MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays

2014-12-23T18:08:52Z

AlphaTyrant: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=36
|prev=The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue
|next=Elegant Chaos Part 2
|image=MTMTE36 regcvr.jpg
|title="Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 17]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=December 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''A squad of ''Lost Light''ers led back through time by Rodimus aids Orion Pax's team of outlaws in defending a hot spot against the machinations of the Senate.'''

==Synopsis==

Four million years ago, in the [[Alyon]] region of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] and their gang of [[Outlier]]s defend a recently ignited [[hot spot]] against repeated incursions from [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]]. As the Guardsmen flee from their latest failed attempt, Roller decides to help them on their way by transforming to vehicle mode and ramming them—but after doing so, his trailer section unexpectedly erupts with light, and opens to reveal [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]!

''A short time earlier—relatively speaking—aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in the present day, Rodimus gathers his team together and explains, with help from [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], that [[Brainstorm]] has travelled into the past to kill Orion Pax. After travelling to [[Messatine]] as an apparent calibration exercise for his time machine, Brainstorm has now relocated himself to Cybertron; using autobiographical data on Optimus Prime from [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'s database, the team concludes that he will be in Alyon, and they prepare to depart, with [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] gleefully raiding Brainstorm's armory for the mission.''

After a few moments of tense confusion, Rodimus's team establishes a cover story for themselves, pretending to be reinforcements teleported in to help Pax by [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]]. Recognizing Chromedome from their previous meeting, Pax accepts the team and brings them back to his squad's dugout, where he explains their belief that Sentinel and the Senate are attempting to destroy the hot spot—the first to ignite in a million years, and curiously shaped like a hand—in order to prevent the [[Functionist Council]] from exploiting it as proof of [[Primus]] and strengthening their waning hold over the public. Cyclonus observes a mysterious platform floating over the hot spot, which Pax explains is apparently a monitoring station that arrived the previous evening; their conversation is chimed in on by [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], who has just risen from the camp's [[recharge slab]]. As everyone talks amongst themselves, Rodimus, taken aback by Trailbreaker's appearance, secretly takes him aside and, without telling him anything ''outright'', warns him of the circumstances of his future death on [[Ofsted XVII]] in order to prevent it from happening. Rung talks with Roller, tasting the "juicebox" the heavyweight 'bot always carries with him, only to realize Roller has added the [[circuit speeder]] [[C32]] to the drink. Roller solemnly claims he requires the boost to keep up with the Outliers, and that Pax only keeps him around because they're friends. [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] calls via the "[[time phone]]" communicator Rodimus has brought with him, but as Rodimus is busy with Trailbreaker, Orion is the one who answers. Pretending to be his younger self, Megatron has a conversation with the young police officer, whose optimism for the future is a mixed source of both affirmation and tragic amusement to Megatron. Rodimus returns from his talk with Trailbreaker and takes up the call, receiving a status update from Megatron that indicates a notable amount of background radiation is leaking through the [[quantum generator]]s from the past to the present. This causes Rodimus to believe that the senate's "monitoring station" is actually bombarding the hot spot with radiation in an attempt to sterilize it, but when he reveals this to the group, Rewind is able to use his database—altered to contain data from the alternate timeline that Brainstorm has created—to uncover the full story. The Senate are not trying to ''sterilize'' the hot spot with radiation: they're trying to ''mutate'' it, to find a way to artificially create [[Point One Percenter]]s.

Now aware of the true threat, everyone heads outside, where Orion has Trailbreaker shield the hot spot with a forcefield. In response, the floating platform unveils a weapons array and opens fire on them. While Whirl and Cyclonus take to the air to combat the platform, Roller storms into the middle of the hot spot, risking his life to use a small mobile teleporter to send each [[spark]], one by one, to a safehouse in [[Nyon]]. Amid the chaos, Perceptor calls Rodimus with the news that Brainstorm has time-jumped again, further into the past; Rodimus refuses to let his team be sent after the renegade scientist yet, intent on seeing the sparks saved. In preparation, though, he checks with Chromedome on the modifications he has been making to his [[mnemosurgery]] needles—which will allow him to wipe the last few sub-cycles of a 'bot's memories via a simple handshake—and orders him not to touch Trailbreaker. Just then, Roller is caught by a blast from the weapons platform, and Orion determines to end things immediately: he has Trailbreaker wrap a forcefield tight around him, then has [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] magnetically hurl him into the air, right through the weapons platform, crippling it and causing it to explode.

A short time later, the remaining sparks have all been teleported to safety, but Roller is still missing despite Pax's insistence that they continue searching for him. Their greater mission unable to be put off any longer, Rodimus's team says farewell, with a handshake from Chromedome wiping each 'bot's memory of the encounter. Trailbreaker refuses to let them leave without a handshake of his own, though, so despite the alarmed Rodimus's attempt to stop him, he too loses his memories, including the life-saving warning Rodimus gave him. Rodimus's team are forgotten as soon as they have time-jumped away... but they are not the only ones forgotten, as Trailbreaker picks up Roller's discarded juicebox, and, unable to remember the fate of its owner, suggests they all go for a drink.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (6)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (7)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (9)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (10)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (11)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (12)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (14)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (16)

|c4=
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (1)
*[[Damus|Damus/Glitch]] (2)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] (4)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (5)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (8)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==

"Hold on. Let's be '''absolutely clear''' about this. You're just given me permission to take '''whatever I like''' from Brainstorm's forbidden toy box? Even the '''experimental stuff'''—the stuff that '''unsettles''' people?" 
"No, I--" 
"''Shhh.'' On second thought, let's keep it '''ambiguous.'''"
:—'''Whirl''' and '''Rodimus'''

"How '''was''' Messatine?" 
"I worry it '''changed me.'''" 
"I'm sure it did. We're all of us the sum of our experiences." 
"Yes, but "the sum" implies an accumulation—an '''aggregation.''' What if something gets '''taken away?''' And how would you know if it has?" 
"I'm not sure I follow." 
"I know who I am, Orion, but I don't necessarily know how I '''was.''' I find it hard to compare the two."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''Megatron'''

"If I may... before you go..." 
"What?" 
"You sound '''lost.'''" 
"Lost? Oh, it's far worse than that. Ha! No, no. No, I know '''exactly''' where I'm going. I don't know if I could turn back now even, if I wanted to." 
"You could always join us. Join me. Why is that funny?" 
"It's not funny at all. It's '''tragic.'''" 
"Well then? Will you join us?" 
"I think so. Eventually."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''Megatron'''

"If you're going to kill '''newborns''' you'd want to do it '''discreetly.'''" 
"Cyclonus! That's an '''awful''' thing to say!" 
"I'm not '''endorsing''' it!" 
"It's still awful."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Tailgate'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The past era seen in this issue falls between "Shadowplay" (issues [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]]-[[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|11]]) and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron: Origin]]''. As noted at various points during the issue, Pax is now working with Zeta and on the run from [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] following the events of "Shadowplay", while Megatron has been relocated from [[Messatine]] (seen in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]]) to [[Mining Outpost C-12|Croteus 12]], ahead of the events of ''Megatron: Origin''.
*[[Empurata]] victim Glitch (here revealed to have the real name of "Damus") has had his claw-hands replaced with proper ones since we last saw him in issue #11.
*Roller is sucking on a [[Kremzeek]] juice box, which we saw him doing back in [[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|issue #10]]; originally an idea for that issue by artist Alex Milne, James Roberts liked it so much he decided to work it into the development of Roller's character.
*The Elite Guardsmen that Pax and Windcharger wrestle with have the same design as the unpleasant fellow that Megatron kills in [[Megatron Origin issue 1|''Megatron: Origin'' #1]] as well as [[Gasket]]'s killers from [[The Transformers: Drift|''Drift'' #2]].
*As restated this issue, we learned last month that Brainstorm's time machine is coded to work only with his spark type. We've never been told Brainstorm's type, but most of the characters assembled are "Vitreous-Positive"; we learned that Rewind, Chromedome and Whirl shared this type in [[Before & After|issue #12]], and that Riptide shared it in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]]. Rodimus and Rung's types are unknown, ''but'', as we also learned in issue #31, Tailgate and Cylonus are "Ferrum-Negative". This means that characters of at least ''two'' spark types have somehow used the machine...
*Chromedome and Brainstorm's shared history at the [[Institute|New Institute]] has been touched upon before in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]] and [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']].
*Riptide expresses his dislike of exams, as introduced in issue #31.
*Rodimus makes a crack about "brain bullets"; this was a recurring phrase in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', in reference to [[cerebro-sensitive bullet]]s.
*Upon seeing the Autobot symbol, Pax assumes Rodimus and the others work for the Senate; the Senate's enforcers were using the symbol as their own in ''Megatron: Origin'', though ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]'' would later retcon it into being a symbol from ancient Cybertronian history.
*Prime met Chromedome in issue #10, though issue #14 would later reveal Chromedome was then known as Tumbler. This issue reveals the cause of Chromedome and [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'s "break-up", as Prowl decided to join Sentinel's security forces; Prowl was shown to be among the security forces in ''Megatron: Origin'' #1.
*The Skids of the past is quick to identify the hand-shaped hot spot as "the hand of Primus, pressing the planet into shape"—further evidence of the young theoretician's religiosity, previously evidenced back in issue #11 by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] tattoo on his cheek, still visible in this issue.
*Prime remembers Megatron as "Megatron with an R"; when they first met in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|issue #21]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]], Pax mistakenly believed his name was "Megaton" and was quickly corrected.
*Tailgate's strong reaction to the subject of killing "newborns" is apt, since he could be considered one himself. He might be one of the oldest members of the crew chronologically, but before joining the Lost Light he'd only spent about two weeks online.
*The rescued sparks are sent to a clinic in Nyon to be nurtured. Given that ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' told us that Rodimus hails from Nyon, and further, that [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]] told us he was around 4 million years old (4.2, "give or take"), and described him "waking up" in Nyon—an odd way of describing the birth of a spark which now makes more sense—the implication, then, seems to be that Rodimus himself is one of the saved sparks. This would imply the use of the old paradoxical time travel storytelling trick where, in going back to undo a change to their timeline, our heroes perform actions that are and somehow ''always were'' part of the established timeline. See our notes about Roller under "trivia", below for more; this is also in-line with both what we saw in issue #34, when Brainstorm's appearance in the past caused the evacuation of Messatine, freeing Megatron from Senate clutches, and [[Syndromica (2)|''Robots in Disguise'' #10]], which saw Orion Pax realise he was powerless to change events that had already transpired.
*The whereabouts in the past of several members of the "Time Team" were addressed above, but in full:
**Chromedome: Recently split from Prowl over his decision to join Sentinel Prime's security forces.
**Cyclonus: Trapped in the [[Dead Universe]] with the crew of the first ''Ark'' {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}
**Rewind: Unconfirmed, but he and [[Dominus Ambus]] may have already left Cybertron to search for [[Luna 1]] {{storylink|Before & After}}
**Riptide: A warborn [[M.T.O.]], Riptide hasn't been constructed cold yet. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}
**Rodimus: Unconfirmed (see previous note)
**Rung: Apparently shortly after Messatine, when he interrupted [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]]'s [[shadowplay]] on Megatron {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}
**Tailgate: Lying unconscious under the [[Mitteous Plateau]] {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}
**Whirl: Imprisoned in [[Garrus-1]] on Luna 2 {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}}

===Transformers references===
*As noted above, we've seen Kremzeek drinks in IDW continuity before, but they originated with [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Generation One comics]], specifically [[Skyfire (issue)|issue #4 of the 2004 ongoing]].
*The Senate's security forces are named the "[[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]]" this issue, after the group from ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'', headed by that universe's [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]].

===Real-life references===
*This arc is named after the Julian Cope song, "An Elegant Chaos" (also part of this issue's soundtrack, see below). The song was part of Cope's album, ''{{w|World Shut Your Mouth (album)|World Shut Your Mouth}}'', which also lent its title to the opening three-parter of ''More than Meets the Eye'' season 2.
*When they originally appeared, the Outliers drew a clear parallel with [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s [[X-Men]], being super-powered "mutants" secretly taught to use their abilities at a school. In what is surely another nod this issue, Windcharger "throws" Orion Pax in a manner similar to the classic X-Men manoeuvre, the {{w|Fastball Special}}.

===Other trivia===
*The theory that underneath his mask, [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] might be Roller—whose present day status being unknown stood out as notable, given that he was a prominent new character close to Optimus Prime—has been a popular [[fandom|fan]] theory for much of the run of ''More than Meets the Eye''. Whether legitimate foreshadowing or deliberate leg-pulling, this issue is ''lousy'' with hints that imply it to be so: Roller is a Point One Percenter, Tarn was implied to be one in issue #14; Roller is seen crushing an Elite Guardman's head with a look of virtual disinterest, Tarn did the same to the alternate [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]]; Roller has an addictive personality, Tarn is addicted to [[transform]]ing; Roller feels outclassed by the Outliers, a good reason for him to undergo the upgrades that put him on the level of [[Phase Sixer]]s, as noted in issue #14; Orion encourages Roller to read Megatron's works this issue, Tarn is intimately familiar with Megatron's writings; Roller is familiar with Megatron's slogan "You are being deceived" which Tarn later quotes when confronted with the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]]' "coffin"; the left side of Roller's face is noticeably damaged this issue, Tarn has scarring around his left eye visible through his mask in closeups in [[Rules of Disengagement|issue #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]; and Roller is left "abandoned" by his friend as a result of the mind-wipe, a reason he may fall in with the opposite side.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwgduDrtpY Soft Spot]" by {{w|Clem Snide}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2soLr-1tXY An Elegant Chaos]" by {{w|Julian Cope}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Roller by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Orion Pax broods, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' The second half of 30th anniversary celebration image by [[Alex Milne]] and Josh Perez, which connects to the 30th Anniversary cover to [[Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|''Robots in Disguise'' #36]] to complete the picture. The full image is a cross-continuity mash-up featuring thirty characters; this cover includes [[Unicron]], [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], [[Sky-Byte (RID)|''Robots in Disguise'' Sky-Byte]], [[Hot Shot (Animated)|''Animated'' Hot Shot]], [[Dinobot (BW)|''Beast Wars'' Dinobot]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|''Animated'' Bulkhead]], [[Devastator (G1)|G1 Devastator]], [[Impactor (G1)|IDW Impactor]], [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW Galvatron]], [[Megatron (G1)|''Generation 2'' Megatron]], [[Shockwave (WFC)|''War for Cybertron'' Shockwave]], [[Knock Out (Prime)|''Prime'' Knock Out]], [[Blackout (Movie)|live-action Blackout]], [[Drift (G1)|IDW Drift]], [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW Rodimus]], [[Lio Convoy (BWII)|''Beast Wars II'' Lio Convoy]], and [[Ratchet (WFC)|''Prime'' Ratchet]].
*'''SacAnime Exclusive cover:''' [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] arm-wrestles with [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|''Beast Hunters'' Optimus Prime]], by [[Tony Fleecs]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE36 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE36 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE36 cvrRI.jpg|
File:MTMTE36 cvrRE.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #37
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|#36]]
*''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]'' [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 2|#2]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Form Follows Function|#4]]
*IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library
*''[[Angry Birds Transformers (comic)|Angry Birds Transformers]]''
*Two new Micro-Comic Fun Packs!
*IDW ''Garbage Pail Kids'' comic (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://tformers.com/idw-comics-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-36-elegant-chaos-part-1/25409/news.html Preview]

Angry Birds Transformers (comic)

2014-11-28T04:50:17Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{Nav-ABTF}}
{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Angry Birds Transformers (comic)|Angry Birds Transformers]]''
|image=ABTF IDW promo.jpg
|caption= They are so gonna regret this...
|prev=
|next=
|title=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[Template:November|November]] [[2014]]
|writer=[[John Barber]]
|artists=[[Marcelo Ferreira]] [[Livio Ramondelli]] (''Transformers'' prologue)
|covers=
|continuity=''[[Angry Birds Transformers]]''
|pagecount=32 × 4 issues
|price=$3.99
}}

'''''Angry Birds Transformers''''' is a comic published by [[IDW Publishing]], tying into the [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|mobile game of the same name]] and accompanying IDW's existing ''Angry Birds'' series.

{{chapters |style=3 |prev=|next=|title=''Angry Birds Transformers'' issues:|align=center|content=
* [[Angry Birds Transformers issue 1|#1]]
* [[Angry Birds Transformers issue 2|#2]]
* [[Angry Birds Transformers issue 3|#3]]
* [[Angry Birds Transformers issue 4|#4]]
}}

== Overview ==
{{quote|Spinning out of the show-stopping announcement at this year’s Licensing Expo, Rovio Entertainment and Hasbro, Inc. have teamed up to bring together two of the world’s largest and most popular entertainment brands with ANGRY BIRDS TRANSFORMERS! This fall, IDW will bring the mayhem to comics with the brand-new series, ANGRY BIRDS TRANSFORMERS, expanding on the unexpected backgrounds of this explosive crossover!|[http://www.idwpublishing.com/angry-birds-transformers-brings-mayhem-to-comics/ Press release]}}

{{stub}}

==Collections==
{{stub}}

==External links==
*[http://www.idwpublishing.com/angry-birds-transformers-brings-mayhem-to-comics/ ANGRY BIRDS TRANSFORMERS BRINGS MAYHEM TO COMICS | IDW Publishing]

[[Category:IDW titles]]
[[Category:Angry Birds Transformers issues| *]]

Man and Machine, Part Four

2014-11-16T05:25:18Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[New Avengers/Transformers|New Avengers/ Transformers]]'' #4
|prev=Man and Machine, Part Three
|image=Newavengers-tf4.jpg
|caption="Haven't we met somewhere before?"
|title="Man and Machine, Part Four"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[October 10]], [[2007]]
|coverdate=December 2007
|writer=[[Stuart Moore]]
|penciler=[[Tyler Kirkham]]
|inker=[[Sal Regla]]
|colorist=[[Annette Kwok]]
|letterer=[[Todd Klein]]
|editor=[[Bill Rosemann]]
|editorinchief=[[Joe Quesada]]
|assistant editor=[[Lauren Sankovitch]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#Infiltration|Infiltration]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
}}

'''Another crummy miniseries comes to an end. What, would you prefer that the Transformers meet the Terminator?'''

==Synopsis==
With a surge of Spidey-strength, [[Spider-Man]] breaks free from his restraints. He thanks his irregular ally [[Doctor Doom]] for disabling [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] explain a bit of the situation to the Webslinger, and what must be done.

[[Iron Man]], in his gigantic mech with power enhanced by energy contributions from the [[Autobot]]s, faces against [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]. To fight against his own draining energy, Tony's suit engages the supplemental power cells, but it's too much energy to be handled, and forces the suit into an overload. With a "Zzzzzzat", Megatron removes the head from the armor behemoth. As Iron Man lies on the ground, Megatron notices that several [[Autobot]]s are missing.

[[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] arrive inside the [[Decepticon]]s' [[Array]]. The three find Prowl and Ratchet using [[mirror response mode|Megatron's technology]] to receive a power-up from Spider-Man. Wolverine has the bright idea that his abilities can also be copied to enhance the good [[Transformer]]s. When the Autobots are charged, Doctor Doom takes a few of the party to destroy the [[Psycho-Prism]].

Outside, the enhanced Transformers and their amazing friends battle Megatron (including Iron Man, who wasn't killed by Megatron).

Inside, Doctor Doom's posse finds the Psycho-Prism. The Prism's defender, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], retreats rather than fight more. Wolverine destroys the Prism with his [[adamantium]] claws. With the crucial weapon non-functional, the entire dome collapses.

The operation a complete failure, Megatron commands his troops to [[Emergency warp-out|retreat]]. Before he can leave, Spider-Man, the rest of the [[Avengers]], and some of the Autobots, beat up on Megatron a bit more. While the Avengers talk about the affair to each other, the Autobots sneak away. Leaving the site of conflict, the Avengers and Autobots both suspect that the identity of the Avengers' [[quinjet]] has been taken by Ramjet... but that would be crazy!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (9)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (15)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (22)
|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (16)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (17)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (18)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
* [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (20)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (21)
|c3=
* [[Spider-Man]] (1)
* [[Doctor Doom]] (3)
* [[Luke Cage]] (7)
* [[Iron Man]] (8)
* [[Captain America]] (10)
* [[Falcon (superhero)|Falcon]] (11)
* [[Ms. Marvel]] (12)
* [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==

"You know, normally I prefer house music... but who says metal's dead?"
:—'''Iron Man''', whilst wailing on Megatron, throws out the worst line of dialogue in the history of Transformers comics.

"Oh... I think my lunch... is about to do its own 'orbital bounce'."
:—'''Spider-Man''', like most humans, does not take well to teleportation

==Notes==
[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|150px|thumb|References galore!]]
* Spider-Man briefly sings a few lines from his original cartoon series.
* The panel in which Spider-Man takes down Megatron has many aspects lifted directly from the cover of the third issue of [[Marvel Comics]]' ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' (in which Spider-Man appeared): "[[Prisoner of War!]]"
* If the quinjet was Ramjet, then Spider-Man's "Spider-Sense" would tell him something is off. Unless Ramjet isn't planning direct offensive action. Or he's a Skrull. In any case, Ramjet's [[Spotlight: Ramjet|''Spotlight'' issue]], which takes place after ''this'' issue, features him in his normal [[alternate mode]], not that of the quinjet.
* A cover gallery is included after the story.

===Errors===
* As with #2 and #3, Marvel claim to own all the characters in the issue again, as their standard indicia is used in error.

===Covers (1)===
* Spider-Man on Megatron's finger; art by [[Tom Raney]].

===Advertisements===
* att.com/digitalworld
* [[Transformers (film)|Movie]] DVD
* ''Bionic Woman'' TV series
* ''Spider-Man: Friend or Foe'' game
* ''Halo 3'' game
* ''Marvel Scene It'' DVD game
* ''Age of Empires III'' game
* WWE figures
* The Art Institutes
* [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] (back cover)

===Reprints===
*[[2008]] — ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]''
*[[2011]] — ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Man and Machine, Part 4}}
[[Category:New Avengers/Transformers issues]]

Trepan's Trigger

2014-08-18T03:39:16Z

AlphaTyrant: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

:''Trepan's Trigger is a mnemonic effect from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
Named after the mnemosurgeon [[Trepan]], '''Trepan's Trigger''' is an effect where a certain phrase mnemonically embedded in someone's memories will provoke a certain response. The type of response the person has depends on the type of memories the phrase is tied to.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] utilized the process of Trepan's Trigger when he was going through [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord's]] memories aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} The effect of the Trigger he implanted was demonstrated when [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] uttered [['Til all are one|his favorite phrase]] at the hands of Overlord, causing the [[Phase Sixer|phase sixer]] to falter. Chromedome then revealed to [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] what Trepan's Trigger was and explained how he linked the phrase "'Til all are one" to every time Overlord was defeated. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Tactics]]

Soundwave (G1)

2014-08-04T01:54:29Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
{{disambig3|Soundblaster}}
{{suite}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:SpotlightSoundwave clean.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|Ravage! Laserbeak! I choose you!]]

'''Soundwave''' is one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s most reliable troops, and he has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably in the Decepticon upper command structure. Though "only" Communications Officer, Soundwave stands at Megatron's side as a confidant, comparable in rank to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], but unlike them, entirely loyal to his leader. Though stoic and possessed of little outward personality (as evidenced by his monotone computer-style speech), Soundwave is not without drives: he has worked hard to get where he is, and he guards his place in the Decepticon hierarchy fiercely. On top of hearing all in his role as Communications Officer and Decepticon spy-master, he is actually capable of "reading minds" by scanning and decoding the electrical impulses that carry "thoughts" in both organics and Cybertronians, and he will not hesitate to use what he learns as blackmail to keep himself high in Megatron's esteem. As such, Soundwave is not popular among the rank-and-file Decepticons, who see him as a two-faced snake and wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield—if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.

Soundwave commands an ever-growing legion of [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette troops]] to carry out tasks big and small. Stored within his signature chest compartment and called forth on Soundwave's whim with a push of a button, these miniature menaces are most commonly employed as spies for either the Decepticon cause or Soundwave's personal objectives, but are just as effective as warriors, and are entirely devoted to their master. They are also not Soundwave's only diminutive partners: as an [[Action Master]], he is [[Action Master partner|partnered]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]].

In various universes, Soundwave is upgraded into '''Soundblaster''' (サウンドブラスター ''Saundoburasutā'').

{{quote|As you command, Megatron.|Soundwave, eternal loyalist|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-SoundwaveRatbat.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|In Soviet Russia, ''tape'' commands ''you''!]]
Millions of years ago, Soundwave was one of the first members of the Decepticons; after sowing discontent amongst the masses, he, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] began the war that tore the planet itself out of its orbit. After joining the failed Decepticon attempt to hijack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago, he fell into stasis lock with the rest of the crews after the ship crashed until 1984, when a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcanic eruption]], reactivated the Autobots and Decepticons, unleashing their war on Earth. Soundwave would prove one of the most useful troops, though not one of the most loyal, covertly running blackmail schemes and happily hitching his wagon to whichever Decepticon leader was currently in the ascendency, until - in many [[splinter timeline]]s - becoming leader of the Decepticons himself.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:Soundwave and company.jpg|thumb|220px]]
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s most loyal soldier. Denoted by his eerie, echoing monotone, Soundwave regularly gathered vital intelligence for Megatron's numerous schemes with the aid of his faithful and ever-growing team of cassettes, but despite his primary role as a spy and communications officer, he never shied away the battlefield, and would regularly clash with the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] before finding a true rival in his Autobot opposite number, [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]]. He survived the perilous events of 2005 that took the lives of many of his contemporaries, and continued serving under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] in the 21st century.

In a future timeline that branches off from this one, Soundwave ultimately met his end at the hands of Blaster, but even death could not stymie his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, as he was reborn as '''Soundblaster''' through the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:LaserbeaksFury Soundwave ejects.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
When [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] spotted the Autobots working on some sort of device, Soundwave believed it to be a radio mast, and followed Laserbeak to the site. He was unable to detect any radio signals, and the intrigued Megatron wanted to investigate further. First they had to stop [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from destroying the device. While they were there, the device, in actuality a lightning collector, emitted a pulse of energy that caused the Decepticons to malfunction wildly, and they were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

Soundwave sent out [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] to scout for energy sources, and the buzzard's mission resulted in Megatron and Soundwave locating an experimental solar energy plant. They signaled for the rest of the Decepticons and, after a minor insurrection on Starscream's part was squelched, set about collecting the energy in cubes. When [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] entered the plant, Soundwave detected him and raised the alarm, but it was too late to prevent the sabotage of the solar machinery and the energon cubes were destroyed. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}

Ever loyal, Soundwave backed up Megatron's opinion that they needed to test the ion-drive for their new space cruiser. When they located a suitable abandoned mine, Soundwave was momentarily distracted by the railway lines, but they soon got to work testing the rig. Unfortunately the Autobots found them and though Soundwave raised the alarm, Spike used mine carts to destroy the ion-drive, bringing the tunnel down on the Decepticons. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}} At Megatron's command, Soundwave deployed Laserbeak to seek information on [[human]]s. When this led the Decepticons to a windmill, Megatron believed the structure was a new Autobot weapon that they needed to capture. Soundwave deployed Rumble, with the theory that the structure might prove susceptible to shockwaves. He was right, and the structure promptly fell on top of the Decepticons as Megatron protested he wanted it captured, not destroyed. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

Under the leadership of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Soundwave was responsible for coordinating communications with three cloaked Decepticon spy satellites. On discovering the existence of the satellites, the Autobots set up equipment to block Soundwave's transmissions. Hound impersonated Soundwave perfectly, ordering the satellites to enter a collision course with each other, and Soundwave was unable to cut through the interference before the satellites collided. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' Unknown

According to Megatron, Soundwave is a "blundering, tape-filled idiot." While the veracity of this statement is subjective, Soundwave ''does'' whine a lot. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

===Colorforms audiobooks continuity===
Soundwave recorded a broadcast of Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]] receiving an award from the [[President of the United States]] and reported it to Megatron. Megatron dubbed him a "King of Communication". {{storylink|Sun Raid}}

===The Battle for Planet Earth===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
Soundwave was among the Decepticons who followed the Autobots to [[South America]] and attacked them atop [[Mount Sheelah]]. The Decepticons were caught in the volcano's erupt and became trapped in lava. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} Despite his ability to hear a fly sneeze, he completely missed [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] infiltrating the Decepticon base to find out where the humans the Decepticons had been kidnapping had gone. He later discovered that the Autobot had stolen their [[global crystal]]. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} Soundwave was part of a Decepicon mission to take over [[Stanley Lake]] dam, which ended in the Decepticons being washed away in a torrent of water by the Autobots. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] planned to infiltrate the Autobots, Soundwave supplied him with a midget radio transmitter with which to report back. Unfortunately while the Decepticons were acting on the information Starscream gathered, the Autobots destroyed their base. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] organized an ambush for the Autobots' new [[Ark (G1)|ark]] as it tried to clear a path through an asteroid belt. As [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent the ship hurtling towards [[Earth]], Megatron ordered Soundwave to jump out just before the crash. Soundwave found himself battling [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|strange organic creatures]]. It wasn't long before he found himself against the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], whom the ark had repaired. Though the four Autobots weren't anywhere near a match for Soundwave, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] used his tail to bash a nearby cliff, bringing tons of rock down on top of both the Dinobots and Soundwave, knocking them all offline. {{storylink|In the Transformers}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{Note|As the following stories are [[multipath adventure]]s, details will vary depending on the path taken. See individual pages for information on alternate paths.}}
====Dinobots Strike Back====
In one path, Soundwave was one of many Decepticons in their secret base in [[Mount Lomas]], listening to Megatron's speech about how the [[black coral]] in nearby [[Dolphin's Bay]] would produce enough superfuel to triple their war-making capacity and crush the Autobots in just a few hours. As the speech wrapped up, he intercepted a radio transmission containing details on Operation Black Coral which Megatron just mentioned, and it seemed to be coming from just outside a doorway leading to one of the base's underwater access tunnels! He rushed through the doorway and told the Autobot spy, in a booming voice, "''Don't move!'' The game is over!" But when the intruder turned around and he saw it was just [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], he let [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] deal with him, paralyzing the Autobot with a sonic attack and leaving him in the water.

If [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] tried to radio Bumblebee from his [[Star mini-submarine|mini-sub]] afterwards, Frenzy nailed it with a long range sonic attack as well, presumably because Soundwave also intercepted that transmission and told the mini cassette where to aim.

In an alternate path in which the Decepticons foolishly invited four of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to a premature mountaintop victory party, thinking they were still being controlled by [[cerebro shell]]s, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] suddenly broke cover and ordered them to attack. Sludge responded first, stomping Soundwave who was nearest to him. It's unknown how badly this injured Soundwave, but he surely didn't fare much worse than the other Dectpticons as the ensuing Autobot assault totaled their base. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

====Battle Drive====
{{storylink|Battle Drive}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
Soundwave was present, yet mostly uninvolved, in a number of possible adventures revolving around the Sun-Pak, a device invented by the Autobots' human ally Sparkplug. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeCosmosspies.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
{{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}

{{-}}
====Desert Flight====
[[File:DesertFlightDrunkenDecepticons.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
{{storylink|Desert Flight}}

{{-}}

===The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual===
{{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Soundwave's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}}

{{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

{{storylink|The Dinobots!}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:BW Agenda Pt3 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|With one stroke I shall free my tiny dinosaur brethren, yesssss!"]]
Soundwave was among the many Transformers strewn about the bridge of the Ark when the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] infiltrated the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
Soundwave was one of the ancient warriors who appeared from [[J'nwan]] to help battle the warlord [[Shokaract]]. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Soundwavewarwithin.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Sound and ([[Ravage (G1)#3H comics|eventually]]) Furry.]]
Soundwave was chosen by Megatron to lead his second assassination team against the new Autobot supreme commander, Optimus Prime. With the aid of Soundwave's cassette troops, most notably [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], it was assumed he would have no problem with a young, peace-loving Autobot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Soundwave, like many others, underestimated Prime's resolve and was quickly incapacitated. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} He was still out cold when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] came by, {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} but recovered in time to rescue Megatron after the latter's own battle with Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

When Megatron and Optimus Prime vanished in a [[space bridge]] accident, the Decepticons were fragmented and Soundwave joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s faction. He participated in the attack on [[The Fallen]]'s minions in an attempt to stop the [[Unbinding]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Eventually, Shockwave attempted to call a truce with the Autobots for the good of the Transformer race, but the initial ceremony was interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s faction, the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Soundwave was quite mad about this, telling the Predacons to perish for their crimes against Cybertron as he attacked them alongside several Autobots. Shortly after the Predacons were defeated, Megatron returned to Cybertron with his [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and reunited the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} After falling back under Megatron's command, Soundwave reported the progress on his leader's plan to dig a hole to the core of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

In the present day, Soundwave was among the Decepticons defeated by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth. The ''[[Ark II]]'', the spacecraft that would have taken the Transformers back to Cybertron, was sabotaged by General [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], and it exploded upon liftoff, scattering the robots across the Arctic Ocean. Soundwave and the others were recovered, Autobot and Decepticon alike, and reprogrammed by Rook to accept commands and were leased to terrorist organisations and military juntas as powerful weapons of war. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} After Megatron freed himself and the other Decepticons, Soundwave developed a 'metallic virus' that cyberformed Earth organics into cybertronic materials. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} During the subsequent battle with the Autobots in [[San Francisco]], Soundwave warned Megatron that a nuclear missile launched by Hallo was headed for the city. The Decepticons used the distraction to escape. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

[[File:Soundwaveg1vol2.jpg|225px|thumb|Leader's pet.]]Soundwave was among the Decepticons who joined Shockwave's forces when the new ruler of Cybertron appeared on Earth. {{storylink|War and Peace}} When Shockwave brutally deposed Megatron, Soundwave stood by in silence and did nothing to help his former leader. Soundwave worked his way quietly into Shockwave's good graces, earning the ire of Starscream. However, it didn't take many words to bring Soundwave around to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s point of view. Later, when interrogated by Shockwave, a single, silent look from Soundwave stopped [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from revealing that Starscream was behind Megatron's disappearance during their voyage to Cybertron. As the battle between the Autobots and Shockwave's forces intensified, Soundwave followed Starscream's lead without a word, and helped him prepare for a return trip to Earth aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Starscream rewarded him by giving him a [[Ratbat (G1)|present]]. Soundwave silently approved.

Though Soundwave feigned subservience to Starscream, it was later revealed that he had been serving Megatron the entire time in secret. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I.Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Soundwavedevilsdue.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"Eject. Operation: Dynamic Group Shot."]]
Soundwave was among the Transformers on the ''Ark'' when it crashed long ago, and was discovered and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] in the present. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Arms dealer [[Destro]] made a visit to [[Cobra Island]] where [[Doctor Mindbender]] introduced him to Soundwave and his cassettes, who were under the complete control of Cobra's scientists. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} While Destro liked what he saw, he wanted to run a test, and personally operated Soundwave's controls during an attack on the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Meanwhile, a picture of Soundwave was secretly sent out to hundreds of email boxes. The message turned out to be a [[Defense Matrix|secret signal]] from Optimus Prime, which alerted [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Bumblebee to the location of Cobra's secret base where the rest of the Transformers were being held. When the two Autobots appeared to stop Destro's attack, the human brought Soundwave and himself back to Cobra Island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

Soundwave was released from Cobra control thanks to Wheeljack and attacked his former human masters. With Megatron and the other Decepticons freed, Soundwave went to work making energon cubes. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Just as things were going their way, Optimus Prime arrived, powered up using the energon, and punched his fist right through Soundwave's chest, taking him out of the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After the Autobots left on a return voyage to Cybertron, Soundwave's head and remains were taken in secret by human scientists for study. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Several years later, the scientists managed to use Megatron's technology to create the organic weapon [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], who plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head after getting free and downloaded data on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s history. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
Along with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave was buried in the [[Fera Islands]] until 1938, when [[Cobra]] accidentally awakened them and used them to conquer most of [[Europe]]. He sent Laserbeak to spy on the [[United States of America|United States]]' reaction to this, and learned that [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had been created to battle the Cobra threat. Soundwave later helped Megatron and Starscream get rid of some Royal Air Force fighters above the English Channel, allowing Cobra to attack the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

When G.I. Joe attacked the Fera Islands, Soundwave infiltrated [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s unit in the form of a radio transmitter carried by a disguised [[Zartan]]. Flint noticed that it wasn't their radio, but that didn't stop Soundwave from capturing him and taking him back to Cobra HQ. {{storylink|Wolves}} However, the Joes had managed to awaken the Autobots also buried on the island, and Soundwave soon found himself facing down [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. He lost the fight, and either died at the hands of Grimlock or when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] was smashed to pieces. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

{{note|According to solicitations for ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'', Soundwave was set to return by unknown means years later, but [[Dreamwave Productions]] bankrupted before the issues could be produced.}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Soundwave was extremely amused by the footage Laserbeak and Ravage gathered of Starscream falling on his head. He let Megatron know, and they went to pick up Starscream, only to find him gone, taken by the Autobots. The discovery that Starscream appeared to be working with the Autobots only amused Soundwave more, and the Decepticons went to retrieve their former comrade. When it turned out that Starscream wanted to stay with the Autobots, Megatron was enraged, and Soundwave reflected that it was the most fun he'd had in years. Starscream eventually returned to the Decepticons, claiming it was all an act, and Soundwave suggested he should be more careful while mountain climbing in future. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Puzzled by the loss of much of their stock of weapons, Megatron assigned Soundwave to investigate. Using Laserbeak's spying abilities, Soundwave determined that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling the weapons on the black market, much to Megatron's outrage. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' continuity===
Millions of years in the past, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who took on organic modes in order to battle the Autobots on prehistoric Earth. When an ice age approached, the Decepticons survived by powering down under what would eventually become the [[San Francisco]] Bay. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Soundwave woke up in the mid-19th century, where he came under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Along with several other Decepticons, he stood by Starscream as he and [[Tobias Muldoon]] discussed where they would build their headquarters. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:Soundwaves-whoareyou.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Gaddangit, Soundwave, the answer that question is ''always'' "I'm Batman!"]]
Soundwave was found living on the streets by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], a barely-coherent derelict driven to the brink of insanity by his uncontrolled mind-reading powers, which bombarded him with the thoughts and emotions of all around him. "Smelling" some decency within him, Ravage elected to share with Soundwave the secrets of control he had learned after years of mastering his own enhancing olfactory senses, teaching him the art of focus. The quartet lived together on the streets for some time, until Soundwave, slowly gaining control over his abilities, was approached by [[Ratbat (G1)|Senator Ratbat]] with an offer of employment. The senator saw a political use for Soundwave's mind-reading, and while Soundwave was disgusted by Ratbat's [[Functionism|Functionist]] attitude toward his beast-form companions, he accepted the offer for the position it would afford him. While in Ratbat's employ, Soundwave and his three companions were refitted so that they could store within his chest as cassettes. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

When the ex-miner and revolutionary rhetorician [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] caught Ratbat's eye as a champion of the illegal underground gladiatorial matches, the senator sent Soundwave to offer Megatron funding and weapons technology, seeking to foster political instability for his own profit. When [[Bumper (G1)|two]] [[Fastback (G1)|Autobots]] were discovered listening in on their conversation, Soundwave dispatched his three cassette partners to capture them. After their capture, he read Bumper's mind to see if there was any immediate threat to Megatron's activities. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

Brought to the gladiator arenas, Soundwave was questioned by Megatron over his opinions on Ratbat's activities, but Soundwave—assaulted by the thoughts of the huge throng of gladiators around him—struggled to answer. Impressed by the way in which Soundwave viewed his cassette partners as equals in outright contradiction to the Functionist standards of his employer, Megatron permitted him to read his mind, and there, Soundwave saw Megatron's genuine desire for all Cybertronians to be equal. The strength of his desire became something for Soundwave to focus upon, and his dedication to the Decepticon ideal of equality allowed him to finally master his mind-reading powers, shutting out all other distractions and making Megatron the stillpoint his life revolved around. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Some time later, Soundwave was assigned to find a warrior with flight capabilities, and recruited the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]: Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Megatron's next new recruit was senator [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], who Soundwave hated on sight: the [[Shadowplay]] Shockwave had been subjected had removed his emotions, leaving Soundwave completely unable to read his thoughts. Though awed by this terrible perfection, Soundwave believed that one day, he would have to kill Shockwave. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

[[File:MegatronOrigin4 Soundwave humbles Ratbat.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Ratbat, you shall be repurposed as the greatest mix tape ever to be given to Megatron."]]
His mind now finally clear for the first time in his life, Soundwave turned against Ratbat and formulated for Megatron a plan that would allow the Decepticons to make a formal statement of their intent that could not be ignored. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} Per Soundwave's plan, the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested during a recruitment rally, when Megatron provoked an Autobot response by making an attempt on the life of [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], resulting in an emergency convening of the Senate in [[Kaon]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Soundwave and his cassettes—now joined by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], refitted by Shockwave—were freed on an unwitting Ratbat's orders, and then helped Starscream murder the entire Senate. Attacking Ratbat himself, Soundwave took his former employer offline and placed his [[spark]] into a new cassette body. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}} Shockwave entered just as Soundwave was removing his [[brain module]], and the pair had a terse conversation about means and ends before Shockwave changed the subject to designing Ratbat's new body as a flyer. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

After [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] was made leader of the Autobots, Soundwave was captured and taken to the [[Institute|New Institute]] to be lobotomized, but was saved in the nick of time by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Later in the war with Zeta, Soundwave was sent to spy on him and gather information on what he planned to do about the growing Decepticon movement. Smuggled into a Senate security meeting by Starscream, he overheard Zeta announce his plan to drain civilians of their energy in order to power the [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructors]]' [[vamparc ribbon|weaponry]], but was forced to make a break for it when Starscream revealed his presence in order to ease suspicion against himself. Fearing what would happen if the populace found out about his plans, Zeta Prime sent [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] to hunt Soundwave down. {{storylink|Parasites}} As Soundwave fled towards the safety of Kaon, he was continuously set upon by Orion Pax's Autobots, but got away every time by ejecting one of his many cassettes to defeat or distract them. When he finally reached the border of Kaon, Orion himself caught up and put a stop to his minions by crushing his chest window before defeating him in hand-to-hand combat. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Luckily, a squad of Decepticons showed up before the Autobots could arrest Soundwave, and his findings were delivered to Megatron. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}

