|250px|thumb|The more you know! ''(da da da daaaaa)'']]
The explosion caused by the destruction of the [[Vok]] [[Planet Buster]] sent all stasis pods crashing to Earth. Some pods' scanners were damaged in the shock wave and eventual crash-landing, resulting in the Fuzors, a blend of two beast forms and the advanced Transmetal technology. One of these Fuzors was the winged wolf Silverbolt, while his neighbor was the violent, psychotic cobra-scorpion [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]], who immediately picked a fight with the peaceful Silverbolt upon their activation. The fight was interrupted by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who tricked both Fuzors and recruited them into the Predacons. Silverbolt felt the faction's activation code and Megatron's orders to attack the passing [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] to be distasteful (seeing how the cat had not attacked them), earning furious punishment from the Predacon leader. Soon, he and the other Predacons faced the remaining Maximals in battle. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}}

However, Silverbolt felt out of place with so treacherous and cruel a group. After witnessing Maximal compassion and [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]'s own admission of defection, he made an important decision and joined the Maximals, saving the newly reborn [[Optimus Primal]] from Megatron. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Tangled Web Silverbolt.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Brave, strong, fast ... and never without utensils.]]
Soon afterwards, while on patrol with the much more laid-back [[Rattrap]] (who spent a lot of the time pointedly ignoring Silverbolt's lines of honor and virtue), Silverbolt encountered the alluring Blackarachnia
when [[Tarantulas]] and Quickstrike were attempting to set up a forward base. She was somewhat surprised by his complete refusal to strike her simply because she was a female and used it to her advantage to attack him. However, the Maximal had no such compunction against fighting the coarse Quickstrike. {{storylink|Tangled Web|Tangled Web}}

Soon, Silverbolt found himself reluctantly sneaking off to aid Blackarachnia in constructing a small airship out of a fallen stasis pod. When it was complete, she ran off at first word of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] being discovered, Silverbolt in tow. He pleaded with her to join the Maximals, and refused to leave until she did, even after she shot him in the thigh.

[[Image:BWSilverbolt Blackarachnia OptimalSituation.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Damn you, [[Salazar]]! DAMN YOU, SALAZAAAARRR!]]
When Megatron arrived, Silverbolt was the playing card to convince Blackarachnia to open the doors to the Ark and allow him inside. Soon after, when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was injured enough to cause a time storm, Blackarachnia used Silverbolt to put everything right and defected to the Maximals soon after. {{storylink|Optimal Situation|Optimal Situation}}

Most of the time thereafter, Silverbolt stayed by Blackarachnia's side, more than happy that the subterfuge was over. He was extremely pleased when Blackarachnia was converted fully into a Maximal (and a Transmetal 2 as well). {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon|Crossing the Rubicon}}
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}
====Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals Video Game====
{{Note|Silverbolt is only a playable character in the Playstation version of this game.}}
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
Silverbolt participates in a extensive one-on-one beatdown involving nearly every active participant of the Beast Wars. {{storylink|Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals}}
{{-}}

====Transformers Legends====
{{Charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}
{{note|Transformers Legends were meant to be "imaginary stories," and not to be taken as canon. Whether or not these story are to be taken as having happened is up to one's [[personal canon]].}}
{{-}}
====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
''See also: [[Jetstorm (BM)]]''
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Scott McNeil]] (English), [[Mitsuo Iwata]] (Japanese), [[Marcus Jardym]] (Portuguese) [[Massimo Bitossi]] (Italian)

When the Axalon landed the maximals split up. Silverbolt went with Rhinox and Blackarachnia. They ran into some tank drones, who used the de-evoling virus on Blackarachnia. Rhinox had to drag silverbolt away. They met up with Rattrap who was being chased by some more tank drones that infected them with the same virus. Because they weren't transmetals Rhinox and Silverbolt were paralyzed and their sparks taken out.

