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Fire in the Sky

2010-05-10T00:16:26Z

99.9.81.174: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=7
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=62
|prev2=Masquerade
|next2=Fire on the Mountain
|image=Fire in the sky.jpg
|caption="If I talk to you for two minutes, I consider you my friend."
|title="Fire in the Sky"
|production code=#700-04
|airdate=[[December 8]], 1984
|written by=[[Alfred A. Pegal]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''While siphoning the Earth of its energy, the Decepticons uncover a long-lost colleague of Starscream.'''

:''Japanese title:'' スカイファイヤーの再生 (''Skyfire no Saisei'', "Skyfire's Resurrection")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:FireintheSky snowball.jpg|left|150px|thumb|This snow isn't as fun as Spike said it was!]]

What’s this? A blanket of snow over the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s volcano? The Autobots and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] engaged in a snowball fight? In July? In the middle of the desert? Something is amiss with the world’s weather. According to [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]'s scans, temperatures are 40 degrees below normal and falling rapidly.

[[Image:FireintheSky Reflector draincrystal.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Im in ur ice cave, steamcleanin ur crystal]]

Somewhere in the [[Arctic Circle]], the Decepticons have tapped a crystal shaft leading directly to the [[Earth's core]] to siphon the planet's heat energy into [[energon cube]]s. While excavating the icy caverns surrounding the crystal, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] uncovers a Transformer frozen in the ice. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] recognizes it as his old colleague [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]].

The Autobots finally pinpoint the source of the Earth’s energy drain, and Teletraan I confirms Decepticon activity surrounding a crystal outgrowth in the Arctic Circle. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] hastily assembles an assault team, and they [[roll out]], with Spike and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] accompanying.

[[Image:FireintheSky DecepticonsrepairingSkyfire.jpg|left|150px|thumb|I don't care if he is a fat bastard, Thundercracker. You don't weld a bot in the pills. It's just not cricket.]]

The Decepticons have hauled the frozen titan out of the ice and proceed to repair it. Starscream explains his past: [[MYA|millions of years ago]], before the final falling out between the Autobots and Decepticons, Starscream and Skyfire were both explorers. They were charting an unknown planet, Earth, when a storm separated the two and Skyfire was lost.

Skyfire awakens and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] welcomes him to the Decepticon cause. Though Skyfire is grateful for having been thawed out, he shows doubts about being a warrior rather than a scientist. He commits to the cause out of loyalty to Starscream. When the Autobots arrive in the Arctic, Skyfire targets them for destruction.

[[Image:FireintheSky Skyfire peers in.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I see you.]]

Skyfire opens fire, scattering the Autobots. Spike tumbles through the ice into the arctic waters. Sparkplug pulls him out, but they are trapped on an ice floe. They cry out for help. Skyfire is intrigued by the new lifeforms and tries to befriend them, not realizing that they are terrified by Decepticons. Spike and Sparkplug try to explain that it’s the Decepticons that are the true monsters. The naïve Skyfire takes the humans to Megatron to prove the Decepticons' good intentions. Megatron and Starscream promptly imprison Spike and Sparkplug behind bars of ice, and plan their execution, leaving Skyfire troubled.

[[Image:FireintheSky pileofparts.jpg|left|150px|thumb|They got better.]]

Optimus leads his Autobot team into the icy caverns, but a cave-in splits the team in two. Prime's group finds the humans and frees them, while the other team—including [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]—find the crystal shaft tap. Megatron discovers this second group and has his soldiers capture them. To test Skyfire's loyalty, Starscream orders Skyfire to execute the captives. Skyfire refuses, and in a fit of rage, Starscream blasts his old friend. Starscream then blasts the prisoners to pieces.

[[Image:FireintheSky Skyfires magicAutobotsymbol.jpg|right|150px|thumb|A changing faction symbol? It's Sideways! Get him!]]

Well, not really. Once again, one of Hound's holograms has saved the day, creating the illusion of blasted Autobot parts. When Starscream departs, Hound drops the illusion. An ailing Skyfire awakens and is pleased to see the Autobots functioning. The disparate Autobot teams unite as Ratchet repairs the fallen titan. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] spies Ratchet's work and reports to Megatron. The Decepticon leader chews out Starscream for failing to kill the prisoners. Megatron orders his soldiers to attack.

[[Image:FireintheSky Memorial.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Rest in peace, Skyfire." "[[Fire on the Mountain|I'm not dead, damn it!]]" "I can still hear his voice on the wind... *sniff*"]]

As the battle progresses, Prime and Megatron each grab shards of crystals and engage in a duel. Skyfire appears on the battlefield, and Megatron orders him to attack Prime. Skyfire refuses, and proudly declares himself an Autobot, attacking Megatron and his Decepticons instead.

The battle takes to the air as Starscream and Skyfire engage in an aerial dogfight. A midair collision sends Skyfire out of control. In a last ditch effort, his blasts bury the crystal, but Skyfire crashes into the ice. The Autobots mourn Skyfire’s heroic sacrifice.

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (4)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (15)

|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (9)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (10)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (13)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (19)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (20)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"Not snowman, Spike. Snowbot! There's a flurry in a hurry!"
:—A snow-covered '''Jazz''', surprising Spike

"Okay, Spike. You rat on me, I'll splat on you!"
:—'''Bumblebee''', after Spike warns Ratchet about Bumblebee's incoming snowball

"Ironhide's carrying too much lead in his caboose!"
:—'''Gears''', predating the "junk in the trunk" standard after they all fall through an ice sheet

"Lucky for you my laser has a defrost cycle."
:—'''Cliffjumper''' breaks Spike and Sparkplug out of an ice prison.