Soundwave was present when Megatron and Orion Pax formed an alliance to overthrow Zeta Prime. {{storylink|Choices}} He then participated in their troops' combined assault on Zeta's [[Citadel]]. {{storylink|Overthrown}} After Megatron betrayed Orion and declared himself the new ruler of Cybertron, Soundwave stood by him as he attempted to recruit [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]] to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Rise}} Soundwave tracked down the location of the anti-Decepticon pirate news broadcaster, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and had [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] sent to assassinate him. He was then present when the Autobots made an assault on the Decepticon-held Citadel. {{storylink|Broadcast}} Megatron was defeated by Orion, now Optimus Prime, but Soundwave swept past on [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and rescued his leader before he could be captured. {{storylink|Endgame}}

A short time after Megatron's defeat, Soundwave watched in silence as [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] declared himself Decepticon leader, having exiled Megatron for his failure. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} He participated in Scorponok's assault on the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]], a battle which ended with the destruction of the facility. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} Having survived the destruction, he then returned to [[Kolkular]] where Scorponok urged him and the other Decepticons to cannibalize parts from those who had perished. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On Scorponok's orders, Soundwave and [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] then led an attack on the [[Starsreach Spaceport]] to kill the neutrals evacuating Cybertron, a mission they both believed to be a waste of resources. {{storylink|Massacre}} After getting driven into a retreat by a raging [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], they were relocated to the [[Toraxxis Plains]] to bear witness to Scorponok's new plan: the awakening of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Unleashed}} At this point the Decepticons were thoroughly fed up with his leadership, and thus quick to return to Megatron's side when he returned from his exile. {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} Soundwave was later present when Megatron was able to turn Trypticon to the Decepticon side. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast}}

Four million years ago, Soundwave and [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] were leading a Decepticon offensive to cover for [[Octane (G1)|Tankor]]'s convoy of energon. When Optimus Prime slipped away to intercept the convoy, Soundwave went after him and got the drop on Prime from behind. Prime's bodyguard [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] turned the tables on him, though, taking out both Soundwave and his Mini-Cassettes. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

During the war, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted various scientists on both sides to discuss his startling findings that the conflict would create such devastation that would render the planet uninhabitable, and that the only way to survive was to adopt the [[Pretender|organic carapace]] idea he had come up with. Soundwave was among those scientists who refused to accept Thunderwing's findings and his proposal. {{Storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the end of the cataclysm brought by Thunderwing, as part of a plan to assassinate Blaster, now a motivational speaker for the Autobots, Soundwave had [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] captured and used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implement a [[cerebro-shell]] into him. While Beachcomber didn't outright kill Blaster, his motivational broadcast failed to air at precisely the moment the Decepticons began the big push. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:SpotlightSoundwave infoispower.jpg|left|thumb|He's just too busy being an eighties guy.]]
Centuries later, after Shockwave disappeared, Megatron assigned [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to delve into Shockwave's research and relay all the information back to him. As the Decepticon leader did not fully trust Bludgeon, Megatron also assigned Soundwave to spy on him. Soundwave followed Bludgeon and his team as they left for Earth in 1984 and established a base within [[Mount St. Helens]], eventually discovering that they intended to resurrect [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Though Soundwave tried to stop them, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used an experimental cannon from Shockwave's arsenal to lock him in his alt mode while they instigated a volcanic eruption. He was eventually recovered by a team of unwitting humans who sold him to a pawn shop. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

Soundwave was purchased by a human teenager named [[Jimmy]] and taken to his home. When Ravage and Laserbeak were reprogrammed by the American government agency [[Skywatch]] to find the other Transformers, Skywatch's control signal was blocked by a signal emanating from a functioning Soundwave, still in cassette-player mode. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Sometime later on, Ravage and Laserbeak located the signal and reclaimed their master from Jimmy. Relocating to Mount St. Helens, Soundwave told them that he could barely keep blocking Skywatch's hold on them, due to his weakening state in cassette mode. Shockwave suddenly appeared from a cave entrance and said that the four could make a deal together. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Shockwave knew how Soundwave could unlock his robot mode, but would only tell him if he did Shockwave a favour in return, something which Soundwave agreed to. He was told that Skywatch had placed a bomb in Shockwave's head, and that he needed to intercept and copy its disarm code. The plan went off without a hitch, and after transmitting the code to Shockwave, Soundwave was finally freed from his alt mode. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

After returning to his position as Megatron's right hand, Soundwave helped defeat the Autobot forces on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} He was present during the attack on [[New York City]], and detected the incoming human military jets. The planes fired, and on Megatron's orders, Soundwave calmly detonated the arsenal. He then launched Laserbeak to take out the human resistance. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Soundwave reported that the humans had sent a sizable ground force after the Decepticons. Following Megatron's orders, he released [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and set him loose on the humans. The only being immune to Frenzy's infrasonic manipulation, he silently observed his minion's work. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With the conquest of New York complete, Soundwave listened to Megatron's victory speech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When a group of humans led by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Cmdr. Spike Witwicky]] deactivated [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] with an experimental weapon which originated from Shockwave, Soundwave, sensing this, found Rumble's lifeless body, grieved, and took him away. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

During [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] attempt to take control of the Decepticons, Megatron revealed that Soundwave had been watching him all along, reporting his planned rebellion to Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The infighting amongst the Decepticons stopped when jets from [[Europe]] arrived to take them all on, soon followed by the return of the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Megatron was defeated, and Soundwave escaped alongside the rest of the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} Whilst traveling away from Earth onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Soundwave and his cassettes took care of their heavily injured leader. Starscream attempted to dissuade him from wasting energon on Megatron, all the while buttering him up with compliments about his loyalty, but all Soundwave said in response was "Negative. Megatron functions." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Three years later, Soundwave was still dutifully attending to Megatron's reconstruction. {{storylink|All His Engines}} He eventually came to the conclusion that his leader's body was beyond repair, and instead recruited Shockwave to build a new body for him. Once Megatron returned in a new and upgraded form, he hatched a plan to use parts of his old body to make Megatron gun replicas that would subconsciously influence humans. Alongside his cassettes and Shockwave, Soundwave helped produce these weapons. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} He was later present when Megatron got rid of Hot Rod and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and was ordered to gather everyone in the base so that their leader could address them. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}} He accompanied Megatron until his confrontation with Starscream, at which point Megatron had him leave... but knew he'd be listening in from afar as he always did. Megatron overall didn't think much of Soundwave's apparent loyalty, believing he'd only assisted in his revival because it suited his own needs. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:BurningChrome Prime shoots Soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Right between the optics..."]]
As part of Megatron's master plan, the Decepticons subsequently returned to Earth, where Soundwave led Rumble and Frenzy in an attack on the [[Skywatch]] base where several Decepticons were being held captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}} Soundwave was then responsible for holding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] hostage while Megatron explained to Optimus Prime that he was the one turning the humans against the Autobots. In an attempt to throw off Megatron's concentration, and with it his influence over the gun-wielding humans, Prime fired on Soundwave, blowing off a large portion of his head. The plan worked: seeing his loyal soldier fall sent Megatron into a rage, and he picked up the barely living Soundwave and flew off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} With his body in [[stasis lock]], Soundwave was brought to Shockwave, who was unsure if he could repair such an extensive injury with the limited resources at his disposal. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}}

Soundwave was mostly repaired by the time Megatron had surrendered himself to the Autobots, although half his face remained exposed and damaged from Optimus Prime's attack. The damage caused to his vocal processors rendered him completely mute. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} Once on Cybertron and having freed himself, Megatron used the [[space bridge]] technology built into his new body to summon Soundwave and the rest of the Decepticons on Earth to him. {{storylink|The Question}} At first, Soundwave and the others did battle with the Autobots, but were soon entranced by [[D-Void]]. The Decepticons along with [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]'s army of [[Sweep]]s combined into an [[Deceptigod|enormous monster]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

Following the defeat and fracturing of this "Deceptigod", Soundwave and the rest were left in a weakened state from the ordeal. This allowed the Autobots to round the Decepticons up, stick [[inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chips]] in them, and place them in a holding pen. Prowl was eventually forced to sanction their release to quell a riot, leaving Soundwave and the others with a limited sort of freedom. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} [[Needlenose]], fed up with working as an enforcer for the Autobots, accused Soundwave, Shockwave and [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] of just sitting around instead of doing something about the Decepticons' situation. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson}} Little did Needlenose know that Soundwave and Shockwave had actually been working together to take control of the I/D chips on the orders of Ratbat, who was trying to reassert his authority in Megatron's absence. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}}

Even after Ratbat was killed, Soundwave continued working with Shockwave, who apparently had his own ideas about what to do about the Autobots. When Starscream found out about that they were plotting something, he and Prowl had [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] capture the two and fake their deaths. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} However, Prowl was in fact under Decepticon control, and instead had the captured Decepticons upgraded in anticipation of Megatron's return. His voice restored, Soundwave helped explain to the captured [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] that the Decepticons had been planning this all along in a bid to conquer Cybertron. {{storylink|The Verge}} {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} During the ensuing battle with the Autobots, he reported to Megatron that Shockwave had gone off somewhere and that their new and improved [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] had seemingly gained sentience. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}} In the end, Megatron was defeated yet again, after which Starscream used the influence of the [[NAIL|neutral population]] to exile all Autobots and Deceptions who would not renounce their factions, including Soundwave. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

While out in the wilderness, Soundwave was alarmed to find Ravage was suffering from intense pain, and in a rare emotional moment ran to the other Decepticons pleading for help. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

[[File:Soundwaves-allofustogether.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Somewhere, right now, the "Justice League Unlimited" theme is playing.]]

{{charstubfiction}}{{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

{{NoteSLMirage}}
[[File:SpotlightMirage Soundwavescorpse.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Not so superior now, are you?]]
In a dream set in an alternate universe wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a soft taco shell dreamt by [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], Soundwave was part of the Decepticon strike force who attacked the last stronghold of the Autobots. Soundwave was attacked by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who snapped his head off, killing him. But it was just a dream, so it didn't matter. Right? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
Soundwave—[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|in his Laser Cycle body]]—was seen among the inhabitants of the multiversal hub city of [[Axiom Nexus]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 4}}

===Timelines===
Soundwave was present with Megatron, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] when the topic about finding new ultimate weapon ideas changed to [[BotCon 2010]]. As Breakdown mentioned that one of the things he was looking forward to was the debut of the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]], Soundwave turned to Counterpunch and pointed to himself. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}

===''Mars Attacks: The Transformers''===
[[File:Mars Attacks The Transformers - Get him off me!.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Following a defeat at the hands of the Autobots, the Decepticons were [[stasis cuffs|stasis cuffed]] and taken away by humans. A [[Martian]] invasion gave them the opportunity to slip their bonds and attempt to form an alliance with the invasion, but when the Martians trapped them in a [[force field]], the Decepticons were forced to align with the Autobots instead. Soundwave and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] combined their power to bring the force field down. When Megatron was later reduced to the size of a toy by the Martians, Soundwave successfully reversed the effects of the shrink ray. {{storylink|Mars Attacks: The Transformers}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[File:Soundwavecommercial.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Say hello to my leetle friend!"]]

Soundwave's [[commercial]] appearances include:

* An appearance in his very own 1984 commercial. This early animation featured a Soundwave model colored in lavender, versus the dark blue used later. Also, instead of the cassettes ejecting themselves from his chest, he reached into his chest compartment with his own fingers and threw the (tiny) tapes into the air. He wasn't properly introduced.
* He's more on-form in a commercial for the Dinobots, where he, Ravage and Laserbeak are driven back by the robotic monsters amid a thunderstorm.
* Soundwave has a speaking part in the commercial for Blaster. When Rumble strolls into his base carrying a radio, Soundwave immediately identifies it as an "Autobot intruder" and dispatches Ravage and Laserbeak to attack the Autobot. Soundwave is given his correct voice and modulation.
* He's seen grappling with Springer in a 1987 commercial for the ''Headmasters'' comic.

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Soundwave could interfere with Optimus Prime's progress, diverting him into areas of the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[File:TF PS2 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Robert Belgrade]]

====Decepticon story====
Soundwave and Starscream were sent to investigate strange reports of space-time warps and UFOs on the planet Zel Samine, bringing a space bridge with them on their shuttle that they would use to transport Megatron to the plant once they had landed. Inexplicably, their ship wound up crashing, and when they attempted to use the space bridge, it malfunctioned, dumping Megatron some distance away. After reuniting with his leader, Soundwave deduced that powerful electromagnetic rays from Zel Samine's sun, Paradius, were responsible for scrambling the systems of the shuttle and the space bridge, and that the Decepticons themselves would be subject to similar catastrophic system disruption if they tried venturing off the planet without a ship. The Decepticons immediately set about raiding local energy sources for energon to repair their craft, starting with a wind power plant on [[Mount Jaad]]. Then, after successfully draining the [[Ranpas geothermal plant]]—in part thanks to Soundwave deploying Laserbeak to locate any Autobot guards around the facility—Megatron chose the [[Monogan hydroelectric power station]] for their next target. Soundwave pointed out the heavy Autobot fortifications that had been set up around the station and suggested a different target, but Megatron dismissed his concerns, and when the Decepticons did indeed emerge victorious, Soundwave apologized for speaking out of turn and doubting his leader.

Via Laserbeak, Soundwave soon discovered that the Autobots on the planet had made contact with the occupants of one of the strange UFOs, and suggested to Megatron that they send a task force to intercept them. In the process, the Decepticons wound up allying themselves with the ''other'' UFO's passengers: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, a trio of Decepticons from the future who had traveled back in time to locate and destroy the powerful [[Zel Quartz]], a weapon that threatened Galvatron's rule in their home time. Soundwave was teamed with Cyclonus to seek out possible locations of the quartz across the planet, and the communications officer stoically carried out his task, all the while struggling to keep Megatron and Galvatron from fighting with each other.

After failing to find the quartz at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], the Decepticons next decided to search the [[Karzite mine]]. Cyclonus informed Soundwave that he saw both him and Megatron as "worthless scrap", and warned the communications officer the mine yielded a similar lack of results, then he would be taking the blame, not Cyclonus. Soundwave agreed, but have a warning of his own: he charged a high price for being spoken to with disrespect. As it turned out, the quartz was not in the mine, and Soundwave accepted the blame as promised, only to then reveal his price: he had recorded his conversation with Cyclonus and played it back for Megatron, who did not take kindly to the future Decepticon's insults. At Megatron's command, Soundwave recorded Cyclonus's screams as the Decepticon leader subjected him to a vicious punishment.

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

====Autobot story====
Megatron had Soundwave send out a fake Autobot SOS transmission in an attempt to trick the Autobots into leaving their base. The plan was a success and Optimus Prime and his crew were lured out. When the Autobots realized that they had been deceived, Megatron sent a message through Soundwave's transmitter, gloating how he had tricked Prime and announced that his crew was going to steal the energon the Autobots had on their shuttle. When Megatron had finished his message, Soundwave returned to base. On the way back to their shuttle, the Autobots encountered Soundwave again, this time leading a hoard of Decepticon troops, and fought them. Despite his best efforts, Soundwave was overwhelmed and left to rejoin Megatron. Later, Soundwave fought the Autobots again while they were dealing with another swarm of enemies. He lost again, and left to fight another day.

Later on, Soundwave teamed up with his future self, Soundblaster, and with [[Full-Tilt]] as the final defense against the Autobots before they reached Megatron and Galvatron. When the Autobots arrived, Soundblaster started by expressing [[dull surprise]] at how the Autobots managed to survive up until the current point. Soundwave continued, warning the Autobots that he would not let them stand in Megatron's way. Both the present and future versions of the Communications Officer we all know and love put up the best fight they could, but even with Full-Tilt's help, the Autobots overpowered them.

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
[[File:Gluawakening soundwave.jpg|left|thumb|150px]]
Soundwave was among the Decepticons who pursued and boarded the Autobot [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. When the ship crashed on [[Earth]], all inside were sent into stasis, but the Decepticons woke up four million years later and resumed their conquering ways. When the Autobots began waking up as well, Soundwave was hot on their trail, and Ratchet and Bumblebee had to silence him before he could alert Megatron. After a series of skirmishes, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who failed to prevent the Autobots from finding the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. He accompanied Megatron back to Cybertron to lay a trap for the Autobots, but was equally unsuccessful as a prison guard. Trailing the Autobots to Earth, Soundwave was beaten up by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], took part in a disastrous assault on the Ark, and was unable to stop an Autobot attack on the Decepticon's Cybertron fortress. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Soundwave and his tapes conducted a covert infiltration of the Autobot base, allowing them to pass information back to the Decepticons and ensure a string of Decepticon victories. He was eventually uncovered by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], who sent him packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations}} On another occasion, Soundwave infiltrated a human science facility with [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]] to gain access to a technology to increase [[Energon]] production. The trio were faced by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and his tapes. {{storylink|Espionage}}

Soundwave was among those who supported [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s bid for leadership. {{storylink|The Coronation of Starscream}}

When humans unlocked the secrets of [[Gravitronic Energy]], Soundwave and his minions attempted to take possession of the data, but were foiled by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|Box Trap}}

==Toys==
{{Main|Soundwave (G1)/toys}}
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
{{Main|Soundwave (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* The Decepticon faction insignia appears to be roughly based on Soundwave's head.
* Though Soundwave's toy is a microcassette recorder, his fictional appearances depict him as a stereo cassette deck or Walkman. (Likewise, his microcassette tapes are depicted as regular audio cassettes.)
[[File:Bm soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave gets slagged by Vehicons, and Nightscream escapes. How's that for injustice?]]
*A 1986 [[Panini]] stickerbook sold in Belgium and the Netherlands gave Soundwave the alternate French language name "Stacar". Whether this name was used in any other media made for French-speaking regions is unknown.
* Soundwave's computer model was used for one of the [[generic]] Transformers in Beast Machines. It is seen in "[[Forbidden Fruit]]" during [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] flashback being cornered by [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] just before Nightscream flees into the lower levels of Cybertron. Though the model was recolored, it was still really 'Soundwavey,' causing much confusion among fans. His computer model as well as [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s continued to show up for the rest of the series, used to represent deactivated Transformer shells.
* Later, Soundwave's character model showed up numerous times in various color schemes as a generic background character in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon.
* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] listened to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Memory]]". Later, after a new [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] was found, ''Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] held tape deck Soundwave in his arms. This caused a great disturbance in the [[force]]...
[[File:Unused AHM Soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|What? You mean we don't use brick-sized microcassette recorders anymore?]]
* IDW Publishing seems to be undecided on Soundwave's speech pattern. In ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'', he speaks in his classic cartoon-based monotone. However, in "[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]", he speaks in a normal fashion. Which is once again reverted to the classic speech in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''.
* [[Guido Guidi]] made a concept drawing of Soundwave with a modern microcassette recorder as an alt-mode (which are still used by reporters and doctors today) for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' maxi-series. This was also unused. Consequently, Soundwave may go down as the Transformers character with the most unused designs.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Jam Bo''' (音波, "Voice Wave")
*''English:'' '''New Soundwave''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Soundblaster)
*''French:'' '''Radar''' (Canada), '''Sonore''' (Canada Action Master, "Sound")
*''Hebrew:'' '''Gal Kól''' (גל קול, "Sound Wave")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Fülelő''' ("Listener"), '''Fürkész''' ("Seeker", ''The Movie'' 1st dub)
*''Indonesian:'' '''Sondwev''' (손둬빼 ''Soundwave'')
*''Italian:'' '''Memor''', '''Vizar''' (Soundblaster)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shēng-bō''' (Taiwan, 聲波, "Sound Wave"), '''Shēng Bàu''' (Taiwan Soundblaster, 聲爆, "Sound Blast")
*''Polish:'' '''Dźwiękofalowiec''' (''The Movie'', "Soundwaver")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Onda-Sonora''' (Portugal comics), '''Microonda''' (Brazil comics, "Microwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (cartoon, Бархан, "Dune")<ref>Dubbers thought his name was "Sandwave".</ref>
*''Spanish:'' '''Sam''' (America ''The Headmasters'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zvukohvyl''' (Звукохвил, "Soundwave")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Soundwave Soundwave's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Ladybird Books Decepticons]]

Quintesson

2014-07-30T03:18:00Z

AlphaTyrant: /* Scientist */

{{factions|quintesson}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 alien race|their home planet which is called "Quintesson" in the Marvel Comic UK continuity|Quintessa}}

:''The Quintessons are a race from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Quint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Hahahaha— —hahahahaha— —–hahahahaha— ——hahahahahaha— ——–hahahahahaha!"]]
The '''Quintessons''' are a bizarre and ancient race of mechanoids, whose dark history and shadowy machinations are bound up with the history of the [[Transformer]]s, and connections with [[Primus]] and [[Unicron]]. They prefer subtle manipulation, scheming, and advanced technology over brute force, but if those don't work, they can fall back on the legion of deadly [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] and [[Allicon]]s at their command and a fleet of battle-ready [[Quintesson spacecraft|spaceships]] as well. However, the Quintessons themselves have zero fighting abilities and are absolute cowards if they have nothing to hide behind. For example, they are seen to be powerless against a Sharkticon revolt.

Quintessons are also known by the ''adorable'' racial slur 'squids'.<ref>"[[Wreckers: Finale Part II]]"</ref>

{{quote|[We] are ''Quintessons''! ''Arrogance'' is our life’s blood, ''ambition'' is our food and drink, but most of all, ''hubris is the air we breathe!!''|[[Al-Badur]] dissin' his peeps|"[[Wreckers: Finale Part II]]"}}

{{quote|Deceivers! Betrayers! Five-faced slime of the nebula!|[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] on the Quintessons|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

== Types of Quintessons ==
[[File:QuintessonTFMMarvel.jpg|thumb|What? Death is for the guilty ones? You mean I've been doing this wrong the whole time?]]The Quintessons appear to be mostly (if not entirely) mechanical beings. They come in several distinct forms, some of which are identified by their place in the Quintessons' bizarre court system.

{{note|The names given are, when possible, taken directly from the character model sheets.}}

===Judges===
The most prominent and famous type of Quintesson, as well as the apparent "leaders" of the race, are the Judges, also referred to as the Imperial Magistrates. Judges have inverted, egg-shaped bodies which float on a beam of energy and possess wiry tentacles for physical manipulation, but their most distinctive physical characteristics are their five rotating faces. Each face represents a different aspect of the Quintesson, though for four of the five faces, there are conflicting accounts as to what each represents.

<gallery perrow="3">
File:Quintessondeath.jpg|'''Death'''
File:Qhead1.gif|'''Rage'''/Wrath
File:Qhead2.gif|'''Laughter'''/War
File:Qhead3.gif|'''Bitterness'''/Wisdom
File:Qhead4.gif|'''Doubt'''/Judgment
</gallery>

{{note|The first names given above for the latter four faces come from Japanese ''[[Comic Bom Bom]]'' supplements. They are derived from the descriptions given of the faces in the original script for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]]''—an "angry face," a "smiling face," a "grimacing face" and a "suspicious face"—and the faces were [http://web.archive.org/web/20050206071549/http://hometown.aol.com/silverphoenix12/junkion.html specifically designed] by [[Floro Dery]] to represent these emotions. All the same, this information remained very little-known for a long time, leading to the second set of names being created for use in the 2004 publication, ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]''. The original names were also used for ''[[Transformers: The Ark|The Ark]]'', published by [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] in 2007.}}

In the original animated series, the Judges were all of the same size and were rarely named. (Then again, it was rare for ''any'' Quintesson to get an individual name.) Conversely, in the Marvel Comics continuity, Judges vary in size, including the massive [[Kledji]] and the smaller [[Sevax]]. The order of the faces in the ring varies from Judge to Judge (if not [[Animation error|from shot to shot]], ahem).

Named Judges include:
* [[Brinn]]
* [[Deliberata]]
* [[Derodomontatus]]
* [[Heirodyus]]
* [[Kledji]]
* [[Pentius]]
* [[Sevax]]

===Bailiffs===
[[File:Quintbailiff anime.png|left|upright=0.85|thumb|None Shall Pass!]]
These snout-nosed creatures were seen serving as guards in the Quintessons' court.
{{-}}

===Executioners===
[[File:QuintGate.gif|thumb|Pokey, pokey!]]
This breed of Quintesson was first seen throwing the switch that dropped the unfortunate [[Arblus]] into the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]] pit. They have also been called "Gatekeepers".

Named executioners include:
* [[Ghyrik]]
* [[In-Saba Nur]]
* [[Jolup]]
* [[Rexian]]
{{-}}

===Prosecutor===
[[File:Inquisitor fugly.jpg|left|thumb|Prosecutor and the seldom-seen "wizened" variant.]]
This variety of Quintesson is the second-most common type, often seen in positions of authority. They have also been called "Inquisitors". In court, they are the ones who ask for the Judges' verdicts and occasionally let the defendants say something in their defense, for all it matters.

Named prosecutors include:
* [[Krahulik]]
* [[Vashik]]
{{-}}

===Scientist===
[[File:Quint scientist.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Yes, I have a question.]]
[[File:Quint dweller.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|I had to walk 15 miles in the snow to school! Uphill both ways!]]
Scientists are somewhat similar to the Prosecutors in construction, though they feature more bulbous heads and bearded, somewhat-more-human faces.

Named scientists include:
* [[Al-Badur]]
* [[Extempaxia]]
* [[Inquirata]]
* [[Mara-Al-Utha]]
{{-}}

===Other types===
[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|125px|thumb|My tentacles are on fire!]]
The Judges are not the only Quintessons to have multiple faces, though the only known exception is the '''three-faced scientist''' who was the primary creator of the [[Trans-Organic]]s. One of his faces was grievously damaged, a scar left by the [[Dweller]], which he covered with a mask.

This scientist instigated a plan to get the [[Decepticon]]s to unwittingly release the trans-organics from their prisons deep within [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] so they would wipe out all Transformer life. The plan ultimately backfired; the Dweller killed the other trans-organics, and was launched into space by the [[Autobot]]s... where it smashed into the scientist's ship, which was en-route to Cybertron. Presumably, the scientist finally met his end as the Dweller drained the energy from the ship and everyone within it. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:Quint rentacops.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"Game over, man! Game over!"]]
'''Security officers''' appear to have been an ancient model of Quintesson, and possibly the only kind with built-in offensive capabilities, some having one set of arm-tentacles replaced with over-sized blasters. These blasters availed them naught, however, against the Trans-Organic beasts. It is unknown if any of this model of Quintesson exist in "modern" times. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:Quint humanoid.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No one remembers we exist.]]
Non-bailiff, non-executioner '''Humanoid''' Quintessons are exceedingly rare. One accompanied [[Inquirata]] on his mission to use a [[Time Window]] to change Cybertron's history, stopping the slave revolt that drove the Quintessons off-planet. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

And then there's [[Mirdane]]. A rarity among Quintessons, in that he has a name, and that's ''it''. He has only ever been mentioned by others, never seen, so what body type he has/had is unknown. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}
{{-}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{quote|We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy.|[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Believe it or not, you really do have better chances in Texas.]]
In ages long past, a cold and emotionless race of aliens called the Quintessons created two lines of sentient robots on a planet-sized factory known as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. One was a line of robots designed for domestic duties and labor (known as [[Autobot]]s), and the other was a line designed for military use (known as [[Decepticon]]s). The Quintessons were exceptionally cruel to their creations, eventually leading to wide-spread rebellion, a rebellion started by the Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]]. Forced to flee the planet, the Quintessons eventually settled on the small, twisted planet of [[Quintessa]], but fostered an undying hatred of all Transformers for millions of years. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

In 2005, they were shown to capture prisoners for trial and feeding to their army of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]]. The mock trials held by the Quintesson Court seemed to have no purpose at all (except maybe for the Quintessons' amusement), as defendants were still immediately fed to the ravenous Sharkticons even when the Judge determined them to be innocent. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] managed to rescue the pair of Autobots the Quintessons had captured. Worse, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspired the Sharkticons to rebel... by stomping his foot on the ground and telling them to do so. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

One year (or possibly five years, [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|depending on whom you ask]]) after the defeat of [[Unicron]], the Quintessons reappeared. They first sent a commando team of Sharkticons to abduct various Autobots (as well as [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], though that may have been unintentional). Upon capturing the 'bots, the Quintessons seemed more interested in interrogating their prisoners than feeding them to the Sharkticons. However, they eventually did find the captured Transformers to be guilty of the crime of... being Transformers. (Spike was guilty by association.) {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}

After [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] mounted a rescue for their captive friends, the Quintessons attempted to kill the would-be rescuers by destroying the entire planet of [[Quintessa]]. After this plan failed, the surviving Quintessons made an alliance with the newly revived [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] to attack Cybertron (in return for the fictional [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], which they made up because they needed to give him a reason not to kill them). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}}

The Quintessons betrayed Galvatron almost immediately after the battle had been won, toggling a [[Large switch|switch]] which caused all Transformers the galaxy over literally to freeze where they stood. Luckily, Spike stopped the Quintessons before they had much of a chance to do anything. Despite their betrayal (and the fact that they almost killed him), Galvatron remained an ally (despite that he tried to kill them as well). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

Later plots by the Quintessons were no less nefarious. A rogue Quintesson scientist abducted three Transformers and a [[Marissa Faireborn|human]] for behavioral study, a scheme that nearly killed the entire group after they drifted into a black hole. {{storylink|The Killing Jar}} Later, the Quintessons revived the deceased [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] in an attempt to lure all the Autobots into a trap and destroy them with a supernova. However, the Quintessons did not count upon Hot Rod forcing Optimus Prime to overcome his programming, nor Optimus Prime's ability to sacrifice himself to save the Autobots. {{storylink|Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening}} Later still, the Quintessons attempted to rewrite history by preventing their loss of Cybertron (which nearly resulted in the very fabric of Time being destroyed). {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

During the [[Hate Plague]] crisis, a single Quintesson was rescued from his infected Sharkticons by [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], to restore life to the body of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} The Quintesson mentioned that his race had gone into hiding in the farthest reaches of the galaxy. The lone Quintesson's help in restoring Optimus Prime and several other Autobots was vital in curing the galaxy of the Hate Plague, but his race was never heard from again. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

====''Macrocosmic Seekers''====
The [[Seeker (United)|Seeker]], during the enslavement of Transformers, realized the potential for Transformer evolution and noted that rebellion was imminent. He was laughed at, but the Seeker got the last laugh when he left Cybertron before the rebellion and evolved beyond his Quintesson origins. {{Storylink|A Treasure's True Worth}}

====''Kiss Players''====
[[File:KPMaximus2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Do cameos count as canon?]]
The [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]] [[Marissa Faireborn]], [[Atari Hitotonari (KP)|Atari Hitotonari]] and [[Shaoshao Li (KP)|Shaoshao Li]], together with the [[Sparkbot]]s [[Angela]], [[Star Dust]] and [[Zangetsu]], were traveling through time aboard [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Brave Maximus]] when the space fortress suddenly went out of control.

[[File:KPQuints.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This is all kinds of crazy.]]
The six found themselves on a strange, alien world in the year 2011. With their ship ensnared, they were herded by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] to the Space Tribunal, where the Quintessons put them on trial for time-traveling without their permission.

When Shaoshao asked if being cute was a crime, the Quintessons threatened to charge her with contempt of court. Atari suggested using their Kiss Play abilities to transform into cute costumes and ask the "octopusses" nicely to let them go. But turning into a swimsuit-clad elementary school girl and asking the judge's permission to go to the potty only resulted in Atari and her friends being found "not guilty" and dropped into the Sharkticon pit below.

Rescued by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Goldbug]], they fled back to Brave Maximus and re-entered the time portal. Sucked into the maelstrom along with them, the Quintessons demanded that the process stop, saying that they were the last of their kind. But it was too late, and the aliens were trapped inside the hole in space-time.

===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
Like those creepy little pilotfish that swarm behind sharks, snapping at stray scraps, the Quintessons were vile enforcers for [[Unicron]], savagely hunting down and picking off those who attempted to escape his maw. {{storylink|The Transformers Universe#Issue .234|Transformers Universe}}

''In 2008, Quintesson scientists realized that their planet, Quintesson (not [[Quintessa]]), was threatened with destruction by a time rift that was caused by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s time-traveling.'' {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (UK framing sequence)}}

''Desperate for their race to survive, they launched a surprise attack on Autobot City, capturing it for themselves. Most of the Autobots were deactivated, except for [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], who was outside the city at the time of the attack, and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], who were hidden inside [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s cassette compartment.''

''Using [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] as bait, the Quintessons captured the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] from Rodimus, and he reverted to [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]]. Out of options, Hot Rod activated the core of Autobot City, a giant Autobot called [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who transformed and drove the Quintessons off but caused massive damage to the city in the process.''

''The Quintessons fled, but were ordered by Lord Kledji ''not'' to return to Quintesson, but to roam the stars instead to rebuild their forces and seek revenge on the Transformers, since their home planet was doomed beyond hope. How that went for them is unknown, but as they'd managed to cheese off most of the known metallic species by that point, it probably didn't go too well.'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
A Quintesson sent two [[Observer|aliens]] to spy on the Autobots and Decepticons, and download the contents of their databases. The two aliens were puzzled, but the Quintesson remained cagy about what the data was for. {{storylink|The Test (issue)|The Test}}

===Beast Machines===
The [[Maximal]] [[Beast Rider]] [[Che]] was encased in a unique Quintessian{{sic}} alloy found in the lower levels of Cybertron.<ref>Che's packaging bio</ref>

===Universe Featuring the Wreckers===

Out on the arm of the Orion Cluster, [[New Quintessa]] sat awaiting the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant Beast]]s, Cybertronians without robot modes who had been dispatched by the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] of [[Vector Sigma]] to regain what they had lost. [[Icebird]] believed they were on a sacred mission; in truth, it was a fool's errand. The Quintesson Supreme Imperial Magistrate [[Derodomontatus]] fed the Mutants to the Sharkticons before continuing his discussions with the free trader, [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]]. Plans proceeded apace, as both the Mutants and the [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobot]]s were dealt with by this deadly alliance, and Cryotek assured Derodomontatus that the last Cybertronian team, the [[Wrecker]]s, would soon be extinguished as well. {{storylink|Betrayal}}

{{storylink|Disclosure}}
{{stub}}

The invasion of Cybertron soon began, and [[Snarl (BM)|Snarl]], [[Longhorn (BM)|Longhorn]] and [[Skydive (BM)|Skydive]] spotted Quintessons herding mass hordes of Sharkticons towards the Cybertronian settlements.

{{Note|The following is unofficial material for the intended script to the Wreckers #4, never published.}}

Derodomontatus cheered on the advancing troops with his fellow Quintessons, before proceeding with Cryotek and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] to complete his part of their bargain. The fighting intensified on the surface as [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]] and the Dinobots arrived, shortly before the Wreckers returned to Cybertron as well. [[Primal Prime]] and [[Apelinq]] led a contingent after Cryotek and the Quintessons deeper into Cybertron's core. They arrived in time to see Cryotek had successfully mutated himself into a god-like being with the power of the [[Divine Light]]. {{storylink|The Wreckers: Finale Part 1}}

{{note|And now, back to the official material.}}
Derodomontatus, realizing the extent to which Cryotek had now surpassed the Quintessons, begged the free trader to remember their contract and honor it. In response, Cryotek sent his pet [[Chro]] to rip the Quintesson's faces off.

As their Imperial Magistrate faced a hostile takeover beneath the planet's surface, the Quintesson troops on open ground found their advancement equally stymied. Expecting the newly reformatted Cybertron to be filled with docile and disoriented cattle, the Quintessons were ill-prepared for the resistance they faced from all corners of the globe and all sectors of the populace. In [[Ankmor Park|Ankmor]], Judge [[Brinn]]'s patrol were stalked by the Maximal techno-organic, [[Night Viper]]. In a deserted city, a contingent led by Overseer [[Rexian]] were overcome by Decepticons criminals recently restored to their bodies. Overseer [[Vashik]] and [[In-Saba Nur]] assaulted the new Predacon capitol of [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]] with predictable results, as Lord [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] squashed them beneath his heel ([[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] helped). Oh yes, and then there were ''Dinobots''. Admiral [[Krahulik]] was prepared to initiate orbital bombardment from the ''Paradigm'' hovering over [[Polyhex]] before [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] brought down the Quintesson warships as well. The Quintessons began to retreat in hordes, returning to their landing ships and launching out into space...right into the path of the planetary defense systems, recently brought back on-line.

All in all, the invasion of Cybertron was an unmitigated disaster. Judge [[Heirodyus]] watched the annihilation from New Quintessa with a mixture of horror and smugness, silently congratulating himself for escaping the fate of his brothers. He hadn't. The Mutant Beasts Icebird and [[Poison Bite]] had survived their dip in the Sharkticon pools, and returned imbued with the light of [[Primus]] himself. Heirodyus and the Quintessons were soon wiped from the surface of New Quintessa. Icebird assumed control of the planet, spreading the techno-organic plant life made from Cybertron's reformatting, and teaching the Sharkticons the ways of peace. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
The Quintessons were an alien race which appeared to conquer Cybertron at some point, but were driven off. However, they continued to maintain watch over Cybertron, eventually coming to manipulate the [[Council of Ancients]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] claimed this was the reason that he started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} This did not, however, stop him from making a deal with the Quintessons, who provided him with the [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and a bunch of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]]. Knowing Megatron and the Quintessons, both were planning to betray each other when the time was right. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Later, they prepped the [[Female Autobots]] for invading Cybertron. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Generation One #11}}

{{note|Due to the bankruptcy of [[Dreamwave Productions]], the story ended before the Quintesson plot could be revealed.}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' continuity===
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded information on Cybertron's history from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s databanks, he saw the Quintessons create the [[Trans-Organic|transorganics]] and the Transformers. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
An enigmatic Quintesson historian named [[Pentius]] was shipwrecked on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for centuries until he was freed by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], who needed a guide to get off the planet. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} During their time together, the Quintesson nurtured Megatron's evil ambitions in order to shape him into a true monster, though his motives for doing so were clouded in mystery. The Decepticon eventually killed Pentius to use his [[spark]] as fuel, but he was content with his death as it proved Megatron's training was complete. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}

Some time after one of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Regenesis]] missiles struck the planet [[LV-117]], someone painted the Death face of a Quintesson judge on top of the [[Decepticon]] insignia adorning it. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} A strange inscription of a Quintesson judge was also present inside the ruins of some unknown ancient civilization on the planet. Through the cracks in the stone it was carved into, its eerie eyes glowed... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

When LV-117 was close to destruction, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Varta]] planned to flee the planet on a [[Quintesson Cruiser|familiar screw-shaped ship]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} After crashing the ship on [[LV-118]], Wheelie claimed to have stolen it from someone, but didn't specify who. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

===''Animated'' cartoon===
300 million years ago, give or take, the Autobots, engaged in a major colonisation push, had border skirmishes with the [[Quintesson Pan Galactic Co-Prosperity Sphere]]. This conflict ended the [[Age of Expansion]]. The [[Autobot Commonwealth]] and the Co-Prosperity Sphere still border each other, as well as the [[Nebulon Republic]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] received his [[Sonic Jammer 3000]] from the Quintessons. According to him, they are nice folks that give you a good deal and all the oil you can drink. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}

===Shattered Glass===
[[File:Quintesson aquarius.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Dude.]]

{{quote|We are all one or we are all gone.|[[Aquarius (SG)|Aquarius]]|[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]}}

This universe's Quintessons are an enigmatic and benevolent species holding sway over a large section of space known as the Quintesson Collective. They share technology and cooperate with many other species, whether organic, [[technorganic]] or mechanical, using culture as a unifying notion instead of evolutionary origins. They long ago perfected zero-point energy engines, food and parts replication technologies and advanced biomedics, allowing any individual to change features, organs and overall designs, eliminating such things as [[Exclusive|scarcity]], and thus material value, "mortality" and even the concept of "species". These technological advances are shared and freely available to all those who join their "ultra-species".

The Quintessons usually rely on [[Wikipedia:United Federation of Planets|cautious observation before making first contact]] with other unenlightened peoples, demanding years of study and careful cultural guidance before even considering allowing membership into the Collective. They rarely use direct means to steer a culture onto the enlightened path, but have been known to occasionally take [[Fortress Maximus (SG)|more direct action]] to protect their interests, doing the "dirty work" themselves. {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}
{{-}}

===Aligned continuity===
The Quintessons attempted to enslave Cybertron once during the [[Age of Wrath]], but were defeated in a rebellion led by the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]] member who became [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]], who led Cybertron into a subsequent [[Golden Age]]. Generations later [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] said Sentinel and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] had enslaved Cybertron with the [[caste system]] instead of having it forced on them by the Quintessons.