When the Maximals found themselves back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] running for their lives from armies of [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]], their memories of their past had been tampered with. Even [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] could not remember Silverbolt fully until she hacked into the memory backup on their ship. {{storylink|Fires of the Past|Fires of the Past}}

[[Image:Silverboltjetstorm.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Sadly, this was the coolest Silverbolt would get in ''Beast Machines''...]]
Blackarachnia began to suspect that Silverbolt's [[Spark|spark]] might be inside one of the [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]]. At first, she erroneously thought it was within [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], but after a mishap with some technorganic goop, Silverbolt's spark was proven to be inside [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (and Thrust turned out to be [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], whose amorous advances were tragically spurned by the arachnid chick). For a precious few moments, Silverbolt's consciousness was completely awoken within Jetstorm's body, reverting him to his old personality, until the goop was absorbed completely and Jetstorm's [[Shell program|shell program]] reasserted itself. {{storylink|The Catalyst|The Catalyst}}

Obsessed with bringing Silverbolt back, she hounded Jetstorm, demanding he remember their shared love and return to the Maximals. Needless to say, Jetstorm was vexed by this. When [[Rattrap]] created a gizmo that would help them transfer the stolen Transformer sparks into new bodies, Blackarachnia stole it. Leading Jetstorm into the planet's organic core, she attached the gizmo to his back and trapped the Vehicon in a pool of the technorganic goop with her webs. After much screaming, reformatting, and brilliant light, Silverbolt was reborn as a condor, having scanned skeletal remains inside the cavern in the process.

[[Image:Silverboltbm.jpg|left|180px|thumb|...for he later became...Purplebolt! the World's Deadliest Peacock!]]
Counter to Blackarachnia's expectations, Silverbolt was not pleased. Gone was the Maximal who exemplified honor and chivalry, replaced with one who desired only retribution and vengeance. "I was a fool back then," he once said. "I ''believed'' in things." Distraught, Blackarachnia managed to convince him to come along with her to help rescue [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] from inside [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[Grand Mal|Big Floating Head]], but Silverbolt did not accompany her for their friends, as he was not interested in them. He went to confront Megatron.

Megatron, seeing that his General had been reformatted into a Maximal, tried to seduce Silverbolt back to his side. Silverbolt was told he was a creature of honor who fought for just causes, and that Megatron gave Silverbolt not only a just cause (the technological purity of Cybertron), but also the power and strength to fight for that cause. Blackarachnia countered at every point, pleading with Silverbolt to remember their love and friendship. Silverbolt ignored her, bitterly retorting that Megatron had given him ''nothing''. With nearly insane fury, he let loose a volley of feather bombs, disrupting Megatron from within. Cheetor and Primal were rescued, and Silverbolt was dragged away from the battle.

[[Image:Silverboltblackarachniaseedsofthefuture.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Now that we've won, we can bang like everyday ordinary really ugly people.]]
Slightly calmed, Silverbolt was later approached by Blackarachnia. He confided in her the real reason for his anger: it was not what Megatron had done to him, but that he'd been freed from his code of honor and ''enjoyed'' the experience. He did not trust himself any longer. This did not deter Blackarachnia. She believed, no matter what, that Silverbolt had goodness in his heart. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight|In Darkest Knight}}

Silverbolt's return to the Maximals was not without its hiccups, however. When he formally returned to the group, Megatron used giant mechanical drill-tentacles to damage the city and get the Maximals' attention... as well as activate a new strain of the ancient [[Hate Plague]] virus hidden in Silverbolt. After infecting everyone and nearly scrapping each other, they managed to cure themselves. Silverbolt was bummed about being used, but Optimus gave him a pat on the shoulder and said "Hakuna matata". Or words to that effect. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold|A Wolf in the Fold}}

When a spaceship was shot down and crashed into the city, Silverbolt was teamed with Nightscream to reach it from the air, and he had to endure the young Maximal's harsh words and attitude, brought on by the Hate Plague incident. Silverbolt fought against the [[Botanica|crazed space plant]] on the shuttle, then against a horde of Tank Drones in their underground base, and his actions finally allowed Nightscream to warm up to him. {{storylink|Home Soil|Home Soil}}

As time went on, Silverbolt began to become more comfortable with his past. With the final defeat of Megatron and the reformatting of Cybertron, his old personality reemerged—only for him to ruin the moment by saying the corniest line he could think of. And more power to him. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}
{{-}}

====''Universe'' comic====
[[Image:Silverbolt tfu.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Angsty Redux]]
One year after [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s Great Reformatting, five great Autobot heroes ([[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Shadow Striker]], and [[Roulette]]) returned home to a peaceful planet. Amidst a media blitz and celebration, Silverbolt, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], and [[Rattrap]] were among the Maximals to greet them.

However, what appeared to be celebratory fireworks struck Silverbolt and Blackarachnia and also the five Autobots. They were transported to the firey [[Pit]] deep within [[Unicron]], where all but Trailbreaker were rebuilt painfully into new bodies. Silverbolt was piece-by-piece reassembled into a version of his
original [[Fuzor]] form.