"Well, I'll be reprogrammed with a rivet roller."
:—'''Ironhide''' reveals yet another unusual piece of Cybertronian technology.

"I'm a scientist, not an executioner!"
:—'''Skyfire''' objecting to Starscream's demand that he execute the captives.

"He won't be forgotten, Spike. He will live forever... so long as freedom exists. We shall remember you, Skyfire."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s eulogy for Skyfire

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:FireintheSky Gears AninconvienientTruth.jpg|right|200px|thumb|ManBearPig - I'm serial!]]
* As Optimus Prime muses about how the heat from the Earth's core is being drained away, Gears can be seen in the background sitting in front of a console with a very small screen. But during the closeup of Gears, the screen is ''much'' larger.

* When the Autobots roll out, the background is moving far too quickly, making them appear to be sliding across frame while transforming. It doesn't help that they aren't drawn very well, either.

* When Skyfire first wakes up and asks where he is, Starscream's mouth appears to be moving, but he isn't actually saying anything.

* Right after he wakes up, Skyfire has a red Decepticon insignia in his chest in one shot, before they actually imprint the symbol on him.

* When Bumblebee tells Optimus that he can't find Ironhide and the others, the animation makes him look like he's flying. In the same scene, Optimus is shown with his trailer, though it wasn't there before, and it isn't there in the next shots.

* In a rather odd shot set up, Skyfire is too big to fit into a cave that Megatron and Starscream stand in. He’s forced to peer through the cave’s opening.

* Megatron’s order to Skyfire to destroy Optimus Prime is voiced, oddly enough, by Optimus Prime.

* Just before Skyfire shoots the crystal, while Ratchet points in the air, Optimus Prime is colored blue in the background.

* Skywarp has a red Decepticon symbol in the shot where he mocks Rumble.

* When Optimus enters the Decepticon base, he has no trailer, yet it appears once he's outside.

===Continuity errors===
* This episode's basic premise is one of the most bizarre and scientifically ludicrous conceits ever created by the cartoon - namely, the idea that draining the energy of the Earth's core would somehow severely and instantly affect its climate, causing plummeting temperatures world wide. If internal heat generates the planet's climate, why would there be big frozen zones at the poles? Doesn't Earth actually have a big [[Sun|external heat source]] that would offset the devastating loss of this (infinitesimal) heat source?
* Furthermore, the Autobots never actually ''solve'' the problem! They stop the Decepticons from draining the energy, but there's no indication that this actually corrects the Earth's temperature imbalance.

* Teletraan I says the global average temperature has dropped by 40 degrees. To put that in context, the average temperature was about 8 degrees less than the present day ''during the last ice age.''

* What exactly do green crystals have to do with the Earth's core?

*The Autobots can apparently drive from North America to the Arctic in a fairly short amount of time.

* Starscream transforms into an F-15 millions of years before his arrival on Earth, or the invention of jets.

* Were Starscream and Skyfire really friends? Starscream seems to shoot his old friend and call him "Traitor!" quite a lot. Then again, Starscream is a royal jerk.

* It's never adequately explained where Skyfire got an Autobot badge from.

===Rhino DVD release===
* In the Rhino DVD version, Skyfire's Decepticon insignia is colored red in several shots.

* The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD are Opening / Snowbot / At the Arctic Circle / "Destruction to Autobots" / An Illusion / Skyfire is Gone

===Continuity notes===
* Aside from astroseconds, Transformers also use astrominutes as units of time.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Soundwave can transform his right forearm into a cylindrical electricity firing module capable of generating a million volts.
** Megatron can rotate his lower torso 180 degrees, which makes for some cool hand-to-hand combat maneuvers.
* Prime’s [[Combat Deck]] cannons make a rare appearance in this episode, emerging from a non-transformed trailer.
* The first appearance of Skyfire, obviously.

===Japanese version===

*The Japanese ordering of this episode places it toward the end of the series. This was done as it featured Skyfire prominantly and with his toy being of [[Bandai]] design (and not sold in Japan as a Transformer), that caused some legal concerns amongst Takara (many of Skyfire's smaller scenes in other episodes were cut entirely). Though the episodes featuring him as a main characters were eventually shown, the scripts were not reworked to adjust to the new chronological placement, simply being more or less direct translations of the original English versions.

*'''Cut:''' After Jazz makes his "snow fair" joke, the pan across to Bumblebee has been cut.

*'''Cut:''' After Cliffjumper crashes ino the snow-covered tree, the scene of him shaking his head, Hound sliding by and crashing into a cactus have been cut.

*'''Cut:''' The scene of Gears pointing to his monitor and blaming the snow on the Decepticons and Prime walking up and bending forward have been cut.

*'''Cut:''' After Megatron makes his speech about gathering enough Energon cubes to conquer the universe, the pan across the ice cave toward Rumble has been cut.

*'''Cut:''' Following Teletraan-1's line, "Abnormally large energy expenditure in the Artic Circle", the scene of the monitor panning across the frozen tundra toward the large green crystal cone has been cut.

*'''Cut:''' After the Autobots all transform and leave the Ark, the scene of Prime driving next to the cliffside and Spike's line, "Arctic Circle, here we come" have been cut.

*'''Cut:''' After Starscream tosses Spike and Sparkplug to the ground, the following scene of him pointing his arm gun toward them and the humans reacting in horror have been cut. The sequence resumes as his firing on the roof of the ice cave to create the ice bars.

*'''Cut:''' Once Soundwave ejects Ravage at Megatron's command, the scene of Megatron pointing Ravage in a certain direction and Ravage charging down the cave have been cut. The sequence resumes at the inward pan of the empty cave and Jazz's line about "searching these tunnels for astro-minutes".