The [[cockpit]]s in a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s body are holdovers from the time of Quintesson dominance. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
The Quintessons put [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] on trial. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived and promptly turned the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] on their masters. {{storylink|Mockery of Justice}} Intending to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]], the Quintessons allied with [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and sent her in to cause trouble. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}} They also send [[Skuxxoid]]s to the games to kidnap [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 1}} When the trio were rescued post-sentencing by the other Autobots, the Quintessons destroyed their own home planet, Quintesson, in an attempt to eliminate them. The Quints then tried to enlist the help of the Decepticons to wipe out the Autobots, only for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to arrive and reclaim his troops. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}} They soon struck an alliance with Galvatron and attacked Cybertron, with the end result that they activated an ancient device to deactivate all Transformers. After the device was destroyed by Spike, the Quintessons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3}}

==Notes==
* When asked about the Quintesson design in an interview, [[Floro Dery]] stated they were based on a cylindrical toy he designed at some point.<ref>http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery</ref>
* Since [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]] never explains what the characters are being charged with, and offers no logical progression to a verdict, it's usually interpreted that Quintesson justice simply operates on reverse terminology for the sake of humor—that the Quintessons ''say'' "innocent", but dohohoho, they're aliens, and to them, that ''means'' "guilty", so the accused is sentenced to death. This was certainly the assumption [[Simon Furman]] was working off of when he first used the Quintessons in the UK-only framing sequence of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" and had a Quintesson find [[Mister Regan|an interrogator]] to be "innocent" of things which he is unambiguously guilty of. The 2014 novel ''[[Transformers: Retribution|Retribution]]'' also followed this path, with the note that "innocent" must "mean something different" to the aliens, as the characters on trial are indeed entirely guilty of what they are being accused of. What is consistently overlooked, however, is the one instance in all Transformers canon of the Quintessons actually finding someone guilty, which happens to Kup and Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". And they ''are'' guilty of the charges put before them: being Autobots, the race who stole Cybertron from the Quintessons. While it may have started out that way at some point in the script process of the movie, the cartoon universe made clear very early on that Quintesson justice isn't supposed to operate on reverse terminology for humor's sake; the aliens know the difference between the two terms, and the trials are just trivial, for their own amusement, before they kill you anyway.
* In a Q&A, [[Simon Furman]] said he considered making the [[Magnificence]] a Quintesson artifact but changed his mind.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032 SIMON FURMAN - Q&A Nov/Dec 2008 at IDW Publishing Forums]</ref>
* The ''Animated'' Quintessons are just off-screen mentions, but as their empire's name is near-identical to [[Japan|Imperial Japan]]'s [[wikipedia:Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere|Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere]], we can assume they're ''very nasty''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Quintessa-seijin''' (クインテッサ星人, "Planet Quintessa People")
*''Italian:'' '''Quintessenziali''' ("Quintessentials")

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Quintessons The Quintessons' ''Universe'' profile at NFTA.net]

[[Category:Generation 1 aliens]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Quintessons| ]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]
[[Category:Wings Universe species]]

Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2014-07-26T04:47:24Z

AlphaTyrant: /* A new approach */

{{suite}}
{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{featured}}
[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron A, Megatron B, Megatron Retailer's Incentive, and Megatron Dynamic Forces Exclusive variant.]]
'''Megatron''' waged a battle to destroy the evil forces of the [[Senate]]! Then he ''continued'' to wage a war against the evil forces of freedom, organic life, and the very idea of an Autobot living.

{{quote|In the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the Spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would not do so simply as a means to an end. No. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me ''pleasure''.|Megatron to Optimus Prime|''[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]''}}

{{quote|People never stop changing Rung. We're all '''works in progress'''. We're the sum of our experiences...even if we '''edit''' those experiences to suit. Selective memory, denial, post-justification...we re-write history - our own history - to keep us sane. To stop us giving up. Every day, we do it. Every day, '''little edits'''. Except sometimes...sometimes it's not '''enough'''. Sometimes you look back on your life - on your life's work - and you realize it's '''unsalvagable'''. And if you're brave enough - or '''desperate''' enough - you throw it all away and start again. On Luna-2 I threw it all away. And here, on this ship, I started again. A brand new autobiography. Same '''title''', different '''words'''.|Megatron, Captain of the ''Lost Light'', in a one to one with Rung|''[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace]]''}}

__TOC__
==IDW Generation 1 comics==
{{ongoing}}
===Birth of a tyrant===
[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron symbol creation.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|... And thus the "Silica Fracturism" art movement was born.]]
Long ago, before the war and under the reign of [[Nominus Prime]], Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]] was an idealistic 'bot who desired to be a medic. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Alas, he lived in a time of functionism, where one's alternate mode denoted one's role in society, and one's role determined ones rights, so he was assigned the occupation of [[energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, living near [[Rodion]]. An intellectual and a poet, Megatron was sickened by the caste-ridden social apartheid of Cybertronian society, and so he wrote [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|a treatise]] on how pacifist dissent and the exchange of ideas could change things. It was while he was sharing this work with his miner friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] over a drink in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] that the event occurred which would change the course of his life, as Impactor wound up being drawn into a bar brawl with some of the city's upper classes and Megatron was among those arrested after the fracas. Megatron's writings had been growing in popularity and inspiring some dissent against the current regime, so in order to silence him, the [[Senate]] arranged for a police officer on their payroll, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], to kill him. Before Whirl could finish the job, however, police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], having discovered Megatron's innocence, arranged for his release. [[File:Minermegs.jpg|225px|thumb|Now that's the look of a well-adjusted individual.]] Despite Pax expressing support for the message of his writings, Megatron now found himself filled with rage and hate, disillusioned with his former ideology and realizing the power of applied violence. Angrily hurling the datapad on which he had written his treatise through a public info-screen, Megatron observed the jagged shape of the shattered glass, and later turned it into a [[insignia|symbol]] for his cause. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

Megatron's samizdat writings began to circulate in Cybertron's underground, spawning the "[[Decepticon]]" movement, its name derived from its own slogan, "You are being deceived", warning the common 'bot of the Senate's true nature. Knowing that, at this stage, assassinating Megatron would merely make him a martyr, the Senate instead elected to relocate him off-planet, re-assigning him to [[Mining Outpost C-12]] on the world of [[Messatine]] while they tried their own schemes to defuse the growing Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}}

Megatron continued to seethe with hate and frustration in his new workplace, which reached a peak when, some time later, [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived to announce that the mine was being closed immediately and the workers would be relocated. When one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, Megatron's fury boiled over and he hurled his pickaxe at Decimus. In turn, he was attacked by the Senator's guard, whom he killed by smashing his head to fragments. A riot erupted around him, but Megatron himself could only sit amongst the chaos, staring at his fuel-stained hands in abject horror, which allowed him to be easily pacified and rounded up with the other miners as the mayhem was quickly suppressed. En route to [[Penal Facility H-3|imprisonment]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], however, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard [[Longshot (G1)|their ship]]. Megatron joined in their effort, and together, they overpowered their guards, took control of the ship, and disappeared into the [[Kaon]] underground. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}
[[File:MegsOrigin2 Cykill.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal and excessive, and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, covertly sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. Their meeting was spied upon by [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]], agents from the Senate's forces, who Megatron slew. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Subsequently, impressed by how he treated his animal-form [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette partners]] as equals (in contradiction to the teachings of his Senate masters), Megatron invited Soundwave back to the gladiator pits and gave him permission to use his mind-reading abilities on him. Within Megatron's mind, Soundwave saw his honest desire for all Cybertronians to be true equals, and was so moved by it that he joined Megatron's cause. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Gradually, Megatron used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents, sending Soundwave to recruit more and more warriors to his cause. Such recruits included [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who he was presented with while having an arm he lost in a brawl replaced with a new limb that incorporated an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} and the disenfranchised warrior [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was personally asked by Megatron to fight at his side when he attended a Decepticon rally, and whom Megatron rechristened "Deadlock". {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} Seeking to enhance his army even further, Megatron reached out to [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Senator Shockwave]], offering to supply him the resources he required to carry out his own mysterious experiments in exchange for his using the teachings of his lost mentor [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a [[combiner]] that would serve the Decepticons. Shockwave cautioned that it could take some time, but Megatron was content to wait. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|You should have gone to IKEA.]]
Despite all his efforts, Megatron believed that the Senate was still not taking the Decepticons seriously, so Soundwave formulated a plan for a declaration of intent that could be not denied: lure the Senate to Kaon and murder them. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} In preparation for this scheme, Megatron offered to restore Shockwave's lost hands—a victim of [[empurata]]—believing that doing so might speed his work. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} The following day, in accordance with Soundwave's plan, Megatron and the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested by Sentinel Prime's men, after which Soundwave was freed on Ratbat's orders, while Starscream would ensure his own release by pretending to defect. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Together, Soundwave and Starscream exterminated the entire Senate, then liberated Megatron and the rest of their comrades, in the process granting their leader the gift of a [[fusion cannon]] liberated from the Senate forces' armory. Megatron led his army against Sentinel Prime's men, killed Sentinel himself, and took control of Kaon, now ready to turn his insurgency into a full-blown war. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

===Early days of war===

Megatron formally declared war on "[[Declaration Day]]" when he delivered a stirring speech from [[Nova Point|Nova Peak]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} The growing Decepticon forces swiftly spread across six [[Polities of Cybertron|Torus-States]], {{storylink|Parasites}} and to combat them, Cybertron's new leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] assembled a new military force, the "[[Autobot]]s", led by Megatron's old acquaintance [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]. Researching his new opposite number, Megatron was intrigued to discover that his now-abandoned treatise had been a source of inspiration for Pax, who had even quoted from it when he confronted the Senate and openly accused them of corruption. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}} Early into the war, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] would admit to Pax that Megatron talked about him sometimes, when he was tired. When Pax asked what was said, Bludgeon told him that it would make "both of us feel ''uncomfortable''". {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}
[[File:Autocracy4 backroom meeting.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]
When Orion Pax came close to Kaon during a mission, Megatron saw it as a chance to speak to him and had his Decepticons bring him in. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Megatron attempted to convince him that Zeta Prime was even worse than he appeared—that he had planned to let Orion die in [[Nyon]] so that he could use his death as pretext to invade the rebel-infested city and drain the citizens of their energon—and proposed they work together against him, but Orion refused to hear him and then escaped. Knowing the doubts he'd placed in his head would only serve to damage the Autobot cause, Megatron let him go. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}
[[File:Autocracy8 megs and pax together.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Megatron continued to keep an eye on Orion Pax's activities, spying on his encounter with the Nyon insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Zeta Prime's [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s suddenly attacked Nyon, Megatron was surprised by how zealously the new Prime fought against the city's rebels, but his real interest still lay on how Orion would handle the crisis. {{storylink|Purge}} Orion turned on Zeta, who in turn attempted to kill him, prompting Megatron to intervene and force the Prime to retreat. Taking Orion back to Kaon, he again offered that they work together against Zeta's corruption, and this time the Autobot officer accepted. {{storylink|Choices}} As their combined forces invaded the [[Citadel]] in Iacon, Megatron and Orion Pax made their way inside and fought Zeta Prime in person. The battle ended with Megatron killing the Prime with a head shot, and with his objective complete, he then betrayed the injured Orion by shooting him in the back. {{storylink|Overthrown}} Curiously, an alternate report incorrectly implied that Megatron had assassinated Zeta from afar, sniping him with the rifle alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}
[[File:Autocracy12 no you dont megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]
With Zeta dead, Megatron conquered Iacon and declared himself ruler of Cybertron. His soldiers patrolled the planet's streets to "keep the peace", mostly by hunting down and capturing any remaining Autobots who opposed him. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} During his rule, Megatron attempted to sway the neutral Hot Rod into joining the Decepticons, but he decided otherwise upon witnessing Megatron ordering the execution of several Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron was shocked to learn that Orion Pax had survived the betrayal and was organizing a rebellion against him under the name "Optimus Prime", and even more shocked that people actually had the courage to listen to him. He wasted no time in striking back against the rebels approaching the Citadel with the full force of his army. {{storylink|Broadcast}} During the battle, Megatron unleashed Zeta Prime's energy-draining [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]], but when the gigantic [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] took out the cannon, Megatron fell to the streets and was confronted by Optimus Prime himself. He lost the ensuing [[The Transformers: The Movie|familiar-looking duel]] and was badly wounded after a failed attempt to defeat Prime by holding Hot Rod hostage, forcing him to escape aboard Astrotrain. As he fled, he warned Optimus that he hadn't won, he had only started a war unlike any Cybertron had ever seen. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:Monstrosity3 Megatron and Pentius.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Before Megatron could recover from his injuries, he was betrayed by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who was gunning for the position of Decepticon leader (with aid from Starscream, against Megatron's knowledge). As punishment for his failure to hold Iacon, Scorponok banished the wounded Megatron to the hell-world of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Further injured in battle with some [[Junkion (species)|cannibalistic natives]], he stubbornly refused to give up and used the trash littering the world to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched, monstrous appearance. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} While searching for a way off Junkion, Megatron entered the wreckage of a starship and found a trapped [[Quintesson]] named [[Pentius]], who had mapped the planet and knew of an area known as the [[Pillar of Rust]] where starships may land and take off. Megatron freed the alien to guide him there, while also putting him in chains to serve as his slave. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}}
[[File:Monstrosity7 megatron takes pentius spark.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]
While crossing the [[Acid Sea]] on the way to the Pillar, Megatron was attacked by [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] who pulled him into the depths. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} For reasons unknown he was then released, the creatures having allowed him to live. As he emerged, Pentius was waiting with a history lesson, telling him that Junkion was once a prosperous world until its inhabitants drained it of resources, leaving it the broken husk it is today: a fate that may also await Cybertron. Megatron rejected this possibility, declaring that under his rule, Cybertron—and his legacy—would last forever. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On arrival at the Pillar of Rust, Megatron was met by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who had come to Junkion to finish what Scorponok had started by killing him. He was able to fight off several of his attackers, but [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] was too much for him to handle in his injured state. Egged on and taunted by Pentius, Megatron realized he had one last resource left to use: the Quintesson himself. Telling Pentius that his legacy would live on within him, he tore out the alien's [[spark]] and used it to fuel himself, granting him enough power to defeat Hun-Gar. He spared the Terrorcons in exchange for their loyalty, then returned to Cybertron on their ship to take revenge on Scorponok and take back control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}
[[File:Monstrosity12 strange turns.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Megatron returned to a Cybertron in chaos, as the ancient reptilian [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] had been unleashed by Scorponok and was in the midst of razing Iacon. After reasserting his leadership of the Decepticons by beating Scorponok nearly to death, he had Shockwave restore his body to it original shape and condition, {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and set out to investigate the Trypticon situation alone, unwilling to risk his soldiers in the face of the beast's uncontrolled fury. Finding an injured Optimus Prime on the battlefield, Megatron lectured him, but opted to leave him alive so that he could watch as the Decepticon leader defeated the enemy that Prime could not. Megatron was attacked by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], but as they grappled, they were swallowed by Trypticon. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Within the giant, the pair set their differences aside to fend off the [[cyber-morphic predator]]s that populated his interior, and together, they destroyed Trypticon's internal power cell, taking him offline. A tense standoff between the Autobots and Decepticons followed as the two warriors emerged from within Trypticon, but both sides agreed to go their separate ways for the time being. Not long after the battle, however, Megatron removed Pentius's spark from within himself and installed it within Trypticon, reviving the monster as a Decepticon. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast}}

===The spreading conflict===
[[File:MTMTE14 megatron vs overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]]
Megatron's actions during the war were many. Early during the conflict, he wrote ''[[Towards Peace]]'', a new treatise to replace ''After the Ark'', in which he described continuing to fight the war until the very notion of conflict was literally inconceivable. Then and only then would he finally give up his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} He oversaw the creation of a class of super-warriors known as the [[Warriors Elite]], selecting only his most powerful troops to undergo the torturous upgrade, including [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], a brilliant sadist and frequent opponent of his from his pit-fighting days who had developed an obsession with Megatron after the Decepticon leader dealt him his first ever defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} At some point, he also created the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to deal with traitors, {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} though he elected not to send them after Deadlock when he defected, valuing the warrior enough to instead dispatch [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] to bring him in. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}}
[[File:ChaosTheory prime vs megatron montage.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Megatron would personally clash with Optimus Prime many times; Optimus grew to respect and fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, while Megatron himself respected Prime's sheer power and his skill as a tactician and as a leader. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} Megatron would later incorrectly recall their battle on [[Sherma Bridge]] during the [[Rorsha Campaign]] as the first time they met. Said battle was certainly momentous—every Autobot and Decepticon stopped fighting to witness their duel, during which Megatron's cannon arm was sliced off by Prime's [[energon-axe]], and he claimed revenge by throwing the Autobot leader off the bridge. As the war spread to other planets, they would meet again and again: during the [[Siege of Massunstrad]], Megatron sealed Prime in an anti-matter chamber; on [[Rada Mor]], Prime reduced Megatron to ashes with sentient explosives; and in the midst of the [[Vorsk Offensive]], Megatron was nearly sliced in half by Prime. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} Megatron took on a new pistol alternate mode for the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he was used by [[Heretech]] to blast [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} During the same skirmish, Megatron took off half of Prime's face with his energon mace, but had a city block dropped on him by Prime in retribution, which shattered his [[transformation cog]] and trapped him in gun mode for two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} At the war's zenith, Megatron sealed himself in an [[Omniglobe]] to absorb the relentless flood of data coming in from countless fronts. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}

Prime was not the only old face that Megatron would see again during the war: during a battle on an aerial drilling platform over the [[Manganese Mountains]], Megatron came face-to-face with his old friend Impactor, and stood poised to execute him until Impactor gave him a moment's pause by recalling his old fondness for poetry. In this moment, Megatron was knocked from the platform by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and sent plummeting to the mountains below. {{storylink|Zero Point}}
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]
With total war going nowhere, Megatron would go on to develop a six-stage [[infiltration protocol]] to be used for conquering targeted planets. The sixth phase called for outright planetary razing, and Megatron selected three of his Warriors Elite for this task: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}}, Overlord and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]. He informed this trio of his decision via teleconference, but Overlord, tired of being used as someone else's weapon, refused. Megatron threatened to hunt Overlord down for his disobedience, {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} but while the powerful warrior spent the rest of his life preparing for this conflict, Megatron never followed up and left him to stew in his own obsession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}
[[File:Stormbringer1 get up and fight.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Deducing that the Autobot/Decepticon war would culminate in an energy crisis that would threatened the stability of Cybertron itself, Shockwave left Cybertron to secretly pursue alternate energy sources. Around 10,000 years ago, when Shockwave did not return, Megatron ordered Bludgeon to investigate his files, {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} and probe deeper into whatever it was Shockwave had created. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Shockwave's prediction soon proved accurate, and Cybertron found itself in the throes of an energy shortage. Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces", or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research; instead, he experimented on himself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} The process gave him immense power, but drove him insane. He became so dangerous that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head. Shortly after the last big push by the Decepticons, Cybertron was abandoned by both factions. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #2}}

===Breaking protocol===
[[File:Infiltration4 enter megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb]]
In the present day, when word reached Megatron that the infiltration unit led by [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], stationed on the planet [[Earth]], had broken protocol, he headed for the planet to investigate. Examining the unit's abandoned bunker in [[Nebraska]] for information, he discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ultra-Energon|Ore-13]]—an incredible energy source that (unbeknownst to Megatron) was the end result of Shockwave's experiments—and was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} While studying the bunker's files, he was contacted by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] with some distressing news: Bludgeon's investigations of Shockwave's files had led him to revive Thunderwing. Megatron ordered the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron, authorizing them to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of their homeworld itself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Just as he was handing down this order, Megatron was happened upon by [[Verity Carlo]], a human ally of the Autobot unit active on the planet, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} but he utterly ignored her. The bunker was then leveled by an airstrike courtesy of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], who were merely covering their unit's tracks and unaware of Megatron's presence; when their leader furiously emerged from the wreckage, Skywarp attempted to explain their ignorance, but Megatron simply responded by blasting him out of the sky. Blitzwing favored opening fire rather than attempting explanations, so Megatron beat the stuffing out of him too, then set off for Starscream's new bunker in [[Oregon]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Those librarians are getting really strict on late returns.]]

{{quote|You will stand down. If you fight, you ''die''. There is no room anymore for mercy. In the end, you are ''all'' expendable. Choose.|Megatron's ultimatum to Starscream's renegade troops|[[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]}}

[[Orbital jump]]ing to Oregon, Megatron called Starscream out and ordered the team to stand down, disgusted to see such power games being played amongst his troops. His brief, chilling speech was enough to take the fight out of all but Starscream, who, powered-up on Ore-13, took Megatron on himself. Though the new power source made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was taken out by a point-blank fusion cannon blast through his torso. Megatron ordered the Decepticons to ensure that Starscream survived, and then, observing the Autobots who had been watching the battle, announced that it was time to begin phase two. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

In light of the discovery of Ore-13, Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth and elected to get the infiltration protocol back on track himself, calling a meeting to make Starscream's former troops and making them aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} He was even able to revisit his past gun alternate mode, once again able to achieve the [[size changing|mass displacement]] the mode required thanks to the extra energy Ore-13 provided. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb]]
With his forces joined by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], a new arrival who Megatron suspected of having ulterior motives, {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} the Decepticon leader initiated phase two of infiltration protocol by destabilizing relations between the European nations of [[Latveria]] and [[Symkaria]] through use of an aggression-inducing [[Psycho-Prism]], stolen from Latverian dictator [[Doctor Doom]]. When the superhero team known as the [[Avengers]] investigated the array the Decepticons' were using to broadcast the prism's signal, Megatron abducted the arachnid-powered [[Spider-Man]] to use as a subject for their [[mirror response mode]], {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} draining the hero's powers and infusing himself and the other Decepticons with them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} He proceeded to forge a brief alliance with Doctor Doom, who helped him defeat and capture the allied Autobot/Avenger team who snuck inside the Decepticons' array, but when Doom's suggestion to threaten the captives in order to force the other heroes to lay down their arms failed, Megatron violently dissolved the partnership. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} Emerging from the confines of the array to take on the Autobots and Avengers himself, Megatron refrained from engaging Prime, foreseeing a more intimate confrontation between the two of them in the near future, and instead turned his attention to destroying [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor. The tables soon turned, however, when Doctor Doom freed the captive Autobots and used the Decepticon's mirror response technology to empower them. Defeated by these enhanced Autobots and with the Psycho-Prism destroyed by [[Wolverine (superhero)|Wolverine]], Megatron used the last of his extra power to teleport the Decepticons out with an [[emergency warp-out]]. He refrained from departing alongside his warriors, intending to slaughter the Avengers for their interference, but when he was immobilized by Spider-Man's webbing, knocked to the ground by [[Luke Cage]], and rattled by a hail of Autobot fire, he finally warped-out with a final taunt to Optimus Prime of the battle yet to come between them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}
[[File:Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb]]
With phase two of [[infiltration protocol]] properly underway, Megatron recognized that he ''should'' rightly withdraw and install a new unit commander on Earth, but could not resist the chance to try out his new Ore-13 empowered body, selecting the nation of [[Brasnya]], where Decepticon subterfuge was already underway, as his testing ground. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} Allowing the Decepticon's [[facsimile construct]] [[Georgi Koska]] to wield him in pistol mode, Megatron had Koska use him to first sever a [[Russia]]n oil pipeline, and then to fire upon the soldiers who came to investigate, furthering the political and military tensions already brewing in the region. When word came through from Blitzwing that Optimus Prime and the Autobots had arrived, {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} Megatron at last engaged Optimus directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} and although Prime was able to destroy his fusion cannon, the extra strength afforded Megatron by Ore-13 allowed him to physically beat Prime into submission, punching directly into his chest and crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} [[File:Escalation5 prime vs megs.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb]] The horrified Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. It turned out that Prime's apparent death was a desperate ruse when the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness—the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Furious over the embarrassing defeat, Megatron threw protocol out the window and ordered that Sixshot be summoned to the planet. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} He took out some of his anger on Ramjet, who he discovered had been busy cooking up a plot to overthrow him; without saying a word, he beat the attempted traitor to death before tearing him apart and keeping his head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
[[File:Devastation5 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, and although the [[Phase Sixer]] questioned his early deployment, he was happy to go along with the abandonment of the phase structure. The other Decepticons, on the other hand, were worried that Megatron was losing his grip—and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} Megatron monitored Sixshot's attack on the Autobots' [[Ark-19]], ordering him to pursue the escape pod that broke away from the crashing craft, {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} but before he could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron was forced to recall him to deal with a new threat assaulting the Decepticon base—the alien [[Reaper]]s. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Unfortunately, the Reapers convinced Sixshot to side with them, and when an Ore-13 powered Starscream entered the fray to take Sixshot down, Megatron realized his troops had been conspiring against him. He decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to greater threat posed by the Reapers, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and entered battle alongside them all, even allowing Starscream to wield him in pistol mode against the aliens. After the invaders were dead, however, he turned on his men, starting with Blitzwing—but was forced to realize that they needed to remain united when it became apparent that their battle with the Reapers had made humanity inescapably aware of their existence {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}}
{{--}}

===All Hail Megatron===
[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb]]
While the Decepticons were occupied fighting the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the greater threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Megatron and his men went to ground; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the Decepticons, who kept one step ahead of them for months. Secretly abducting [[Hunter O'Nion]], former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner to the Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], Megatron and his men returned to Cybertron, where Megatron had [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] conduct experiments that bred a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. The experiments culminated in the creation of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who Megatron employed in a series of key tasks in his plan: the Insecticon obtained from Hunter's mind various Autobot secrets and codes, completed Shockwave's long-gestating combiner process, granting the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and created a working [[space bridge]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} based on designs sold to them by Sixshot in exchange for his freedom. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

Returning to Earth, the Decepticons staged a phony schism within their ranks, allowing the Autobots to believe that they had "disappeared" as a result of a power struggle that had split their ranks into two camps, one led by Megatron and one by Starscream. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Starscream then approached Sunstreaker, whose experience has a Headmaster had left him bitter and jaded, with the proposition that the Autobots join with his forces against Megatron, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when the Autobots arrived at the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and quickly defeated by Devastator. After personally tearing [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Optimus Prime's chest, Megatron marched the captive Autobots through the space bridge back to Cybertron, where the Insecticon swarm waited for them. Prime, however, was able to damage the bridge, causing it to deposit the Autobots a safe distance from the swarm, but in the process, fried his own circuits and left himself comatose. Though the Autobots had escaped the fate he had intended for them, Megatron had successfully exiled his enemies to their dead homeworld; moreover, using information and codes gained from Sunstreaker and Hunter, he concurrently orchestrated the event that would later be known as [[Surge (event)|The Surge]], as Decepticons stormed Autobot installations all across the galaxy, achieving total victory. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:Bringingthehousedown.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's urban renewal program was off to a flying start.]]

With galaxy-wide domination accomplished, one year after the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, Megatron chose Earth to become the new Decepticon homeworld. Together with his men, Megatron stormed [[New York City]], humiliating Starscream with a display of his greater capacity for destruction. When the US Air Force retaliated, Megatron shrugged off their fire and ordered the other Decepticons to engage them; when one damaged jet threw itself toward him in a suicide run, Megatron, outraged at the [[DJ (G1)|pilot]]'s temerity, destroyed it and its occupant with a furious swipe of his hand. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} When US Army forces arrived, Megatron ordered [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] dispatched to deal with them, then sent Devastator to destroy the subway tunnels leading out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With New York secured, Megatron directed the Constructicons to begin building a new space bridge in the city's heart, and had a candid talk with Starscream, revealing his belief that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s attitude and actions marked him as the embodiment of the Decepticon cause, even if he was blind to seeing it himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} After a series of further attacks on major American cities saw the country firmly crushed under the Decepticons' collective heel, Megatron made a propaganda speech to his men in the ruins of New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} As night fell upon the city, Megatron withdrew to privately gloat over the Matrix. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:AHM6MegatronVsIsrael.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]
As the Decepticons began attacking other countries around the globe, Megatron was questioned by Starscream on what the next step in his plan was. A recalcitrant Megatron merely informed him that it was merely time to savor their victory, but Starscream accused him of not ''having'' any plans post-victory, and was merely allowing his men to run wild to distract them from any notion of taking power for themselves. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} What Starscream did not realize was that Megatron did indeed have a plan: to defeat the Autobots, he had created an army of killers and monsters, but in order to create his perfect rule, that army would have to be destroyed, the dissenting, distasteful elements obliterated before Megatron's peace could dawn. Megatron was not distracting his warriors... he was ''waiting'' to see which of them would question and turn on him. Silently sorrowful to already know that such dissent would begin with Starscream, an otherwise-model Decepticon, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} Megatron withdrew to [[Israel]] for some silent reflection amid wholesale devastation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM10 megs vs devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]

Some time later, Megatron surveyed the space bridge Bombshell and the Constructicons had built in New York. He congratulated Bombshell on his work, but revealed that he had always foreseen Bombshell's intellect as a danger—had always known he and his fellow Insecticons would side with Starscream when the time came. His gambit exposed, Starscream made his move and attacked, but the Insecticons proved no match for Megatron's might. The Decepticon leader had failed to anticipate one thing, however: he did not foresee the Constructicons siding with Starscream, and found himself having to fight the mighty Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The in-fighting was halted by a last-ditch attack by the mustered might of what remained of the human resistance, forcing Megatron and Starscream to put their differences aside momentarily and organize a defense. This attack came as no surprise to Megatron, but the same could not be said for the next entrants onto the battlefield: the Autobots had returned.

After assuring Starscream that he would be leader in the future, when his time was done, Megatron confronted Optimus Prime, surprised not so much that his old foe had survived, but that he had bothered to return to Earth. Both leaders had always maintained a policy of acceptable losses through their millennia-long war, so Megatron assumed Prime had come back for selfish reasons, to reclaim the Matrix, but Prime insisted that he had changed, and would no longer allow their cold war to endanger innocent lives on this scale. [[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]] Megatron scoffed at the notion, reavling that Prime's supposedly "innocent" humans were planning to nuke New York, killing millions of their own just to get rid of the Decepticons, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} but Prime retorted that it wasn't ''just'' about the humans, but also about the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. The two came to blows, but Megatron triumphed in short order and commanded the Decepticons to depart, leaving the Autobots to be killed by the humans' nuke... but just before they withdrew, he was shot in the face by human soldier [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], wielding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Cybertronian technology. Injured and disoriented by the blast, Megatron was finished off when Prime smashed his face in with his own fusion cannon. As he wanted to ''take'' leadership rather than just have it fall in his hands, Starscream picked up his damaged leader and ordered the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:AllHisEngines-Megatron.jpg|thumb|Pretty sure when you float in a bacta tank you're supposed to be wearing a diaper.]]
The Decepticons departed Earth aboard Astrotrain, where the gravely wounded Megatron was put on life support and tended to by Soundwave and his cassettes. With Megatron's life signs only at ten percent capacity, Starscream attempted to appeal to Soundwave's sense of logic and have him shut down so that leadership could be his, but Soundwave refused. Starscream was soon able to take command, however, when he recovered the Matrix of Leadership and professed to have been chosen by it. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===New body, new powers===

The Decepticons eventually settled on a desolate asteroid, where Megatron was installed in a [[CR chamber|CR tank]]. Retaining some level of awareness of the events occurring around him during his convalescence, he was forced to watch as his army languished in inactivity, their energy slowly ebbing away until they were reduced to cannibalism. {{storylink|All His Engines}} After a year of trying to free his leader from this living death, Soundwave was finally forced to conclude that Megatron's body was beyond repair, and recruited the recently returned Shockwave, whom Starscream had provided with the majority of the Decepticons' resources to create a space bridge, to help build a new body for Megatron's consciousness to inhabit. The operation succeeded and Megatron was reborn in a deadly new body, powered by Ore-13, armed with a devastatingly powerful rail gun, and even equipped with space bridge nodes stolen from Metroplex, which gave him the ability to open space bridge portals on his own. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing15 megatrons new body.jpg|left|thumb|275px|"Uh, it's like...did anyone ever see the movie ''Tron''?"]]

Back in action, Megatron devised a plan to destabilize the relationship between the humans and Autobots on Earth. Together with Soundwave and Shockwave, he chopped up his old body and used it to create human-scaled replicas of his former gun mode, containing small pieces of his own consciousness. When Starscream caught them in the act, Megatron elected to table his plan for the moment, as he considered it folly to go against Starscream's wishes for the moment since the Seeker was still in possession of the Matrix of Leadership. Megatron had never truly understood what the talisman ''did'', but it served as a threat merely by being an unknown variable. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} Fortunately, for Megatron this variable was soon removed from the equation when Hot Rod, estranged from the Earthbound Autobots, infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base and recovered the Matrix from Starscream. Megatron seized his chance, intercepting the Autobot and blasting him and the Matrix out into the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

[[File:SLMegatron stealth bomber mode.jpg|thumb|275px|Behold... the ''Bomberang!'']]

With Starscream's trump card now gone, Megatron had the Decepticons gathered so he could address them. Distrustful of Shockwave's motives for preparing his new body, wary of Soundwave's constant surveillance, and repulsed by the state of his once fearsome Decepticon war machine, Megatron decided that he needed to unequivocally reestablish dominance over the now Matrix-less Starscream. He intended to beat Starscream near to death as a means of letting them both work out their frustrations with Starscream's inability to lead effectively during Megatron's absence, but Starscream did not want to fight—spiritually broken by his failures, he simply wanted Megatron to kill him. Rather than accept this, Megatron instead goaded Starscream into opening fire upon him. This began a running battle between the two, with Megatron pursuing the fleeing Seeker in his new stealth bomber alternate mode, continuing to bait Starscream every time he appeared willing to give up the fight. Incensed by Starscream's accusation that he did not know what it felt like to see everything he had worked for fall apart, when that was exactly what Starscream's pitiful leadership had done to the empire he had created, Megatron pummeled him to within an inch of his life, then paused to explain why he kept a schemer like Starscream around: as a constant reminder to watch his back. The brutal display galvanized the languid Decepticons, and Megatron was ready to begin his scheme. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing14 megatron guns.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb]]

Roughly two years after the Decepticons' defeat on Earth, Megatron used his space bridge powers to dispatch a container full of the guns made from his old body to Earth, where they were found by South American gun-runners and illegally disseminated amongst an increasingly paranoid public seeking ways to protect themselves against Transformers. This allowed Megatron's consciousness to spread across North America, until it was focused enough to contact one particular owner of a Megatron gun: [[Joe Gladki]]. He deceived and manipulated the paranoid human, and eventually convinced him to perform an assassination attempt on [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} In their ignorance, the Autobots then mistook Gladki's gun for Megatron himself and held it captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}}

[[File:IDWongoing16 megatron vs autobots.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]

With the Autobots in chaos, Megatron started the next phase of his plan and returned to Earth personally, where he used his new stealth bomber mode to shoot down a plane carrying Optimus Prime and several other Autobots. He then hunted down the remaining Autobots, effortlessly defeating them and their new temporary leader Ultra Magnus with his powerful new body, and killing some of their [[Skywatch]] allies. Magnus tried to draw Megatron's attention from the humans, claiming the Autobots were the ones he really wanted, but Megatron assured him that humanity was his real target. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Taking the defeated Autobots captive, Megatron dumped them in a city and directed three of his mind-controlled human puppets to kill them. Contacting Prime directly, Megatron summoned him to the city's outskirts and revealed his plan: crush Prime's spirit and destroy the Autobots' alliance with humanity by forcing them to choose between fighting the humans or allowing them to kill them. Prime found the hole in Megatron's plan, however, when he realized that Soundwave was maintaining the connection between Megatron and his guns, and shot him in the head. His connection to his pawns severed, Megatron scooped up Soundwave and withdrew. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Thanks to a tracker Ultra Magnus had slipped on Soundwave, though, Prime was able to follow the Decepticons to their bolthole and called Megatron out for a full and proper confrontation. In actuality, Prime had lured Megatron outside so Skywatch could drop a [[kinetic harpoon]] on him, but even a weapon dropped from orbit barely proved able to put a scratch in Megatron's mighty new exostructure. Megatron proceeded to beat Prime senseless, but then returned him to the Autobots, and to their great shock, surrendered to their custody. After recovering, Optimus demanded to know why he had surrendered, but Megatron merely taunted him by revealing that Spike Witwicky had murdered a Decepticon in cold blood. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} Prime immediately had Prowl begin investigating Spike and Skywatch, and Prowl interrogated the Decepticon leader for information, which he provided after a little verbal sparring. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron imprisoned.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb]]

When Rodimus returned to Earth and warned the Autobots that [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] had taken control of Cybertron, Optimus decided to lead the Autobots in reclaiming their homeworld. In the name of Earth's safety, he elected to bring Megatron and the confiscated guns made from his old body with them. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} On the way to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Prime again attempted to discern why Megatron had surrendered, even releasing his old foe from his bonds and having a civil conversation with him about their past together and their dueling ideologies. Optimus tried to reach out to Megatron, offering him the chance to end the war once and for all with a handshake; Megatron appeared to consider it for a moment but ultimately remained silent. With Megatron returned to the confines of the [[variable voltage harness]], the other Autobots pressured Optimus for a decision on his fate: execution or imprisonment. Trying to come to a conclusion, Prime asked Megatron if he regretted any of his actions, but the Decepticon leader remarked that he only regretted not killing ''more'' Autobots. He taunted Prime with the notion that even he was thankful for the war, as it had raised him from a nobody to the greatest Autobot in history, and a furious Prime activated the harness, electrocuting Megatron. The jolt would have killed Megatron if Omega Supreme had not cut the power in time and Megatron, struggling to stay conscious, offered Prime his thanks for saving his life all those years ago in Rodion. Shocked by his actions, Prime realized that Megatron wanted to die and wanted Prime to be the one to kill him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}} Eventually, Prime decided to let Megatron choose his own fate, and Megatron calmly replied that he chose death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}
[[File:Chaos2 armored megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
As Omega drew close to Cybertron, Megatron demanded to know who or what was threatening their homeworld, but Optimus Prime refused to provde him with any information. {{storylink| Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} The Autobots subsequently engaged Galvatron's forces in battle, and while they were occupied, Megatron put into motion the ace he had up his sleeve: taking remote control of the numerous "Megatron guns" aboard Omega, Megatron summoned them to him and combined with them into a new armored mode. Breaking free from his restraints, he headed out to confront Galvatron, intent that nobody would take his world from him. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} As he tore through the Sweeps, Megatron also revealed the reason for his surrender: now that he was back on Cybertron, he could open a space bridge that would allow the massed forces of the Decepticons on Earth to return to their home planet as well. Unfortunately, not long after the Decepticons arrived on the battlefield, Galvatron's secret puppet master, the Dead Universe entity known as [[D-Void]], seized control of their minds and those of the Sweeps, merging them into a gigantic, monstrous avatar. With Prime occupied pursuing Galvatron into Cybertron's depths, Megatron was left to face this "[[Deceptigod]]" alone. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Fighting against D-Void's attempts to ensnare his own mind and make him part of the collective, Megatron was gravely wounded and even lost an arm to the beast, but succeeded into destroying it, blasting it apart with one massive beam from his weapons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

===The long game===

Even as the Deceptigod disintegrated back into its component Decepticons, Megatron could see the potential the creature embodied—D-Void had, in essence, created the perfect combiner by means of utterly obliterating free will. With Cybertron reverting into a primordial wasteland around him—a result of Optimus Prime purifying [[Vector Sigma]] with the Matrix to stop Galvatron and D-Void—Megatron chose to withdraw to experiment with the possibilities this presented. He informed Shockwave, the sole Decepticon who had not been made part of the Deceptigod, of his plans, and Shockwave in turn revealed them to Soundwave and Bombshell. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} While Megatron hid in the wilderness, his Decepticons were left to live as second-class citizens in the new [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] that the Autobots built; Optimus Prime left Cybertron two weeks after D-Void's defeat to calm tensions with "NAILs"—other unaffiliated Cybertronians—who had returned to their homeworld, but even as he did so, he mused that Megatron must still be out there somewhere. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}
[[File:RID11 megatron in wilderness.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Megatron can't find anyone who wants to join his nudist colony to save his skin.]]
In the months of study and experimentation that followed, Megatron discerned that the combination of Ore-13 and space bridge technology in his body somehow gave him the ability to manipulate the natural energy of Cybertron that D-Void had used to merge the Decepticons into the Deceptigod. After experiments on [[turbofox]]es created larger, more ferocious beasts, Megatron stepped up trials when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] seceded from the shaky government Bumblebee, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] and Starscream were building in Iacon and ventured into the wilderness. The signal Megatron had created from the combination energy first drove the Aerialbots mad, before uniting them in body and mind, spontaneously merging them into the gestalt [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but this newborn Autobot combiner was considered hopelessly insane by Megatron and left to die in the wilderness. The madness aspect of the signal afforded him the chance to revive some of the principles of the infiltration protocol, however, as he blanketed the wastelands in it, forcing the Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs to stay in Iacon, causing natural conflict among them to snowball, providing a useful cover for his actions. To gain a pawn within Autobot high command, Megatron even provided Bombshell with the energy to use in conjunction with his own mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s, ensnaring the mind of Prowl. With the resources and cover control of Prowl provided, Shockwave, Soundwave and Bombshell were able to use Megatron's findings to perfect the combination process, rebuilding the Constructicons with new modular designs that would allow them to merge into a perfect Devastator. The endgame was for Megatron himself to form the head of the combiner, but before risking his own mind and body, Megatron decided that Prowl would be used first as a test subject. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}
[[File:RID12 kill him.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
The appearance of a [[Crystal City Metrotitan|Metrotitan]] on Cybertron which declared that Starscream was the "Chosen One" threatened Megatron's ability to easily re-take leadership of his Decepticons, forcing him to step up his schedule. Through Prowl, he had his inner circle gathered together in the secret "[[Black Room]]", then boldly strode into Iacon for all to see. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} His body shattered and skeletal, he professed to come in peace, but Bumblebee did not accept his surrender and ordered his Autobots to kill him. Indeed, Megatron could possibly have died there and then had Iacon's Decepticons not stepped in, insisting that Megatron's defense of Cybertron during D-Void's attack marked him a hero and that he be taken into custody instead. {{storylink|City on Fire}} After [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] got through examining him to prove his body concealed no weapons, Starscream approached the imprisoned Megatron and attempted to explain that he was not far away from taking complete power in the government, ensuring a Decepticon victory of a different kind. Megatron merely smiled silently at the notion, terrifying his ex-lieutenant with his grin. Presently, the Decepticons rose up in an angry mob and marched on Autobot high command to insist on Megatron's release; the situation quickly devolved into a riot, during which a squad led by [[Needlenose]] stormed the prison and freed Megatron. {{storylink|The Verge}}
[[File:RID14 new body redux.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.55|New body or not, Megatron may want to think twice about standing [[:File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|underneath Devastator's legs.]]]]
Megatron brought Starscream and the captured Bumblebee and Metalhawk to the Black Room, where he explained his plans and had himself transferred into a pre-prepared new body that could combine with the Constructicons' new forms. At his command, the Constructicons and Prowl combined into the new Devastator, who immediately set about razing Iacon. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Even the return of Superion seemed unable to stop the powerful new combiner, until help came from an unexpected quarter—Prowl's secret assassin [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] killed Bombshell, taking out Prowl's controller and causing Devastator to shut down. This was no real impediment to Megatron, however, as the successful function of the new combiner process has been proven, and he set out to take ''his'' place as Devastator's head. Before Megatron could reach the fallen gestalt, though, Devastator awoke, possessed of his own unique, unite consciousness for the first time, and resumed tearing into Iacon. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}
[[File:RID20 megatron in forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|You know you can't catch a break when you find yourself trapped inside a novelty plasma lamp from Spencer's.]]
Still Megatron remained unfazed, calmly fending off Autobot attacks and waiting for the inevitable moment when the heroes would take Devastator down. When [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] succeeded in doing so by managing to reach Prowl, Devastator separated, and Megatron immediately stepped in, re-initiation the combination with himself in control. Seconds before uniting with the Constructicons, though, his plan was foiled by Bumblebee, Ironhide and Prowl's activation of a secret failsafe: Wheeljack had integrated a forcefield generator into Megatron's spark casing during his examination of him, and when it was triggered, he was completely paralyzed in mid-transformation. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