Seeing an arena up ahead, the seven moved towards it, only to be attacked by a swarm of shape-shifting, lava-like creatures. Silverbolt and the others were overwhelmed and taken into the arena (or the [[Cauldron]]), where they were caged along with a multitude of Transformers kidnapped from across the multiverse. {{storylink|Abduction|Abduction}}

During this time, Blackarachnia was corrupted by Unicron to become one of his warriors. Silverbolt vowed to bring her back to the light again, as she had done for him. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

When the whole place went to pot after the formation of the [[Unicron Singularity]], Silverbolt escaped with the rest of the prisoners, taking Blackarachnia with him. Presumably, they returned to their own time and universe. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}
===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Silverbolt was upgraded into a [[Transmetal]] and left stranded somewhere on [[Earth|Energoa]], far away from the other [[Maximal|Maximals]] and presumed dead by [[Rattrap]]. After [[Optimus Primal]] was reborn, Silverbolt could be seen staring poetically at the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] from somewhere on the planet. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
Silverbolt followed Optimus Primal in fighting against [[Reptilion|Reptillion]] and his Decepticon forces. He engaged [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] in combat, but was probably defeated by him as the latter moved on to fight [[Striker]]. After the Decepticons were abducted by Unicron's ship, Silverbolt asked his leader just what that thing was. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM|Universe CD-ROM}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
[[Image:Silverboltfuzortoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Watch out for my deadly spoons!]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Deluxe Fuzor, 1998)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-41'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right feather-missiles

: Part of the first wave of [[Fuzor|Fuzors]], Silverbolt transforms into a wolf with the wings, fore-legs and tail of an eagle. In either mode, pulling his tail activates a spring-loaded "wing flap" gimmick. Moving the wings far enough forward triggers their built-in spring-loaded missile launchers. Silverbolt's missiles are also designed to be held in his hands like clubs. They also happen to look like spoons.

: For his Japanese release as part of ''Beast Wars Metals'', Silverbolt's grey plastic was made much lighter, and the wolf eyes were given painted irises and pupils.

: This mold was used to make [[BotCon 1999]]'s [[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]] and Silverbolt's [[Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'']] [[Redeco|redeco]].

{{-}}
===Beast Machines===
[[Image:Silverboltbmtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Guess why I was packaged in robot mode!]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Basic, 2000)
**''Accessories'': Wing-pack/sword

: ''Beast Machines'' Silverbolt transforms into a technorganic condor. His wings have a snap-together feature, and the entire wing assembly detaches to form a hand-held shield-blade for robot mode. His condor mode looks so awkward (no place for the robot legs to go!) that it is possible his real [[Alternate mode|altmode]] was originally intended to be a [[:Image:Silverboltbmtoygriffin.jpg|griffin]].

{{-}}<span id="BMJ"></span>
[[Image:Silverboltbwrtoy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Like lipstick on a... condor... thing.]]
*'''Silverbolt''' (Basic, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-10'''
**''Accessories'': Wing-pack/sword

: In 2005, the ''Beast Machines'' toy was [[Redeco|redecoed]] for the [[Takara]] ''[[Beast Wars Returns]]'' series in a much more [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] purple color scheme. He was only available at Toys "R" Us stores.

{{-}}
===Universe (2003)===
*'''Silverbolt''' (Deluxe, 2003)
**''Accessories'': Left & right feather-missiles

: A [[Giant Purple Griffin|purple]] redeco of the original Fuzor toy and part of the very first assortment of ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' product, Silverbolt once again transforms into a wolf/eagle fusion. He retains all of his previous [[Gimmick|gimmicks]]. This version also adds an Autobot sigil to his tummy-gem.

{{-}}
==Merchandise==
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroessilverboltmegatron.jpg|right|300px|thumb|He will beat you to death with his mighty wheat!]]
'''Silverbolt vs. Transmetal Megatron''' (2008)

: Part of the "Beast Wars Series," Silverbolt comes packaged with [[Transmetal]] [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation.

{{-}}
==Notes==
* In the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Silverbolt was not portrayed as a stereotypical "knight in shining armor" as he was in the West. Instead, his unique character quirk was that he was ''psychotically polite'' and always happy no matter what—even in the one scene in "[[Optimal Situation]]" where he thought Blackarachnia was dead. He ended nearly every sentence in a loud, stressed '''"desu!"''' which made every sentence of his needlessly over-polite. [[wikipedia:List_of_Rozen_Maiden_characters#Suiseiseki|Suiseiseki]] would be proud desu.