*Additional narration is added describing the scene where all the Autobots are standing over the injured Skyfire and Laserbeak sneakily observing them.

*'''Cut:''' Immediately following ''that'' scene, the scene of Megatron sitting down and spinning an Energon cube in his hand has been cut. The sequence resumes at his blinking chest.

*Additional narration, "and then...", is added to the scene of Megatron receiving the message from Laserbeak.

===Trivia===
* This episode was produced as the seventh in the season, though it aired after the eighth-produced episode, "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".

*Strangely, the official [[Sunbow Productions]] cast list entry for "Fire in the Sky" names "Decepticon Workers" who "resemble Skywarp" as silent characters ("no dialogue") appearing in the episode. No such legion of Skywarps actually appears.

* Spike and Sparkplug have fashionable fur-lined cold-weather hardhats with ear flaps.

* When the Autobots are split up, the 3 members of Prime's team are the 3 members of the Ark crew who survive [[The Transformers: The Movie]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 4: "Fire in the Sky" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1995 — ''The Transformers'' — The Autobots vs. The Decepticons ([[Malofilm]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three ([[Maverick Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Maverick Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Kid Rhino]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Kid Rhino) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/fire_in_the_sky.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Astrotrain (G1)

2010-04-17T23:12:53Z

99.9.81.174: /* Generation 1 cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2}}
{{disambig3|Astrotrain}}
:''Astrotrain is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Astrotraing1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Choo Choo Rocket]]
'''Astrotrain''' loves to sow confusion. To this end, his [[Triple Changer]] abilities serve him well. Nothing pleases him more than confronting an Autobot in a dark corner and making him wonder if he's up against one Decepticon or two. He craves having this power over others. Single-minded, you may say, but when most of your time is spent transporting troops around, you have to take your jollies where you can. He wants more from life, but it's either fly the other Decepticons around, or get scrapped by them.

He also craves having power over a massive [[Astroforce|army of train drones]]. Follow your dreams, Astrotrain. Follow your dreams.

{{bigquote|It's always the same thing. I fly them to points unknown, exhaust all my fuel, and they get to have all the fun.|Astrotrain on his eternal role as the Decepticons' ride|"[[The Gambler]]"}}

:''Hungarian name:'' '''Űrvonat''' ("Space Train")
:''Italian name:'' '''Triplex Uno''' ("Triplex One")
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Tài-kōng Huǒ-chē''' (太空火車, "Astro Train")
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Da Huoche''' (大火车, "Big Train")

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====Generation 1 cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jack Angel]] (English), [[Takurō Kitagawa]] (Japanese)
{{charstubfiction}}
[[Image:AstrotrainTakeover.jpg|left|200px|thumb|It doesn't matter if you're grey or white... if you're a boy or a girl...]]
Astrotrain arrived on [[Earth]] during the second year of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s campaign to conquer the planet and its energy resources. His activities prior to that point remain unclear, but he was first seen guarding human slaves in an energy mine following the Decepticon takeover of [[Central City (G1)|Central City]]. When the Autobots returned from a brief exile in space, Astrotrain and his comrades were defeated and sent packing. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

He once transported Megatron to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] where he and the Decepticons' leader attempted to jam Earth's radio waves. The attempt was interrupted by the arrival of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Astrotrain engaged in a bad pun, accused Omega Supreme of being too outdated to catch him, and then was the victim of a Cybertronian's impression of a sandworm (see image) before being thrown a few planetary diameters. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}}

[[Image:Omegasupreme astrotrain.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Behold my mighty hand!]]
Typically one of the more easy-going among the Decepticons, even Astrotrain isn't above letting a little power go to his head. While tracking [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], he shot down the Autobot, who had been on a fuel scouting mission, and managed to trick the [[Titan (species)|people]] of [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] into believing that he was one of their Sky Gods, so that they would mine energy crystals for him and the Decepticons. Astrotrain used [[Jero]], a corrupt High Priest who was as fanatical as he was ruthless, to further his ends. However, the Autobots [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] arrived aboard Omega Supreme looking for Cosmos. Omega Supreme was virtually out of fuel after the trip, but the Autobots soon managed to refuel him using the energy crystals. Knowing that he, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] alone couldn't beat Omega Supreme, Astrotrain destroyed the crystals in a fit of pique before flying off, leaving Jero to die like the worm he was. Harsh, Astrotrain, harsh. {{storylink|The God Gambit}}

{{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme}}

Astrotrain later transported [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] to the planet [[Monacus]] to check up on Decepticon sympathizer [[Lord Gyconi]]. When they learned that Gyconi had captured a number of Autobots and brainwashed them into mindless slaves, the Decepticons tried to stow them aboard Astrotrain to take them back to Megatron. However, their plan was stopped by [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] and [[Slizardo]], and the latter two followed Astrotrain into space as he escaped with his comrades. {{storylink|The Gambler}}

{{storylink|Sea Change}}

However, the incident on Titan had given Astrotrain a taste of power, and he decided he liked it. With the help of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], Astrotrain froze [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in a sewer system in order to take over the Decepticons. He then created an army of trains to help him rule, thinking it was a good idea. Although he managed to amass a surprisingly large amount of [[Energon cube|Energon cubes]], the productive day ended with him flooding the entire city after bursting a water main. Worse, Megatron thawed out. The embarrassment of these incidents forced Astrotrain to creep back into the Decepticon ranks quietly... at [[fusion cannon]] point. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}}

{{storylink|Prime Target}} {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}} {{storylink|Hoist Goes Hollywood}}