In the fallout of the battle, Starscream killed Metalhawk, took control of Iacon and banished the Autobots and Decepticons from the city. He took custody of the immobilized Megatron, and silently gloated over the victory he had accomplished by using guile and politics, rather than Megatron's ways of brute force and firepower. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

===A new approach===

Megatron would not remain incapacitated for long. That night, as the end result of millennia-long secret machinations by Shockwave, an [[Necrotitan|undead Metrotitan]] appeared on Cybertron and opened a portal to the Dead Universe in the planet's skies. Through the portal, Shockwave made contact with Galvatron and his master, the exiled Cybertron despot [[Nova Prime]], but was unable to bring them through to Cybertron thanks to the unexpected disappearance of the Titan's space bridge system. Reanimating the deceased Metalhawk with a wave of necrotic energy from the Titan, Shockwave had him liberate Megatron and bring him to his secret lab in [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}
[[File:RID24 i remember you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Somewhere in the multiverse, [[Override (G1)|Override]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] are smiling.]]
Shockwave hoped that Megatron would comply with his plans willingly, but the Decepticon leader refused and Shockwave forcibly activated the space bridge technology in Megatron's body. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The opening of the bridge in his chest caused Megatron agony, but his screams were heard by Soundwave, who led the united forces of the exiled Autobots and Decepticons to Shockwave's lab to free his leader. Nova Prime and Galvatron attempted to squeeze their way through the space bridge despite this interference, but Ironhide was able to punch Nova back through into the Dead Universe. Just then, Shockwave's "Necrotitan" came crashing into the subterranean city, and in the chaos, Megatron was freed from the restraints holding him. No sooner had Megatron carried Ironhide to the safe hands of the other Autobots, however, than he was ripped in half from behind by Galvatron, who had successfully emerged through the portal. {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}}
[[File:MTMTE26 megs and bee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I smell a sitcom!]]
After the battle was over, Galvatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] lugged Megatron's bisected remains back into Crystal City, only to find their way barred by the unlikely form of Bumblebee, who demanded they hand Megatron over. Galvatron attacked the Autobot, at which point Megatron revealed that he was fine, as he took down Waspinator and knocked Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bumblebee lugged Megatron back to the Iacon, currently being razed by the Necrotitan, where the Decepticon leader announced to the assembled Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs his plan to withdraw to [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], summon the Decepticon Justice Division and other scattered troops, and strike back. Bumblebee rejected Megatron's notion of retreating, and struck a nerve within him by questioning his entire philosophy: Megatron had ''long'' ago abandoned any notion of fighting for freedom and equality, Bumblebee attested, and merely used the claim to ideology as an excuse for his actions. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Fortunately, fighting back suddenly got a lot easier when Metroplex and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' space-bridged to Cybertron. During the battle between the Titans, Megatron observed Metroplex reaching for the ''Lost Light''; when the ship's crew explained that they had Metroplex's severed thumb aboard, Megatron had Bumblebee carry him to it, whereupon he realized that the thumb contained one of Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] ores. Megatron used his internal space bridge to teleport the thumb back to Metroplex, and the ore provided the giant with the power boost to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}
[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|left|thumb|350px|ಠ_ಠ]]
At Bumblebee's order and under protest, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] repaired Megatron's injuries and reattached his legs, reminding Megatron of his desire in youth to be a medic. His recent string of failures, the success of ''Starscream'', of all 'bots, and Bumblebee's stinging words had turned the Decepticon leader introspective, and he realized he had forgotten something very important that had driven his writings in his early years: winning meant turning people to your way of thinking, not dominating them. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Subsequently, when Shockwave initiated his millennia-long plan to collapse all reality into a universal black hole, Megatron placed himself and the Decepticons under Bumblebee's command to co-ordinate a counter-strike, and journeyed with his uneasy new "friend" into Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base to confront their shared enemy. There, they found the weakened Galvatron, who Megatron prepared to destroy for past indignities, until Bumblebee talked him down, convincing him that blood did not have to be repaid with blood. At that moment, Shockwave struck, slaying Bumblebee with a blast, and driving Megatron into a rage. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Empowered by his various ores and the energy of the Dead Universe, Shockwave was a formidable opponent and it was all Megatron could do to hold his own against him until Optimus Prime arrived to join the fight. Prime attempted to reason with Shockwave and remind him of the kindly senator he had once been, but his words had little effect, so Megatron opted for a more object lesson: removing the fallen Bumblebee's insignia, he placed it upon his chest and declared himself an Autobot. The stunned Shockwave lost control of the time machine powering his plot, causing his old pre-[[Shadowplay]] memories to emerge. Horrified at what he had become, he allowed Megatron and Prime to kill him, which caused the time machine to collapse into a singularity. Megatron and Prime made what seemed to be a futile dash for freedom, but were saved from the singularity's pull at the last moment by the timely arrival of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

===Towards Peace===

In a private meeting between Optimus Prime and Megatron a short time after Shockwave's defeat, Megatron affirmed that his change of heart was genuine, and Optimus assured him that he could see past his wartime deeds and remember the well-intentioned 'bot he had started out as. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} The rest of Cybertron was not so convinced, however, with the NAIL population demanding a trial. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}
{{ongoing}}

===Pax Cybertonia===
In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] during the reformatting of Cybertron, fifteen million years hence, Ironhide still believed Megatron to be alive and promised a young Autobot they would defeat him again if he ever returned. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
{{-}}

===''Spotlight: Mirage''===
[[File:SLMirage all in good time.jpg|thumb|275px]]
{{NoteSLMirage}}
Somewhere, in an unknown time or place, the self-serving mercenary [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] dreamed of Megatron and his Decepticons launching a massive attack on the Autobots. But Mirage knew that to only be a dream; in reality, the Autobots were almost eradicated, and Megatron had hired him to hunt down the last of their number. Megatron was outraged by the mercenary's demand for a majority share in all energon mining operations as payment, but it proved to be fuel well spent, as he soon succeeded in locating Optimus Prime and forcing him to surrender. Megatron demanded the prisoners be executed despite Mirage's promise to spare Autobot lives. Seeing Mirage's hesitation, Megatron appealed to his greed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* In [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]], we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, [[:File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|a helmet and not part of his head]] (at least in his original body). Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, but it is briefly revisited in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]] when a helmetless Megatron spars with [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]].

[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Point One Percenter]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Combiners]]

Trepan's Trigger

2014-07-23T22:22:59Z

AlphaTyrant: Created page with ":''Trepan's Trigger is a mnemonic effect from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.'' Named after the mnemosurgeon [[Trepa..."

:''Trepan's Trigger is a mnemonic effect from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
Named after the mnemosurgeon [[Trepan]], '''Trepan's Trigger''' is an effect where a certain phrase mnemonically embedded in someone's memories will provoke a certain response. The type of response the person has depends on the type of memories the phrase is tied to.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] is first seen using the process of Trepan's Trigger when he is going through [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord's]] memories aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

The effect of the trigger is first actually seen when [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] utters [['Til all are one|his favorite phrase]] at the hands of Overlord, causing the [[Phase Sixer|phase sixer]] to falter. Chromedome then tells [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] what Trepan's Trigger is and explains how he linked the phrase "'Til all are one" to every time Overlord was defeated. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Twenty Plus One

2014-07-23T22:13:13Z

AlphaTyrant: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=31
|prev=World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide
|next=
|image=MTMTE31 subcvr.jpg
|title="Twenty Plus One"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 9]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=July 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Atilio Rojo]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Vincent Kings]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''Tensions run high as twenty ''Lost Light''ers find themselves stuffed into one small spaceship, and things only get worse when the lights start going out, and 'bots start disappearing... '''

==Synopsis==
Following the disappearance of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' and the evacuation of the crew, twenty 'bots cram themselves into the [[Rodpod]]: [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]], [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Getaway]], [[Nautica]], [[Ammo]], [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], [[Dipstick]], [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]. When Nautica inquires as to the origins of the now-vanished ship, Riptide recounts how he, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] purchased the vessel from a pair of [[chirolingual]] [[NAIL]]s in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s religious quarter, naming it after the [[Festival of Lost Light]], which was taking place there at the time. Though Megatron tries to make the group focus on their present predicament, Nautica persists with her train of thought, and highlights the abnormality of the ship and the power of its [[quantum generator]]s. At Ammo's request, she tries to explain to the befuddled crew how quantum engines are essentially powered by the improbability of their own function, concluding with the theory that the ship was ''so'' advanced that it "proved itself impossible." Megatron is less concerned with the ''how'' of the ship's disappearance, but rather with what to do next; at that moment, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] receives a transmission from [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] on a neighboring shuttle, informing them that they will be making for the nearby lectureworld of [[Ofsted XVII]] in [[Sector 113]].

After a crew headcount, [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] is telling [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] about his latest play when the lights suddenly go out. When power returns a second later, Crosscut has vanished mid-sentence, and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], full of false bravado after all the praise he has received lately, draws a gun on Megatron, blaming him for Crosscut's apparent death. Cyclonus and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] try to talk the tiny 'bot down, but Megatron's reaction goes from bemusement to anger when Tailgate proposes locking him up, and he draws a weapon of his own. This prompts Riptide to add his weapon to the growing Mexican standoff, and when Cyclonus tries to calm everyone down, Huffer and Gears, never having trusted the ancient Cybertronian, both draw on him. Hound then appears to level his own weapon at Nautica, but it quickly becomes apparent that he is actually aiming at the lurking [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who pounces from the shadows just as the lights go out once more. Megatron fires into the darkness and subdues the feline; as the lights flick back on, he claims not to know why Ravage is there, but whether that is true or not is called into question as he secretly communicates chirolinguistically with the cat-bot, telling him to play dead.

The discovery of Ravage defuses the standoff, but Nautica soon observes that more disappearances have taken place in the darkness: Gears, Blaster, Huffer, Chromedome, Hound and Highbrow have now also vanished. Nightbeat dedicates himself to determining the pattern by which 'bots are being taken, and, reminded of [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] and his plan by Cyclonus, decides to begin by figuring out which of those present are [[Reproduction|constructed cold]], like himself, and which are [[Reproduction|forged]]. Megatron refuses to divulge that information, but a pattern ''seems'' to be emerging as Getaway, Dipstick and Ammo reveal that they are "Made To Order soldiers"—second-generation constructed cold, created during wartime from the [[spark]] stockpile—until Ratchet points out that he and several others present are forged, and several of the disappeared were constructed cold. As Nightbeat withdraws into detective mode, the others begin talking amongst themselves; after Ammo, Riptide and Getaway tell Nautica about the "Ten-Step Program" that MTOs had to pass in order to be declared "world-ready" (which Riptide ''hated''), Ratchet chimes in about the high percentage of MTOs who claim to have had mystical experiences, which he professes are neurological hallucinations that are a product of their virtually-newborn senses. Swerve takes offense, pointing out that faith isn't a new idea, but Skids counters that with a brief lecture on a condition known to affect robotic lifeforms known as "[[information creep]]"—the corruption of brain data that results in memories being unconsciously reinterpreted. Nautica is familiar with the condition, which was known on [[Caminus]] as "blurred data"; just as she is thinking of her friends [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], the lights go out once more.

This time, Ammo, Hoist, Dipstick, and Cyclonus have disappeared, but Cyclonus's [[Great Sword]] has not vanished with him. As Nightbeat inspects it, he gets the feeling he is being watched, and turns to sees a gigantic eye staring down at him... though it quickly turns out that it belongs to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[holomatter]] avatar, projected in from the ''[[Leading Light]]'', albeit at accidentally gigantic scale. Magnus quickly adjusts its size, and informs the remaining crew that all the other occupants of ''his'' craft have disappeared too, as have other shuttles. Tailgate peers out a porthole and notes that he can't see Magnus's shuttle anywhere; Magnus has but a moment to realise that he can't feel his body any more before his avatar fades out.
At the end of his rope, Nightbeat instructs Ratchet to write down every piece of information he knows about the crew from their medical files, but he barely has time to study the data before another blackout claims Swerve, Tailgate, and Ratchet... but ''not'' Ratchet's hands, which Skids points out used to belong to [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]. Riptide grins, having heard the whole story behind that from Swerve, and remarks that the ''Lost Lighters'' sure did get up to some crazy stuff while they were away. Nightbeat asks him to expand, having believed that Riptide had been on the ''Lost Light'' from the outset, but the [[Hydrobot]] explains that he was not: after going back to get a receipt for the ship from the NAILs who sold it to them, he eavesdropped on them and learned they were [[Mortilus]] worshippers who had been keeping a [[sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] in the basement, feeding it with [[turbofox]]es they had stolen from the crew of the ''[[Alchemy-Seven]]'', and when an altercation ensued, he was knocked out, and missed the ''Lost Light'' launch. Nightbeat crows that he has solved the mystery: everyone who disappeared was a member of the original ''Lost Light'' crew, and all those remaining on the Rodpod (himself, Megatron, Skids, Nautica, Getaway and Riptide) joined the crew after its launch. As Megatron angrily points out, though, his deduction solves absolutely nothing, since the detective was too slow to save anyone. Just then, Nautica informs them that they have reached Ofsted XVII, but that they are not the first to arrive... as outside, floating in the planet's orbit, is the shattered wreckage of the destroyed ''Lost Light''!

==Featured Characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'' (1)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (2)
*''[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'' (3)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (4)
*''[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]'' (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (7)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Nautica]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ammo]] (10)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (12)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (13)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (14)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (15)
*[[Getaway]] (16)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (18)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (20)
*[[Dipstick]] (21)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (23)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (24)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (25)
|c4=
*''Former owners of the Lost Light'' (6)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"I didn't realize how hard it was to explain the science until Tailgate asked me how 'quanton technology' worked. I don't think you learned anything that afternoon, did you?" 
"Just some new swear words..."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Tailgate'''

"If I sit next to you too long, am I going to die of '''smartass poisoning'''?"
:—'''Getaway''' on Nightbeat

"'I hope this puts paid to the notion that I ignore everything my "co-captain" says on the grounds that he's lazy, petulant and pathologically ill-suited to command...'"
:—'''Megatron''' on Rodimus

"Cool it, guys! Cyclonus isn't the enemy!" 
"He's not? Oh I'm '''sorry.''' It must've been the '''other''' Cyclonus who murdered all those Autobots at Kimia—because if not, that makes you a <big>'''MONUMENTAL FRIKKIN' HYPOCRITE!'''"</big>
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Huffer'''

"No one has a right to know how a fellow Cybertronian was created. There's a thin line between categorization and segregation, and I never want to see it crossed again."
:—'''Megatron'''

"In the end, High Command decided they wanted their new troops to fight, not study, so they reduced the steps from ten to eight to three. '''Three steps''', Nautica: 'From '''thaw to war''' in under an hour.' Because who cares whether or not a '''warborn knockoff''' with a three-minute life expectancy can quote '''[[Dominus Ambus]]''' or notate the '''Grand Celestial Melody'''? So long as he can assemble a path-blaster with his brand-new eyes closed, everyone's happy. That's '''sarcasm,''' by the way. I dabble."
:—'''Skids'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*"Don't make me put my foot down," Drift says to Pipes, wickedly recalling Pipes's death at the hands—or rather, foot—of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
*A new face in the crowd, Ammo, was previously mentioned in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]]. And he doesn't even die or anything!
*Crosscut refers to an earlier play of his named ''My Shovel, Your Face''; [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Robots in Disguise'' #25]] taught us that Crosscut was known for liberating [[Petrex]] "with wise words and a shovel".
*In what is likely no coincidence, there was a brief blackout on the ''Lost Light'' back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], just as the disappearances were starting. Perhaps it was during this blackout that the [[Pyrobot]]s vanished.
*The pistol Megatron draws is one of the revolvers seen holstered inside his hip armor during the aforementioned previous blackout.
*The crew discover Ravage's presence, but the audience learned he was on the ship in issue #28.
*Getaway referred to himself as an "M.T.O." last issue; here we learn this stands for "Made To Order soldier", and refers to a 'bot constructed cold after the outbreak of the war, from the stockpile of sparks leftover from [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s bleeding of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]].
*Hoist mentions having a friend named [[Scattergun]]. Assuming it's not a different 'bot with the same name (they do say all the good ones are taken), we previously heard of this fellow in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], as one of Chromedome's former Conjunx Endurae. Scattergun was constructed cold for the Fourth [[Vorsk Offensive]], a battle first mentioned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]".
*Riptide was constructed cold to take part in the conflict on [[Simanzi]], which has been mentioned several times throughout Roberts's work. He notes he was specifically created a [[Hydrobot]] in response to something called the "[[Forced Flood]]".
*Ammo was constructed cold in response to Megatron's attack on [[K'th Kinsere]], a region of Cybertron that is home to [[Vaulted Heights of K'th Kinsere|Vaulted Heights]] (mentioned in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]) and a sect of [[High Priests of K'th Kinsere|High Priests]] (namechecked in ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]'').
*Ratchet refers to the [[Shimmer]], a battlefield hallucination that plays a role in the prose story "[[Bullets]]", as well as the [[Necrobot]], who made an alleged appearance back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*Ultra Magnus's [[Verity Carlo]] [[holomatter]] avatar from [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]] reappears. Megatron recognizes the image of the girl, having encountered her ''waaaay'' back in [[Infiltration issue 5|''Infitration'' #5]] (though he seemed deeply uninterested at the time). The panel of a giant Verity looming over Megatron is based on the dramatic reveal of that encounter, with the roles reversed.
*Hoist is noted to suffer from "feelings of isolation", which we learned about him in his [[The Waiting Game|self-titled ''Spotlight'']].
*Highbrow is revealed to have been a former member of the [[Malware Brigade]], an anti-[[Senate]] organization mentioned in "Chaos Theory Part 2".
*The former owners of the ''Lost Light'' are worshippers of [[Mortilus]], the death god of the [[Guiding Hand]], introduced in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]. They are hiding from the crew of the ''[[Alchemy-Seven]]'', a NAIL ship first mentioned in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]''.
*The sparkeater in the basement of the ''Lost Light'', and the fact that the ship's former owners had been feeding it turbofoxes, were introduced in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]].
*Of course, there have been other new additions to the ''Lost Light'' since its launch beyond the 'bots left at the end of this issue ([[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], for example, or any of the new 'bots who have joined up since "Dark Cybertron"); when their shuttles disappeared in the course of this issue's events it is currently unknown whether they went with them or were left floating in space. The reason the Rodpod does not disappear, on the other hand, is because it's a ''new'' Rodpod, built last issue, following the original's destruction in ''Robots in Disguise'' #25.

===Transformers references===
*Sector 113 is, of course, another of Roberts's reference to [[113 (disambiguation)|the number]].
*Skids makes reference to the [[pathblaster]], a weapon wielded by [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] in the original Marvel UK storyline, "[[Time Wars]]". His rant about the lowering standards of the MTO education system may have even been a direct reference to Roadbuster who, according to "[[Zero Point]]", went millions of years before even learning how to read.
*Ammo has [[Corrodia Gravis]], a rusting disease introduced in the Marvel UK story "[[Assassins]]".

===Real-life references===
*In televisual terms, this issue would be a {{w|Bottle episode}}: a story that primarily consists of dialogue, and takes place in one setting. Bottle episodes were originally conceived as a money-saving venture, but the potential for tension and character-driven interactions they inherently possess has given them more value as storytelling devices; obviously, ''More than Meets the Eye'' doesn't have money to save by doing an issue this way!
*The specific meaning of the Festival of Lost Light is not divulged here, but given its name, the fact that it involves the release of lanterns, and a song known as the "Hymn of the Disappeared", it seems to be a ceremony dedicated to remembering lost loved ones. In particular, it is evocative of Japan's {{w|Tōrō nagashi}} ceremony, in which lanterns are released to light the way to the afterlife for the souls of the dead.
*Ofsted XVII is named after {{w|Ofsted}}, the British government department which oversees schools. It is labelled an "A Level" planet, in reference to the English academic qualification, the {{w|A-level}}.
*What Highbrow and Cyclonus have to say about the education system is also a reference to developments in the English school (Academies) and university (tuition fee) systems.
*Chromedome remarks that Ethics are Ofsted's "Specialist Subject", a term that, while generic-sounding, is almost certainly a reference to the British TV quiz show ''{{w|Mastermind (TV series)|Mastermind}}''.
*"Information creep" is a term used by Wikipedia to describe the slow feed of information into an article that winds up shifting its perspective and/or readability over time.
*Dipstick was constructed cold to take part in "Operation: Doom Patrol", a reference to the DC Comics superhero team, the {{w|Doom Patrol}}.
*Among the assorted types of Spark the crew are shown to have, only Nautica has an "estriol-positive" one. {{w|Estriol}} is one of the three main estrogens produced by the human body, indicating that being a [[female Transformer]] is not just about the shape of your chassis, but goes all the way to the Spark.

===Errors===
*The [[scale]] of many bots is off this issue - Tailgate is shown to be as tall of Ratchet's shoulder, for instance.
*On page 11, Megatron channels his inner Grimlock, saying of Ravage "He unconscious" rather than "He's unconscious".
*On page 12, as Megatron communicates with Ravage chirolinguistically, the cassette's name is misspelled "Ravege". This miiiight be supposed to indicate that Megatron's mastery of the dialect isn't perfect, though.
*On page 15, the word "discovered" is split over two lines in Getaway's speech bubble but there's no connecting hyphen, nor is it split where a hyphen would be allowed to divide the word in the first place.
*On page 16, when Nightbeat is attempting to find out Megatron's method of construction "It seems" is written as "I seems".
*It's Transformers, so we can't ''completely'' rule out this is intentional but... The Necrobot is described as having a "portable apothecary." An apothecary is an ''individual'' who sells medicine.
*Not strictly an error, but on page 19, Nautica swears "Oh, God", which is pretty odd to see in place of an "Oh [[Primus]]" or your Transformer deity of choice. She is, however, from Caminus- a world that very little information about which has been divulged as of yet.

===Crew manifest===
*It is revealed that Riptide was ''supposed'' to be on the ship when it departed originally, but was waylaid.
*If Nightbeat's deductions are correct, the disappearance of the Pyrobots in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|#28]] means they were part of the original crew.
**Confirmed previous crew: Ammo, Huffer, Gears
***At least 33/79 original crew still on board, 2 departed
**Confirmed new arrivals: none this issue
***At least 17 new crew members since second launch

===Soundtrack===
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnlLhq1kW10 Lost Property]'' by {{w|The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy}}
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CD7WJPOrLU S (Studio Version)]'' by {{w|Labradford}}

===Other trivia===
*When Nautica explains how the [[quantum generator]]s work using ''improbablility'', you'd be forgiven for thinking it's a deliberate nod to the {{w|Technology in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy#Infinite Improbability Drive|Infinite Improbability Drive}} from {{w|Douglas Adams}}' ''{{w|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}''. In actuality, [https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/487688742539632640 James Roberts has never read the series], and came up with the idea entirely independently.
*Four "Meet the Crew"-style cast lists are sprinkled throughout the issue as a means of cataloguing who disappears, with each vanished crewmember being greyed out. Each lists also provide for the audience an assortment of information about the characters as Nightbeat requests it in-story. These pages do not count towards the 22-page total of the story itself, so there are noticeably fewer ad pages in the back of the comic.
*A quick forged/constructed cold checklist from this issue:
**Forged: Crosscut, Skids, Nautica, Huffer, Swerve, Hoist, Tailgate, Cyclonus, Hound, Ratchet
**Constructed cold (first wave): Gears, Blaster, Chromedome, Nightbeat
**Constructed cold (second wave): Getaway, Ammo, Riptide, Dipstick
*While he actively protests revealing his origin, Megatron's status as a [[Point One Percenter]] confirms him as being forged.
*Highbrow is listed as constructed cold but his wave is not given, presumably because Ratchet doesn't know it. (Although Highbrow is listed as a member of the pre-war [[Malware Brigade]], the group hypothetically ''could'' have still been active post-war.)
*We likewise learn the names of a number of Sparktypes; there are at least seven, presumably eight:
**Vitrious-Positive: Chromedome, Riptide (a type shared by Rewind and Whirl, as we learned back in [[Before & After|issue #12]].)
**Vitrious-Negative: Crosscut, Skids, Ammo
**Isomeric-Postive: Blaster, Getaway, Nightbeat
**Isomeric-Negative: Gears, Hoist, Dipstick, Ratchet, Highbrow
**Ferrum-Positive: Huffer, Hound, Swerve
**Ferrum-Negative: Cyclonus, Tailgate
**Estriol-Positive: Nautica
*Other intriguing character points revealed on these cast pages include: Crosscut has a phobia of [[Nanocon]]s; Getaway has shown purported signs of affinity for the Matrix; Nautica is a possible [[Outlier]]; Ammo is a [[Militant Monoform Movement|monoformer]]; Swerve is a practising [[Adaptus]]ian and has been diagnosed with {{w|Logorrhea (psychology)|Logorrhea}}; Riptide has an unreliable [[transformation cog]]; Dipstick's alt mode is "redundant"; and Hound was formerly part of the [[Primal Vanguard]].
*The "Thaw to War" tagline is another one of those verbal gags that only works if you imagine it spoken with Roberts's British accent; then, the words rhyme.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Megatron, Ratchet, Nautica and Chromedome in a Mexican standoff, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Mosaic tiles of the twenty characters in this issue, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' Nightbeat by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]] The image is the packaging art for Nightbeat's upcoming ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' toy, like the Jiminez and Fajardo covers for "[[Dark Cybertron]]", but this particular piece was based on an early concept for Nightbeat's toy, and has him as a [[retool]] of ''Generations'' [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]], when the actual toy is a retool of ''Generations'' [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]].
<gallery>
File:MTMTE31 cvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE31 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE31 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #32
*''[[Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark]]''
*''Machi Koro'' (back cover)

Rossum

2014-07-23T04:35:46Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{faction|decepticon}}
:''Rossum is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Megatron rossum remembrance day.jpg|thumb|350px|How...sweet?]]

'''Rossum''' is an accomplished scientist and the anatomical principle of [[Rossum's Trinity]] is named after him. When [[Great War (G1)|war]] broke out on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] he ended up siding with the Decepticons.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
In the early stages of the war Rossum perfected a process of rendering a [[Transformer]] — ideally one with a certain type of [[spark]] known as a "Point One Percenter" that was born on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] — virtually indestructible by the infusion of [[ununtrium]] into their endoskeleton. After upgrading [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]], [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and [[Heretech]] into "[[Phase Sixer]]" [[Warriors Elite]] this way, Rossum was hesitant to use the last of their ununtrium on [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] as he feared a Transformer from [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]] might not survive the process or might rebel and use his newfound power to destroy [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], but the [[Decepticon leader]] soon talked him round by revealing that [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] had implanted both an [[Achilles virus]] and a [[killswitch]] into Overlord.

At the [[Foundry]], Overlord reacted well to the injection of ununtrium and superheated [[propex]] and encouraged by Rossum, he was reborn as a superwarrior. Unfortunately for Rossum, his first action was to burst out of his infusion chamber and crush the scientist's head as Megatron and Shockwave looked on proudly. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}}

==Notes==
*Rossum is named after the 1920 Czech science fiction play ''[[Wikipedia:R.U.R.|Rossum's Universal Robots]]'', which introduced the word "[[Wiktionary:robot|robot]]" into the English language.

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Autobot

2014-07-23T04:31:29Z

AlphaTyrant: /* Live-action film series */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|ttautobot|sgAutobot}}
{{disambig2|the faction|Generation 2 watch-Autobot|Autobot (G2)}}
[[File:Autobot symbol.png|upright=1.4|thumb|If you don't recognize this [[symbol]], what the heck are you doing here?]]

{{quote|[['Til all are one]].|Autobot rally cry|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

The '''Autobots''' are one of the primary factions in the [[Transformer]]s mythos. They usually find themselves defending both their own race and other species against the [[Decepticon]]s and upholding justice and freedom throughout the galaxy.

They are considered "the good guys" in most, but not in [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|all]] Transformers stories.

A generally heroic, honorable group, they tend to be dedicated to peace, and feel a need to protect other races from the Decepticons. As a result, they are usually Transformers who change into non-combat oriented alternate modes such as domestic vehicles, cars, trucks, or rescue vehicles. This is not ''always'' the case, however, as their ranks certainly contain ne'er-do-wells, malcontents, and unsavory types, and the necessities of war have led many to adopt more combat-oriented alternate forms. While the Autobots have usually found themselves outnumbered by the Decepticons, the Autobots have always had home-field advantage, having not only the humans' military support, but also having more places on Earth to fall back on, while the Decepticons are entirely unwelcome on Earth.

Key concepts that repeat throughout most continuities are the use of the name [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] (or a variation thereof) to denote Autobot leadership, and the existence of an artifact of great life-giving power, usually referred to as a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]", traditionally held by their leader.

The collective noun for Autobots is an "exaltation".<ref>"...more dangerous than an exaltation of Autobots." — [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]'' (2009) p 101</ref>

{{quote|Few beings think of themselves as evil. Many justify their actions as good, even if they are not. But if you believe the 'good guys' would not harm any life-form, then you may consider me a member of that team.|[[Gears (ROTF)|Gears]]|''[[Transformers Classified: Switching Gears|Switching Gears]]''|width=500px}}

==Generation 1 / Beast Era==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1 comics====
[[File:Primag2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|The birth of Prima, the first Autobot. Just before Primus went around handing out cigars.]]
In the beginning [[Primus]] created the Transformers, a race of living robots that could change their bodies into the likeness of weapons, vehicles, and machinery, and all Transformers were Autobots, and he saw that they were good. The Autobot symbol (or [[insignia|Autobrand]] as it is sometimes called) was based on the face of the [[Last Autobot]], the sleeping guardian Primus left for the day when his plans came to fruition.

At first Autobot numbers were small (a mere [[Thirteen|13]] began things), but through [[Reproduction|budding]] they expanded their race to fill the planet. When the correct level of population was reached, a mechanism triggered and memory of the process was wiped from the Transformers minds. At some point in these early days Unicron was able to reach through the mental link he shared with Primus and sow the seeds of corruption in a few Autobots, though this dark cult of Unicron would not bear fruit for a long time.

Eons passed in relative peace. Autobot society formed its own traditions, institutions, city-states and politics. From a human perspective this society resembled that of ancient Rome. [[Senate|Senators]] and [[Emirate]]s governed wisely or corruptly, priests worshipped Primus and passed his holy Matrix to the chosen bearer (the lineage: [[Prima]] to [[Prime Nova]], Prime Nova to [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]), gladiatorial games were held for sport and entertainment, and above it all the [[Overlord (rank)|Overlords]] ruled.

It was only with the advent of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] at the end of the [[Golden Age]], coinciding with the death of the last hereditary Overlord, and the subsequent rise of the Decepticons, that the words "Autobot" and "Transformer" ceased being necessary synonyms and the population was divided by war.

[[File:Optimusprimeg1marvelfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Optimus Prime appears to turn the tide.]]
In the early days of the war the Autobots were overwhelmed by the Decepticon war machine. They fell back again and again and for a while it looked like the war would be quickly lost... and then a young warrior rose from their ranks and rallied the troops to fight back. He made his reputation by denying Megatron access to the [[Underbase]], soon rose to command the Autobots' elite air corps, and then, at last, was granted full command of all Autobot armies. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] had turned the tide, and under his leadership the Autobots fought back until Megatron's war machine was stalled out and stalemated.

[[File:Marvel71 neversurrender.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|left]]
The war ground on until Autobot scientists detected that their planet's path was going to pass through a deadly asteroid belt. Putting the planet-wide conflict aside for the moment they turned their attention to planetary salvation and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] was built.

[[File:Autobotline.gif|upright=2.2|thumb|And now, shadow puppet theatre.]]
Optimus and a crew of his best soldiers took the Ark into space and cleared a path for the planet through the asteroid field. Unfortunately with their power depleted from that Herculean task they were then ambushed by Megatron and his Decepticons. The crews of both ships were lost to history.

Without Megatron or Prime the pace of the war slowed considerably. Still, fighting continued and both sides dug in for a long bitter struggle. In Prime’s absence [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] led the Autobot forces in their struggle to retake their homeworld.

[[File:Autobots-disintegratedcircuits1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The next four million years passed quickly (as it is wont to do) and without any major alteration (only a general degradation) of the situation. Finally news came to Cybertron: Optimus Prime and his forces lived! Yet this news came at a steep price, as it meant a new front had opened in the war. Optimus Prime and his forces fought the Decepticons on the distant world of Earth, while Xaaron, his [[Wrecker]]s, and others carried on the war for Cybertron.

Despite Prime's dedication to protecting Earth, Autobot/Human relations were not good. Humanity viewed all Transformers as threats and attacked any they discovered regardless of faction. Industrialist [[G.B. Blackrock]] tried to inform the public that there were two factions, with the Autobots being the benign faction, but the [[Intelligence and Information Institute]], the government agency tasked with countering the Transformers, was either unable or unwilling to distinguish between factions.

Not long after his survival was discovered, tragedy struck and Optimus Prime was killed on Earth. The Dinobot commander [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] took on the leadership of Prime's soldiers, though he favored the abandonment of Earth and a renewed focus on Cybertron.

At roughly the same time, the great Autobot warrior [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] reached an important decision. He was tired of the war and if he could not end it he would leave it behind. Gathering a large following of likeminded warriors he left Cybertron for the world of Nebulos in hopes of a new and peaceful life. This was not to be. Decepticons followed Maximus and opened a third front to the war. In the end both factions abandoned Nebulos and Maximus led them to Earth to unite with the forces under Optimus Prime.

[[File:LastAutobot.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|From Prima to Last Autobot, we come full circle. You may close your notebooks.]]
However, when they arrived they discovered Prime dead and Grimlock less than welcoming. Grimlock and Maximus attempted to establish a single Autobot leader with trial by combat, but were interrupted by a devastating Decepticon attack. The upside of it all was that they ended up putting their differences aside and Optimus Prime was soon reborn to take up leadership of the Earth-based forces once again.

Not long after, a dimensional transporter accident led to the rediscovery and accidental disturbance of Primus deep in the center of Cybertron. The Autobots learned that their ancient myths about Primus were the truth, and Unicron was now coming for them. Since the Creation Matrix had been lost and corrupted, Optimus Prime offered the Autobots' unconditional surrender to the Decepticons in the hopes that this would lead the two factions to stand together against the coming threat. It did, and the Matrix was retrieved and purified in time to stop Unicron. Both Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron were killed in the battle, and Grimlock ascended to Autobot leadership again, this time over all Autobots.

The alliance with the Decepticons would be short lived. Cybertron appeared to be destroying itself and the Decepticons betrayed the Autobots, leaving them to die with their world. Grimlock’s leadership led to the Autobots escaping that trap, and walking right into a different one. Oops. Thankfully, the awakening of the Last Autobot saved Cybertron and led to the rebirth of Optimus Prime, who reclaimed Autobot leadership and beat the Decepticons once and for all.

''(From this point both the Marvel Generation 2 and the Fun Publication's Classics comics continue the story in separate and mutually exclusive directions.)''

====Generation 2 comic====
The war finally over, most of the Autobots retired to the revived and prosperous Cybertron. It wasn't to last. Grimlock led a crew of Autobots not ready to take a vacation and put their feet up to try and track down any remaining Decepticon trouble. They found more than they could imagine as they discovered a vast and militant Empire constructed across the stars by Decepticons who left Cybertron long ago.

At the same time, Megatron reared his head again on Earth and soon the surviving Decepticons from the end of the war joined him, intent on restarting the war on Earth. It was not long before Decepticons and Autobots were teamed up against the forces of the Cybertronian Empire. Though this new conflict never touched the revived Cybertron, Earth was devastated by it. The Bot/Con alliance won, but how long this new alliance would last and what [[Liege Maximo|new threats]] awaited remained a question.

====Classics====
{{note|''Classics'' takes place in a [[splinter timeline]] of the Marvel continuity, ignoring ''Generation Two'' and Marvel UK "future" stories}}

{{stub}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:BetasAutobotRebels.jpg|275px|thumb]]
The Autobots originated as a line of non-living consumer goods robots, created by the [[Quintesson]]s alongside the military hardware robots that would become the Decepticons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Developing sentience and emotion, the robots turned on their alien masters, though the Quintessons' gargantuan [[Dark Guardian]] robots made victory an unlikely prospect. A major tipping point occurred when the rebel leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]] used his [[Coda Remote]], hidden within his slave brand, to deactivate the Dark Guardians, striking a major blow against the Quintessons and forever transforming the brand into a mark of autonomy that eventually became the Autobots' faction insignia. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} At some point in these early days, the Autobots somehow gained possession of the mysterious [[Matrix of Leadership]], which was carried by each successive leader of their race, and became a repository for their consciousness upon their passing. During the early days of Quintesson rule, it was carried by [[Primon]], who was succeeded by the first robot to challenge the Quintessons, [[Prima]], followed by the leader during the rebellion, [[Prime Nova]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
After the Quintessons were successfully forced from Cybertron, a period of peace descended during which the Autobots—as they now called themselves—began building a civilization, but the warlike Decepticons soon declared war on them, claiming the lives of leaders [[Guardian Prime]] and [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Outmatched by their enemies, many Autobots fled Cybertron, seeking to start new lives free of conflict elsewhere in the universe, {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}} settling on planets such as [[Paradron]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}} Outmached in strength and firepower, the Autobots turned instead to stealth, inventing the art of [[transformation]]. Using this power, Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] defeated the [[Early Decepticon leader|Decepticons' leader]], and ended the war. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:MTMTE2 stick it in neutral.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Peace settled over Cybertron and what became known as the [[Golden Age]] began, but around nine million years ago, the Decepticons struck back, now under the command of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Megatron slew Sentinel Prime, who passed stewardship of the Matrix to A-3—now Alpha Trion—who was busy working on a means of rebuilding the Autobots so they would be able to fight the Decepticons on equal footing. When a wounded young robot named [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]] was brought to Alpha Trion, Trion repaired him using the process, rebuilding him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and giving him the Matrix that he might serve as the leader of the first of a new breed of war-ready Autobot. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}} Under Prime's leadership, the protracted warfare ran for five million years, draining Cybertron dry of energy and forcing the Transformers to seek new power sources on other planets. Optimus Prime's best and brightest departed on this quest aboard [[Ark (G1)|a spacecraft]], but were pursued and attacked by Megatron's elite, leading all involved to a crash-land on prehistoric Earth, entombed in stasis for four million years. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"Incompetent fools! There's only like seven Decepticons and fifty of us!"]]