* According to various [[Hasbro]] representatives, ''Universe'' Silverbolt's colors (and those of pretty much the entire first wave of ''Universe'' product) were done by Hasbro employees from outside the ''Transformers'' team.

* Silverbolt's robot mode in ''Beast Machines'' was heavily designed after a traditional Japanese samurai.

* According to one of the [[Steven Melching|writers]]' commentaries on one of his [[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall|episodes]], he made the changes to Silverbolt based on the evolution of the Adam West Batman into the Dark Knight.

* Silverbolt has the dubious distinction of being the only Maximal who has not taken out Waspinator, instead being taken down by the bug three times. Ouch.
** Well, [[The Agenda (Part 2)|not directly anyway]].

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Maximal/Silverbolt/silverbolt.htm Silverbolt at TFU.info]

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Fuzors]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]

Letters page (Marvel UK)

2009-11-21T02:28:36Z

99.17.32.97: /* Hosts/Page title */

[[Image:TFUK91 letters moviereview.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Only British fans will understand the logo on this page!]]
The [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic]] had an interesting approach to [[letters page|fan mail]] - the letters were answered by [[Transformer|Transformers]].

Originally the Marvel UK comics' letters pages were a fairly pedestrian affair, occasionally spiced up by a [[Hasbro]] employee dropping in [[To sell toys|to plug toys]]. However, starting with issue [[The New Order|#22]], a new take was created with a Transformer answering the letters page in character. By this stage the comic was being printed in a weekly format which, combined with in-character letter answerers, resulted in a very informal, "chatty" interaction with fans.

The letters pages created on-going in-jokes, addressed continuity errors and were constantly telling the readers (especially during [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s tenure) to ignore the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] because, while it was an amusing diversion, the '''comics''' were the real story. This is the only time any Transformers fiction has claimed it was more legitimate than another fiction. Generally TF fictions just ignore each other.

There were tips about where to pick up old merchandise, and sightings of new toys. The corner section of the page ran recurring items as well - "Stock Exchange" and "Comic Exchange" let fans swap their toys and comics with each other; other times, a fan might have a list of their favourite aspects of the series (issue, character, artist, etc.) printed.

The letter answerers were also unashamedly biased towards their own factions and generally completely biased towards themselves. They'd often berate or tease letter writers, talk down about the previous columnists or berate the writers of the series itself.

==Outside-inside continuity==
The ''continuity'' of the letters page is somewhat complicated. Generally the writers treated themselves as 'in continuity', even if this defied all logic. While the comic had a human production staff (Stubbies) who could be blamed for some gaffes that might occur, the comic was also supposed to portray "real events". Or, as Grimlock put it when a fan tried to blame the writer for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron's]] rampage:

:''The story that appears in this comic is an accurate representation of the actual events as they happened. So, just this once, you can't really blame the Stubbies involved. That said in issue [[Fallen Angel (issue)|#102]] they got it all wrong. Fancy showing Galvatron actually defeating me in battle!'' '''Ridiculous!''' -''Grimlock, [http://www.transfans.co.uk/comics_guide_detail.php?id=136&page=7 answering letter]''

The hosts answered questions and bantered with fans, discussing subjects ranging from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron's]] Cybertronian form (a hand-held laser gun) to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime's]] opinion of Mötley Crüe's music (he hates it). In some cases the letters page is the only canon source for vital information about characters. For example, [[Chuffer]]'s name comes completely from the letters pages.

The waters of canon were further muddied by the letters pages' interaction with [[Robo-Capers]]. Transitions of the letter answerers were generally shown in a Robo-Capers strip, (or in one case, a text story -- which also served as that year's [[Christmas]] story). These strips illustrated the exact details of how the letters column would change hands. Occasionally other Robo-Capers strips would also show behind-the-scenes goings-on at Marvel or scenes to do with the letter answerer, like Grimlock going to see the [[The Transformers: The Movie|TF movie]].

How this all fits together with the actual comics canon is anyone's guess. Especially since Marvel Comics appears in-story, through [[Donny Finkleberg]]. Even more horrifying is this thought: If the letters pages are canon, that makes every single human who wrote into the pages a canon part of TF fiction. Let's... ahhh... let's not start publishing pages about them, though, please.