Astrotrain transported Megatron, Starscream and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] to the lost Autobot colony of [[Antilla]], where they discovered the entire civilization had been wiped out by the deadly [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. Not heeding a holographic warning from the Autobots, Megatron ventured further into the colony and seized an advanced heat ray weapon from its storage chamber. As they left Antilla, a Cosmic Rust spore-filled asteroid appeared to chase after Astrotrain, prompting Megatron to test out of the power of the 'lightning bug' weapon on the space rock. The blast obliterated the asteroid, but the shrapnel from the explosion pierced Astrotrain's hull and punctured Megatron's chest plate, infecting him with Cosmic Rust. Oddly enough, Astrotrain was never infected. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

{{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}} {{storylink B.O.T.}}

In the year 2005, he transported the Decepticons away after getting their aft-sections [[Battle of Autobot City|handed to them]] at [[Autobot City]]. He couldn't make it back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] with the amount of weight on board, so they tossed [[Megatron (G1)|some]] [[Insecticon (G1)|dead]] [[Thundercracker (G1)|weight]] overboard. After that, Astrotrain served as the ring for the subsequent fight among the Decepticons to replace the ejected Megatron, where the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] inside him (slag, Astrotrain is big!) and Rumble and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] used their piledrivers (slag, Astrotrain is sturdy!) Apparently, they all made it back fine, and Astrotrain was the one to crown Starscream during his coronation as the new [[Decepticon leader]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

When the Decepticons lost their hold on Cybertron, Astrotrain went with the rest of them to [[Chaar]], where he was seen trying to deliver Energon cubes to the starving army. When he tried to take a cube for himself while the Constructicons were fighting amongst themselves for the energy, they merged into Devastator and kicked him aside. Devastator was then distracted by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], and Astrotrain made another move for the cube, only to be shot by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. Such is life. When Cyclonus insulted the Decepticons for their behavior, Astrotrain somewhat notably mentioned that he knew [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and Megatron "were the same guy". Cyclonus later stated that he needed energon as it was needed to revive Galvatron, and Astrotrain gave him the rest of his supplies. He got an inspirational speech in return. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

{{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}}

{{storylink|The Killing Jar}}

Astrotrain then helped Galvatron and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] with the plan to destroy Cybertron with a [[death crystal]] cannon. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} Later on, when [[Scourge (G1)|intruders]] found their way inside [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Astrotrain responded to the alarm but ended up being possessed by Starscream's [[Spark|ghost]] because of his useful cargo space. Starscream flew his body most of the way to [[Unicron]]'s head, then left it when he closed in on Cybertron, leaving Astrotrain to be shot down by the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]. Astrotrain was then captured and interrogated by the Autobots, but was as confused as they were about why he had been flying so close to Cybertron all by himself. He was later released as a way of thanking Scourge for revealing Unicron's plans to them. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

Later, Astrotrain stumbled upon [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] in space and battled him until the two were suddenly interrupted by a laser barrage from the nearby [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]] and retreated. Astrotrain returned to Chaar to report this to Galvatron, who punched him in the face, insulted him and stated that he didn't care. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

Astrotrain was later seen participating in a Decepticon attack on Japan, trying to ram a bullet train head-on, before being driven off by the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
Astrotrain photographed the incomplete [[Autobot City]], with the aid of [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]'s camera mode, so that Megatron could decipher whether or not it was powerful enough to stand up to [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
Astrotrain, Blitzwing and [[Octane]] were amongst the troops serving under [[Sixshot]] in [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] on Earth. Together, they helped Sixshot distract [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and his warriors from assisting the Autobots' forces on Cybertron. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The three were later dispatched to protect Trypticon from an attack by the Autobot Triple Changers [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], unaware that it was just a distraction to allow [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]] to infiltrate the base. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} He also served as Galvatron's personal transport to the planet [[Praum]], where the Decepticons had set a trap for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s. {{storylink|The Four-Million-Year-Old Veil of Mystery}} He also transported Galvatron and Soundblaster to Earth from Chaar, where they prepared their strike on Cybertron. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} Astrotrain then went into Earth's orbit to help steal the energy-gathering satellite known as [[Solar 1]] {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}}, and much later he witnessed [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] reveal his gigantic [[Transtector]] at [[Zarak (planet)|Zarak]]. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''Astrotrain was one of Lord [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]'s warriors on Cybertron, operating out of [[Darkmount]] in [[Polyhex]]. At Megatron's demand, he called a group of Decepticons back from a planned assassination attempt on [[Emirate Xaaron]] and the Autobot leaders, leaving all the Decepticons unaware that it was actually a ploy by the Autobots to wipe them out.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

[[Image:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|left|175px|thumb|"Thus, my new fuel economy plan will increase fuel efficiency. Any other questions, Astrotrain?" "Yeah. What the hell did you just say, Ratbat?"]]
Astrotrain and his fellow Triple Changers were commissioned by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] to investigate the loss of his [[Wash and Roll|priceless cargo]] that had arrived on Earth via a low-cost freighter, but hadn't checked in as scheduled. Upon making contact with the crashed ship, Astrotrain and his companions were infected with [[Scraplet|Scraplets]], and began to slowly waste away. Lucky for them, the Autobot [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] was also infected, and his friends managed to re-discover the [[Water|strange and wondrous chemical]] that acted as a cure. In saving Blaster, the Triple Changers were incidentally saved as well. Astrotrain showed quick thinking when he identified a nearby [[G.B. Blackrock]] as a useful asset and hypnotically gained control of him, thus ensuring the viability of [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|Ratbat's greatest plan]]. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers then linked up with Shockwave's Decepticons on Earth, which soon fell under the command of their former superior on Cybertron, Ratbat. Astrotrain joined the Decepticons in an assault on the Autobot crews of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and [[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]] on Earth's moon. {{storylink|Totaled!}} Sometime later, he fought against his fellow Decepticons when Ratbat and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s armies temporarily came to blows. Astrotrain was seen rolling over [[Snapdragon]] and [[Weirdwolf]] in the melee. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Once the Decepticons united against a nearby Autobot regiment, Astrotrain again saw action when he ionically-disrupted the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]], [[Slingshot]]. Soon after, though, the Triple Changers were all destroyed battling Starscream in [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, after Screamer got himself hopped-up on [[Underbase]] power. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