In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Transformers, and their war for energy continued on Earth. Believing the Decepticons had been defeated, the Autobots entered into an alliance with Earth's governments for the energy needed to repair their ship and return to Cybertron, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} but the unanticipated return prompted Optimus Prime and his men to stay on Earth to defend the planet. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} The Autobots rebuilt their spaceship to serve as their headquarters, integrating it with the volcano it lay in, and maintained a position of superiority on Earth over the following years, aided by their human allies in world's governments and the [[Witwicky]] family, and regularly bolstered by the addition of new troops from various quarters.
[[File:FightorFlee future autobots.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Over the next twenty years, the Decepticons managed to drive the Autobots from Cybertron, forcing them to operate out of two bases on Cybertron's moons with a reserve force at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth. In 2005, learning that the Autobots were preparing a major assault, the Decepticons [[Battle of Autobot City|besieged Autobot City]], leading to a battle which saw the deaths of many Autobots, including Optimus Prime, who passed leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] before dying. Subsequently, the planet-eating [[Unicron]] attacked Cybertron, but the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] was able to prove himself Optimus's true successor when he used the Matrix to destroy Unicron, transformed in the process by its power into Rodimus Prime. Under Rodimus's leadership, the Autobots routed the remaining Decepticons on Cybertron, shattered by Unicron's attack, and they finally retook their home planet. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
The Autobots remained in control of Cybertron throughout 2006, slowly working to revitalize their homeworld while defending with comparative ease against various attacks by the surviving Decepticons, and the manipulations of the returned Quintessons. [[File:Rebirthpt2 headmasters charge.jpg|left|thumb|225px]] They did not neglect their adopted home-world of Earth, either, regularly working with [[Earth Defense Command]] to protect the planet. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}} Despite the successes enjoyed under his leadership, Rodimus Prime was never comfortable with the burden of command, and happily relinquished it when Optimus Prime was later restored to life. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, when the Decepticons mounted an all-out attack on Cybertron's [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], several Autobots were hurled across the galaxy by a blast of the chamber's power to the planet [[Nebulos]]. There, they became [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to a cell of local rebels as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s, helping them to defeat the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]. Returning to Cybertron with the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, they were able to thwart the Decepticons' plan to destroy Cybertron and Earth with the chamber, instead using its power to revitalize their home-world and restore the Golden Age. {{storylink|The Rebirth}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====

{{note|In Japanese cartoon continuity, the events of "The Rebirth" do not occur, and Headmasters and Targetmasters have a different origin.}}
[[File:FourWarriorsfromtheSky.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Following Optimus Prime's resurrection, the Decepticons retreated into hiding, allowing the Autobots to expand their operations. A new major command post was set up on the planet [[Athenia]], and plans were made to terraform the planet into a second Cybertron, but this was tabled when the Decepticons returned in 2011, attempting to seize control of Cybertron through [[Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Bolstered by the addition of Headmasters to their ranks—Cybertronians who had left their planet long ago and taken up residence on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]—the Autobots were able to thwart their plan, but in the effort, Optimus Prime died once again, and Rodimus Prime became leader again. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Rodimus's tenure was short-lived when, after a Decepticon bomb plot resulted in the destruction of Cybertron, he passed leadership to Fortress and set off into space to find a new homeworld for the Transformers. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} Under Fortress's leadership, the Autobots succeeded in preventing a Decepticon plan to destroy the Earth with [[plasma energy]], and finally forced the evil robots off the planet for good. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
[[File:FourChojinWarriors.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
The Autobots likewise withdrew from Earth, and, staging their operations from Athenia, proceeded to engage their enemies in a series of space-based exchanges known as the [[Master Wars]]. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}} Learning that the mysterious alien [[Devil Z]] had taken control of the Decepticons and had a scheme brewing on Earth, Fortress left defense of the planet to a small team of [[Pretender]]s led by [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]], who had been operating there in secret among human civilization since neolithic times. {{storylink|Rise Up!! Pretenders}} To protect Earth against Devil Z's schemes, the Pretenders recruited human beings to become merged with Transformer technology as [[Headmaster Junior]]s and [[Godmaster]]s, and the most powerful of their number, [[Ginrai]], destroyed Devil Z in combat. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
[[File:Brainmasters victory cartoon.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Following Devil Z's defeat, the Decepticons reorganized under [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and began attacking planets all across the galaxy, prompting the Autobots to step up their game, allying with humanity and many other races to form the star-spanning [[Galactic Peace Alliance]]. The Autobot swordsman [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] was appointed the Autobots' new Supreme Commander and head of the alliance's Galactic Defense Force, and led his elite [[Brainmaster]] and [[Multiforce]] troops in defending the Earth when it was targeted by Deathsaurus as a source of energy to re-power his [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]] in 2025. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}}
[[File:SkyGarry1.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
Star Saber was later injured defending the planet [[Feminia]] against the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] and was succeeded as Autobot leader by [[Powered Master]] [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]], who foiled the evil entity [[Violen Jiger]]'s plans for conquest using the power of the enigmatic [[Zodiac]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}} The Zodiac presented a possible avenue to resurrect the legendary Optimus Prime, so Dai Atlas entrusted both it and interim Autobot leadership to [[Sky Garry (ROC)|Sky Garry]], who rescued Prime's body from the evil alien [[Dark Nova]]. Revived by the Zodiac as "Star Convoy," Prime destroyed Dark Nova. {{storylink|Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy}}

In the year 2035, with Autobot/Decepticon conflict mostly occurring in space once again, the Autobots and humanity joined forced to develop [[Power Core Combination]] technology. This powerful new tech drew the Decepticons' attention back to the planet, but the schemes of their current eader [[Scrash (OC)|Scrash]] were put down by the new Autobot Power Core Combiners, [[Guard City]], and the Micromaster six-combiners. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination}} {{storylink|Transformers United EX|United EX}} Following this, the Autobots and Decepticons laid down their arms and united to established the [[Cybertron Alliance]], rebuilding Cybertron. Unfortunately, Megatron soon turned to evil again, and Optimus Prime was forced to battle and defeat him in the [[Mirtonian constellation]], apparently bring the war to an end once and for all. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2}} Alas, the Autobots had not reckoned with the time-travelling [[Galvatron II]], who arrived from another timeline to take control of the Decepticons and continue the war, and so bolstered their ranks to fight back with mass-produced [[Eldedroid]]s. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.|e-HOBBY storyline}}
{{-}}

===Beast Wars cartoon===
{{main|Maximal}}

The Autobots won the Great War, and their descendants the [[Maximal]]s succeeded them. It's unclear what happened to the Autobots, though followup series provided more clues.

===Beast Machines cartoon===
[[File:ProwlMaybe BM.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Where's your Pax Cybertronia now?]]
When [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] subdued Cybertron's population with his [[Transformation virus|virus]], he extracted their sparks and used their bodies as raw materials for building [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his team discovered a junkyard/factory with acres of these corpses, one of which very clearly bore the Autobot symbol (and an uncanny resemblance to [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]). {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Also, among the [[Vehicon general]]s were the revived Great War veterans [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who may have been Autobots themselves. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}}

===3H comics===
Many of the great Autobot and Decepticon heroes (such as Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Soundwave, and Megatron) retired to a strange quasi-reality called [[J'nwan]]. Almost all who tried to reach J'nwan and seek their aid succumbed to madness, and the ancient heroes did not appreciate being disturbed by any survivors. However, the great figures did eventually decide to fight once more at [[Point Omega]], an event which erased much of the timeline they had come from. It's unclear whether or not J'nwan or the events regarding it remained intact.

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
The three components of the combiner [[Magnaboss]] are the Autobots [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They vanished after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] was signed, but it is said they will return in a time of great need. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

===Dreamwave Generation 1 comic===
[[File:AutoLitho.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Come on you bots! Do you want to live forever?!?]]
The Autobots arose as the group who sided with Sentinel Prime and the [[Council of Ancients]] and opposed Megatron's desire for the conquest of Cybertron, but their inexperience with warfare led to a serious tactical disadvantage. Sentinel Prime led the war effort for half a million years, until Megatron killed him in combat, hoping to secure the Matrix from him. Sentinel's successor, Optimus Prime, originally decided to evacuate Cybertron, fearing that, even if the Autobots won, Cybertron would be a wasteland. However, a subsequent encounter between Optimus Prime and Megatron, where he learned of the planetary engines the Decepticon leader hoped to power with the Matrix, convinced Prime to remain on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

Later, Optimus Prime and Megatron disappeared in a space bridge explosion. Without strong leadership, both sides degenerated into factions. The [[Wrecker]]s and the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] broke off from the main Autobot army, which was led by Prowl. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} After [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] took control of the Autobots, he reunified the factions, and manage to negotiate a cease-fire with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] Decepticons and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]s. However, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]] made a last ditch assault, and Megatron suddenly returned leading the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones created by the Quintessons. Megatron managed to conquer Cybertron, forcing most of the Autobots into slavery and the escapees into hiding. The period of Autobot enslavement ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were destroyed. ''We don't know how.'' {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Four million years before humans arose, Cybertron was threatened by a massive asteroid. The Autobots developed the ''Ark'' to destroy the asteroid. They were successful, but Megatron attacked with the ''Nemesis''. Both ships crashed on Earth, with both crews aboard the ''Ark''. On Cybertron, Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] worked to keep the Autobots from splitting up again. With energon growing scarce, Magnus agreed to work with Shockwave to create the [[Micromaster]]s, downsized Transformers intended for better fuel efficiency. Magnus also launched [[Operation: Containment]], a twofold program intended to prevent the Decepticons from threatening other planets and locating the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}} However, with the [[Great Shutdown]], all Transformers entered a period of enforced [[stasis lock]]. Shockwave was the first to be reactivated, and made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an Autobot High Council as a legislature.

On Earth, the Autobots on the ''Ark'' awoke in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, and seeing that a sentient species had evolved around them, the Autobots resolved to defend Earth from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots were largely successful at preventing a Decepticon conquest, while also befriending the [[Witwicky]] family. Eventually, the Autobots allied with the humans and defeated the Decepticons, capturing them. However, rogue elements of the United States Military, apparently being manipulated by Shockwave, sabotaged the ''[[Ark II]]'', capturing several Autobots and most of the Decepticons, until the chief scientist, [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], went rogue and set himself up as an arms dealer. [[Robert Hallo]], the original mastermind of the conspiracy, used [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to reactivate Optimus Prime, who revived the Autobots and stopped a reactivated Megatron. {{storylink|Prime Directive}} A year later, Shockwave came to tie up loose ends and acquire the Matrix from Prime. A rebel Autobot cell managed to rescue Prime, who united the other resistance groups, and Shockwave was overthrown, bringing Cybertron under Autobot control. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
Over four million years ago, "Autobot" was a term used by other races to describe Cybertronians. It was derived from "automaton", describing how the species lived routine, monotonous lives without any change. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] was the first Transformer to lay claim to the name for their own use, saying it could stand for "autonomous" instead. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

The "First Face", the symbol that would become the Autobot insignia, was an ancient design used by many factions in the past and once considered a universal symbol of Cybertronians. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} During the time of the [[Senate]], it was used to represent their security forces led by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} After [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] succeeded Sentinel, he and his good friend Orion Pax shaped the security forces into the faction known as the Autobots and appropriated the symbol for their use. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} The Autobots went on to lead the battle against [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'s Decepticon terrorist movement, but Zeta's increasingly ruthless methods and neglect of the civilian populace made them widely unpopular. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}} Following Zeta's death, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime and convinced many neutral Cybertronians to join the Autobot army for the sake of defeating Megatron. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

With both Autobots and Decepticons now having powerful leaders and large armies, the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] between the broke out. Eventually, the Autobots spread across the galaxy and formed into small units to counter the Decepticon units infiltrating various planets. The two sides joined forces to combat [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and the ensuing battle rendered Cybertron uninhabitable. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}}

==Robots in Disguise==
Here, the Autobots are the main race on Cybertron, and their enemies are the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]]. The Autobots fought in the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]], presumably against the Predacons. [[Vector Sigma]], the [[Allspark]], chooses which Autobot is to be granted the Matrix and thus the position of commander-in-chief.

The Autobots were already on [[Earth]] when the Predacons arrived, having taken the form of Earth vehicles to work as camouflage and established a [[Global Space Bridge]] network and a central base monitoring the entire planet.

In their disguises, the Autobots integrated themselves into human society; [[Team Bullet Train]] worked as actual trains, [[X-Brawn]] was owned as a car by [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]], and Optimus Prime was working for a fire department. This continued after they went public; both [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]], for example, were shown enforcing human laws in an apparently official capacity, suggesting the Autobots had official ties to human authorities.

It's known Optimus fought the Predacons on other worlds, presumably using the same tactics as on Earth.

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Comic continuity===
====Armada====
Originally, the Autobots were not a faction, but the name of a peacekeeping organization; under the command of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], they defended [[Cyber City]]. Their headquarters was adorned with the motto "Truth - Justice - Freedom". They were unable to stop the [[Mini-Con]]-powered Decepticons from taking Cyber City, and for a million years they were reduced to a rebel organization desperately trying & failing to protect Cybertron. The reactivation of the Mini-Cons on Earth gave the Autobots an opportunity to gain Mini-Con power of their own, but eventually the Decepticons were beaten not by them, but due to the attack of [[Unicron]].

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada====
Throughout the Unicron Trilogy, the Autobots switched motives after each major conflict. At first, they were attempting to liberate smaller robots, called [[Mini-Con]]s, from the tyrannical control of [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who saw them as tools to be used and disposed of when no longer needed. The Autobots followed the Mini-Cons' ship to Earth, where they crashed and eventually continued their battle against the Decepticons (some two million years later. Geez, Megatron can hold a grudge).

These two sides would unite to fight the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]], when he threatened to devour Cybertron. With Megatron sacrificing himself to save the rest of the Universe, Unicron shut down and was destroyed. The remaining Transformers united as the Autobots, following Megatron's order to assist them in rebuilding Cybertron.

====Energon====
Megatron's final orders to his troops still stood: work with the Autobots. The Decepticons maintained a degree of autonomy, still wearing the faction sigil and often taking military/defensive positions in the growing number of energon-mining colonies, but they were ultimately answerable to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots. There were, of course, dissenters, most of whom were captured and imprisoned. For a decade, Autobot and Decepticon worked side-by-side in a somewhat stable truce.

Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of Terrorcon drones, sent by Alpha Quintesson to steal energon ore with which to revive the now-shattered husk of Unicron. What the alien did not count on was that Megatron's spark had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader had revived himself in a new form, driven off Alpha Quintesson, and, along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, begun his new plans for conquest.

When news of Megatron's return reached Cybertron, hundreds of Decepticons rose up and rebelled, eager to get back to conquering. But having been joined to Unicron for so long apparently had given Megatron a taste of godhood; he had no more interest in amassing a galaxy-spanning army of troops. Countless Decepticons died in the resulting battles, with Megatron more than willing to sacrifice them without a thought to attain ultimate power for himself. As the "Powerlinx Battles" - as they came to be called - came to their climax, Megatron found that his actions and thoughts were being influenced and controlled by the dark spark of Unicron. Unwilling to let Unicron stand in his way, Megatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly formed energon sun created by Primus.

====Cybertron====
Another ten years after Energon, the energon sun created by Primus was gone, collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], a giant black hole threatening to devour all of existence. In death, Unicron's power to destroy his only opposition - Primus - was greater than ever. The Autobots searched for a method of destroying the Black Hole and found a single answer; the Omega Lock, a powerful artifact linked to the Spark of Primus. With it, the Universe could be saved... or destroyed. Seeing an opportunity to rebuild existence in his own image, Megatron sought out the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys.

As the two sides battled for the Keys, the Autobots would eventually find all four and use them to revive Primus, but in doing so caused a massive earthquake that began shattering the planet around them.

Or so they thought.

Primus was emerging from Cybertron, awakened from the body he sculpted into a world for his creation. When informed of Unicron's destruction, he was infuriated to find that the universe was out of balance because of a severe lack of evil. Starscream attacked Primus's weakened form, due to the smaller robot stealing a piece of his spark and becoming an even equally huge monster, but was quickly dispatched by his creator. Defeated, Starscream flew off, leaving the Autobots to seal the Black Hole. Once this was accomplished, Galvatron attempted an escape from his fire dimension, but by combining Vector Prime's sword with the Omega Lock, the portal was sealed, and the Autobots returned home in peace.

The remaining Decepticons joined the Autobots, save for four who left Earth to start the New Decepticon Army. Their ship made it to Mars before crashing.

==Live-action film series==
[[File:Movie Sam Mikaela meettheAutobots.jpg|thumb|300px|Hello [[Michael Bay|Michael Bay.]] Goodbye childhood.]]
The Autobots (autonomous robotic organisms) are the second Cybertronian civilization, being the descendants of the early workers who served the [[Dynasty of Primes]]. Following the outbreak of the war, the Autobots became the Transformers who rallied around [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes, to prevent [[Megatron (Movie)|Protector Megatron]] from claiming the [[AllSpark]]. They were formed mostly from the [[Science Division]], the [[Security Force]], and what few members of the [[Defense Force]] rejected Megatron's violent ambitions. Although they fought valiantly, the Decepticons were more warlike, and they began to gain ground. In a move to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the AllSpark, Prime sent it hurtling into deep space. Megatron followed, and disappeared. The Autobots then scattered among the universe, searching for the AllSpark. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}} {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel |Movie Prequel}}

Following some twelve thousand years of searching, the Autobots encountered a stranded human vessel in space. Known as ''[[Ghost 1]]'', the creatures aboard, named humans, revealed that they had developed the ship based on studies from Megatron. Recognizing that Megatron would destroy their world if he came back online, Optimus tried to send them back to Earth, but they sacrificed their lives to save Optimus from [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Already suspecting that the AllSpark was on their homeworld, the Autobots made efforts to find [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

Eventually, the Autobots made their way to Earth, discovering a link to the AllSpark with [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]]. The Autobot [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] came into Sam's possession, and contacted Optimus Prime. Prime came to Earth with [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] to retrieve the AllSpark and eliminate Megatron, fearing the Decepticon would use the Cube to raise an army from human technology. However, Starscream's retrieval team was also on Earth, having come for the AllSpark. The Autobots were further hampered by [[Sector Seven]], the human agency tasked with dealing with Transformers. Eventually forming a brief truce with Sector Seven and a group of Army Rangers who had encountered [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], the Autobots fought off the Decepticons in [[Mission City]], which saw the deaths of Megatron, Blackout, [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], but Jazz was killed and the AllSpark destroyed when Sam Witwicky extinguished Megatron's spark. Without a means to restore Cybertron, the Autobots decided to remain on Earth, and Optimus Prime sent a message into space for Autobots to come and protect their new home and newfound allies in humanity. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

{{note|In the movie it is Ratchet who provides the name "Autobot", claiming it is an abbreviation after Optimus's line, "We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron". Seeing as how Decepticons also fit this description, this may imply that "Autobot" is the species name for the Transformers. In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Autobots" for this franchise, rather than "Cybertrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/autobots.html Movie Autobots toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

Over the next two years, more Autobots began making their way to Earth, such as [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Jolt (Movie)|Jolt]], Mudflap, Skids, Elita One, and Chromia joining a human military force known as [[NEST]]. Under the classified Autobot Alien cooperation act, the Autobots entrusted the remaining AllSpark shard to humanity and gave them intelligence about the Decepticons they were facing. However, the Autobots refused to share weapons technology with humanity, knowing their history internecine warfare. {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

In 2009, NEST had five encounters with the Decepticons on different continents, indicating that the Decepticons were searching for something. During a sweep of [[Shanghai]], NEST encountered [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] and [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], who caused substantial damage to the city during their attempts to escape. Although they were neutralized, Demolishor relayed a warning to Optimus Prime: "[[The Fallen]] shall rise again". Following this, NEST returned to their base of operations at [[Diego Garcia]], where they relayed the warning to [[Morshower|General Morshower]] and [[Theodore Galloway|Director Galloway]]. Having been appointed liaison by the President, Galloway concluded that the Decepticons only interest in Earth was to hunt down the Autobots. Unfortunately, Galloway also revealed both Megatron's resting place and the presence of the shard on Diego Garica. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was listening to the briefing, and directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] to raise Megatron. Meeting with his master, The Fallen, Megatron was commanded to retrieve Sam Witwicky, who had absorbed the knowledge of the AllSpark, and kill Optimus Prime, the only one who could defeat The Fallen. Optimus died helping Sam escape, and the Decepticons launched multiple attacks to have the humans turn Sam over to them. Galloway used the attacks as an excuse to have himself placed in charge of NEST and place the Autobots under guard.

Meanwhile, Sam, his girlfriend [[Mikaela Banes]], and his roommate [[Leo Spitz]] were being hidden by Bumblebee and the Twins [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], and with help from [[Seymour Simmons]] of Sector Seven, discovered Decepticon-turned-Autobot [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]], who told them that the Fallen, one of the founders of the Dynasty of Primes, was looking for the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate the [[Star Harvester]], which would destroy Earth's sun and make energon. As only a Prime could defeat the Fallen, Sam and his group started a search for the Matrix and located it, leading to a massive battle with the Decepticons near the Star Harvester during which Sam tried reach Optimus to resurrect him and the Decepticons attempted to stop him and get the Matrix. After most of the Decepticons were killed, Megatron killed Sam, but he was resurrected by the Dynasty of Primes and granted the Matrix which he used to resurrect Optimus Prime. With help from Jetfire, who sacrificed himself to give him his parts, Optimus was able to destroy the Harvester, defeat Megatron, leaving him seriously injured and kill the Fallen. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

A few years later, as there had been no major contact with the Decepticons since the death of the Fallen, the Autobots helped set up [[energon detector]]s in Earth's major cities to watch for a Decepticon presence. The Autobots, now common knowledge among Earth's people, helped out with major human threats. After Colonel Lennox learned of something alien at Chernobyl, the Autobots traveled there and encountered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and his [[Driller]] after retrieving a mysterious part. After Shockwave was driven off, Optimus was shocked to discover that it was an engine part from the long-lost ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'', which had crashed on the Moon. He and Ratchet traveled to the ''Ark'' and recovered five of the [[space bridge]] [[pillar]]s along with [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] who was revived by the Matrix of Leadership. Sentinel eventually revealed himself to be a traitor, murdered Ironhide and used the space bridge to bring an army of over 200 Decepticons to Earth. Earth's governments forced the Autobots off the planet, with the Decepticons attempting to learn the Autobots' plans to fight back via Sam. Without revealing any plans, the Autobots left Earth in the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' and were apparently destroyed by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]].

The Decepticons, led by Megatron and Sentinel Prime took over the human city of [[Chicago]] unopposed and prepared to bring Cybertron to Earth to use Earth's natural resources and its people as slaves to rebuild their home. The Autobots, who faked their deaths to trick the Decepticons, arrived in Chicago and linked up with a team of humans led by [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]] and former NEST soldier [[Robert Epps]] who were determined to fight even against overwhelming odds. With the help of the team and later NEST, the Autobots launched an attack on the city and together the Autobots and humans managed to kill [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]], the Driller, Starscream, [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], Barricade, Shockwave and many other Decepticons, losing only [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]] and possibly Wheelie and Brains in the process. The Autobots and humans battled Sentinel Prime and with the help of Megatron, he was defeated and the attempt to bring Cybertron to Earth disrupted. The Control Pillar was destroyed, and the collapsing space bridge destroyed Cybertron and the remaining Decepticon forces in Chicago. Though Megatron offered a truce between the Autobots and Decepticons, Optimus responded by terminating him and Sentinel. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

{{spoiler|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|July 28}}
However, after the devastation of Chicago, [[Harold Attinger]] formed a secret cabal of the CIA known as "Cemetery Wind", which set out to destroy all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. However, as far as the public and even the White House knew, Cemetery Wind was only hunting down the Decepticons. When he learned of Cemetery Wind's mission, Optimus sent a distress signal to his troops, warning them of their betrayal and to run for their lives. The Autobots scattered, some remaining in groups and some striking out on their own. [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] assisted Attinger's lieutenant James Savoy in hunting down the Transformers. Four years after the Chicago battle, [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] and the majority of the Autobots had been slaughtered, their remains being used by Joshua Joyce's KSI to produce man-made Transformers, intending to replace the Autobots as humanity's protectors.

Around the same time of the demise of Ratchet, Optimus narrowly survived an ambush and went into hiding as a rusty old cabover truck. Optimus was inadvertedly discovered by [[Cade Yeager]], and befriended the struggling inventor. The two escaped Savoy and Lockdown with Cade's daughter [[Tessa Yeager|Tessa]] and her boyfriend [[Shane Dyson|Shane]]. After taking a new vehicle form, Optimus met up with the surviving Autobots - Bumblebee, [[Drift (ROTF)|Drift]], [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]], and [[Crosshairs (Movie)|Crosshairs]], with the sad truth that they were the last Autobots on the planet sinking in as they learned of Leadfoot's demise. The Autobots assisted in infiltrating KSI, until they were informed of Ratchet's gruesome fate. Optimus snapped, and led a ferocious assault on KSI, also freeing the imprisoned [[Brains]] along the way. However, Joyce confronted the Autobots, declaring humans didn't need the Autobots anymore, who were now little more than outdated technology for humanity to abuse. Disgusted, the Autobots left, but were pursued by KSI's [[Galvatron (AOE)|Galvatron]] and [[Stinger (AOE)|Stinger]], which resulted in Optimus and Tessa's capture by Lockdown.

In Chicago, the Autobots snuck aboard Lockdown's ship with Cade and Shane to rescue their friends, and succeeded in detaching a smaller ship from the whole before Lockdown learned of Optimus' escape. After regrouping and learning that Galvatron was a rebuilt Megatron plotting to use the Seed to kill millions of humans, Optimus ordered the Autobots to depart Earth forever and leave the humans to their fate. He was only convinced to stay when Cade convinced Optimus to have faith in who humanity could be. Hound and Bumblebee ended up separated from the group when they tried to retrieve the Seed from a repentant Joyce, only for Galvatron's new Decepticons to shoot down their ship. In the Wulong Valley, Optimus recruited the [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobots]] to join them, which they did after he beat some obedience into [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]. The Dinobots' assistance proved invaluable in turning the tide against the Decepticons, who had nearly overwhelmed Hound, Bumblebee and Cade in battle. The entire group attempted to escort Joyce and the Seed out of Hong Kong, but Lockdown returned. Optimus, Bumblebee, and the Yeagers all worked together and were able to kill Attinger and Lockdown. After regrouping, the Dinobots were set free on Earth, and Optimus assigned his Autobots to defend the Yeager family, while he departed to take the Seed from Earth and to confront his mysterious Creators. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

==Animated==
The Autobots in the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated continuity]] won the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] with the Decepticons because of three things: the Autobot-exclusive [[space bridge]] technology, [[Project Omega]], and by sending the [[AllSpark]] into space to keep the Decepticons from getting it. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} Since then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has known peace under the rule of the [[Autobot High Council]], headed by a [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]], in this case [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]. Magnus heads the military portion of the planet's defense force, the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]], which is based at [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]] ([[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] is in charge of the civilian guards, which may include the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]]). [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] is a subordinate rank answerable to the Magnus, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]], [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus]] and [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm]] have been promoted to this rank. A lower officer is known as a [[Minor (rank)|Minor]]. The High Council, [[Cybertron Intelligence]] and the [[Ministry of Science]] are based at the [[Metroplex (Animated)|Metroplex]].
{{note|Takara also used the name "Autobots" instead of "Cybertrons" for the faction in this franchise.}}

==Shattered Glass==
[[File:Autobot Shattered Glass.png|177px|thumb|...the evil forces of the Autobots.]]
{{quote|'Til all are gone.|[[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]|[[Shattered Glass]]}}

In this universe, the Autobots are the evildoers, bent on conquering and destroying everything in their path, starting with Earth. On Cybertron, they are the dominant faction, ruled by the Prime, specifically [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Ranks are in constant flux due to their backstabbing nature. [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] may very well usurp rule one day. {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}
{{-}}

==Aligned==
[[File:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
"Autobot", a contraction of "autonomous robot", was an old philosopical phrase [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] found on the [[DataNet]] and one that he suggested to his friend [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to be the name of their movement to abolish the [[caste system]]. At their hearing with the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]], Orion used the term over and over again to remind his enthusiastic followers of the freedom they sought. He implored the Council choose a new Prime, so [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]] chose Orion as the new Prime, tearing Orion and Megatron's movement in two. In the war with Megatron's Decepticons, the Autobots only held fifteen percent of Cybertron, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and [[Kalis]]. The Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', transported by the [[space bridge]] to the [[Milky Way]]. [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[Wrecker]]s, [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] remained on the planet. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

{{Main|Team Prime}}
Soon enough, Cybertron became deserted, with Autobot forces stretched thin across the universe. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)}} With the death of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], Optimus only had [[Team Prime|four Autobots]] with him on [[Earth]], {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} though he would later be joined on Earth with [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]], {{storylink|Family of Heroes}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], {{storylink|New Recruit}} rogue member [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], {{storylink|Loose Cannons}} Ultra Magnus, {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}}, and even former Decepticon [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[File:Movie Autobot Screencleaner.jpg|106px|thumb|This was originally the top bit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion's]] pimp cane.]]
*'''Autobot''' (2008)
:Released by [[Gacha International|Tomy Yujin]] in January 2008, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Autobot insignia printed on the other side.
{{-}}

====Kinnerton====
[[File:Kinnerton Transformers Tin.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|For holding all your Autobot-symbol-shaped cookies.]]
*'''Transformers Tin''' (2008)
: Confectionery and... stationary company [[Kinnerton]] produced ''Movie''-style Autobot sigil-shaped tins. It is currently unknown what these tins were used for. These tins and other Kinnerton products were available in [[Australia]].
{{-}}

====PTI Group====
*'''Transformers Treat Containers''' (2008)
:Produced as an exclusive for [[Target]] stores, these blue plastic containers were molded in the shape of the Autobot symbol. They were sold in packs of three. While not dishwasher safe, they were perfect for containing any number of small treats.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cybertron''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron''), '''Autobot''' (オートボット ''Ōtobotto'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Bǒk Pāǐ''' (博派, "Fraternity Faction")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Autobotok'''
*''Indonesian:'' '''Otobot''' (오토봍 ''Autobot''), '''Pangjagwa''' (팡자과 ''Peacekeeper/Saver'')
*''Italian:'' '''Autorobot'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Qì Chē Rén''' (China, 汽车人, "Car-Robot"), '''Bó Pâi'''(博派, "Bot Faction"), '''Autobot''' (Taiwan, 奧特巴 ''Àu Tè Bā'')
*''Polish:'' '''Autoboty'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Autobóticos''' (Portugal comic), '''Optimus''' (Brazil comic)
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Cybery''' (Кібери, ''Cybers'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated factions]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]

Autobot

2014-07-23T04:29:30Z

AlphaTyrant: /* Live-action film series */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|ttautobot|sgAutobot}}
{{disambig2|the faction|Generation 2 watch-Autobot|Autobot (G2)}}
[[File:Autobot symbol.png|upright=1.4|thumb|If you don't recognize this [[symbol]], what the heck are you doing here?]]

{{quote|[['Til all are one]].|Autobot rally cry|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

The '''Autobots''' are one of the primary factions in the [[Transformer]]s mythos. They usually find themselves defending both their own race and other species against the [[Decepticon]]s and upholding justice and freedom throughout the galaxy.

They are considered "the good guys" in most, but not in [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|all]] Transformers stories.

A generally heroic, honorable group, they tend to be dedicated to peace, and feel a need to protect other races from the Decepticons. As a result, they are usually Transformers who change into non-combat oriented alternate modes such as domestic vehicles, cars, trucks, or rescue vehicles. This is not ''always'' the case, however, as their ranks certainly contain ne'er-do-wells, malcontents, and unsavory types, and the necessities of war have led many to adopt more combat-oriented alternate forms. While the Autobots have usually found themselves outnumbered by the Decepticons, the Autobots have always had home-field advantage, having not only the humans' military support, but also having more places on Earth to fall back on, while the Decepticons are entirely unwelcome on Earth.

Key concepts that repeat throughout most continuities are the use of the name [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] (or a variation thereof) to denote Autobot leadership, and the existence of an artifact of great life-giving power, usually referred to as a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]", traditionally held by their leader.

The collective noun for Autobots is an "exaltation".<ref>"...more dangerous than an exaltation of Autobots." — [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]'' (2009) p 101</ref>

{{quote|Few beings think of themselves as evil. Many justify their actions as good, even if they are not. But if you believe the 'good guys' would not harm any life-form, then you may consider me a member of that team.|[[Gears (ROTF)|Gears]]|''[[Transformers Classified: Switching Gears|Switching Gears]]''|width=500px}}

==Generation 1 / Beast Era==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1 comics====
[[File:Primag2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|The birth of Prima, the first Autobot. Just before Primus went around handing out cigars.]]
In the beginning [[Primus]] created the Transformers, a race of living robots that could change their bodies into the likeness of weapons, vehicles, and machinery, and all Transformers were Autobots, and he saw that they were good. The Autobot symbol (or [[insignia|Autobrand]] as it is sometimes called) was based on the face of the [[Last Autobot]], the sleeping guardian Primus left for the day when his plans came to fruition.

At first Autobot numbers were small (a mere [[Thirteen|13]] began things), but through [[Reproduction|budding]] they expanded their race to fill the planet. When the correct level of population was reached, a mechanism triggered and memory of the process was wiped from the Transformers minds. At some point in these early days Unicron was able to reach through the mental link he shared with Primus and sow the seeds of corruption in a few Autobots, though this dark cult of Unicron would not bear fruit for a long time.

Eons passed in relative peace. Autobot society formed its own traditions, institutions, city-states and politics. From a human perspective this society resembled that of ancient Rome. [[Senate|Senators]] and [[Emirate]]s governed wisely or corruptly, priests worshipped Primus and passed his holy Matrix to the chosen bearer (the lineage: [[Prima]] to [[Prime Nova]], Prime Nova to [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]), gladiatorial games were held for sport and entertainment, and above it all the [[Overlord (rank)|Overlords]] ruled.

It was only with the advent of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] at the end of the [[Golden Age]], coinciding with the death of the last hereditary Overlord, and the subsequent rise of the Decepticons, that the words "Autobot" and "Transformer" ceased being necessary synonyms and the population was divided by war.

[[File:Optimusprimeg1marvelfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Optimus Prime appears to turn the tide.]]
In the early days of the war the Autobots were overwhelmed by the Decepticon war machine. They fell back again and again and for a while it looked like the war would be quickly lost... and then a young warrior rose from their ranks and rallied the troops to fight back. He made his reputation by denying Megatron access to the [[Underbase]], soon rose to command the Autobots' elite air corps, and then, at last, was granted full command of all Autobot armies. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] had turned the tide, and under his leadership the Autobots fought back until Megatron's war machine was stalled out and stalemated.

[[File:Marvel71 neversurrender.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|left]]
The war ground on until Autobot scientists detected that their planet's path was going to pass through a deadly asteroid belt. Putting the planet-wide conflict aside for the moment they turned their attention to planetary salvation and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] was built.

[[File:Autobotline.gif|upright=2.2|thumb|And now, shadow puppet theatre.]]
Optimus and a crew of his best soldiers took the Ark into space and cleared a path for the planet through the asteroid field. Unfortunately with their power depleted from that Herculean task they were then ambushed by Megatron and his Decepticons. The crews of both ships were lost to history.

Without Megatron or Prime the pace of the war slowed considerably. Still, fighting continued and both sides dug in for a long bitter struggle. In Prime’s absence [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] led the Autobot forces in their struggle to retake their homeworld.

[[File:Autobots-disintegratedcircuits1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The next four million years passed quickly (as it is wont to do) and without any major alteration (only a general degradation) of the situation. Finally news came to Cybertron: Optimus Prime and his forces lived! Yet this news came at a steep price, as it meant a new front had opened in the war. Optimus Prime and his forces fought the Decepticons on the distant world of Earth, while Xaaron, his [[Wrecker]]s, and others carried on the war for Cybertron.

Despite Prime's dedication to protecting Earth, Autobot/Human relations were not good. Humanity viewed all Transformers as threats and attacked any they discovered regardless of faction. Industrialist [[G.B. Blackrock]] tried to inform the public that there were two factions, with the Autobots being the benign faction, but the [[Intelligence and Information Institute]], the government agency tasked with countering the Transformers, was either unable or unwilling to distinguish between factions.

Not long after his survival was discovered, tragedy struck and Optimus Prime was killed on Earth. The Dinobot commander [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] took on the leadership of Prime's soldiers, though he favored the abandonment of Earth and a renewed focus on Cybertron.

At roughly the same time, the great Autobot warrior [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] reached an important decision. He was tired of the war and if he could not end it he would leave it behind. Gathering a large following of likeminded warriors he left Cybertron for the world of Nebulos in hopes of a new and peaceful life. This was not to be. Decepticons followed Maximus and opened a third front to the war. In the end both factions abandoned Nebulos and Maximus led them to Earth to unite with the forces under Optimus Prime.

[[File:LastAutobot.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|From Prima to Last Autobot, we come full circle. You may close your notebooks.]]
However, when they arrived they discovered Prime dead and Grimlock less than welcoming. Grimlock and Maximus attempted to establish a single Autobot leader with trial by combat, but were interrupted by a devastating Decepticon attack. The upside of it all was that they ended up putting their differences aside and Optimus Prime was soon reborn to take up leadership of the Earth-based forces once again.

Not long after, a dimensional transporter accident led to the rediscovery and accidental disturbance of Primus deep in the center of Cybertron. The Autobots learned that their ancient myths about Primus were the truth, and Unicron was now coming for them. Since the Creation Matrix had been lost and corrupted, Optimus Prime offered the Autobots' unconditional surrender to the Decepticons in the hopes that this would lead the two factions to stand together against the coming threat. It did, and the Matrix was retrieved and purified in time to stop Unicron. Both Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron were killed in the battle, and Grimlock ascended to Autobot leadership again, this time over all Autobots.

The alliance with the Decepticons would be short lived. Cybertron appeared to be destroying itself and the Decepticons betrayed the Autobots, leaving them to die with their world. Grimlock’s leadership led to the Autobots escaping that trap, and walking right into a different one. Oops. Thankfully, the awakening of the Last Autobot saved Cybertron and led to the rebirth of Optimus Prime, who reclaimed Autobot leadership and beat the Decepticons once and for all.

''(From this point both the Marvel Generation 2 and the Fun Publication's Classics comics continue the story in separate and mutually exclusive directions.)''

====Generation 2 comic====
The war finally over, most of the Autobots retired to the revived and prosperous Cybertron. It wasn't to last. Grimlock led a crew of Autobots not ready to take a vacation and put their feet up to try and track down any remaining Decepticon trouble. They found more than they could imagine as they discovered a vast and militant Empire constructed across the stars by Decepticons who left Cybertron long ago.

At the same time, Megatron reared his head again on Earth and soon the surviving Decepticons from the end of the war joined him, intent on restarting the war on Earth. It was not long before Decepticons and Autobots were teamed up against the forces of the Cybertronian Empire. Though this new conflict never touched the revived Cybertron, Earth was devastated by it. The Bot/Con alliance won, but how long this new alliance would last and what [[Liege Maximo|new threats]] awaited remained a question.

====Classics====
{{note|''Classics'' takes place in a [[splinter timeline]] of the Marvel continuity, ignoring ''Generation Two'' and Marvel UK "future" stories}}

{{stub}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:BetasAutobotRebels.jpg|275px|thumb]]
The Autobots originated as a line of non-living consumer goods robots, created by the [[Quintesson]]s alongside the military hardware robots that would become the Decepticons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Developing sentience and emotion, the robots turned on their alien masters, though the Quintessons' gargantuan [[Dark Guardian]] robots made victory an unlikely prospect. A major tipping point occurred when the rebel leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]] used his [[Coda Remote]], hidden within his slave brand, to deactivate the Dark Guardians, striking a major blow against the Quintessons and forever transforming the brand into a mark of autonomy that eventually became the Autobots' faction insignia. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} At some point in these early days, the Autobots somehow gained possession of the mysterious [[Matrix of Leadership]], which was carried by each successive leader of their race, and became a repository for their consciousness upon their passing. During the early days of Quintesson rule, it was carried by [[Primon]], who was succeeded by the first robot to challenge the Quintessons, [[Prima]], followed by the leader during the rebellion, [[Prime Nova]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
After the Quintessons were successfully forced from Cybertron, a period of peace descended during which the Autobots—as they now called themselves—began building a civilization, but the warlike Decepticons soon declared war on them, claiming the lives of leaders [[Guardian Prime]] and [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Outmatched by their enemies, many Autobots fled Cybertron, seeking to start new lives free of conflict elsewhere in the universe, {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2}} settling on planets such as [[Paradron]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}} Outmached in strength and firepower, the Autobots turned instead to stealth, inventing the art of [[transformation]]. Using this power, Autobot leader [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] defeated the [[Early Decepticon leader|Decepticons' leader]], and ended the war. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}
[[File:MTMTE2 stick it in neutral.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Peace settled over Cybertron and what became known as the [[Golden Age]] began, but around nine million years ago, the Decepticons struck back, now under the command of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Megatron slew Sentinel Prime, who passed stewardship of the Matrix to A-3—now Alpha Trion—who was busy working on a means of rebuilding the Autobots so they would be able to fight the Decepticons on equal footing. When a wounded young robot named [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]] was brought to Alpha Trion, Trion repaired him using the process, rebuilding him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and giving him the Matrix that he might serve as the leader of the first of a new breed of war-ready Autobot. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}} Under Prime's leadership, the protracted warfare ran for five million years, draining Cybertron dry of energy and forcing the Transformers to seek new power sources on other planets. Optimus Prime's best and brightest departed on this quest aboard [[Ark (G1)|a spacecraft]], but were pursued and attacked by Megatron's elite, leading all involved to a crash-land on prehistoric Earth, entombed in stasis for four million years. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"Incompetent fools! There's only like seven Decepticons and fifty of us!"]]