==Hosts/Page title==
[[Image:35LETTERScomp.JPEG|left|100px|thumb|Soundwave superior, fanboys inferior.]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] hosted the page under the title '''Soundwaves'''. Soundwave hosted from issue [[The New Order|#22]] to issue [[Showdown!|#73]]. Whenever [[Autobot|Autobots]] (puttup) were named in the letters page, for example Optimus Prime (puttup), Soundwave would spit. What exactly the (puttup) meant was kind of confusing until issue [[Second Generation!|#65]] when Soundwave actually spat (puttup and all... through his face plate, no less) at Robot Master in the main strip. This strange scene further linked the letters page to general canon.

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[[Image:41LETTERScomp.JPEG|left|100px|thumb|Oh, NOW I get it! Ha ha that's not funny.]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] hosted '''Rat-Chat''' for issue [[Christmas Breaker!|#41]] only. Ratchet generally crowed about having taken over the letters page -- but his responses were a bit weak compared to the acidic tone of Soundwave.

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[[Image:78LETTERScomp.JPEG|left|100px|thumb|That's one helluva letter opener.]]
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] hosted '''Grim Grams''' for the longest stint out of any of them, after storming the building. {{storylink|Robo-Capers issue 74|Robo-Capers UK 74}} He reigned from issue [[In the National Interest|#75]] to issue [[Space Pirates!|#182]] (there was no letters page in issue #74). Grimlock was one of the most enjoyable of the hosts. He was open, genuine and fun. Also, his pages were filled with hundreds of little tidbits about Transformers canon, from the names and alt modes of otherwise unnamed generic Transformers to the fact that Galvatron has a weakness for chocolate-coated oil barrels. Yikes.

Grimlock was particularly bloodthirsty towards the people supposedly creating the comics, starting a bunch of running gags--from referring to them as "Stubbies" to threatening to put them into the [[Variable voltage harness|VVH.]] He also got to do a few other special features, including getting to do his own review on the Transformers film. Again, stretching continuity credibility to new levels of thinness.

Unlike Dreadwind, Grimlock never got to occupy the corner box on the cover of the comic during his massive run. At first it alternated between Optimus Prime and Megatron, then after they died between Galvatron and Rodimus Prime, and finally it went back to Powermaster Optimus Prime. Poor Grimmy.
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[[Image:185LETTERScomp.JPEG|left|100px|thumb|]]
[[Image:213LETTERScomp.JPEG|left|100px|thumb|]]
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] hosted '''Dread Tidings''' (not "Dread Fidings" in spite of what the design of the second logo suggested), with occasional "help" from his [[Nebulan]] companion, [[Hi-Test]]. {{storylink|The Wind of Change!|The Wind of Change!}} Dread Tidings ran from issue #184 to issue [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#299]]. Again, there was an issue gap between Grimlock leaving the strip and Dreadwind taking up the strip -- the place of the letters page in issue #183 was taken by a special Robo-Capers strip showing Dreadwind taking over the letters.

Dread Tidings ran both in colour and in black and white. To distinguish the difference between Dreadwind and Hi-Test, Dreadwind answered in red/pink, while Hi-Test answered in blue. This meant that when the page was published in black and white Hi-Test stopped answering letters for a while.

The corner boxes on the covers of issues [[Kings of the Wild Frontier|#282-285]] feature a sequence where Dreadwind punches out Optimus Prime and steals the corner box from him.

In issue [[The Human Factor!|#302]], despite having been kicked out several issues earlier, Dreadwind was still holed up in the Marvel offices. His final departure was the subject of that year's [[Christmas]] story, a text story on the Transmissions index page. (The smallest, and most half-arsed Christmas effort in the history of the series.)

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[[Image:TFUK300_letterspage.jpg|left|100px|thum]]
*[[Action Master]] [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] rounded out the comic's run with '''Darn 'n' Blast''', beginning in issue [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#300]]. Don't ask what happened to Dreadwind's picture of a sad-eyed puppy. Curiously, Blaster took over while his comic counterpart was [[Dark Star (issue)|STILL]] [[On the Edge of Extinction!|DEAD,]] though this Blaster explained that he hails from an alternate reality, one where several Transformers (not just Grimlock) became Action Masters.

During Blaster's run we learnt more about his family, and more about [[Mecha-soccer|Transformers soccer leagues]]. Uh. Yay. His tone was much more bright and upbeat than the other letter answerers -- resulting in a somewhat more bland set of columns. Ironically, comics Blaster wasn't really a fun and upbeat guy, but that's the UK take for ya.
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==Post-Marvel==
The later [[Armada (Panini comic)|''Armada'' comic]] from [[Panini]] and both [[Titan Books|Titan]]'s [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Movie]] & [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'']] comics have since used the same format for their letters page.

[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Comics]]