In an alternate future of 2006, Astrotrain discovered that the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] appeared to all be hypnotized. He flew to [[Chaar]] and timidly approached [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] with his report. Galvatron angrily hit him into a rock face and declared that he cared nothing about what the Junkions were up to. He told Astrotrain he should leave, so he did. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

{{note|In the UK version of the story, the events of "The Big Broadcast of 2006" are a fabrication invented by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].}}

In an alternate version of 2009, Unicron had destroyed Cybertron and the Decepticons (under [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]]'s command) controlled America. Astrotrain and Octane were seen defending the [[Decepticon Powerbase]] from one last, desperate Autobot assault. They shot down the [[Pretender]] [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]], when he was disrupting the base's force field. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''When [[Autobot City]] was completed in 2004, Astrotrain was one of several Decepticons brought by Shockwave to attack the opening day festivities.'' {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

[[Image:Astrotrain space pirates.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]]
''In 2008, the Decepticons were tipped by the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] to an opportunity for wiping the Autobots off the face of Cybertron. Astrotrain acted as point-man for the invasion, not only leading the air force of flying [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], Triple Changers and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], but also acting as transport for [[Soundwave (G1)|Commander Soundwave]] and the legion of ground troopers in his cargo hold. Things turned sour when the Quintessons ambushed the Decepticons on their way to [[Autobase (G1)|Autobase]], though: Astrotrain was forced to dump the soldiers in his hold and quickly transform in order to greet their adversaries.'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Triple changers shockwave secrets.jpg|left|175px|thumb|]]
''He happily worked for Shockwave's faction in the [[Decepticon Civil War]], along with his fellow Triple Changers. Astrotrain took the time to slug it out with [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] after the [[Enclave]] between Shockwave and Megatron went sour.'' {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} ''Thanks to an inside informant, Astrotrain and the other Triple Changers joined Shockwave in surprising Megatron at an energon shipment rendez-vous point, overpowering him with blaster fire until the Decepticon leader fell off the side of a cliff.'' {{storylink|Secrets}} ''Those were happy times for Astrotrain. He was not so happy when he had to rescue [[Octane]] from a military testing range, and when he found out Octane had got here by messing around on the job again, Astrotrain happily buggered off and left him.'' {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

====''Generation 2''====
Astrotrain shows up among a crowd of Decepticons all fired up to tackle the armies of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], just before they pretty much got slaughtered. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

====''Classics''====
{{note|Classics is a [[splinter timeline]] from the Marvel US continuity that does not include events from either ''Generation 2'' or the Marvel UK issues.}}
[[Image:Astrotraincrossingovershuttle.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Astrotrain is relieved he only has to carry five Constructicons now.]]
[[Image:Devastatormegatronastrotraincrossingover.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Clearly, Astrotrain's interior is bigger than it looks.]]
Astrotrain's carcass lay undiscovered at the bottom of the sea for ten years until Megatron managed to find him. His remains were excavated piece by piece by enslaved [[Human|humans]] and transported to Megatron's base of operations within the wrecked [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in northern [[Canada]]. Using incomplete schematics and Megatron's memories of Astrotrain's old body, Astrotrain was finally reconstructed. Astrotrain was immediately put in charge of finding the remnants of the rest of the Decepticons who fell at the hands of the [[Underbase]]-powered Starscream, plus the unpleasant task of carting them back to their headquarters. This morbid job took its toll on Astrotrain, who yearned for real battle.<ref>Astrotrain's ''Classics'' profile in the Transformers Collectors' Club magazine</ref>

After the appearance of the mysterious crossdimensional Decepticon [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], Astrotrain and the other rebuilt Decepticons under Megatron's command traveled to [[South America]] to investigate an equally mysterious power source that seemed to share traits with Landquake. En route, they were attacked by [[Walter Barnett]]'s [[Armored Robot Hunters|RUNT]] squad. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 2}} Astrotrain managed to shake off these interlopers just before Optimus Prime and his Autobots arrived in search of this same power source, and a new battle between the factions began in the jungles surrounding the power source. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 3}} As the battle escalated, Astrotrain joined with some of his peers in surrounding [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 5}} but ultimately, Megatron was forced to call for a withdrawal. {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}

Megatron soon granted the mysterious [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] and his rogue group of Decepticons an audience. However, Astrotrain and the other Decepticons under Megatron's command were forcibly implanted with reverse-engineered [[Cerebro-shell|cerebro-shells]]. Bug Bite's plan was cut short when a jammer activated by [[Elita One]] disabled the shells, and a fight soon erupted between Megatron's Decepticons, Bug Bite's Decepticons, and the Autobots under [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]' command. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