In 1984, a volcanic eruption awakened the Transformers, and their war for energy continued on Earth. Believing the Decepticons had been defeated, the Autobots entered into an alliance with Earth's governments for the energy needed to repair their ship and return to Cybertron, {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}} but the unanticipated return prompted Optimus Prime and his men to stay on Earth to defend the planet. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} The Autobots rebuilt their spaceship to serve as their headquarters, integrating it with the volcano it lay in, and maintained a position of superiority on Earth over the following years, aided by their human allies in world's governments and the [[Witwicky]] family, and regularly bolstered by the addition of new troops from various quarters.
[[File:FightorFlee future autobots.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Over the next twenty years, the Decepticons managed to drive the Autobots from Cybertron, forcing them to operate out of two bases on Cybertron's moons with a reserve force at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth. In 2005, learning that the Autobots were preparing a major assault, the Decepticons [[Battle of Autobot City|besieged Autobot City]], leading to a battle which saw the deaths of many Autobots, including Optimus Prime, who passed leadership to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] before dying. Subsequently, the planet-eating [[Unicron]] attacked Cybertron, but the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] was able to prove himself Optimus's true successor when he used the Matrix to destroy Unicron, transformed in the process by its power into Rodimus Prime. Under Rodimus's leadership, the Autobots routed the remaining Decepticons on Cybertron, shattered by Unicron's attack, and they finally retook their home planet. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
The Autobots remained in control of Cybertron throughout 2006, slowly working to revitalize their homeworld while defending with comparative ease against various attacks by the surviving Decepticons, and the manipulations of the returned Quintessons. [[File:Rebirthpt2 headmasters charge.jpg|left|thumb|225px]] They did not neglect their adopted home-world of Earth, either, regularly working with [[Earth Defense Command]] to protect the planet. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness}} Despite the successes enjoyed under his leadership, Rodimus Prime was never comfortable with the burden of command, and happily relinquished it when Optimus Prime was later restored to life. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In 2007, when the Decepticons mounted an all-out attack on Cybertron's [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], several Autobots were hurled across the galaxy by a blast of the chamber's power to the planet [[Nebulos]]. There, they became [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to a cell of local rebels as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s, helping them to defeat the planet's evil rulers, the [[Hive (G1)|Hive]]. Returning to Cybertron with the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, they were able to thwart the Decepticons' plan to destroy Cybertron and Earth with the chamber, instead using its power to revitalize their home-world and restore the Golden Age. {{storylink|The Rebirth}}
{{-}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====

{{note|In Japanese cartoon continuity, the events of "The Rebirth" do not occur, and Headmasters and Targetmasters have a different origin.}}
[[File:FourWarriorsfromtheSky.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Following Optimus Prime's resurrection, the Decepticons retreated into hiding, allowing the Autobots to expand their operations. A new major command post was set up on the planet [[Athenia]], and plans were made to terraform the planet into a second Cybertron, but this was tabled when the Decepticons returned in 2011, attempting to seize control of Cybertron through [[Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Bolstered by the addition of Headmasters to their ranks—Cybertronians who had left their planet long ago and taken up residence on the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]—the Autobots were able to thwart their plan, but in the effort, Optimus Prime died once again, and Rodimus Prime became leader again. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Rodimus's tenure was short-lived when, after a Decepticon bomb plot resulted in the destruction of Cybertron, he passed leadership to Fortress and set off into space to find a new homeworld for the Transformers. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} Under Fortress's leadership, the Autobots succeeded in preventing a Decepticon plan to destroy the Earth with [[plasma energy]], and finally forced the evil robots off the planet for good. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
[[File:FourChojinWarriors.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
The Autobots likewise withdrew from Earth, and, staging their operations from Athenia, proceeded to engage their enemies in a series of space-based exchanges known as the [[Master Wars]]. {{storylink|Master File No, 1}} Learning that the mysterious alien [[Devil Z]] had taken control of the Decepticons and had a scheme brewing on Earth, Fortress left defense of the planet to a small team of [[Pretender]]s led by [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]], who had been operating there in secret among human civilization since neolithic times. {{storylink|Rise Up!! Pretenders}} To protect Earth against Devil Z's schemes, the Pretenders recruited human beings to become merged with Transformer technology as [[Headmaster Junior]]s and [[Godmaster]]s, and the most powerful of their number, [[Ginrai]], destroyed Devil Z in combat. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}
[[File:Brainmasters victory cartoon.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Following Devil Z's defeat, the Decepticons reorganized under [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] and began attacking planets all across the galaxy, prompting the Autobots to step up their game, allying with humanity and many other races to form the star-spanning [[Galactic Peace Alliance]]. The Autobot swordsman [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] was appointed the Autobots' new Supreme Commander and head of the alliance's Galactic Defense Force, and led his elite [[Brainmaster]] and [[Multiforce]] troops in defending the Earth when it was targeted by Deathsaurus as a source of energy to re-power his [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]] in 2025. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}}
[[File:SkyGarry1.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
Star Saber was later injured defending the planet [[Feminia]] against the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] and was succeeded as Autobot leader by [[Powered Master]] [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]], who foiled the evil entity [[Violen Jiger]]'s plans for conquest using the power of the enigmatic [[Zodiac]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone}} The Zodiac presented a possible avenue to resurrect the legendary Optimus Prime, so Dai Atlas entrusted both it and interim Autobot leadership to [[Sky Garry (ROC)|Sky Garry]], who rescued Prime's body from the evil alien [[Dark Nova]]. Revived by the Zodiac as "Star Convoy," Prime destroyed Dark Nova. {{storylink|Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy}}

In the year 2035, with Autobot/Decepticon conflict mostly occurring in space once again, the Autobots and humanity joined forced to develop [[Power Core Combination]] technology. This powerful new tech drew the Decepticons' attention back to the planet, but the schemes of their current eader [[Scrash (OC)|Scrash]] were put down by the new Autobot Power Core Combiners, [[Guard City]], and the Micromaster six-combiners. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination}} {{storylink|Transformers United EX|United EX}} Following this, the Autobots and Decepticons laid down their arms and united to established the [[Cybertron Alliance]], rebuilding Cybertron. Unfortunately, Megatron soon turned to evil again, and Optimus Prime was forced to battle and defeat him in the [[Mirtonian constellation]], apparently bring the war to an end once and for all. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2}} Alas, the Autobots had not reckoned with the time-travelling [[Galvatron II]], who arrived from another timeline to take control of the Decepticons and continue the war, and so bolstered their ranks to fight back with mass-produced [[Eldedroid]]s. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.|e-HOBBY storyline}}
{{-}}

===Beast Wars cartoon===
{{main|Maximal}}

The Autobots won the Great War, and their descendants the [[Maximal]]s succeeded them. It's unclear what happened to the Autobots, though followup series provided more clues.

===Beast Machines cartoon===
[[File:ProwlMaybe BM.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Where's your Pax Cybertronia now?]]
When [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] subdued Cybertron's population with his [[Transformation virus|virus]], he extracted their sparks and used their bodies as raw materials for building [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] and his team discovered a junkyard/factory with acres of these corpses, one of which very clearly bore the Autobot symbol (and an uncanny resemblance to [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]). {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Also, among the [[Vehicon general]]s were the revived Great War veterans [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who may have been Autobots themselves. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}}

===3H comics===
Many of the great Autobot and Decepticon heroes (such as Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Soundwave, and Megatron) retired to a strange quasi-reality called [[J'nwan]]. Almost all who tried to reach J'nwan and seek their aid succumbed to madness, and the ancient heroes did not appreciate being disturbed by any survivors. However, the great figures did eventually decide to fight once more at [[Point Omega]], an event which erased much of the timeline they had come from. It's unclear whether or not J'nwan or the events regarding it remained intact.

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
The three components of the combiner [[Magnaboss]] are the Autobots [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. They vanished after the [[Pax Cybertronia]] was signed, but it is said they will return in a time of great need. {{storylink|Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

===Dreamwave Generation 1 comic===
[[File:AutoLitho.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Come on you bots! Do you want to live forever?!?]]
The Autobots arose as the group who sided with Sentinel Prime and the [[Council of Ancients]] and opposed Megatron's desire for the conquest of Cybertron, but their inexperience with warfare led to a serious tactical disadvantage. Sentinel Prime led the war effort for half a million years, until Megatron killed him in combat, hoping to secure the Matrix from him. Sentinel's successor, Optimus Prime, originally decided to evacuate Cybertron, fearing that, even if the Autobots won, Cybertron would be a wasteland. However, a subsequent encounter between Optimus Prime and Megatron, where he learned of the planetary engines the Decepticon leader hoped to power with the Matrix, convinced Prime to remain on Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: The War Within|The War Within}}

Later, Optimus Prime and Megatron disappeared in a space bridge explosion. Without strong leadership, both sides degenerated into factions. The [[Wrecker]]s and the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]] broke off from the main Autobot army, which was led by Prowl. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}} After [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] took control of the Autobots, he reunified the factions, and manage to negotiate a cease-fire with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] Decepticons and Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]s. However, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]] made a last ditch assault, and Megatron suddenly returned leading the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], an army of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] drones created by the Quintessons. Megatron managed to conquer Cybertron, forcing most of the Autobots into slavery and the escapees into hiding. The period of Autobot enslavement ended when Optimus Prime returned to Cybertron and the Air Warriors were destroyed. ''We don't know how.'' {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Age of Wrath|War Within: The Age of Wrath}}

Four million years before humans arose, Cybertron was threatened by a massive asteroid. The Autobots developed the ''Ark'' to destroy the asteroid. They were successful, but Megatron attacked with the ''Nemesis''. Both ships crashed on Earth, with both crews aboard the ''Ark''. On Cybertron, Ultra Magnus and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] worked to keep the Autobots from splitting up again. With energon growing scarce, Magnus agreed to work with Shockwave to create the [[Micromaster]]s, downsized Transformers intended for better fuel efficiency. Magnus also launched [[Operation: Containment]], a twofold program intended to prevent the Decepticons from threatening other planets and locating the ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers: Micromasters}} However, with the [[Great Shutdown]], all Transformers entered a period of enforced [[stasis lock]]. Shockwave was the first to be reactivated, and made peace with the Autobots, installing himself as Head of State with an Autobot High Council as a legislature.

On Earth, the Autobots on the ''Ark'' awoke in 1984. Cut off from Cybertron, and seeing that a sentient species had evolved around them, the Autobots resolved to defend Earth from the Decepticons. Over the next fifteen years, the Autobots were largely successful at preventing a Decepticon conquest, while also befriending the [[Witwicky]] family. Eventually, the Autobots allied with the humans and defeated the Decepticons, capturing them. However, rogue elements of the United States Military, apparently being manipulated by Shockwave, sabotaged the ''[[Ark II]]'', capturing several Autobots and most of the Decepticons, until the chief scientist, [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], went rogue and set himself up as an arms dealer. [[Robert Hallo]], the original mastermind of the conspiracy, used [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to reactivate Optimus Prime, who revived the Autobots and stopped a reactivated Megatron. {{storylink|Prime Directive}} A year later, Shockwave came to tie up loose ends and acquire the Matrix from Prime. A rebel Autobot cell managed to rescue Prime, who united the other resistance groups, and Shockwave was overthrown, bringing Cybertron under Autobot control. {{storylink|War and Peace}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
Over four million years ago, "Autobot" was a term used by other races to describe Cybertronians. It was derived from "automaton", describing how the species lived routine, monotonous lives without any change. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] was the first Transformer to lay claim to the name for their own use, saying it could stand for "autonomous" instead. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

The "First Face", the symbol that would become the Autobot insignia, was an ancient design used by many factions in the past and once considered a universal symbol of Cybertronians. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} During the time of the [[Senate]], it was used to represent their security forces led by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} After [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] succeeded Sentinel, he and his good friend Orion Pax shaped the security forces into the faction known as the Autobots and appropriated the symbol for their use. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}} The Autobots went on to lead the battle against [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'s Decepticon terrorist movement, but Zeta's increasingly ruthless methods and neglect of the civilian populace made them widely unpopular. {{storylink|Law and Disorder}} Following Zeta's death, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime and convinced many neutral Cybertronians to join the Autobot army for the sake of defeating Megatron. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

With both Autobots and Decepticons now having powerful leaders and large armies, the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] between the broke out. Eventually, the Autobots spread across the galaxy and formed into small units to counter the Decepticon units infiltrating various planets. The two sides joined forces to combat [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and the ensuing battle rendered Cybertron uninhabitable. {{storylink|The Transformers: Stormbringer |Stormbringer}}

==Robots in Disguise==
Here, the Autobots are the main race on Cybertron, and their enemies are the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]]. The Autobots fought in the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]], presumably against the Predacons. [[Vector Sigma]], the [[Allspark]], chooses which Autobot is to be granted the Matrix and thus the position of commander-in-chief.

The Autobots were already on [[Earth]] when the Predacons arrived, having taken the form of Earth vehicles to work as camouflage and established a [[Global Space Bridge]] network and a central base monitoring the entire planet.

In their disguises, the Autobots integrated themselves into human society; [[Team Bullet Train]] worked as actual trains, [[X-Brawn]] was owned as a car by [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]], and Optimus Prime was working for a fire department. This continued after they went public; both [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Tow-Line (RID)|Tow-Line]], for example, were shown enforcing human laws in an apparently official capacity, suggesting the Autobots had official ties to human authorities.

It's known Optimus fought the Predacons on other worlds, presumably using the same tactics as on Earth.

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Comic continuity===
====Armada====
Originally, the Autobots were not a faction, but the name of a peacekeeping organization; under the command of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], they defended [[Cyber City]]. Their headquarters was adorned with the motto "Truth - Justice - Freedom". They were unable to stop the [[Mini-Con]]-powered Decepticons from taking Cyber City, and for a million years they were reduced to a rebel organization desperately trying & failing to protect Cybertron. The reactivation of the Mini-Cons on Earth gave the Autobots an opportunity to gain Mini-Con power of their own, but eventually the Decepticons were beaten not by them, but due to the attack of [[Unicron]].

===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada====
Throughout the Unicron Trilogy, the Autobots switched motives after each major conflict. At first, they were attempting to liberate smaller robots, called [[Mini-Con]]s, from the tyrannical control of [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who saw them as tools to be used and disposed of when no longer needed. The Autobots followed the Mini-Cons' ship to Earth, where they crashed and eventually continued their battle against the Decepticons (some two million years later. Geez, Megatron can hold a grudge).

These two sides would unite to fight the Chaos Bringer, [[Unicron]], when he threatened to devour Cybertron. With Megatron sacrificing himself to save the rest of the Universe, Unicron shut down and was destroyed. The remaining Transformers united as the Autobots, following Megatron's order to assist them in rebuilding Cybertron.

====Energon====
Megatron's final orders to his troops still stood: work with the Autobots. The Decepticons maintained a degree of autonomy, still wearing the faction sigil and often taking military/defensive positions in the growing number of energon-mining colonies, but they were ultimately answerable to [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots. There were, of course, dissenters, most of whom were captured and imprisoned. For a decade, Autobot and Decepticon worked side-by-side in a somewhat stable truce.

Both sides found themselves the target of attacks from Unicron again; hordes of Terrorcon drones, sent by Alpha Quintesson to steal energon ore with which to revive the now-shattered husk of Unicron. What the alien did not count on was that Megatron's spark had survived within the remains, and was siphoning energon from Unicron's body. Soon the Decepticon leader had revived himself in a new form, driven off Alpha Quintesson, and, along with an elite cadre of soldiers and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of mindless Terrorcon drones, begun his new plans for conquest.

When news of Megatron's return reached Cybertron, hundreds of Decepticons rose up and rebelled, eager to get back to conquering. But having been joined to Unicron for so long apparently had given Megatron a taste of godhood; he had no more interest in amassing a galaxy-spanning army of troops. Countless Decepticons died in the resulting battles, with Megatron more than willing to sacrifice them without a thought to attain ultimate power for himself. As the "Powerlinx Battles" - as they came to be called - came to their climax, Megatron found that his actions and thoughts were being influenced and controlled by the dark spark of Unicron. Unwilling to let Unicron stand in his way, Megatron ultimately sacrificed himself (again) and seemingly destroyed Unicron's spark by plunging himself into a newly formed energon sun created by Primus.

====Cybertron====
Another ten years after Energon, the energon sun created by Primus was gone, collapsed into the [[Unicron Singularity]], a giant black hole threatening to devour all of existence. In death, Unicron's power to destroy his only opposition - Primus - was greater than ever. The Autobots searched for a method of destroying the Black Hole and found a single answer; the Omega Lock, a powerful artifact linked to the Spark of Primus. With it, the Universe could be saved... or destroyed. Seeing an opportunity to rebuild existence in his own image, Megatron sought out the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys.

As the two sides battled for the Keys, the Autobots would eventually find all four and use them to revive Primus, but in doing so caused a massive earthquake that began shattering the planet around them.

Or so they thought.

Primus was emerging from Cybertron, awakened from the body he sculpted into a world for his creation. When informed of Unicron's destruction, he was infuriated to find that the universe was out of balance because of a severe lack of evil. Starscream attacked Primus's weakened form, due to the smaller robot stealing a piece of his spark and becoming an even equally huge monster, but was quickly dispatched by his creator. Defeated, Starscream flew off, leaving the Autobots to seal the Black Hole. Once this was accomplished, Galvatron attempted an escape from his fire dimension, but by combining Vector Prime's sword with the Omega Lock, the portal was sealed, and the Autobots returned home in peace.

The remaining Decepticons joined the Autobots, save for four who left Earth to start the New Decepticon Army. Their ship made it to Mars before crashing.

==Live-action film series==
[[File:Movie Sam Mikaela meettheAutobots.jpg|thumb|300px|Hello Michael Bay. Goodbye childhood.]]
The Autobots (autonomous robotic organisms) are the second Cybertronian civilization, being the descendants of the early workers who served the [[Dynasty of Primes]]. Following the outbreak of the war, the Autobots became the Transformers who rallied around [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes, to prevent [[Megatron (Movie)|Protector Megatron]] from claiming the [[AllSpark]]. They were formed mostly from the [[Science Division]], the [[Security Force]], and what few members of the [[Defense Force]] rejected Megatron's violent ambitions. Although they fought valiantly, the Decepticons were more warlike, and they began to gain ground. In a move to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the AllSpark, Prime sent it hurtling into deep space. Megatron followed, and disappeared. The Autobots then scattered among the universe, searching for the AllSpark. {{storylink|Transformers: Defiance|Defiance}} {{storylink|Transformers: Movie Prequel |Movie Prequel}}

Following some twelve thousand years of searching, the Autobots encountered a stranded human vessel in space. Known as ''[[Ghost 1]]'', the creatures aboard, named humans, revealed that they had developed the ship based on studies from Megatron. Recognizing that Megatron would destroy their world if he came back online, Optimus tried to send them back to Earth, but they sacrificed their lives to save Optimus from [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. Already suspecting that the AllSpark was on their homeworld, the Autobots made efforts to find [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

Eventually, the Autobots made their way to Earth, discovering a link to the AllSpark with [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]]. The Autobot [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] came into Sam's possession, and contacted Optimus Prime. Prime came to Earth with [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] to retrieve the AllSpark and eliminate Megatron, fearing the Decepticon would use the Cube to raise an army from human technology. However, Starscream's retrieval team was also on Earth, having come for the AllSpark. The Autobots were further hampered by [[Sector Seven]], the human agency tasked with dealing with Transformers. Eventually forming a brief truce with Sector Seven and a group of Army Rangers who had encountered [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]], the Autobots fought off the Decepticons in [[Mission City]], which saw the deaths of Megatron, Blackout, [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]], but Jazz was killed and the AllSpark destroyed when Sam Witwicky extinguished Megatron's spark. Without a means to restore Cybertron, the Autobots decided to remain on Earth, and Optimus Prime sent a message into space for Autobots to come and protect their new home and newfound allies in humanity. {{storylink|Transformers (film)|Transformers}}

{{note|In the movie it is Ratchet who provides the name "Autobot", claiming it is an abbreviation after Optimus's line, "We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron". Seeing as how Decepticons also fit this description, this may imply that "Autobot" is the species name for the Transformers. In a departure from previous Transformers incarnations, Japan used the name "Autobots" for this franchise, rather than "Cybertrons".<ref>[http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/products/movie/autobots.html Movie Autobots toy listing on Takaratomy.com]</ref>}}

Over the next two years, more Autobots began making their way to Earth, such as [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Jolt (Movie)|Jolt]], Mudflap, Skids, Elita One, and Chromia joining a human military force known as [[NEST]]. Under the classified Autobot Alien cooperation act, the Autobots entrusted the remaining AllSpark shard to humanity and gave them intelligence about the Decepticons they were facing. However, the Autobots refused to share weapons technology with humanity, knowing their history internecine warfare. {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Veiled Threat|The Veiled Threat}}

In 2009, NEST had five encounters with the Decepticons on different continents, indicating that the Decepticons were searching for something. During a sweep of [[Shanghai]], NEST encountered [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] and [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]], who caused substantial damage to the city during their attempts to escape. Although they were neutralized, Demolishor relayed a warning to Optimus Prime: "[[The Fallen]] shall rise again". Following this, NEST returned to their base of operations at [[Diego Garcia]], where they relayed the warning to [[Morshower|General Morshower]] and [[Theodore Galloway|Director Galloway]]. Having been appointed liaison by the President, Galloway concluded that the Decepticons only interest in Earth was to hunt down the Autobots. Unfortunately, Galloway also revealed both Megatron's resting place and the presence of the shard on Diego Garica. [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] was listening to the briefing, and directed [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and the [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]] to raise Megatron. Meeting with his master, The Fallen, Megatron was commanded to retrieve Sam Witwicky, who had absorbed the knowledge of the AllSpark, and kill Optimus Prime, the only one who could defeat The Fallen. Optimus died helping Sam escape, and the Decepticons launched multiple attacks to have the humans turn Sam over to them. Galloway used the attacks as an excuse to have himself placed in charge of NEST and place the Autobots under guard.

Meanwhile, Sam, his girlfriend [[Mikaela Banes]], and his roommate [[Leo Spitz]] were being hidden by Bumblebee and the Twins [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]], and with help from [[Seymour Simmons]] of Sector Seven, discovered Decepticon-turned-Autobot [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]], who told them that the Fallen, one of the founders of the Dynasty of Primes, was looking for the Matrix of Leadership needed to activate the [[Star Harvester]], which would destroy Earth's sun and make energon. As only a Prime could defeat the Fallen, Sam and his group started a search for the Matrix and located it, leading to a massive battle with the Decepticons near the Star Harvester during which Sam tried reach Optimus to resurrect him and the Decepticons attempted to stop him and get the Matrix. After most of the Decepticons were killed, Megatron killed Sam, but he was resurrected by the Dynasty of Primes and granted the Matrix which he used to resurrect Optimus Prime. With help from Jetfire, who sacrificed himself to give him his parts, Optimus was able to destroy the Harvester, defeat Megatron, leaving him seriously injured and kill the Fallen. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

A few years later, as there had been no major contact with the Decepticons since the death of the Fallen, the Autobots helped set up [[energon detector]]s in Earth's major cities to watch for a Decepticon presence. The Autobots, now common knowledge among Earth's people, helped out with major human threats. After Colonel Lennox learned of something alien at Chernobyl, the Autobots traveled there and encountered [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and his [[Driller]] after retrieving a mysterious part. After Shockwave was driven off, Optimus was shocked to discover that it was an engine part from the long-lost ''[[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]]'', which had crashed on the Moon. He and Ratchet traveled to the ''Ark'' and recovered five of the [[space bridge]] [[pillar]]s along with [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] who was revived by the Matrix of Leadership. Sentinel eventually revealed himself to be a traitor, murdered Ironhide and used the space bridge to bring an army of over 200 Decepticons to Earth. Earth's governments forced the Autobots off the planet, with the Decepticons attempting to learn the Autobots' plans to fight back via Sam. Without revealing any plans, the Autobots left Earth in the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]'' and were apparently destroyed by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]].

The Decepticons, led by Megatron and Sentinel Prime took over the human city of [[Chicago]] unopposed and prepared to bring Cybertron to Earth to use Earth's natural resources and its people as slaves to rebuild their home. The Autobots, who faked their deaths to trick the Decepticons, arrived in Chicago and linked up with a team of humans led by [[Sam Witwicky (Movie)|Sam Witwicky]] and former NEST soldier [[Robert Epps]] who were determined to fight even against overwhelming odds. With the help of the team and later NEST, the Autobots launched an attack on the city and together the Autobots and humans managed to kill [[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]], the Driller, Starscream, [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], Barricade, Shockwave and many other Decepticons, losing only [[Wheeljack (Movie)|Que]] and possibly Wheelie and Brains in the process. The Autobots and humans battled Sentinel Prime and with the help of Megatron, he was defeated and the attempt to bring Cybertron to Earth disrupted. The Control Pillar was destroyed, and the collapsing space bridge destroyed Cybertron and the remaining Decepticon forces in Chicago. Though Megatron offered a truce between the Autobots and Decepticons, Optimus responded by terminating him and Sentinel. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

{{spoiler|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|July 28}}
However, after the devastation of Chicago, [[Harold Attinger]] formed a secret cabal of the CIA known as "Cemetery Wind", which set out to destroy all Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. However, as far as the public and even the White House knew, Cemetery Wind was only hunting down the Decepticons. When he learned of Cemetery Wind's mission, Optimus sent a distress signal to his troops, warning them of their betrayal and to run for their lives. The Autobots scattered, some remaining in groups and some striking out on their own. [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]] assisted Attinger's lieutenant James Savoy in hunting down the Transformers. Four years after the Chicago battle, [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] and the majority of the Autobots had been slaughtered, their remains being used by Joshua Joyce's KSI to produce man-made Transformers, intending to replace the Autobots as humanity's protectors.

Around the same time of the demise of Ratchet, Optimus narrowly survived an ambush and went into hiding as a rusty old cabover truck. Optimus was inadvertedly discovered by [[Cade Yeager]], and befriended the struggling inventor. The two escaped Savoy and Lockdown with Cade's daughter [[Tessa Yeager|Tessa]] and her boyfriend [[Shane Dyson|Shane]]. After taking a new vehicle form, Optimus met up with the surviving Autobots - Bumblebee, [[Drift (ROTF)|Drift]], [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]], and [[Crosshairs (Movie)|Crosshairs]], with the sad truth that they were the last Autobots on the planet sinking in as they learned of Leadfoot's demise. The Autobots assisted in infiltrating KSI, until they were informed of Ratchet's gruesome fate. Optimus snapped, and led a ferocious assault on KSI, also freeing the imprisoned [[Brains]] along the way. However, Joyce confronted the Autobots, declaring humans didn't need the Autobots anymore, who were now little more than outdated technology for humanity to abuse. Disgusted, the Autobots left, but were pursued by KSI's [[Galvatron (AOE)|Galvatron]] and [[Stinger (AOE)|Stinger]], which resulted in Optimus and Tessa's capture by Lockdown.

In Chicago, the Autobots snuck aboard Lockdown's ship with Cade and Shane to rescue their friends, and succeeded in detaching a smaller ship from the whole before Lockdown learned of Optimus' escape. After regrouping and learning that Galvatron was a rebuilt Megatron plotting to use the Seed to kill millions of humans, Optimus ordered the Autobots to depart Earth forever and leave the humans to their fate. He was only convinced to stay when Cade convinced Optimus to have faith in who humanity could be. Hound and Bumblebee ended up separated from the group when they tried to retrieve the Seed from a repentant Joyce, only for Galvatron's new Decepticons to shoot down their ship. In the Wulong Valley, Optimus recruited the [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobots]] to join them, which they did after he beat some obedience into [[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]. The Dinobots' assistance proved invaluable in turning the tide against the Decepticons, who had nearly overwhelmed Hound, Bumblebee and Cade in battle. The entire group attempted to escort Joyce and the Seed out of Hong Kong, but Lockdown returned. Optimus, Bumblebee, and the Yeagers all worked together and were able to kill Attinger and Lockdown. After regrouping, the Dinobots were set free on Earth, and Optimus assigned his Autobots to defend the Yeager family, while he departed to take the Seed from Earth and to confront his mysterious Creators. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

==Animated==
The Autobots in the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated continuity]] won the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]] with the Decepticons because of three things: the Autobot-exclusive [[space bridge]] technology, [[Project Omega]], and by sending the [[AllSpark]] into space to keep the Decepticons from getting it. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} Since then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has known peace under the rule of the [[Autobot High Council]], headed by a [[Magnus (rank)|Magnus]], in this case [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]. Magnus heads the military portion of the planet's defense force, the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]], which is based at [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]] ([[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] is in charge of the civilian guards, which may include the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]]). [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] is a subordinate rank answerable to the Magnus, and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]], [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus]] and [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm]] have been promoted to this rank. A lower officer is known as a [[Minor (rank)|Minor]]. The High Council, [[Cybertron Intelligence]] and the [[Ministry of Science]] are based at the [[Metroplex (Animated)|Metroplex]].
{{note|Takara also used the name "Autobots" instead of "Cybertrons" for the faction in this franchise.}}

==Shattered Glass==
[[File:Autobot Shattered Glass.png|177px|thumb|...the evil forces of the Autobots.]]
{{quote|'Til all are gone.|[[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]|[[Shattered Glass]]}}

In this universe, the Autobots are the evildoers, bent on conquering and destroying everything in their path, starting with Earth. On Cybertron, they are the dominant faction, ruled by the Prime, specifically [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Ranks are in constant flux due to their backstabbing nature. [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] may very well usurp rule one day. {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}
{{-}}

==Aligned==
[[File:DarknessRising1-untappedenergondeposit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
"Autobot", a contraction of "autonomous robot", was an old philosopical phrase [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] found on the [[DataNet]] and one that he suggested to his friend [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to be the name of their movement to abolish the [[caste system]]. At their hearing with the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]], Orion used the term over and over again to remind his enthusiastic followers of the freedom they sought. He implored the Council choose a new Prime, so [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]] chose Orion as the new Prime, tearing Orion and Megatron's movement in two. In the war with Megatron's Decepticons, the Autobots only held fifteen percent of Cybertron, including [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and [[Kalis]]. The Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', transported by the [[space bridge]] to the [[Milky Way]]. [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[Wrecker]]s, [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Omega Supreme (WFC)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] remained on the planet. ''{{storylink|Transformers: Exodus}}''

{{Main|Team Prime}}
Soon enough, Cybertron became deserted, with Autobot forces stretched thin across the universe. {{storylink|Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)}} With the death of [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]], Optimus only had [[Team Prime|four Autobots]] with him on [[Earth]], {{storylink|Darkness Rising, Part 1}} though he would later be joined on Earth with [[Rescue Force Sigma-17]], {{storylink|Family of Heroes}} [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]], {{storylink|New Recruit}} rogue member [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], {{storylink|Loose Cannons}} Ultra Magnus, {{storylink|Prey (episode)|Prey}}, and even former Decepticon [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners====
[[File:Movie Autobot Screencleaner.jpg|106px|thumb|This was originally the top bit of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion's]] pimp cane.]]
*'''Autobot''' (2008)
:Released by [[Gacha International|Tomy Yujin]] in January 2008, this dangler is a [[Insignia|faction logo]]-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Autobot insignia printed on the other side.
{{-}}

====Kinnerton====
[[File:Kinnerton Transformers Tin.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|For holding all your Autobot-symbol-shaped cookies.]]
*'''Transformers Tin''' (2008)
: Confectionery and... stationary company [[Kinnerton]] produced ''Movie''-style Autobot sigil-shaped tins. It is currently unknown what these tins were used for. These tins and other Kinnerton products were available in [[Australia]].
{{-}}

====PTI Group====
*'''Transformers Treat Containers''' (2008)
:Produced as an exclusive for [[Target]] stores, these blue plastic containers were molded in the shape of the Autobot symbol. They were sold in packs of three. While not dishwasher safe, they were perfect for containing any number of small treats.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cybertron''' (サイバトロン ''Saibatoron''), '''Autobot''' (オートボット ''Ōtobotto'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Bǒk Pāǐ''' (博派, "Fraternity Faction")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Autobotok'''
*''Indonesian:'' '''Otobot''' (오토봍 ''Autobot''), '''Pangjagwa''' (팡자과 ''Peacekeeper/Saver'')
*''Italian:'' '''Autorobot'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Qì Chē Rén''' (China, 汽车人, "Car-Robot"), '''Bó Pâi'''(博派, "Bot Faction"), '''Autobot''' (Taiwan, 奧特巴 ''Àu Tè Bā'')
*''Polish:'' '''Autoboty'''
*''Portuguese:'' '''Autobóticos''' (Portugal comic), '''Optimus''' (Brazil comic)
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Cybery''' (Кібери, ''Cybers'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated factions]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Machine Wars]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]

Megatron (G1)/toys

2014-07-23T04:10:10Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{suite}}
[[File:Instructionart-megatrong2combat.jpg|thumb|250px]]
Many toys have been made of '''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'''. So many, they have to get their own page!

==Generation 1==
{{anchor|G1v1}}[[File:G1Megatron toy.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|This photo needs an orange cap or someone might shoot the wiki.]]
*'''Megatron''' (Decepticon Leader, 1984/1985)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''16'''
**''Accessories (Hasbro release)'': Silencer, stock, telescopic sight/fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon"
**''Accessories (Takara release)'': Sword, "high-density infrared laser cannon", 20 bullets

: Released in the first year of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original Megatron toy began life as the ''[[Microman]]'' figure "Gun Robo - P38", which transforms into an accurate replica of a Walther P-38 pistol. This ''Microman'' figure was available in two forms: a standard version in two color schemes (one grey, one black), and the "Gun Robo - P38 U.N.C.L.E.", outfitted with three distinctive accessories—a scope, a silencer and a stock—that replicate the appearance of the unique, specialized Walther pistol seen in the popular 1960s spy television series ''[[Wikipedia:The Man from U.N.C.L.E.|The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'' <ref>"U.N.C.L.E. Special" Carbine at CIA Museum, [http://web.archive.org/web/20100324191047/https://www.cia.gov/about-cia/cia-museum/spy-fi-archives/item08.html archived version]</ref> It was the "U.N.C.L.E." version, with all of its special accessories, that was released by Hasbro as Megatron. When the figure is in robot mode, the sight doubles as his signature arm-mounted [[fusion cannon]], but can also be combined with the other attachments to form either a "Particle Beam Cannon" weapons emplacement that Megatron can man, or a "Telescopic Laser Cannon" that connects to the figure as an over-shoulder weapons array. The pieces can also form a turret that a ''Microman'' figure can sit on and operate (that's what the tiny handles on Megatron's fusion cannon are for), but this feature was naturally left out of the ''Transformers'' version's instructions. Megatron also came with a chromed silver "high-density infrared laser cannon" that plugs into his either of his hands.

: The original ''Microman'' release of the toy that would be Megatron featured a spring-loaded firing mechanism that allowed the toy to shoot ([[for safety reasons|dangerously small]]) plastic bullets one at a time from its barrel. A similar launching mechanism was also built into the stock piece, which could launch the bullets when the accessories were configured into their weapons emplacement mode, or attach to Megatron's hip when in robot mode and launch the bullets through his barrel. As with all missile-firing gimmicks, this feature was removed from the Hasbro release of the toy, though the ports into which the bullets were inserted are still present.

: Megatron has had several variations, reissues and [[redeco]]s released down through the years; this article strives to list each distinct edition of the toy under its own respective series. The earliest variation of the toy came in 1985, when (like all toys originally available in 1984) a factory-applied [[rubsign]] was added to Megatron's right arm while another version had the rub sign on his left hip guard. Then, the following year, when he was no longer a part of the toy assortment sold at retail, Megatron was made available as a mail-away item in the "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (G1)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]" flier packed in with boxed ''Transformers'' toys. He cost $21.50 and five [[Robot Point]]s.

: Perhaps the most significant variant of Megatron released in these early years was the version of the figure released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in Japan (pictured below). Instead of using the ''Microman'' "U.N.C.L.E." figure as Hasbro had, Takara released the ''standard'' version of the Gun Robo P-38 ''Microman'' figure, in its grey color scheme, which featured flat grey plastic on the chest and arms (where Hasbro's toy was chromed), and blue plastic on the inner arms and legs (where Hasbro's was red). Most notably, like that standard ''Microman'' figure, Takara's Megatron did not come with the stock, silencer and scope accessories (lacking even the attachment point for his cannon on his right arm), but instead came with a silver-chromed sword and retained his original bullet-firing mechanism. Takara's [[package art]] for the figure was an entirely different illustration from the Hasbro version, showing this toy's accessories, but it still erroneously showed the figure with red plastic on its limbs. This coloration was later [[Repurposing|repurposed]] by [[e-HOBBY]] for a new character named [[Megaplex (MW)|Megaplex]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VSX}}
[[File:G1toy japanese megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Convoy VS Megatron''' (Multi-pack, 1985)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VSX'''
**''Accessories'': Sword, "high-density infrared laser cannon", 20 bullets

: In Japan, Megatron was also made available in a special two-pack with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]]. Both toys were identical to their individual releases. In Megatron's case, that means unchromed gray plastic, blue instead of red, and a functional firing mechanism and sword, instead of the scope, silencer and stock. This box also used an altered version of the individual release's box-art, turning his head sideways to face Prime, as opposed to the original's camera-facing head position.

{{-}}{{anchor|GoodBye}}
[[File:G1toy gb megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Good Bye Megatron''' (Multi-pack, 1986)
**''Accessories'': Sword, "high-density infrared laser cannon", 20 bullets, targeting sight/fusion cannon

: Megatron was released again as part of a special "Good Bye" set to commemorate his passing ([[Galvatron (G1)|of sorts]]) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', packaged with [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]] (who also was now no more). Although it still lacked the chrome seen on the Hasbro version of the toy, this edition of the figure replaced the blue plastic seen on previous Takara releases with Hasbro's show-accurate red, and included the fusion cannon accessory for the first time with a Takara release, complete with the mounting point now added to Megatron's right arm. Though still lacking the silencer and stock, the toy retained its Japanese-exclusive sword accessory and its bullet-firing mechanism, with one modification: The bullets, formerly blue, were now red.

: Despite the change to the toy's colors, the box art on this set, the same art used for the [[Hasbro]] releases, was recolored to match the blue of the ''previous'' releases. Whoops.

{{-}}
*'''Galvatron''' (Decepticon [[City Commander]], 1986)

{{main|Galvatron (G1)/toys}}

{{-}}{{anchor|ActionMaster}}
*'''Neutro-Fusion Tank with Megatron''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories'': Neutro-Fusion Tank, 4 missiles, "twin laser cannon"
[[File:Neutro-fusiontanktoy1.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Uh-oh! Visual interest!]]
: Megatron returned as an ''[[Action Master]]'' in 1990, and as with most ''Action Master'' figures, he could not transform. His sculpt was based heavily upon the character's animation model design. Megatron is compatible with all other Action Master accessories and vehicles.

: He came packaged with the [[Neutro-Fusion Tank]], a large tank vehicle whose hull could transform into a base/gun emplacement, with the turret forming a flight pod. Four "corrosive smoke shell" accessories mounted on both sides of the tank. There are seats for two Action Master figures on the front on either side of the barrel, another seat inside the turret, and four pegs on the back of the tank for standing additional Action Master figures.

:The tank's turret can detach and become a "jet throne," which features flip-out wings, and the body of the tank transforms into a missile-launcher battle station. The battle station has two seats on either side behind the missile launchers (non-firing) and a stowing bay in the center for an additional figure.

:In a fairly notable omission, ''Action Master'' Megatron did not come with the character's iconic fusion cannon accessory. In 1992, however, a Japanese fan sculpted his own cannon accessory, which could plug into the figure's arm using the shoulder screw-hole (seen in the image at right). In a surprising move, Takara gave this cannon their approval and allowed it to be officially sold with their copyright stamp at a Japanese convention {{fact|which one?}} for only one day, at the price of 2000 yen.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1990/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Action Master Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|2001reissue}}
[[File:G1toy 2000 megatron reissue.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron''' (reissue, 2001)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''16-S'''
**''Accessories'': Silencer, stock, telescopic sight/fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon", sword, 20 bullets

:This reissue of the original Megatron figure combines the best aspects of the Hasbro and Takara versions into the most "complete" version of Megatron available at that point. The set features the chromed chest and arms and red plastic of the Hasbro release, and includes the silencer, stock and sight/cannon, while also coming with Takara's sword and functional bullet-firing mechanism.

:This reissue was redecoed to make the simultaneously available exclusive "Megatron Black Version" (see below).

{{-}}{{anchor|BlackG1}}
[[File:G1toy black megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron Black Version''' (2001/2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''16-S'''
**''Accessories'': Silencer, stock, telescopic sight/fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon", sword, 20 bullets

: Where the original Takara Megatron toy made use of one of the two color schemes of the original ''Microman'' Gun Robo P38 toy, this redeco of the 2000 reissue Megatron is an homage to the ''second'', black color scheme for the ''Microman'' toy. Available exclusively through e-Hobby and pre-orders at [[BotCon Japan 2000]], "Megatron Black Version" features dark gunmetal chrome, black plastic instead of grey, and distinctive brown gun handle-grips, fists and "inner helmet". The chrome replaces the flat black plastic of the original ''Microman'' toy, which also had blue plastic on its legs and arms that is here supplanted by Megatron's now-traditional red. The toy was limited to 1000 pieces.

: e-Hobby later reissued Megatron Black Version in February, 2009. This release includes a [[Destron Leader Megatron Black Ver.|mini-comic]] explaining the story behind the redeco.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2000/Destron/BlackMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Megatron Black Version at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Generation 2==
[[File:G2Megatron toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|G2 Megatron is always ready for tank combat in one of Earth's many green and purple jungles.]]
*'''Megatron''' (Decepticon, 1992)
**''Accessories'': Rifle, 6 missiles, sight

: Owing to Hasbro's [[for safety reasons|inability]] to re-release the original Megatron because that toy was a pistol, ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' instead saw the release of an entirely new Megatron toy in 1992, now as a large green M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. His main gimmick is his gravity-fed cannon, which holds four of his missiles at once (the remaining two can store in clips inside his legs) and can rapidly launch them one after the other. Pulling back on the cannon's tab drops a missile into the firing tube and triggers a "lock and load" sound effect, and pressing the launch button is accompanied by a firing sound effect. In tank mode, pressing a panel on his forward section trigger's the toy's infamous battle cry of '''"Megatron Attack!"''', while pressing down on the tank body while it is on a flat surface activates engine noises.

: In robot mode, Megatron is, by the standards of the time, a very large robot, towering over all ''Generation 2'' incarnations of Optimus Prime. His legs are immobile, but he has upper shoulder rotation and elbow joints; when raised, his left arm triggers an electronic laser sound effect. His cannon and all its sound effects still work in this mode, as does his "Megatron Attack!" sound effect, now triggered by pressing down on the figure's head.

: This sculpt was slightly [[redeco]]ed (with new stickers) as ''[[Beast Wars II (toyline)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Megastorm]].

: Furthermore, a [[retool]]ed version of the toy's lock-and-load shoulder cannon (or a new sculpt heavily based on it) was used as the main cannon on the [http://www.yojoe.com/sgtsavage/panther.shtml I.R.O.N Panther Tank] in the very short-lived 1995 ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' line ''Sgt. Savage and his Screaming Eagles''.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1993/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Generation 2 Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Hero}}
[[File:G2 CombatHero Megatron toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|By this point, the purple had almost completely taken over his body.]]
*'''Megatron''' (Hero, 1995)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TRF-2'''
**''Accessories'': Rifle, 2 air-launch missiles

:Megatron was released again the following year as [[Hero (G2)|Hero]] Megatron: a smaller, but similarly styled tank based off the M1 Abrams. This Megatron was purple and came with a bellows that fired an air-propelled missile. Both missiles could be kept on Megatron thanks to clips on his turret, which become his robot mode arms... conveniently kinda simulating the "classic" Megatron arm cannon to boot.

: Hero Megatron was designed with articulation in mind, so he was loaded with multiple swivel and universal joints, giving him far greater movement compared to his original ''Generation 2'' toy. However, it's really just friction that keeps his joints tight and his parts together in vehicle mode (no pegs or clips) so after a bit of time and play, he turns pretty floppy.

: This toy was released in Europe, albeit with a "MEGATRON RULES"-free blank chest sticker, as [[Archforce]]. It was also redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Bludgeon (RID)|Bludgeon]] (which has since been [[Repurposing|repurposed]] to become "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]" [[Bludgeon (SG)|Bludgeon]]), and retooled to become [[#reverseconvoy|Reverse Convoy]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1994/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Hero Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Go-Bot}}
[[File:Megatron-G2GoBot.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|He'd be a better shot if he could only see over his hood-chest.]]
*'''Megatron''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories'': Rifle

: Part of the second assortment of [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]], this version of Megatron is a mild [[redeco]] of the Autobot [[Blowout]], transforming into a 1:64-scale Porsche 959 sports car with through-axle construction. This not only makes him roll exceptionally fast in car mode, but also makes him largely compatible with playsets from the "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" toy-car lines. Megatron and Blowout share the same blue and black inner robot colors, but Megatron uses opaque silver plastic with a shiny metallic silver paint overcoat, as opposed to Blowout's smoky-clear plastic. (All of the toys from the first wave that had transparent plastics were released in this wave with opaques instead; Blowout and [[Firecracker]] became new versions of Megatron and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#GobotOptimusPrime|Optimus Prime]] respectively, while [[Gearhead]] and [[Motormouth]] stayed themselves.)

: In Japan, his hood was tampographed with a stylized "T" with the ''Transformers'' logo set within the top bar, the same deco that appears on Go-Bots [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] and the Japanese release of Go-Bots Optimus Prime.

:This mold was also used to make Go-Bots [[Frenzy (G1)##Generation 2 2|Frenzy]] and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Hot Shot (RID)|Hot Shot]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1995/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Go-Bot Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|CombatHero}}
[[File:CombatHeroMegatron.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|I AM POWERED BY UNOBTAINIUM!]]
*'''Megatron''' (Combat Hero, unreleased)
**''Accessories'': rifle, 2 air-launch missiles

: This kinda-sorta "arctic"-camo version of the [[#Hero|Hero Megatron]] toy was solicited to numerous retailers, and is one of a great many ''Generation 2'' toys to never see the light of day. Precious few samples of this toy exist.

: At [[BotCon 1996]], a donated Combat Hero Megatron was one of the items in the charity auction, along with several other canceled ''Generation 2'' toys.

::*''[http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Prototypes/Generation2/HeroMegatronProtoMOSC.html "Combat Hero" Megatron in packaging at Super Toy Archive]''
::*''[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/resources/review/generation+2/camoflague+megatron/3725 Image gallery of a loose "Combat Hero" Megatron at Transformers @ The Moon]''
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}{{anchor|ATB}}
[[File:G2toy ATB megs and screamer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Cancelled?! This is all YOUR fault, Starscream!]]
*'''Megatron''' (Decepticon, limited test market release)
**''Accessories'': 12 missiles, 2 missiles launchers

: A planned-but-more-or-less-canceled redeco of ''Generation 2'' [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]], Megatron would have transformed into a "flying wing" Advanced Tactical Bomber (when combined with his smaller "partner" [[Starscream (G1)/toys#ATB|Starscream]]) with an under-slung six-missile gatling cannon. Each wing can store three more missiles, which can "carpet-bomb" targets below by pressing the pressure-launch buttons above each. He can also transform into a treaded "tank" mode, activated by removing Starscream from the jet mode and activating a spring-loaded [[Autotransformation|autotransform]] mechanism in his wings.

: This toy's deco was used to make ''[[Beast Wars II (toyline)|Beast Wars II]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[BB]] and [[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream]] out of the same mold-set. This mold was also used to make ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Dreadwind (RID)|Dreadwind]] and ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' [[Gigant Bomb]].

: According to the Toy Fair 1995 Transformers presentation, the toy's missiles were intended to glow in the dark. This feature was not carried over to the Beast Wars II BB/Starscream set.

: This figure was only released to test markets in Ohio in very limited quantities. It was never available as a wide release.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/issue02/atbmegs.htm ATB Megatron in packaging at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/resources/review/generation+2/+megatron+atb/3590 Image gallery of a loose ATB Megatron at Transformers @ The Moon]''
{{-}}

==Beast Wars==

[[File:BWtoy-MegatronBasic.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Go Gators!]]
* '''Optimus Primal VS Megatron''' (Basic 2-pack, 1996)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-6'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/tail

:Early on the life of the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toyline]], before the debut of the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] (which definitively established ''Beast Wars'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] as a separate, distinct character), packaging [[bio]]s and the [[Optimus Primal vs Megatron!|mini-comic]] sold with this first ''Beast Wars'' Megatron figure indicated that he was the same Megatron from Generation 1 and 2. As such, all the Megatron toys released in this early era of the ''Beast Wars'' line are listed here for completeness, representing a [[micro-continuity]] in which Generation 1 Megatron took on these forms.

:The initial version of ''Beast Wars'' Megatron transforms into a green alligator. The toy shares a mold with [[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]], sporting different beast and robot mode heads and lacking the lizard's frill (though the screw hole for the frill bracket remains); as the two toys were released at the same time, it is unknown if one is a [[retool]] of the other, or if the mold was designed for both simultaneously. Megatron transforms via a spring-loaded one-step process, and his removable beast-mode tail hides a non-firing blaster cannon that becomes a hand-held weapon for his robot mode.

:This mold was redecoed into the purple Megaligator ([[#CDgator|see below]]), and a different redeco was proposed for the unproduced [[Albitron]]. The Iguanus version of the mold was redecoed into [[Crazybolt]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1996/Predacon/MegatronGator/megatron.htm More information on ''Beast Wars'' Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWultra}}
[[File:Bwmegatron toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Don't call him Barney.]]
* '''Megatron''' (Ultra, 1996)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-1'''
**''Accessories:'' Two missiles, water squirter

: This version of Megatron transforms into a purple organic ''Tyrannosaurus rex'', and is loaded with multiple play features. His dinosaur head, which becomes his right hand in robot mode, features a [[water-squirting gimmick]] activated by opening the dinosaur's mouth, while his tail folds into a working plunger-operate pincer that forms his left arm. The outer shells of his dinosaur thighs conceal spring-loaded missile launchers that fire anchor-shaped projectiles, and like all larger ''Beast Wars'' figures of the era, he features a [[mutant head]], formed from two bat-like wing adornments that fold around his robot head.

: This mold was also used to make the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobot]] [[T-Wrecks]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on ''T. rex'' Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|GatorJ}}
[[File:BWtoy takara megaligator.jpg|thumb]]
* '''Megaligator''' (Basic, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-6'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/tail

: In Japan, the alligator Megatron toy was also sold individually, as well as in a two-pack with Optimus. Both Japanese releases of the figure are identical to the Hasbro version.

{{-}}{{anchor|CDgator}}
[[File:CDMegaligator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Because a solid grey alligator would just be silly.]]
*'''Amazon Showdown''' (Basic 2-pack, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''VS-S1'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun/tail

:This figure is a purple [[redeco]] of Megatron's alligator form, and was sold with a red and blue redeco of the bat version of Optimus Primal. This may or may not be intended to be either Generation 1 Megatron or ''Beast Wars'' Megatron—we don't really know. The set also came with a CD-ROM featuring tech specs and video clips of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon cast and images to color.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1997/Destron/MegagatorJapan/megatron.htm More information on Amazon Showdown Megaligator at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==Machine Wars==
[[File:MWMegatron toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And that's why Thundercracker turned green.]]
* '''Megatron''' (Basic, 1997)
**''Accessories'': 2-part rifle

: Sharing a mold with his concurrently-released ally [[Megaplex (MW)|Megaplex]] (which had been a canceled mold developed for ''Generation 2''), ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' Megatron transforms from a [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet]] to robot mode with a spring-loaded one-step transformation. The two halves of his rifle store in the back of his robot-mode legs.

: Oddly, the ''Machine Wars'' stock photos (and even the boxart) portray Megatron as the gray F-22 jet and Megaplex as the blue one, the ''opposite'' of the actual toys. This means that either the package designers made the mistake, or the toys were packaged on the wrong cards. The latter is more likely, since gray is more associated with Megatron than blue. Like most other toys in the line, the boxart was recycled from an earlier figure, in this case from the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] [[Falcon (G1)|Falcon]].

: This mold was also used to make ''[[Beast Wars II (toyline)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Thrust (BWII)|Thrust]], ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Wind Sheer (RID)|Wind Sheer]], and ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' [[Air Hunter]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/1997/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Machine Wars Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
==Choro-Q Robo==
[[File:Choroq megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
* '''Megatron TV Version''' (2001)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''Q/03'''

:''[[Choro-Q|Choro-Q Robo]]'' Megatron is a small, cutesified transforming figure of the Decepticon leader. He is the only ''Choro-Q Robo'' Transformers figure that does not come with a weapon accessory, but after all, he does turn ''into'' a gun. In a bizarre and hilarious touch, Megatron has wheels on his base and barrel, so that he can share the common feature of the ''Choro-Q Robo'' figures: a pull-back motor!

:Sadly, Megatron's gray plastic is ''extremely'' prone to [[Photodegradation|yellowing]] even when not exposed to sunlight and becomes brittle just as quickly, shattering to bits easily. Thankfully, the black version has no such problem.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2001/Destron/ChoroQMegatron/megatron.htm More information on ''Choro-Q'' Megatron at TFU.info]''

* '''Megatron Black Version''' (2001)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''Q/04'''

:This version of ''Choro-Q Robo'' Megatron is a redeco of the first, decked out in a metallic color scheme based on the "Black Version" of the reissue of the Generation 1 figure released earlier that year.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2001/Destron/ChoroQBlackMegs/megatron.htm More information on ''Choro-Q'' Black Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Transformers Collection==
{{anchor|TFCMegatron}}
[[File:G1toy tfc megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron''' (2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''6'''
**''Accessories'': Silencer, stock, telescopic sight/fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon", sword, 20 bullets, [[energon mace]]

:The original Generation 1 Megatron figure was again reissued in 2003 as part of Takara's ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' series. This release was identical to the previous 2000 reissue, in that it featured the colors of the Hasbro release of the toy, and all the accessories of both the Hasbro and Takara versions, but this time, it also included a new [[energon mace]] weapon which plugs over Megatron's hand, as used by the Decepticon leader in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]". Much like the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|"New Year Special"]] version of Optimus Prime released the previous year, Megatron also came with a sheet of Decepticon [[insignia]] stickers of different sizes, and a Decepticon mouse pad.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm More information on Transformers Collection Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TFCStarscream}}
[[File:TFC09ScreamerHoldingMegs.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Sometimes I just... want to be held.]]
* '''Starscream''' (Transformers Collection, 2002)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''9'''
: A diminutive version of Megatron in his Walther P-38 mode was included as a new accessory with the ''Transformers Collection'' release of Starscream. Needless to say, he doesn't transform, but can be held by Starscream in both modes. Megatron's handle disconnects to reveal a peg, which can then be inserted into either of Starscream's fists, which were specifically resculpted for this purpose. Each fist also features a tab on its underside, into which Megatron's handle can be inserted, completing the effect. Megatron can also attach to Starscream's jet mode; the right-hand side of Megatron's handle features a square peg which is designed to fit snugly in gaps in Starscream's pectorals, as in the Generation 1 episode, "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]". Unfortunately, this peg has, for no fathomable reason, been cast in the same sky blue color as Starscream's hands, unnecessarily making it ''as obtrusive as humanly possible''.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Destron/AnimeStarscream/starscream.htm More information on Transformers Collection Starscream at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Commemorative Series==

*'''Megatron''' (unreleased)
**''Accessories:'' Silencer, stock, telescopic sight/fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon", sword

: Hasbro attempted to include the original Generation 1 Megatron toy in their [[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Commemorative Series]] of reissues, but his realistic-gun-ness posed [[for safety reasons|a challenge]]. In an attempt to convince Toys R Us (the retailer through whom the line was exclusively available) to carry the toy, Hasbro proposed an extensive redeco of the figure, replacing its silver chrome with blue and its grey plastic with bright orange, including the tip of his silencer, in accordance with standard safety measures taken with toy guns. Even this was not enough to convince the chain to release the figure and it was shelved, but the design was shown to fans at [[BotCon 2005]], where it was noted that a potential way to the market the unusually-colored toy would have been to brand it as "Lava Megatron", depicting the Decepticon leader after his dunk in lava at the end of the cartoon episode, "[[Heavy Metal War]]". Fans, however, had another nickname for it that became better known: "Safety Megatron". Notably, this version of the toy would apparently have come with Megatron's Japanese-exclusive sword accessory.

:*''[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=177341559109628&set=a.129078730602578.24553.129076873936097&type=1&theater Images of "Safety Megatron" on The Spacebridge's facebook page]''

==Smallest Transforming Transformers==
[[File:STFMegatron toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Not 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime's gun.]]
*'''Megatron''' (2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GTF 07'''
**''Accessories:'' Fusion cannon/scope

: ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' Megatron was released in the second wave of the diminutive Takara toyline, including only his fusion cannon. Easily the most complex of the ''Smallest Transforming'' figures, Megatron is a just-barely-simplified version of his original Generation 1 toy, possessing the same transformation scheme and retaining most of his articulation.

:Just as ''Smallest Transforming'' Optimus Prime's trailer was released as a separate figure in the line, so too were a set of silencer and stock attachments originally intended to be released for Megatron in the line's third wave. Unfortunately, this wave, and most of the other original figures it was set to contain, was cancelled, and so Megatron was left under-armed.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2004/Destron/SmallestMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Smallest Transforming Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

[[File:Wst vsx megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
* '''Convoy vs Megatron''' (multipack, 2004)
** ''Japanese ID Number:'' '''VSX'''
** ''Accessories:'' Fusion cannon/scope

:Available exclusively through [[Dengeki Hobby]] magazine, this ''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' two-pack contains both Optimus Prime and Megatron, in homage to the original 1984 "VSX" giftset containing the original versions of the two leaders. While Optimus is unaltered from his original release, Megatron takes the homage a little further, removing the swirled pattern from the original figure's chest and replacing the red plastic with blue to emulate the original Takara version of the full-size Generation 1 figure.
{{--}}

==Robotmasters==
{{anchor|reverseconvoy}}[[File:RMtoy reverse convoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|My Convoy counterpart is nearby. Real nearby.]]
*'''Reverse Convoy''' (Deluxe, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-24'''
**''Accessories'': "Reverse Blaster", missile

: A [[retool]] of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' "Hero Megatron" toy, Rebirth Megatron transforms into a heavily modified blue and tan [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|M1 Abrams tank]]. In addition to a new "[[Reverse Convoy]]" head that flips out of the same compartment as the head on the original version of the mold, the toy features a brand new "Mega Blaster" cannon assembly that houses most of the toy's new features. The Mega Blaster fires a spring-loaded blue missile, and the rear of the cannon can be removed and transformed into the hand-held "Reverse Blaster" weapon, featuring twin barrels and a rack of six (non-removable) missiles. Once the Reverse Blaster is removed, the toy's "Rebirth Megatron" head can be rotated out from the back of the cannon to take the place of Reverse Convoy's head between the figure's shoulders.

: The original version of this mold was use to make [[Archforce]] and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Bludgeon (RID)|Bludgeon]] (which has been [[Repurposing|repurposed]] to also be "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]" [[Bludgeon (SG)|Bludgeon]]). The toy still retains the opening panels on its forearms, despite no longer featuring the large missiles they are designed to store.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Destron/ReverseConvoy/reverseconvoy.htm More information on Reverse Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==20th Anniversary/Masterpiece==
[[File:GunmodeMegsMasterpieceConvoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Bang bang! He shot me down! Bang bang! I hit the ground...]]
* '''Optimus Prime''' (2003/2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-1'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:''20th Anniversary'' Optimus Prime included an accessory of Megatron in his classic Walther P-38 altmode. Although non-transforming, it is quite detailed and includes the individually removable silencer / barrel extension, scope, and (hinged) stock. Although notionally [[scale]]d to be wielded by Prime, Megatron is really rather small, so a diagonal sliding joint is added to his handle, allowing it to be lengthened and narrowed enough so that Prime can actually hold it. The stock extension connecting clamp is prone to breakage, much to the chagrin of owners who keep theirs sealed and untouched.

:Needless to say, the later-released ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Starscream]] (and [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|his]] [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|redecoes]]) can also hold this version of Megatron, and each include a small round clip that plugs in under their nosecones, allowing them to wield Megatron while in jet mode, as Starscream did in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".

:As the ''Masterpiece'' Optimus Prime mold has been has re-released multiple times, so too has Megatron. He was made available again without changes as an accessory for Takara's MP-4, "[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#mp4|Convoy Perfect Edition]]" and MP-1L, "[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#lastshot|Convoy Last Production]]", and Hasbro's "[[#20thDVD|DVD Edition]]", but has also been redecoed several times: these distinct new versions of Megatron are listed below.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/20thPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|MPGold}}
[[File:MPtoy gold megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|This thing was bad ass in ''GoldenEye''.]]
*'''Convoy''' (Lucky Draw Figure, 2004)
**''ID number:'' '''MP-1'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:Offered as part of a Lucky Draw campaign in August 2004, this extremely rare version of ''Masterpiece'' Prime is almost entirely vacuum-metalized gold, lacking any other painted detail or stickers. The same is true of the Megatron accessory, who is all chromed golden save for the butt of his handle and his stock, which are metallic golden plastic.

::*''[http://www.goldoptimusprime.com/ More information on gold ''Masterpiece'' Convoy at GoldOptimusPrime.com]''
{{-}}{{anchor|MP2}}
[[File:MPtoy magnus megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
* '''Ultra Magnus''' (2004)
**''ID number:'' '''MP-2'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:When ''Masterpiece'' Optimus Prime was recolored to become [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]], Megatron received a new coat of paint as well: the black and brown color scheme of his ''Microchange'' progenitor, which had previously been used on the eHobby exclusive "Megatron Black Version".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/UltraMagnus/ultramagnus.htm More information on Masterpiece Ultra Magnus at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|MasterpieceMegs}}
[[File:MP05 megatron.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|You will pay dearly for this. Literally and metaphorically...]]
*'''Megatron''' (2007)
**''ID number:'' '''MP-5'''
**''Accessories:'' Fusion cannon, energon mace, energy dagger, laser pistol, [[Kremzeek]] figure

: Scaled to the same height as ''20th Anniversary'' Optimus Prime, ''Masterpiece'' Megatron is an incredibly complex figure—potentially one of, if not ''the'', most complicated ''Transformers'' toys to date—designed to depict a fairly [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] Megatron capable of transforming into a realistic (if oversized) Walther P-38. In achieving this seemingly impossible goal, Megatron winds up with the least articulation of the ''Masterpiece'' line, as well as a notably low percentage of die-cast metal.

: Like Prime before him, Megatron comes with several of his iconic accessories from the Generation 1 cartoon: his energon mace from "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2", the energy dagger and laser pistol used in his duel against Prime in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', and a tiny translucent [[Kremzeek]] figure. His fusion cannon also contains a powerful red LED activated when the round detailing on the side of his cannon is pressed.

: Due to concern surrounding updated realistic toy gun laws, some online importers modified ''Masterpiece'' Megatron in order to safely get the toy through United States customs. This customarily involved inserting plugs into the tip of the toy's barrel, from rounded red ones affixed by adhesive to [[:File:HLJplug.jpg|flat-tipped yellow ones]] that could be easily removed. Ultimately, there were no reports of problems with the toy making its way into America, but Australia was another matter. Considered a replica gun and therefore a "restricted import" by Australian Customs, both mass shipments and individual packages of the toy were seized, requiring buyers in some areas to obtain a special permit to own him.

: Given the relatively thin clips throughout the toy to hold it tightly together in gun mode, Megatron's plastic components are particularly prone to breakage, especially on the clips on the upper black grip plates and some of the silver sections near the trigger. Many owners of this figure have also reported rust and tarnish problems on what few metal pieces he has; if your Megatron is a sufferer, check out [http://seibertron.com/energonpub/viewtopic.php?t=16106 this guide] for solutions.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2007/Destron/MPMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Masterpiece Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|MP1B}}
[[File:MPtoy eldedroid megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|... Don't suppose these are [[Megaplex (MW)#Generation 1|Megaplex]]es now, are they?]]
*'''Convoy Black Ver.''' (2010)
**''ID number:'' '''MP-1B'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:The version of Megatron included with this black redeco of Prime—representing a mass-produced [[Eldedroid]]—was much the same as the original accessory, but with dark metallic silver paint.

{{-}}{{anchor|MP4S}}
[[File:MPtoy sleep mode megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Now even ''more'' breakable!]]
*'''Convoy Sleep Mode''' (2010)
**''ID number:'' '''MP-4S'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:Just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#sleepmode|this release]] of Optimus Prime was recolored in the faded black and grey hues of he took on with his death in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', so too did his Megatron accessory get a movie-themed makeover: this Megatron is cast entirely in translucent purple plastics, evoking the scene of his transformation into Galvatron from the film, in which he is first reduced to a transparent purple wireframe model.

{{-}}{{anchor|MP13}}
[[File:TRU Masterpiece Soundwave-MegatronGun.jpg|thumb|300px]]
* '''Soundwave''' ([[January 26|1-26]]-[[2013]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-13'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:A [[repaint]] and [[retool]] of the Megatron gun originally included with MP-01 and his redecos, the '''Megatron gun''' included with [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-13 Soundwave]] has been retooled in response to the breakage issues the original version suffered from, adding a joint for the stock's attachment point, thickening the clamp, and replacing the screw on the stock with a pin. In terms of deco, the minute red paint application on the scope is omitted.

{{anchor|HasbroMasterpieceSoundwave}}
* '''Soundwave''' (2013)
**''ID number:'' '''MP-02'''
**'''09 OF 30'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:The [[Hasbro]] version of ''Masterpiece'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#HasbroMasterpiece|Soundwave]] also comes with the Megatron gun. It is seemingly unchanged.

{{-}}{{anchor|MP13B}}
* '''Soundblaster''' ([[2014]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-13B'''
**''Accessories'': Scope, silencer, stock

:A [[repaint]] and [[retool]] of the Megatron gun originally included with MP-01 and his redecos, the '''Megatron gun''' included with [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-13B Soundblaster]] has been retooled in response to the breakage issues the original version suffered from, adding a joint for the stock's attachment point, thickening the clamp, and replacing the screw on the stock with a pin. In terms of deco, this time the paint is omitted apart from the Decepticon symbol and he is cast in translucent red plastic.

{{-}}

==Titanium Series==
[[File:TitaniumGIJoeHeroesMegatron toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|THE BOX OF DOOM.]]
*'''Megatron''' (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Stand with nameplate

:Part of the very first wave of six-inch ''[[Titanium Series]]'' toys, Megatron was inspired by [[Dreamwave Productions]]' first ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' crossover, set in an alternate-reality World War II. Since the gun mode Megatron sported in that story was nonviable as a toy, this toy features a newly-designed tank alternate mode of made-up model. The backstory of the Megatron from the crossover, including references to Cobra, was retained on the package, make it the first U.S. figure ever produced as part of a ''G.I. Joe / [[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' crossover.

:Although the figure looks somewhat impressive, it notably has the tendency to fall apart during transformation, combined with loose joints, it was relatively difficult to pose in robot mode without it falling over, something that was entirely par for the course when it came to ''Titanium'' figures. It was known for being a shelfwarmer because of its low quality.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/TitMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Titanium Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TiWarWithin}}
[[File:Megatrontitaniumtww.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|THE... NAP OF DOOM?]]
*'''War Within Megatron''' (6" Cybertron Heroes, 2007)
**''Accessories'': Arm cannon, shield, stand with nameplate

:A new ''Titanium Series'' Megatron based on his [[Transformers: The War Within|''War Within'']] design was initially shown at [[BotCon 2006]], and was released in spring of 2007. Like the original comic book design, his robot mode has a removable arm cannon and shield. In contrast to his previous ''Titanium'' toy, this Megatron has a more posable robot mode, but a fairly unimpressive alternate mode with a transformation that consists of little more than lying the toy on its back and attaching the gun/shield. There is a small clip on the back of the toy which designer [[Don Figueroa]] said was to hold his sword, seen in the comic book, but that accessory was ultimately not produced.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/TitTWWMegatron/megatron.htm More information on War Within Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|WarWithin2pack}}
[[File:Titanium war within 2pack.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''War Within Optimus Prime vs. War Within Megatron''' (two-pack, 2007)
**''Accessories'': Arm cannon, shield

:This [[Toys"R"Us]] [[exclusive]] ''Titanium'' two-pack includes the previously-released ''War Within'' Megatron and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Titanium|Optimus Prime]] figures along with a copy of [[The War Within issue 5|''The War Within'' #5]] with an exclusive variant cover. Despite being mentioned in the joint [[instructions]] leaflet for the set, the display bases which came with the individual releases of the figures are not included.

:As the mass retail release of the last waves of the ''Titanium'' "Cybertron Heroes" figures was delayed for several months, this two-pack release Megatron was initially more widely available than the individually-sold one. The pack itself was available in two variations: One version has the Optimus Prime figure more or less identical to its individual release, whereas the other one drops the additional black paint weathering, making him much cleaner-looking.
{{--}}

==Classics (2006)==
[[File:Megatronclassicstoy.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Paint me black and give me to a kid, ASAP.]]
*'''Megatron''' (Voyager, 2006)

:After years of tanks and jets, ''Classics'' Megatron finally found a way to take Megatron back to his root as a transforming gun, complete with a working crosshairs in his scope and a spring-loaded clicking trigger. Described on-package as a "fusion blaster", Megatron's gun mode is apparently based on a [[:File:N-strike maverick.jpg|Nerf N-Strike Maverick blaster]], and decked out in a [[for safety reasons|safety-regulation-friendly]] color scheme consisting of lots of green and purple (in an apparent homage to his old ''Generation 2'' colors), plus bright orange on both the tip of the barrel and the scope. Years later, it would be discovered that, for currently unknown reasons, the bright color of this orange plastic would fade over time, even if not directly exposed to sunlight.

:Early [[stock photography|official Hasbro photographs]], including those appearing on the toy's [[packaging]], show the gun mode's trigger and other small parts as being orange, those parts were gray in later stock photography and the final release. They also depict Megatron with noticeably different "eyebrow" [[paint operation]]s that matched those of the original Megatron toy, consisting of two small black triangles on his gray plastic forehead. The finished toy inverts this, painting most of his forehead black and leaving the triangles unpainted grey.

:In a glaring example of poor [[quality control]], the back of the packaging reads "working scope becomes anti-proton pulse ''[[canon]]''!"<ref name="canon">[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/toys/classics/megatron/928/2/20/ ''Classics'' Megatron's packaging misspells "cannon" as "canon".]</ref>

:''Classics'' Megatron was redecoed in Japan as part of the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' line by [[TakaraTomy]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Classics Voyager Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Ultimate.2BBattle}}
[[File:Classicstoy ultimate battle megatron.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Former Moonwalking extraordinaire.]]
*'''Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle''' (Deluxe versus set, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Rifle
: "Ultimate Battle" Megatron evokes his ''Generation 2'' form as a green tank. Like his pack-in partner, who has a spinning "power punch" action, Megatron features a similar "spinning dervish action" gimmick, his right arm ending not in a fist but a bladed polearm which whirls around with the press of a button at his shoulder. He comes with a small rifle with a rather pointless flip-out stock extension. The very tip of his cannon is a detachable piece, and can become lost ''very'' easily.

: Megatron is [[misassembly|misassembled]] in-package, with his feet swapped and attached backwards. Although not immediately noticeable due to the fact that [[:File:MegatronUltimateBattle.jpg|promotional]] and box-art photography also show this misassembly, any attempt to transform Megatron into tank mode immediately demonstrates the mistake, which is easily corrected by unscrewing his lower legs, reversing the foot pieces, and attaching each to the opposite leg (as has been done in the picture at right).

:In the United States, Megatron was only available in a special two-pack with a similarly unique ''Classics'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Classics (2006)|Optimus Prime toy]], and the specially-produced "[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle|The Ultimate Battle]]" DVD (which is, inappropriately enough, entirely about the [[Unicron Trilogy]]). The two-pack (including the DVD) was also available as a [[Walmart]] [[exclusive]] "Bonus Value" version with two randomly selected members of the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Giant Planet Mini-Con Team]], in the combinations [[Overcast (Cybertron)|Overcast]]/[[Longarm (Cybertron)|Longarm]], Overcast/[[Deepdive]] and Deepdive/Longarm. International markets, including European countries, saw the two-pack in a considerably smaller, differently-shaped box that was lacking the DVD case (in the [[United Kingdom]] and the Netherlands, the DVD just came in a paper sleeve; in other European countries, it was instead made available separately). In addition, the two figures were also sold on [[#cardedultbattle|individual cardbacks]] in some countries (see below). For the United States market, the two-pack was [[rebranding|rebranded]] and [[#universeultbattle|re-released]] in the [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'']] line in 2007, and [[#2010ultimatebattle|again in 2011]] for the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'']] line.

:Not initially released in Japan, this sculpt only got a TakaraTomy release six years later when it was redecoed into "[[#UnitedTank|Tank Megatron]]" for TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' toyline.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsDVDMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Classics Deluxe Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}{{anchor|cardedultbattle}}
[[File:Classicstoy ultimate battle megatron carded.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
*'''Megatron''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Accessories'': Rifle

:The "Ultimate Battle" version of Megatron was also sold on his own in several countries, Mexico, Singapore, and some European countries including the [[United Kingdom]], the Netherlands, Hungary and also Russia. He is identical to the two-pack version, down to his misassembled feet.
{{-}}

==Universe (2003)==
{{anchor|universeultbattle}}[[File:Universetoy ultimate battle.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle''' (multi-pack, 2007/2008)
**''Accessories:'' Rifle

:The "Ultimate Battle" two-pack, sans DVD, was [[rebranding|rebranded]] for inclusion in the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' toy line, and one was one of the last releases to come out of the line, several years after it had ceased regularly releasing figures. The set appeared in liquidation outlets like Big Lots! and Dollar General stores in Fall 2007, then later in [[KB Toys]] in Summer 2008. The figures remain identical to their previous releases, with Megatron's feet still coming assembled backwards.
{{-}}

==Sports Label==
[[File:Nikeatron.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Some idiots thought I was going to be life-sized! Fools! Foooools!!!]]
*'''Megatron featuring Nike Free 7.0''' (2007)
**''ID number:'' '''02'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun

:''[[Transformers Sports Label|Sports Label]]'' Megatron is a retool of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#sportslabel|''Sports Label'' Optimus Prime]], one of the strangest examples of licensed ''Transformers'' products in that he transforms into a ''shoe''. Something of a [[shellformer]], this baffling incarnation of Megatron is primarily black and silver in his alternate mode as a realistic-looking (if notably undersized) Nike Free 7.0 sneaker, complete with gratuitously long real fabric shoelaces (characterized as "electrical discharge cables" in his bio). In robot mode, he sports some additional red paint applications and a somewhat uniquely-shaped yet instantly recognizable Generation 1-inspired head. Also in this mode, Megatron's feet are sculpted in the likeness of his own sneaker mode, making it seem like he's wearing himself!

:His gun splits into two halves and stores inside his [[kibble]] in shoe mode; in an undocumented features, it has two handle pegs on opposite sides, so that it can be held either at its far end or halfway along its length. The gun halves can also be plugged together in two different ways.

:This mold might have been planned for a redeco into [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Sports Label|''Sports Label'' Starscream]], but that's a bit vague.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2007/Destron/SLMegatron/megatron.htm More information on ''Sports Label'' Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Encore==
[[File:Encoretoy megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron''' (2007)
**''ID number:'' '''02'''
**''Accessories'': Silencer, stock, telescopic sight/fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon", sword, 20 bullets

:The original Generation 1 Megatron figure was reissued yet again in 2007 as part of TakaraTomy's new line of "[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]" reissues. Like previous reissues, this Megatron features the Hasbro colors and the accessories from both Hasbro and Takara editions of the figure, with the distinguishing new feature of a tan shade to both his gray plastic and his chrome.
{{-}}

==Henkei! Henkei!==
[[File:Henkeitoy megatron.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Megatron's palette must be swapped... no matter the cost."]]
*'''Megatron''' (Voyager, 2008)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''D-01'''

:''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]] Transformers'' Megatron is a redeco of the ''Classics'' version. Not bound by the safety regulations that necessitated ''Classics'' Megatron's more colorful appearance, ''Henkei'' Megatron features a significantly different color scheme of black, silver and red designed to make him resemble his original Generation 1 appearance, including translucent red plastic to replicate his classic cartoon "Decepticon red" eyes. All ''Henkei'' toys feature (somewhat randomly-applied) vacuum-metalized chrome parts; in Megatron's case, his chest plate and kneecaps are chromed silver.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/ClassicsMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Henkei Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Universe (2008)==
{{anchor|2008legend}}[[File:Megatronlegend2008.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|His shoulders hurt too, buddy!]]
*'''Megatron''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)

:A [[Legends Class]] version of Megatron inspired by his ''Generation 2'' tank design, although featuring a more realistic shade of green.
:Sadly, because of his transformation, when transformed into tank mode his turret doesn't turn around.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/LegendsMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Universe Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{anchor|UniSpecEd}}
*'''Megatron''' (Deluxe Class: Special Edition, 2008)
**''ID number:'' '''SE-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Rifle
[[File:Universe2008-toy SEMegatron.JPG|upright=1.66|thumb]]
:This "Special Edition" of Megatron is a redeco of the "Ultimate Battle" Megatron from ''Classics'', this time featuring a Generation 1-inspired deco of grays, red and black. This new deco takes advantage of the toy's mould break-up to add a fifth plastic colour (where the original only had four), dividing the parts which were dark grey on the original version between light grey, red and black plastic. Also marking this figure as a particularly "special" edition is the fact that it's the first release of the figure to assemble his feet the correct way around. Amusingly, his [[packaging]] [[stock photography]] depicts him as ''missing a part'': his cannon's detachable tip is missing, and the tip of the cannon's stub is painted red to somehow compensate for that.

:Like all the figures in the small Special Edition line, Megatron was designed for Australasian markets and features a bookbox style packaging with black-and-white boxart, retailing at about 150% of the price for a normal deluxe outside of the United States. He was not available at retail in North America, but was for sale on Hasbrotoyshop.com, like the other Special Edition toys.

:Oddly enough, this Megatron and the three other Universe Special Edition toys were included in Taiwanese special value packs each containing a [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)/home video|''Revenge of the Fallen'' DVD]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/HTSMegatron/megatron.htm More information on Special Edition Megatron at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Alternity==
[[File:Alternity Megatron Toy Blade Silver.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Behold, my Inertia Manipulating Device under my Skirt Armor!!!]]
*'''Megatron Blade Silver''' (2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''A-02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 "tesseractal swords"
:The ''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' Megatron toy transforms into a 1:32 scale model of a Nissan 370Z and features die-cast metal parts and rubber tires. The figure wields two "tesseractal swords" which can be pegged at its hips, or stored under the car in vehicle mode. Each forearm features a flip-out "gravital blade."

: In the hyper-dimensional world of the oft-confusing ''Alternity'' fiction, each figure from this line represents a distinct version of a character from a separate [[universal stream]], but which precise Megatron the "Blade Silver" toy embodies has not been disclosed. Upon its initial release, this toy was also available in blue (see below), and later redecoed in a black variant as well. It was later redecoed into ''Alternity'' [[Galvatron (G1)/toys#Alternity|Galvatron]].

:[[:File:Alternity Megatron Cannon.jpg|Early concepts]] for ''Alternity'' showed him with the trademark fusion cannon rather than his twin swords, as well as a pronounced Decepticon [[insignia]] on his chest.

{{-}}{{anchor|AlternityBlue}}
[[File:Alternitytoy blue megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron Premium Le Mans Blue''' (2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''A-02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 "tesseractal swords"

: "Premium Le Mans Blue" Megatron is a blue redeco of the "Blade Silver" version, representing the Megatron of [[universal stream]] [[BT World|Primax 903.0 Beta]]. The figure was available simultaneously with Megatron Blade Silver, sharing the same packaging and pack-in materials, save for the color of the illustration on the front of the box, and a sticker that identified the figure within.

{{-}}{{anchor|AlternityBlack}}
[[File:Alternitytoy black megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron Diamond Black''' (2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''A-02'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 "tesseractal swords"

: Another redeco of ''Alternity'' Megatron, this time transforming into a black car with robot parts in red and gold, and specifically representing the Megatron of universal stream [[Primax 1286.3 Kappa]]. It was released several months after the first two Megatrons and featured a new package illustration.
{{-}}

==United==
[[File:Unitedtoy cybertron megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron Cybertron Mode''' (Deluxe, [[December 25|12-25]]-2010)
**''ID number'': '''UN-04'''
**''Accessories'': Cannon/missile launcher, energy-blast missile

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Transformers United|United]]'' product, "Cybertron Mode" Megatron is a [[redeco]] of the [[Megatron (WFC)#Toys|''War for Cybertron'' Megatron toy]], transforming into a Cybertronian self-propelled gun. The treads of his vehicle can be positioned in either a vertical configuration like a traditional tank or in a horizontal, hovertank configuration. Megatron's spring-loaded cannon can attach to either arm.

:Megatron is cast in a deep dark metallic gray plastic rather than the light gray plastic of the Hasbro version. He also features a blood red metallic paint instead of the more traditional red used on the Hasbro version. Other notable differences include the Decepticon symbol upon his chest as well as lacking paint on the sliding mechanism within his fusion cannon.

:This mold was also used to make [[Darkside Megatron]].

{{-}}{{anchor|UnitedEarth}}
[[File:United Megatron voyager toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Megatron''' (Voyager, 2010)
**''ID number:'' '''UN-09'''

:The second ''United'' Megatron (but still part of the first assortment) is a redeco of the Voyager Class mold from ''[[#Classics (2006)|Classics]]/[[#Henkei! Henkei!|Henkei!]]''.

:This release of Megatron features an extensive silver paint job, as well as metallic crimson for details. This figure's deco is based on the G1 cartoon model, removing any extraneous painted details from the previous releases. The face and eyebrow crest are painted white, giving it an appearance very similar to the initial solicitations of [[Transformers: Classics|Classics]] Megatron.

{{-}}{{anchor|UnitedTank}}
[[File:Unitedtoy thunder megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Megatron rules!" isn't written anywhere on my body, so doesn't that technically make me [[Archforce]]?]]
*'''Tank Megatron''' (Deluxe, [[January 28|1-28]]-2012)
**''ID number:'' '''UN-25'''
**''Accessories:'' Rifle

:Tank Megatron is the first Japanese release of the "Ultimate Battle" Megatron mold from ''Classics'', in a new color scheme paying homage to his ''Generation 2'' "Hero" deco. The connection is strengthened by the [[:File:United Megatron Rules.jpg|photo on the back of the packaging]], which depicts Megatron standing in a ruined, burning landscape, surrounded by over a dozen "Megatron Rules" signs.
{{-}}

==Transformers (2010)==
{{anchor|2010Legend}}
[[File:TF2010-toy Legends Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Safety first!]]
*'''Megatron''' (Legends, 2011)

:Part of the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 ''Transformers'' line's]] "[[Reveal the Shield]]" [[subline imprint]], this toy is based on Megatron's Generation 1 cartoon appearance (with a little inspiration from [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' design around the abdomen), transforming into a variation on Megatron's original gun mode (referred to as a "blaster" on Hasbro's website). As he was part of Reveal the Shield, he has a [[rubsign]] on his chest.

[[File:MP Acid Storm-Chronicle gun Megatron-Pull My Trigger.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|To hell with safety!]]
:In a fit of complete awesomeness, the figure is sculpted with notches in its handle that specifically allow the ''Masterpiece'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Starscream]] mold to grip it. Additionally, the slightly thicker portion of the barrel closer to the main body can be held by the clip included with ''Masterpiece'' Starscream and attach to his jet mode. Unfortunately, Megatron can only be held vertically.

:Despite his tiny size, Hasbro had to cast much of the gun (his arms, the barrel/fusion cannon, and the upper half of his torso) in orange plastic [[for safety reasons]]. Official Hasbro [[stock photography|stock photos]] and early [[prototype|samples]] from China had the orange plastic on the barrel fully painted over in gray, yet the final toy leaves the end of the barrel unpainted.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2011/Decepticon/RTSMegatron/megatron.htm More information on "Reveal the Shield" Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|2010ultimatebattle}}
[[File:TF2010toy ultimate battle.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''The Ultimate Battle''' (multi-pack, 2011)
**''Accessories:'' Rifle
:Another [[rebranding|rebranded]] re-release of the ''Classics'' "[[#Ultimate.2BBattle|Ultimate Battle]]" set, again lacking the DVD and featuring [[misassembly|misassembled]] feet on Megatron. This particular release of the set was available as a "shared exclusive" between Dollar General stores and online retailer [[BigBadToyStore]]. This set was also available at Canadian Tire stores in [[Canada]].
{{-}}

{{anchor|DollarLegends}}
*'''Megatron''' (Legends Class, 2012)
:A [[rebranding|rebranded]] version of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Legends Class Megatron without changes (besides the packaging) was released as a "Dollar Store" exclusive (available at stores such as Dollar General and Big Lots) in generic 2010 ''Transformers'' packaging packaging alongside [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#DollarLegends|Optimus Prime]], [[Starscream (G1)/toys#DollarLegends|Starscream]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#DollarLegends|Bumblebee]].
{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

==G.I. Joe and the Transformers==
[[File:JoevsTF megatron accessory.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Starscream Sky Striker (XP-21F)''' (San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, 2011)

: Produced exclusively for [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2011, this redeco of the ''G.I. Joe'' Sky Striker jet plane into Starscream colors comes with a 3.75" Cobra Commander pilot figure, among whose accessories is a non-transforming gun-mode Megatron.
{{--}}

==Chronicle==
[[File:Chronicletoy ez megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Megatron''' (EZ Collection, 2011)

:A redeco of the 2010 ''Transformers'' Legends Class Megatron was released in Japan as part of the ''[[Transformers Chronicle|Chronicle]]'' EZ Collection line. Due to Japan's different gun laws, he is instead cast in gray plastic, with the barrel being fully painted. The gray paint on the aforementioned barrel is also darker and metallic, (instead of Hasbro's glossy light-gray paint) his red [[paint operation]]s are darker, and he replaces the rubsign with a full-color Decepticon symbol [[tampograph]]. This toy was only available [[Blindpacking|blindpacked]].

{{-}}
{{anchor|G1MovieMegatron}}
[[File:Chronicletoy-CH02G1Megatron.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''G1 Megatron & Movie Megatron''' (multi-pack, 2011)
**''ID number:'' '''CH02'''
**''Accessories:'' Fusion cannon, "high-density infrared laser cannon", sword, 20 bullets

:This [[e-HOBBY]]-exclusive reissue of the original Generation 1 Megatron toy comes in a two-pack with a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Voyager Class [[Megatron (Movie)/toys#Chronicle|Megatron]]. This version of Megatron is made to the specifications of the 1986 "[[#GoodBye|Goodbye Megatron]]" release, featuring red plastic (as opposed to the original Takara blue) but lacking any silver chrome, including his fusion cannon but not his stock and silencer, armed with his laser cannon and sword, and retaining his bullet-firing mechanism. Like most Megatron reissues, the toy features a slight variation in plastic colors from previous releases, this time giving him a darker warmer gray than normal. In a new twist, this version of Megatron features tampographed symbols on his chest and back.