When Megatron ended the Decepticon Civil War with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], Astrotrain was stationed aboard Starscream's warship. He informed his captain when the fortress below began powering down their weapons, thanks to the [[Seacon (G1)|traitors]] in Bludgeon's ranks eliminating the [[Pretender]]. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Astrotrain warwithin.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Finally, I get to fight instead of carry people.]]
When Megatron needed a major distraction to infiltrate the subsectors of Iacon and establish Cybertron as a living war world, he sent Shockwave to command a full frontal assault against the Autobot capital. Astrotrain was among the many Decepticons who aided Shockwave in this siege. {{storylink|The War Within}} Later on, after Megatron's disappearance led to a factioning of the Decepticon army, Astrotrain began serving with Starscream's [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages|The War Within: The Dark Ages}} The Predacons remained the only major hold out among the factions when [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] negotiated a great peace between the Autobots and Decepticons due to low energon reserves planet-wide. Astrotrain and the Predacons attempted to prevent the peace treaty and the consolidation of their opponents, but their efforts were in vain until the surprise return of Megatron with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], thousands of super-charged warriors grown from [[Quintesson]] cloning technology. The Decepticons managed to establish an Age of Internment until [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] finally returned to free the Autobots and equalize the sides once more. {{storylink|War Within: The Age of Wrath|The War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

After the disappearance of the [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]] and its crew, Astrotrain and his fellow future Triple Changers, Octane and Blitzwing, began serving directly under Shockwave's command. {{storylink|Destined for Nothing}} When Shockwave learned how to perfect his Triple Changer process after the [[Great Shutdown]], due to [[Unicron|Unicronian]] technology he pilfered from [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], Astrotrain was one of the first to benefit from the procedure.

In 2003, Astrotrain, along with [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], Blitzwing, [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and Octane arrived with Shockwave on [[Earth]] to place the Earth-bound Transformers under arrest for war crimes and take them back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|New World Order}} When Shockwave was eventually defeated and his control of Cybertron lost, Astrotrain and Blitzwing remained his loyal servants until the return of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] caused Astrotrain to switch loyalties while Blitzwing was destroyed. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. The Transformers'' comics===
[[Image:ArtofWar3_OmegaSupreme_Sixshot_Astrotrain.jpg|left|thumb|200px|]]
As part of [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]'s forces on Cybertron, Astrotrain attacked an Autobot peace ceremony alongside [[Sixshot]], Blitzwing and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. The Autobots responded by activating [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who blasted Astrotrain out of the air. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} When he opted to fight on ground level instead and wounded a [[Optimus Prime's rescuees|civilian]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] landed on top of him after falling from the sky, then proceeded to pummel the Triple Changer into the ground. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}}

{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[Image:Infiltration5 AstrotrainImwaiting.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Not even alien invasions can stop Astrotrain from updating his blog.]]
Astrotrain was part of a Decepticon infiltration cell that had operated covertly on Earth for at least four years, working to destabilize Earth's governing organizations and create global anarchy. Under the command of Starscream, he oversaw the extraction and refinement of the mysterious, Energon-like substance, [[Ultra-Energon|Ore-13]], {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5}} but despite having sampled its power, he was unwilling to stand alongside Starscream against Megatron. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6}}

Later on, he took Starscream's place as the Earthbound Decepticon Infiltration Unit's second-in-command under Megatron, and continued to oversee the Ore-13 research. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1}} During Megatron's scheme to escalate the tensions between [[Brasnya]] and [[Russia]], Astrotrain served as air cover for their ground forces, but was severely damaged by [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] {{storylink|Escalation issue 4}} and later retreated.

After being humiliated in battle with Optimus Prime, Megatron ordered [[Sixshot]] to come to Earth several phases before his presence is normally requested. Upon hearing this, the wire in Astrotrain's forehead nearly exploded, but Megatron told him to shut up. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6}} Witnessing his leader straying further from protocol every nano-klik but knowing none of them would dare tell Megatron he was wrong, Astrotrain decided to do the unthinkable, something no sane Transformer would ever do except as a very last resort: deliberately reactivate Starscream so he could do it ''for'' them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1}}

[[Image:Devastation6 shownomercy.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Don't cross the streams, Blitzwing!]]
When the alien [[Reaper|Reapers]] suddenly attacked their headquarters, Astrotrain left his post (forcing Blitzwing to cover for him) to plot how to exploit the situation with Starscream (though he was openly concerned if the plan failed they'd be dead). The plan worked: Starscream successfully removed Sixshot from the board and attacked the Reapers, at which point Astrotrain popped up in the command bunker to go "look at how brave Starscream is bravely attacking the Reapers by himself!". Megatron deduced what was going on behind his back, but instead of punishment, led the Decepticons into battle. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5}} After the destruction of the Reapers, Astrotrain expressed surprise at their victory and callously declared that the deaths of [[Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] were acceptable losses. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6}}

[[Image:AHM3 Astrotrain.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Somebody didn't mind the gap.]]
A year later, the Decepticons on Earth, including Astrotrain, defeated the Autobots on the planet in a mighty battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7}} As the Decepticons subsequently began conquering the planet, Astrotrain carried on being by-the-book and tactically minded in the attack on [[New York City]], suggesting they send the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] to handle ground forces to avoid ballistic attacks. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2}}

He also took to the subway lines in locomotive form to eradicate the humans hiding in the subway stations. Inexplicably, his train mode was seen to resemble an outdated steam locomotive instead of the diesel freight engine it had been a year earlier. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3}} He later watched Starscream try to take control of the Decepticons using [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], although the revolt was interrupted by the arrival of human jets from [[Europe]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10}} This was soon followed by the return of the exiled Autobots, at which point Astrotrain wrestled with [[Roadbuster]] and laughed at the Autobots when they were seemingly retreating (in reality, they were just [[Omega Supreme (G1)|making room]]). Astrotrain was then tackled into a building by Roadbuster, who commented that the Decepticon was a "lightweight". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11}} Megatron and his army were defeated {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12}}, and Astrotrain served as their escape vehicle as they fled Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13}}

{{note|The events of ''Spotlight: Mirage'' possibly take place in an alternate/unknown continuity.}}
With the Autobots reduced to a small rag-tag rabble, Astrotrain accompanied Starscream's small strike team to the [[Pegasus Star Cluster]]. Astrotrain and Blitzwing both attacked Optimus Prime after the mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] destroyed the Autobot bunker's security system, allowing the Decepticons in. Astrotrain avoided death when Mirage forced Prime to lower his weapon in exchange for [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s life. He could barely hold Prime back as Mirage executed [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], losing his grip when the furious Autobot leader attacked the mercenary. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[Image:Astrotrain HOS.jpg|left|100px|thumb|That's Mister The Astrotrain.]]
Referred to as ''the'' Astrotrain, he was a black-and-purple locomotive, with a retracted propeller on the front and batwings along the side.

The Decepticons built (or modified) the Astrotrain to be the locomotive engine pulling their battle train to New York City. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 3}} En route he rammed through an Army blockade undamaged, but ended up driving off a cliff thanks to [[John Henry]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and apparently falling to his destruction... despite having wings. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4}}

{{note|Astrotrain never speaks or transforms out of train mode during the events of the story. The cover of issue 4 appears to depict him in robot mode, and he clearly has some airplane components, so he is apparently a triple-changing Transformer in this continuity as in most.}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in comics===

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

Astrotrain was one of the Decepticons who accompanied Megatron in his attacks on Earth in the 21st century. He was first seen going on a rampage in the Japanese district of [[Shinjuku]], forcibly pushing a train along from behind while in his own train mode, threatening to derail it. [[Mirage (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Mirage]] and [[Grimlock (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Grimlock]] arrived to save the train, prompting Astrotrain to switch to shuttle mode and take off through the city, shattering windows and forcing [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Bumblebee]] to shield human bystanders from the rain of glass with their own bodies. He then transformed into robot mode and began battling the Autobots, who were unaware he was merely staging a diversion so the other Decepticons could raid a power plant. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 2}} The powerful Triple-Changer had the Autobots on the ropes until their newest ally, [[Hot Rod (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! pack-in comics|Rodimus]], arrived to join the fight. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 3}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' Bun Bun manga===

Astrotrain was among the small group of Decepticons serving under [[Megatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Megatron]] who departed Cybertron in pursuit of the [[Energon Cube]]. When the Cube crash-landed on Earth and shattered into fragments, Astrotrain and the other Decepticons took on the forms of local vehicles and machinery to remain hidden while searching for the shards.

Eleven years after the crash of the Cube, when [[Ramjet (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Ramjet]] and [[Starscream (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Starscream]] found themselves battling the Autobots in the Japanese town of [[Hoshinochō]], Ramjet put in the call to Astrotrain. Astrotrain passed the message on to Megatron, who departed the Decepticons' warehouse base to join the fight. {{storylink|Enter! The Transformers}}

Some time later, Astrotrain joined Starscream and Ramjet in attacking a hydroelectric power plant, and easily fended off the leaderless Autobots who resisted them, as [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Optimus Prime]] was incapacitated at the time. Astrotrain took down [[Bumblebee (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Bumblebee]] and [[Mirage (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Mirage]] single-handedly, then transformed to shuttle mode so the other Decepticons could load the [[energon cube]]s they had gathered. When the revived Optimus Prime came speeding onto the scene soon after, Astrotrain quickly took off in a bid for escape, but was struck by a powered-up blast from Prime's [[ion blaster]] and disappeared in a colossal explosion. However, he was barely able to make it back to the Decepticons' undersea base to deliver the stolen energon cubes, but was denied any usage by [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Time of Resurrection}} Astrotrain did not reappear again throughout the Transformers' battles on Earth.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Astrotrain toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And then I transform into a train and a rocket and a Transformer again...]]
* '''Astrotrain''' (1985, 1986, 2004, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''48''', '''TFC-11'''
**''Accessories'': "[[Ionic displacer rifle|Ionic Displacer Rifle]]"

: Astrotrain was one of the two Triple Changer toys released in 1985. He transforms into both a purple steam locomotive and a gray space shuttle. Like [[Perceptor (G1)|several]] [[Thrust (G1)|other]] [[Bluestreak|characters]] from ''Generation 1'', the pre-production toy shown in [[Hasbro]] [[Catalog|catalogs]] and stock photography does not match the final product.

: In Japan, the 1985 release of Astrotrain had a color scheme based upon the real-life versions of the vehicles he transformed into, with a white space shuttle and a black steam locomotive. In 1986, Takara released Astrotrain in his US toy colors.

: In 2004, Takara reissued Astrotrain in his original Japanese white color scheme, but with the "NASA" stickers changed to "ASTR", and with white paint on the shuttle side of the die-cast front. In 2005, Hasbro released this version of Astrotrain on the Hasbro Toy Shop.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Decepticon/Astrotrain/astrotrain.htm More information on Astrotrain at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
* '''Astrotrain Proto Color Version''' (2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''48'''
**''Accessories'': "Ionic Displacer Rifle"

: Often referred to as "Anime Astrotrain" by collectors, this version was decorated in colors used on the original 1986 toy's packaging as well as the ''Generation 1'' animation model. He was an [[e-Hobby]] [[exclusive]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Destron/Astrotrain/astrotrain.htm More information on Astrotrain Proto Color Version at TFU.info]''

===Classics===
[[Image:ClassicsAstrotrain.jpg|right|300px|thumb|...and a rocket and a train and a Transformer and man it's hard work!]]
*'''Astrotrain''' (Deluxe, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Rifle

: ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' Astrotrain, like much of the ''Classics'' line, is an extensive update of the original Astrotrain designed based heavily upon their cartoon appearances and using modern toy engineering techniques. He still transforms into a NASA space shuttle, though there are two rather obvious locomotive front halves on the sides of the rear hull, and instead of a steam engine, his secondary vehicle mode is a bullet train locomotive. His robot mode is based heavily upon his ''Generation 1'' cartoon animation model design, and is armed with a large purple laser rifle similar to the original toy's rifle.(The side of the rifle has a [[Mini-Con]] shaped port on it, if one chooses to do it) However, purple highlights aside, his deco's color scheme is predominantly based on the original Takara toy.

: As with most ''Classics'' toys, he has a heat-sensitive [[rubsign]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsAstrotrain/astrotrain.htm More information on ''Classics'' Astrotrain at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[Image:Henkei Astrotrain toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|I'm going grey! Get me some Just For Men, stat!]]
*'''Astrotrain''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-03'''
**''Accessories:'' Rifle

: In 2008, Classics Astrotrain was released in Japan as part of the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei! Transformers]]'' line by [[TakaraTomy]]. The figure was extensively redecoed into dark grey and purple colour scheme based on the character’s appearance the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. Unlike the Hasbro ''Classics'' release, instead of a rubsign, he has two Decepticon sigils tampographed onto his wings. All ''Henkei'' toys feature a somewhat randomly [[Vacuum metallizing|vacuum-metallized]] part somewhere upon them, and Astrotrain is no exception: the trim of his chestplate and engine array are vacuumized purple, with the engines themselves left as unpainted silver chrome.

{{-}}
==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
* '''Astrotrain''' (Decoy, 1986)
** ''Decoy number:'' '''38'''

: [[Decoy]] Astrotrain is a small, purple rubber figure made available with certain toys in the [[The Transformers (toyline)|original toyline]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Decepticon/Decoys/Astrotrain/astrotrain.htm More information on Decoy Astrotrain at TFU.info]''

===Boss Original Figure===
* '''Astrotrain''' (Boss Original Figure, 2008)

: Released in a line of PVC figures available exclusively with containers of [[wikipedia:Boss_Coffee|Boss]] brand coffee, this version of Astrotrain is rendered in grey and violet.

==Notes==
[[Image:Astrotraincatalog.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] called. He wants his weapons back.]]
* The 1985 [[Catalog|catalogs]] show a prototype Astrotrain toy, whose gray and purple color scheme is the one used in the cartoon. The prototype also has a number of design changes from the retail version: arms that extended on a slide joint, different feet, and a different head sculpt that was the basis for his [[character model]]. He was shown with [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'s weapons. Being resin hard copies, these prototypes didn't transform.<ref>[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/reissue_frame.php?art=Animeastro Original Astrotrain prototype at TF-1.com]</ref>

* Astrotrain's animation model is rather odd. Despite having the shuttle tailfin rather clearly folded up and slid into place within the torso... it has another mystery tailfin jutting straight out of the back. Huh.

* Speaking of the tailfin, the original box art and instructions<ref>[http://www.botchthecrab.com/archive/teletran.asp?coat=decepticon&year=1985 Botch's Transformers Box Art Archive, 1985 Decepticons page]</ref> depict it as being folded open to make a chestplate shield. The fin gets tucked away early during the transformation to keep it out of the way. However, the original animation model (and thus his other fictional appearances) show it tucked away in robot mode.

[[Image:AstrotrainCharacterModel.jpg|right|200px|thumb|That ass be fly, yo.]]
* While Astrotrain's original toy had a visor, his ''Classics'' toy, and most of his depictions in fiction, give him two eyes instead.

* Astrotrain, along with Cosmos and Omega Supreme, was one of three space-faring characters added to the cartoon in 1985. In addition to the usual voice flanging given to the show's robotic characters, all three had an echoing reverberation applied to their voices, presumably to play up the "outer space" aspect.

*While Astrotrain does not appear in the [[Stormbringer (comics)|''Stormbringer'' comic series]] (due in part to him being on Earth at the time), the trade paperback includes a design sketch for a Triple Changer which appears to be intended as Astrotrain's pre-Earth Cybertronian form.

*In the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW ''Generation 1'' continuity]] during [[Simon Furman]] and [[E. J. Su]]'s run, Astrotrain's space shuttle is essentially a ''far'' more realistic rendering of a space vehicle, but his third mode has been upgraded to a diesel-electric six-axle locomotive resembling a [[Wikipedia:GE U28C|General Electric U28C model]], along with custom features like red and purple headlights and an all-purple paint-job. It also has a Big F**king Gun mounted on the engine cowling. That's badass.

*From ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' onward, Astrotrain's design has been reworked to resemble his ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' toy in robot mode, minus some of the train kibble. However, he transforms into a purple D62 steam locomotive once more, like his original toy. There is probably a [[Trukk not munky|good reason]] for that.

*Astrotrain believes that [[Fandom|those who worship Transformers]] are fools. {{storylink|The God Gambit}}

[[Image:TheTransformerTheMovie-Astrotrainexcaping.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Not shown: Thomas and the stationmaster's house.]]
*Whether or not Astrotrain needed rails to use his train mode varied in the cartoon. In the movie, he used his locomotive form to take a run up for him to take off (in space shuttle mode), but without the aim of rails. However, before that, he has been commanding his train drones and travelling on rails, in "[[Triple Takeover]]".

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Astrotrain Astrotrain's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/reissue_frame.php?art=Astrotrain Original Hasbro Astrotrain, original Takara Astrotrain and Takara reissue Astrotrain at TF-1.com]
*[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/reissue_frame.php?art=Animeastro e-Hobby Astrotrain and original Astrotrain at TF-1.com]

[[Category:Classics characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category:Gods]]
[[Category:Headmasters characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! characters]]
[[Category:Masterforce characters]]
[[Category:Starships]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]