{{-}}
{{anchor|ChronicleEZHero}}
[[File:Chronicletoy ez series2 megatron.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Trukk not munky|Gunn not Tank]]!...no wait, tank is cooler.]]
*'''Megatron''' (EZ Collection, 2011)

:A [[redeco]] of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]] [[Legends Class]] Megatron, this time inspired by his smaller ''Generation 2'' "Hero" tank design.
{{-}}

==Generations==
{{anchor|GenerationsVoyager}}
[[File:Generationstoy-Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Bludgeon (RID)|What goes around, comes around.]]]]
*'''Megatron''' (Voyager Class, 2012)
**''Accessories:'' [[Wikipedia:Katana|Katana]], [[Wikipedia:Wakizashi|tanto]]
: ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Megatron is an Asian market and Toys"R"Us-exclusive redeco/retool of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen:]] [[N.E.S.T. Global Alliance]]'' Voyager Class [[Bludgeon (ROTF)#Voyager|Bludgeon]], sporting a new, smiling head. Megatron transforms from a Japanese [[Wikipedia:Type 90 Kyū-maru|Type 90]] tank into a samurai-esque robot mode. He features a flexible plastic sword which is made out of a portion of the barrel of the tank's main gun, as well as a smaller dagger. The dagger can be stored in a sheath which is revealed from inside the tank turret, and both blades can be slotted in holes provided on the robot mode's left hip guard. Additionally, the dagger's handle can fit in the base of the sword's handle, forming a double-bladed weapon. He has [[Mech Alive]] [[gimmick]]s in his thighs and turret: sculpted cylinders in his thighs rotate whenever his lower legs are rotated, and pulling his turret open makes a sculpted white "disc" at the center rotate while a scabbard for the tantō hinges over to the side and props itself up for use.

:The vehicle mode is one of the very few Transformer tank toys with rubber components to its treads. Portions of the tread links can unlock, allowing them to hang from the robot mode, while the wheels of the treads are integrated separately into the robot mode form itself. The treads still do not function realistically; small plastic wheels on the underside of the treads help the tank mode roll, as is standard with nearly all Transformer tank toys.

:Unlike the other uses of this mold, Megatron comes [[Packaging|package]]d in robot mode holding his swords, with additional plastic and paper ties in the tray imperfectly holding his swords in position. Because they were packaged this way since they were shipped out of the factory, most Megatrons come with the swords being badly bent and warped ''in the box''. Fortunately, the swords' blades can be ''mostly'' straightened by leaving them sheathed in their hidden scabbards. Straightening their ''hilts'' is a different matter, though.

: This version of the mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' [[Megatron (Cloud)|Megatron]], while the original version was redecoed into ''Transformers: [[Hunt for the Decepticons]]'' [[Banzaitron]], and differently retooled to make ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Overlord (Masterforce)#Timelines|Gigatron]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2012/Decepticon/GDOMegatron/megatron.htm More information on ''Generations'' Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Legends}}
[[File:Generationstoy-T30-LegendsMegatronChopShop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Watch yer wallet, Megs.]]
*'''Megatron & Chop Shop''' (Legends Class, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / #004'''

:Part of the fourth wave of 2012-onwards ''Generations'' Legends Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Megatron is a new mold that is roughly the same size as a ''[[Cyberverse]]'' Commander Class toy. He transforms from a generic tank with rotating turret into a robot based on his [[Alex Milne]] pre-war design as seen in "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]" from [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' ongoing series, and features [[5mm post|5mm-compatible]] ports for his hands and left forearm/turret roof.

: He comes with [[Chop Shop#Generations|Chop Shop]], who can transform into a stag beetle, a robot, a weapon with a 5mm handle, and a mine plow that attaches to the front of Megatron’s tank mode. He features gearing that opens his pinchers when his legs are moved.

::*''[http://tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/GenLegMegatron/megatron.htm More information on ''Generations'' Legends Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Deluxe}}
[[File:Generations IDW megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|And the fandom collectively soiled itself.]]
*'''Megatron''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / #003'''
**''Accessories'': 2 wingtips (combine to form Fusion Cannon)

:Part of the fifth wave of 2012-onwards ''Generations'' Deluxe Class toys, ''Thrilling 30'' Megatron is based on [[Don Figueroa]]'s stealth bomber design from the IDW Publishing ''The Transformers'' ongoing series (which resembles a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit). In robot mode, his wingtips detach to combine and transform into his [[Fusion cannon#Deluxe|fusion cannon]] (although it's actually designed after the [[rail gun]] this body was equipped with in IDW's comics, but of course Hasbro couldn't call it ''that'' on a toy's packaging). The cannon can peg into 5mm ports on his hands and forearms.

:In the American release Megatron comes packed in with a copy of IDW's [[Spotlight: Megatron]], sporting a 'Hasbro Exclusive Cover' cropped from the [[Clayton Crain]] [[:File:SLMegatron cvrRI.jpg|retailer incentive cover]]. In European and Canadian markets the figure was released without the Spotlight.

:He was later retooled into [[Dreadwing (G2)#Generations|Dreadwing]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/GenMegatron/megatron.htm More information on ''Thrilling 30'' Megatron at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SDCCMetroplex}}
*'''Metroplex''' (Titan Class, 2013)
**'''01 OF 30'''

: An [[exclusive]] version of Titan Class [[Metroplex (G1)#SDCC|Metroplex]] was made available at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2013. He comes with 12 small, non-transforming figurines of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#SDCCMetroplex|Orion Pax]], Megatron, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#SDCCMetroplex|Bumblebee]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#SDCCMetroplex|Thundercracker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)#SDCCMetroplex|Trailcutter]], and [[Hoist (G1)#SDCCMetroplex|Hoist]], all in both modes. The figurines are based on their Thrilling 30 ''Generations'' Deluxe Class toys, and similarly to [[Decoy]]s, the Autobot figurines are cast in red plastic, and the Decepticons in purple.

{{-}}{{anchor|HKACGCONMetroplex}}
[[File:Generationstoy-T30-Metroplex-Megatron-HKACGCON.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Metroplex''' (Titan Class, 2013)
**'''05 OF 30'''

: Another exclusive version of Titan Class [[Metroplex (G1)#HKACGCON|Metroplex]] was made available at [[Hong Kong ACG-CON]] 2013. This Metroplex also has the 12 figurines of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#HKACGCONMetroplex|Orion Pax]], Megatron, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#HKACGCONMetroplex|Bumblebee]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#HKACGCONMetroplex|Thundercracker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)#HKACGCONMetroplex|Trailcutter]], and [[Hoist (G1)#HKACGCONMetroplex|Hoist]], but casts the Autobot figurines in gold plastic, and the Decepticons in silver.

{{-}}{{anchor|VSOrionPax}}
[[File:TTGenerationsTG25OrionPaxMegatronus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Orion Pax VS Megatronus''' (Multi-pack, [[October 26|10-26]]-2013)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''TG-25'''
**''Accessories'': 2 wingtips (combine to form cannon)

: Released in the Japanese ''Generations'' lineup, Megatronus is a redeco of ''Generations'' Deluxe Megatron in a darker shade of black, replacing the previously purple parts with more black and rendering the translucent plastic cannon a shade of red. Megatronus features extensive paint details, including purple lining inside the grooves on his head, shoulders and knees, silver paint on his legs and engines and red eyes. He was only available in a two-pack with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#VSMegatronus|Orion Pax]].

: This toy is meant to depict Megatron as he was before the war broke out, hence the name, which originated as a pre-war name for [[Megatron (WFC)|Aligned continuity Megatron]].

{{-}}{{anchor|MegatronStarscream2pack}}
[[File:TTGenerationsTG28MegatronChopShop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|BURRITOOOS!!!!]]
*'''Megatron & Starscream''' (Multi-pack, [[December 28|12-28]]-2013)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG28'''

: The Japanese release of Legends Class Megatron is cast in his traditional gray, black and red color scheme and features extensive metallic silver paint. He and Chop Shop were only available in a two-pack with [[Starscream (G1)/toys#MegatronStarscream2pack|Starscream]] and [[Waspinator (BW)#MegatronStarscream2pack|Waspinator]].
{{-}}

{{anchor|Leader}}
[[File:LeaderMegatron2015.jpg|thumb|right|350px|"What? No, of course I don't have an Autobot insignia. [[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Why would you think that?"]]]]
*'''Megatron''' (Leader, 2015)
**''Accessories'': 2 guns (combine to form rifle), fusion cannon
:Part of the first wave of 2015 ''Generations'' Leader Class toys, Megatron transforms from a robot into a tank featuring working treads.

:He was retooled into [[Megatron (Armada)/toys#Generations|''Armada'' Megatron]].
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==GT==
*'''GT-R Megatron''' ([[July 27|7-27]]-[[2013]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GT-03'''
**''Accessories:'' "EX. Cannon", [[Noa]] race queen figure

: ''[[Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (franchise)|Transformers GT]]'' GT-R Megatron is a heavy retool of the ''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Alternity|Convoy]] toy, transforming into a 1:32 scale replica of the S Road REITO MOLA GT-R race car used by [http://www.mola-international.co.jp/mola.cgi?field=%E3%83%A2%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%84%3C%3E%E3%83%81%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E4%BD%93%E5%88%B6 MOLA] in the [[wikipedia:Super GT|Super GT]] racing championship series. He features die-cast metal parts, an opening hood, trunk and doors, as well as an interior, complete with his feet and thighs being sculpted to form the back seats. His armaments include flip-out non-firing blasters on his arms as well as a handheld gun called the EX. Cannon, a weapon designed to resemble the fire extinguishers used at races. Like all ''GT'' toys, Megatron also comes with a [[GT Sister]], a poseable human figure themed after a [[wikipedia:race queen|race queen]], his partner being a lady named Noa.

: This mold was also used, with different heads and accessories, to make the other ''Transformers GT'' toys: [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#GT|GT-R Prime]], [[Star Saber (Victory)#GT|GT-R Saber]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#GT|GT-R Maximus]].
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeGunRoboWalther.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|[[Megaplex (MW)|Megaplex]] Black Version?]]
[[File:Skywarpatron.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Skywarp really DID need close supervision.]]
[[File:UnmadeVideoCameraMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
* To date, an exact copy of the black ''[[Microman]]'' ''[[Micro Change]]'' Walther P-38 toy has not been reissued as a Transformer - the e-HOBBY version replaced the blue plastic with red and some of the black plastic parts with silver chrome.
* It seems that no one could get Megatron's [[package art]] right in Japan. His standard release used edited box art from the standard Microchange P-38 toy's black deco, recolored to Megatron's US toy color scheme with shiny "chrome" and red on his legs and arms instead of the Japanese toy's flat gray and blue. The VS-X art replaced the red with blue, but kept the "chrome". The art on the "Goodbye Megatron" set used edited US box art (which in turn was the Microchange P-38 UNCLE art with an added sigil) that replaced the red with blue, yet this toy used red plastic.

* In a possible fit of madness, a triple changer was proposed that would switch between [[Skywarp (G1)/toys|Skywarp]] (possibly mistaken for Starscream), Megatron, and Skywarp's jet mode.

* In a slightly more sane attempt, [[:File:Megalvatron.jpg|another triple changer]] was proposed which would switch between Megatron, a very awkward [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]], and a Walther P-38 handgun with a futuristic silencer and laser sight.

* A kitbashed/hand-painted mock-up of the large ''Generation 2'' tank Megatron mold as a video camcorder is known to exist. Whether it was ever meant to be taken into production and whether it was meant to be Megatron or a new character is unknown. It was originally offered for sale in [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/4f98fe3d58bfe696/b1d0163d38587281?q=ramjet+whiz+bang+toys&pli=1 October of 2000] from Whiz Bang Collectibles, along with other items seemingly from a former Hasbro employee's collection.<ref>[http://www.toyarchive.com/Transformers/Prototypes/Generation2/MegatronVideoCameraMock1.html Megatron Video Camera at Toyarchive.com]</ref>

{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm Megatron at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Megatron Megatron's Universe profile at NTFA.net]
*[http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-toys/toy-gallery/1783/Generation+2/Megatron+ATB.html Gallery of ATB Megatron with comparison to BB at Transformers At the Moon]
* [http://www.theunclegun.com/ Unclegun.com - The Walther P-38 as seen in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]
*[http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=ngAuAAAAEBAJ Megatrons patent]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Alternity Decepticons]]
[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:GT characters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Decepticons]]
[[Category:Machine Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Masterpiece]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Decepticons]]
[[Category: SDCC exclusives]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Soundwave (G1)

2014-07-10T03:56:02Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Soundwave}}
{{disambig3|Soundblaster}}
{{suite}}
:''Soundwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:SpotlightSoundwave clean.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]

'''Soundwave''' is one of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s most reliable troops, and he has positioned himself comfortably and irreplaceably in the Decepticon upper command structure. Though "only" Communications Officer, Soundwave stands at Megatron's side as a confidant, comparable in rank to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], but unlike them, entirely loyal to his leader. Though stoic and possessed of little outward personality (as evidenced by his monotone computer-style speech), Soundwave is not without drives: he has worked hard to get where he is, and he guards his place in the Decepticon hierarchy fiercely. On top of hearing all in his role as Communications Officer and Decepticon spy-master, he is actually capable of "reading minds" by scanning and decoding the electrical impulses that carry "thoughts" in both organics and Cybertronians, and he will not hesitate to use what he learns as blackmail to keep himself high in Megatron's esteem. As such, Soundwave is not popular among the rank-and-file Decepticons, who see him as a two-faced snake and wouldn't mind abandoning him on the battlefield—if they thought Megatron would let them get away with it.

Soundwave commands an ever-growing legion of [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette troops]] to carry out tasks big and small. Stored within his signature chest compartment and called forth on Soundwave's whim with a push of a button, these miniature menaces are most commonly employed as spies for either the Decepticon cause or Soundwave's personal objectives, but are just as effective as warriors, and are entirely devoted to their master. They are also not Soundwave's only diminutive partners: as an [[Action Master]], he is [[Action Master partner|partnered]] with [[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]].

In various universes, Soundwave is upgraded into '''Soundblaster''' (サウンドブラスター ''Saundoburasutā'').

{{quote|As you command, Megatron.|Soundwave, eternal loyalist|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity}}
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-SoundwaveRatbat.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|In Soviet Russia, ''tape'' commands ''you''!]]
Millions of years ago, Soundwave was one of the first members of the Decepticons; after sowing discontent amongst the masses, he, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] began the war that tore the planet itself out of its orbit. After joining the failed Decepticon attempt to hijack the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] four million years ago, he fell into stasis lock with the rest of the crews after the ship crashed until 1984, when a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcanic eruption]], reactivated the Autobots and Decepticons, unleashing their war on Earth. Soundwave would prove one of the most useful troops, though not one of the most loyal, covertly running blackmail schemes and happily hitching his wagon to whichever Decepticon leader was currently in the ascendency, until - in many [[splinter timeline]]s - becoming leader of the Decepticons himself.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:Soundwave and company.jpg|thumb|220px]]
{{main|Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
Soundwave was one of the first Decepticons and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s most loyal soldier. Denoted by his eerie, echoing monotone, Soundwave regularly gathered vital intelligence for Megatron's numerous schemes with the aid of his faithful and ever-growing team of cassettes, but despite his primary role as a spy and communications officer, he never shied away the battlefield, and would regularly clash with the Autobot [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] before finding a true rival in his Autobot opposite number, [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]]. He survived the perilous events of 2005 that took the lives of many of his contemporaries, and continued serving under [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] in the 21st century.

In a future timeline that branches off from this one, Soundwave ultimately met his end at the hands of Blaster, but even death could not stymie his loyalty to the Decepticon cause, as he was reborn as '''Soundblaster''' through the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]].
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:LaserbeaksFury Soundwave ejects.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
When [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] spotted the Autobots working on some sort of device, Soundwave believed it to be a radio mast, and followed Laserbeak to the site. He was unable to detect any radio signals, and the intrigued Megatron wanted to investigate further. First they had to stop [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from destroying the device. While they were there, the device, in actuality a lightning collector, emitted a pulse of energy that caused the Decepticons to malfunction wildly, and they were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

Soundwave sent out [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] to scout for energy sources, and the buzzard's mission resulted in Megatron and Soundwave locating an experimental solar energy plant. They signaled for the rest of the Decepticons and, after a minor insurrection on Starscream's part was squelched, set about collecting the energy in cubes. When [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] entered the plant, Soundwave detected him and raised the alarm, but it was too late to prevent the sabotage of the solar machinery and the energon cubes were destroyed. {{storylink|Megatron's Fight for Power}}

Ever loyal, Soundwave backed up Megatron's opinion that they needed to test the ion-drive for their new space cruiser. When they located a suitable abandoned mine, Soundwave was momentarily distracted by the railway lines, but they soon got to work testing the rig. Unfortunately the Autobots found them and though Soundwave raised the alarm, Spike used mine carts to destroy the ion-drive, bringing the tunnel down on the Decepticons. {{storylink|Autobots Fight Back}} At Megatron's command, Soundwave deployed Laserbeak to seek information on [[human]]s. When this led the Decepticons to a windmill, Megatron believed the structure was a new Autobot weapon that they needed to capture. Soundwave deployed Rumble, with the theory that the structure might prove susceptible to shockwaves. He was right, and the structure promptly fell on top of the Decepticons as Megatron protested he wanted it captured, not destroyed. {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

Under the leadership of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], Soundwave was responsible for coordinating communications with three cloaked Decepticon spy satellites. On discovering the existence of the satellites, the Autobots set up equipment to block Soundwave's transmissions. Hound impersonated Soundwave perfectly, ordering the satellites to enter a collision course with each other, and Soundwave was unable to cut through the interference before the satellites collided. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
:''Voice actor:'' Unknown

According to Megatron, Soundwave is a "blundering, tape-filled idiot." While the veracity of this statement is subjective, Soundwave ''does'' whine a lot. {{storylink|When Continents Collide}}

===Colorforms audiobooks continuity===
Soundwave recorded a broadcast of Doctor [[Heath Blaisedale]] receiving an award from the [[President of the United States]] and reported it to Megatron. Megatron dubbed him a "King of Communication". {{storylink|Sun Raid}}

===The Battle for Planet Earth===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
Soundwave was among the Decepticons who followed the Autobots to [[South America]] and attacked them atop [[Mount Sheelah]]. The Decepticons were caught in the volcano's erupt and became trapped in lava. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} Despite his ability to hear a fly sneeze, he completely missed [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] infiltrating the Decepticon base to find out where the humans the Decepticons had been kidnapping had gone. He later discovered that the Autobot had stolen their [[global crystal]]. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} Soundwave was part of a Decepicon mission to take over [[Stanley Lake]] dam, which ended in the Decepticons being washed away in a torrent of water by the Autobots. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] planned to infiltrate the Autobots, Soundwave supplied him with a midget radio transmitter with which to report back. Unfortunately while the Decepticons were acting on the information Starscream gathered, the Autobots destroyed their base. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] organized an ambush for the Autobots' new [[Ark (G1)|ark]] as it tried to clear a path through an asteroid belt. As [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent the ship hurtling towards [[Earth]], Megatron ordered Soundwave to jump out just before the crash. Soundwave found himself battling [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|strange organic creatures]]. It wasn't long before he found himself against the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], whom the ark had repaired. Though the four Autobots weren't anywhere near a match for Soundwave, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] used his tail to bash a nearby cliff, bringing tons of rock down on top of both the Dinobots and Soundwave, knocking them all offline. {{storylink|In the Transformers}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===
{{Note|As the following stories are [[multipath adventure]]s, details will vary depending on the path taken. See individual pages for information on alternate paths.}}
====Dinobots Strike Back====
In one path, Soundwave was one of many Decepticons in their secret base in [[Mount Lomas]], listening to Megatron's speech about how the [[black coral]] in nearby [[Dolphin's Bay]] would produce enough superfuel to triple their war-making capacity and crush the Autobots in just a few hours. As the speech wrapped up, he intercepted a radio transmission containing details on Operation Black Coral which Megatron just mentioned, and it seemed to be coming from just outside a doorway leading to one of the base's underwater access tunnels! He rushed through the doorway and told the Autobot spy, in a booming voice, "''Don't move!'' The game is over!" But when the intruder turned around and he saw it was just [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], he let [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] deal with him, paralyzing the Autobot with a sonic attack and leaving him in the water.

If [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] tried to radio Bumblebee from his [[Star mini-submarine|mini-sub]] afterwards, Frenzy nailed it with a long range sonic attack as well, presumably because Soundwave also intercepted that transmission and told the mini cassette where to aim.

In an alternate path in which the Decepticons foolishly invited four of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to a premature mountaintop victory party, thinking they were still being controlled by [[cerebro shell]]s, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] suddenly broke cover and ordered them to attack. Sludge responded first, stomping Soundwave who was nearest to him. It's unknown how badly this injured Soundwave, but he surely didn't fare much worse than the other Dectpticons as the ensuing Autobot assault totaled their base. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

====Battle Drive====
{{storylink|Battle Drive}}

====Attack of the Insecticons====
Soundwave was present, yet mostly uninvolved, in a number of possible adventures revolving around the Sun-Pak, a device invented by the Autobots' human ally Sparkplug. {{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}

====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeCosmosspies.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
{{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}
{{-}}

===The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual===
{{storylink|The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|Soundwave's ''The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual'' profile}}

{{storylink|Day of the Decepticons}}

{{storylink|The Dinobots!}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:BW Agenda Pt3 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|With one stroke I shall free my tiny dinosaur brethren, yesssss!"]]
Soundwave was among the many Transformers strewn about the bridge of the Ark when the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] infiltrated the ship on his mission to destroy Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
Soundwave was one of the ancient warriors who appeared from [[J'nwan]] to help battle the warlord [[Shokaract]]. {{storylink|Terminus (issue)|Terminus}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Soundwavewarwithin.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Sound and ([[Ravage (G1)#3H comics|eventually]]) Furry.]]
Soundwave was chosen by Megatron to lead his second assassination team against the new Autobot supreme commander, Optimus Prime. With the aid of Soundwave's cassette troops, most notably [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], it was assumed he would have no problem with a young, peace-loving Autobot. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Soundwave, like many others, underestimated Prime's resolve and was quickly incapacitated. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} He was still out cold when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] came by, {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} but recovered in time to rescue Megatron after the latter's own battle with Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

When Megatron and Optimus Prime vanished in a [[space bridge]] accident, the Decepticons were fragmented and Soundwave joined [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s faction. He participated in the attack on [[The Fallen]]'s minions in an attempt to stop the [[Unbinding]]. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

Eventually, Shockwave attempted to call a truce with the Autobots for the good of the Transformer race, but the initial ceremony was interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s faction, the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]]. Soundwave was quite mad about this, telling the Predacons to perish for their crimes against Cybertron as he attacked them alongside several Autobots. Shortly after the Predacons were defeated, Megatron returned to Cybertron with his [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and reunited the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} After falling back under Megatron's command, Soundwave reported the progress on his leader's plan to dig a hole to the core of Cybertron. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

In the present day, Soundwave was among the Decepticons defeated by the Autobots and their human allies on Earth. The ''[[Ark II]]'', the spacecraft that would have taken the Transformers back to Cybertron, was sabotaged by General [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]], and it exploded upon liftoff, scattering the robots across the Arctic Ocean. Soundwave and the others were recovered, Autobot and Decepticon alike, and reprogrammed by Rook to accept commands and were leased to terrorist organisations and military juntas as powerful weapons of war. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} After Megatron freed himself and the other Decepticons, Soundwave developed a 'metallic virus' that cyberformed Earth organics into cybertronic materials. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} During the subsequent battle with the Autobots in [[San Francisco]], Soundwave warned Megatron that a nuclear missile launched by Hallo was headed for the city. The Decepticons used the distraction to escape. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

[[File:Soundwaveg1vol2.jpg|225px|thumb|Leader's pet.]]Soundwave was among the Decepticons who joined Shockwave's forces when the new ruler of Cybertron appeared on Earth. {{storylink|War and Peace}} When Shockwave brutally deposed Megatron, Soundwave stood by in silence and did nothing to help his former leader. Soundwave worked his way quietly into Shockwave's good graces, earning the ire of Starscream. However, it didn't take many words to bring Soundwave around to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s point of view. Later, when interrogated by Shockwave, a single, silent look from Soundwave stopped [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] from revealing that Starscream was behind Megatron's disappearance during their voyage to Cybertron. As the battle between the Autobots and Shockwave's forces intensified, Soundwave followed Starscream's lead without a word, and helped him prepare for a return trip to Earth aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Starscream rewarded him by giving him a [[Ratbat (G1)|present]]. Soundwave silently approved.

Though Soundwave feigned subservience to Starscream, it was later revealed that he had been serving Megatron the entire time in secret. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===''G.I.Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Soundwavedevilsdue.jpg|left|225px|thumb|"Eject. Operation: Dynamic Group Shot."]]
Soundwave was among the Transformers on the ''Ark'' when it crashed long ago, and was discovered and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization known as [[Cobra]] in the present. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1}} Arms dealer [[Destro]] made a visit to [[Cobra Island]] where [[Doctor Mindbender]] introduced him to Soundwave and his cassettes, who were under the complete control of Cobra's scientists. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} While Destro liked what he saw, he wanted to run a test, and personally operated Soundwave's controls during an attack on the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Meanwhile, a picture of Soundwave was secretly sent out to hundreds of email boxes. The message turned out to be a [[Defense Matrix|secret signal]] from Optimus Prime, which alerted [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and Bumblebee to the location of Cobra's secret base where the rest of the Transformers were being held. When the two Autobots appeared to stop Destro's attack, the human brought Soundwave and himself back to Cobra Island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}}

Soundwave was released from Cobra control thanks to Wheeljack and attacked his former human masters. With Megatron and the other Decepticons freed, Soundwave went to work making energon cubes. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Just as things were going their way, Optimus Prime arrived, powered up using the energon, and punched his fist right through Soundwave's chest, taking him out of the battle. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} After the Autobots left on a return voyage to Cybertron, Soundwave's head and remains were taken in secret by human scientists for study. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

Several years later, the scientists managed to use Megatron's technology to create the organic weapon [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]], who plugged himself into Soundwave's deactivated head after getting free and downloaded data on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s history. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
Along with the rest of the Decepticons, Soundwave was buried in the [[Fera Islands]] until 1938, when [[Cobra]] accidentally awakened them and used them to conquer most of [[Europe]]. He sent Laserbeak to spy on the [[United States of America|United States]]' reaction to this, and learned that [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had been created to battle the Cobra threat. Soundwave later helped Megatron and Starscream get rid of some Royal Air Force fighters above the English Channel, allowing Cobra to attack the [[United Kingdom]]. {{storylink|The Line}}

When G.I. Joe attacked the Fera Islands, Soundwave infiltrated [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s unit in the form of a radio transmitter carried by a disguised [[Zartan]]. Flint noticed that it wasn't their radio, but that didn't stop Soundwave from capturing him and taking him back to Cobra HQ. {{storylink|Wolves}} However, the Joes had managed to awaken the Autobots also buried on the island, and Soundwave soon found himself facing down [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. He lost the fight, and either died at the hands of Grimlock or when the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] was smashed to pieces. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

{{note|According to solicitations for ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'', Soundwave was set to return by unknown means years later, but [[Dreamwave Productions]] bankrupted before the issues could be produced.}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Soundwave was extremely amused by the footage Laserbeak and Ravage gathered of Starscream falling on his head. He let Megatron know, and they went to pick up Starscream, only to find him gone, taken by the Autobots. The discovery that Starscream appeared to be working with the Autobots only amused Soundwave more, and the Decepticons went to retrieve their former comrade. When it turned out that Starscream wanted to stay with the Autobots, Megatron was enraged, and Soundwave reflected that it was the most fun he'd had in years. Starscream eventually returned to the Decepticons, claiming it was all an act, and Soundwave suggested he should be more careful while mountain climbing in future. {{storylink|Redemption Center}}

Puzzled by the loss of much of their stock of weapons, Megatron assigned Soundwave to investigate. Using Laserbeak's spying abilities, Soundwave determined that [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was selling the weapons on the black market, much to Megatron's outrage. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

===IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' continuity===
Millions of years in the past, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who took on organic modes in order to battle the Autobots on prehistoric Earth. When an ice age approached, the Decepticons survived by powering down under what would eventually become the [[San Francisco]] Bay. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}} Soundwave woke up in the mid-19th century, where he came under the command of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Along with several other Decepticons, he stood by Starscream as he and [[Tobias Muldoon]] discussed where they would build their headquarters. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2|Hearts of Steel #2}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:Soundwaves-whoareyou.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Gaddangit, Soundwave, the answer that question is ''always'' "I'm Batman!"]]
Soundwave was found living on the streets by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], a barely-coherent derelict driven to the brink of insanity by his uncontrolled mind-reading powers, which bombarded him with the thoughts and emotions of all around him. "Smelling" some decency within him, Ravage elected to share with Soundwave the secrets of control he had learned after years of mastering his own enhancing olfactory senses, teaching him the art of focus. The quartet lived together on the streets for some time, until Soundwave, slowly gaining control over his abilities, was approached by [[Ratbat (G1)|Senator Ratbat]] with an offer of employment. The senator saw a political use for Soundwave's mind-reading, and while Soundwave was disgusted by Ratbat's [[Functionism|Functionist]] attitude toward his beast-form companions, he accepted the offer for the position it would afford him. While in Ratbat's employ, Soundwave and his three companions were refitted so that they could store within his chest as cassettes. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

When the ex-miner and revolutionary rhetorician [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] caught Ratbat's eye as a champion of the illegal underground gladiatorial matches, the senator sent Soundwave to offer Megatron funding and weapons technology, seeking to foster political instability for his own profit. When [[Bumper (G1)|two]] [[Fastback (G1)|Autobots]] were discovered listening in on their conversation, Soundwave dispatched his three cassette partners to capture them. After their capture, he read Bumper's mind to see if there was any immediate threat to Megatron's activities. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

Brought to the gladiator arenas, Soundwave was questioned by Megatron over his opinions on Ratbat's activities, but Soundwave—assaulted by the thoughts of the huge throng of gladiators around him—struggled to answer. Impressed by the way in which Soundwave viewed his cassette partners as equals in outright contradiction to the Functionist standards of his employer, Megatron permitted him to read his mind, and there, Soundwave saw Megatron's genuine desire for all Cybertronians to be equal. The strength of his desire became something for Soundwave to focus upon, and his dedication to the Decepticon ideal of equality allowed him to finally master his mind-reading powers, shutting out all other distractions and making Megatron the stillpoint his life revolved around. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Some time later, Soundwave was assigned to find a warrior with flight capabilities, and recruited the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]: Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Megatron's next new recruit was senator [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], who Soundwave hated on sight: the [[Shadowplay]] Shockwave had been subjected had removed his emotions, leaving Soundwave completely unable to read his thoughts. Though awed by this terrible perfection, Soundwave believed that one day, he would have to kill Shockwave. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

[[File:MegatronOrigin4 Soundwave humbles Ratbat.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Ratbat, you shall be repurposed as the greatest mix tape ever to be given to Megatron."]]
His mind now finally clear for the first time in his life, Soundwave turned against Ratbat and formulated for Megatron a plan that would allow the Decepticons to make a formal statement of their intent that could not be ignored. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} Per Soundwave's plan, the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested during a recruitment rally, when Megatron provoked an Autobot response by making an attempt on the life of [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]], resulting in an emergency convening of the Senate in [[Kaon]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Soundwave and his cassettes—now joined by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], refitted by Shockwave—were freed on an unwitting Ratbat's orders, and then helped Starscream murder the entire Senate. Attacking Ratbat himself, Soundwave took his former employer offline and placed his [[spark]] into a new cassette body. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}} Shockwave entered just as Soundwave was removing his [[brain module]], and the pair had a terse conversation about means and ends before Shockwave changed the subject to designing Ratbat's new body as a flyer. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

After [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] was made leader of the Autobots, Soundwave was captured and taken to the [[Institute|New Institute]] to be lobotomized, but was saved in the nick of time by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} Later in the war with Zeta, Soundwave was sent to spy on him and gather information on what he planned to do about the growing Decepticon movement. Smuggled into a Senate security meeting by Starscream, he overheard Zeta announce his plan to drain civilians of their energy in order to power the [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructors]]' [[vamparc ribbon|weaponry]], but was forced to make a break for it when Starscream revealed his presence in order to ease suspicion against himself. Fearing what would happen if the populace found out about his plans, Zeta Prime sent [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] to hunt Soundwave down. {{storylink|Parasites}} As Soundwave fled towards the safety of Kaon, he was continuously set upon by Orion Pax's Autobots, but got away every time by ejecting one of his many cassettes to defeat or distract them. When he finally reached the border of Kaon, Orion himself caught up and put a stop to his minions by crushing his chest window before defeating him in hand-to-hand combat. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Luckily, a squad of Decepticons showed up before the Autobots could arrest Soundwave, and his findings were delivered to Megatron. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}

Soundwave was present when Megatron and Orion Pax formed an alliance to overthrow Zeta Prime. {{storylink|Choices}} He then participated in their troops' combined assault on Zeta's [[Citadel]]. {{storylink|Overthrown}} After Megatron betrayed Orion and declared himself the new ruler of Cybertron, Soundwave stood by him as he attempted to recruit [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]] to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Rise}} Soundwave tracked down the location of the anti-Decepticon pirate news broadcaster, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and had [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] sent to assassinate him. He was then present when the Autobots made an assault on the Decepticon-held Citadel. {{storylink|Broadcast}} Megatron was defeated by Orion, now Optimus Prime, but Soundwave swept past on [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and rescued his leader before he could be captured. {{storylink|Endgame}}

A short time after Megatron's defeat, Soundwave watched in silence as [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] declared himself Decepticon leader, having exiled Megatron for his failure. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} He participated in Scorponok's assault on the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]], a battle which ended with the destruction of the facility. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} Having survived the destruction, he then returned to [[Kolkular]] where Scorponok urged him and the other Decepticons to cannibalize parts from those who had perished. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On Scorponok's orders, Soundwave and [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] then led an attack on the [[Starsreach Spaceport]] to kill the neutrals evacuating Cybertron, a mission they both believed to be a waste of resources. {{storylink|Massacre}} After getting driven into a retreat by a raging [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], they were relocated to the [[Toraxxis Plains]] to bear witness to Scorponok's new plan: the awakening of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Unleashed}} At this point the Decepticons were thoroughly fed up with his leadership, and thus quick to return to Megatron's side when he returned from his exile. {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} Soundwave was later present when Megatron was able to turn Trypticon to the Decepticon side. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast}}

Four million years ago, Soundwave and [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] were leading a Decepticon offensive to cover for [[Octane (G1)|Tankor]]'s convoy of energon. When Optimus Prime slipped away to intercept the convoy, Soundwave went after him and got the drop on Prime from behind. Prime's bodyguard [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] turned the tables on him, though, taking out both Soundwave and his Mini-Cassettes. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

During the war, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted various scientists on both sides to discuss his startling findings that the conflict would create such devastation that would render the planet uninhabitable, and that the only way to survive was to adopt the [[Pretender|organic carapace]] idea he had come up with. Soundwave was among those scientists who refused to accept Thunderwing's findings and his proposal. {{Storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the end of the cataclysm brought by Thunderwing, as part of a plan to assassinate Blaster, now a motivational speaker for the Autobots, Soundwave had [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] captured and used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implement a [[cerebro-shell]] into him. While Beachcomber didn't outright kill Blaster, his motivational broadcast failed to air at precisely the moment the Decepticons began the big push. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:SpotlightSoundwave infoispower.jpg|left|thumb|He's just too busy being an eighties guy.]]
Centuries later, after Shockwave disappeared, Megatron assigned [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to delve into Shockwave's research and relay all the information back to him. As the Decepticon leader did not fully trust Bludgeon, Megatron also assigned Soundwave to spy on him. Soundwave followed Bludgeon and his team as they left for Earth in 1984 and established a base within [[Mount St. Helens]], eventually discovering that they intended to resurrect [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]. Though Soundwave tried to stop them, [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used an experimental cannon from Shockwave's arsenal to lock him in his alt mode while they instigated a volcanic eruption. He was eventually recovered by a team of unwitting humans who sold him to a pawn shop. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

Soundwave was purchased by a human teenager named [[Jimmy]] and taken to his home. When Ravage and Laserbeak were reprogrammed by the American government agency [[Skywatch]] to find the other Transformers, Skywatch's control signal was blocked by a signal emanating from a functioning Soundwave, still in cassette-player mode. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Sometime later on, Ravage and Laserbeak located the signal and reclaimed their master from Jimmy. Relocating to Mount St. Helens, Soundwave told them that he could barely keep blocking Skywatch's hold on them, due to his weakening state in cassette mode. Shockwave suddenly appeared from a cave entrance and said that the four could make a deal together. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Shockwave knew how Soundwave could unlock his robot mode, but would only tell him if he did Shockwave a favour in return, something which Soundwave agreed to. He was told that Skywatch had placed a bomb in Shockwave's head, and that he needed to intercept and copy its disarm code. The plan went off without a hitch, and after transmitting the code to Shockwave, Soundwave was finally freed from his alt mode. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

After returning to his position as Megatron's right hand, Soundwave helped defeat the Autobot forces on Earth. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} He was present during the attack on [[New York City]], and detected the incoming human military jets. The planes fired, and on Megatron's orders, Soundwave calmly detonated the arsenal. He then launched Laserbeak to take out the human resistance. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}

Soundwave reported that the humans had sent a sizable ground force after the Decepticons. Following Megatron's orders, he released [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and set him loose on the humans. The only being immune to Frenzy's infrasonic manipulation, he silently observed his minion's work. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With the conquest of New York complete, Soundwave listened to Megatron's victory speech. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} When a group of humans led by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Cmdr. Spike Witwicky]] deactivated [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] with an experimental weapon which originated from Shockwave, Soundwave, sensing this, found Rumble's lifeless body, grieved, and took him away. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}}

During [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] attempt to take control of the Decepticons, Megatron revealed that Soundwave had been watching him all along, reporting his planned rebellion to Megatron. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The infighting amongst the Decepticons stopped when jets from [[Europe]] arrived to take them all on, soon followed by the return of the Autobots. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} Megatron was defeated, and Soundwave escaped alongside the rest of the Decepticons. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}} Whilst traveling away from Earth onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Soundwave and his cassettes took care of their heavily injured leader. Starscream attempted to dissuade him from wasting energon on Megatron, all the while buttering him up with compliments about his loyalty, but all Soundwave said in response was "Negative. Megatron functions." {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

Three years later, Soundwave was still dutifully attending to Megatron's reconstruction. {{storylink|All His Engines}} He eventually came to the conclusion that his leader's body was beyond repair, and instead recruited Shockwave to build a new body for him. Once Megatron returned in a new and upgraded form, he hatched a plan to use parts of his old body to make Megatron gun replicas that would subconsciously influence humans. Alongside his cassettes and Shockwave, Soundwave helped produce these weapons. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} He was later present when Megatron got rid of Hot Rod and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and was ordered to gather everyone in the base so that their leader could address them. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}} He accompanied Megatron until his confrontation with Starscream, at which point Megatron had him leave... but knew he'd be listening in from afar as he always did. Megatron overall didn't think much of Soundwave's apparent loyalty, believing he'd only assisted in his revival because it suited his own needs. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:BurningChrome Prime shoots Soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Right between the optics..."]]
As part of Megatron's master plan, the Decepticons subsequently returned to Earth, where Soundwave led Rumble and Frenzy in an attack on the [[Skywatch]] base where several Decepticons were being held captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}} Soundwave was then responsible for holding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] hostage while Megatron explained to Optimus Prime that he was the one turning the humans against the Autobots. In an attempt to throw off Megatron's concentration, and with it his influence over the gun-wielding humans, Prime fired on Soundwave, blowing off a large portion of his head. The plan worked: seeing his loyal soldier fall sent Megatron into a rage, and he picked up the barely living Soundwave and flew off. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} With his body in [[stasis lock]], Soundwave was brought to Shockwave, who was unsure if he could repair such an extensive injury with the limited resources at his disposal. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}}

Soundwave was mostly repaired by the time Megatron had surrendered himself to the Autobots, although half his face remained exposed and damaged from Optimus Prime's attack. The damage caused to his vocal processors rendered him completely mute. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} Once on Cybertron and having freed himself, Megatron used the [[space bridge]] technology built into his new body to summon Soundwave and the rest of the Decepticons on Earth to him. {{storylink|The Question}} At first, Soundwave and the others did battle with the Autobots, but were soon entranced by [[D-Void]]. The Decepticons along with [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]'s army of [[Sweep]]s combined into an [[Deceptigod|enormous monster]]. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

Following the defeat and fracturing of this "Deceptigod", Soundwave and the rest were left in a weakened state from the ordeal. This allowed the Autobots to round the Decepticons up, stick [[inhibitor/deterrence chip|I/D chips]] in them, and place them in a holding pen. Prowl was eventually forced to sanction their release to quell a riot, leaving Soundwave and the others with a limited sort of freedom. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} [[Needlenose]], fed up with working as an enforcer for the Autobots, accused Soundwave, Shockwave and [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] of just sitting around instead of doing something about the Decepticons' situation. {{storylink|The Autonomy Lesson}} Little did Needlenose know that Soundwave and Shockwave had actually been working together to take control of the I/D chips on the orders of Ratbat, who was trying to reassert his authority in Megatron's absence. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}}

Even after Ratbat was killed, Soundwave continued working with Shockwave, who apparently had his own ideas about what to do about the Autobots. When Starscream found out about that they were plotting something, he and Prowl had [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] capture the two and fake their deaths. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} However, Prowl was in fact under Decepticon control, and instead had the captured Decepticons upgraded in anticipation of Megatron's return. His voice restored, Soundwave helped explain to the captured [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] that the Decepticons had been planning this all along in a bid to conquer Cybertron. {{storylink|The Verge}} {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} During the ensuing battle with the Autobots, he reported to Megatron that Shockwave had gone off somewhere and that their new and improved [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] had seemingly gained sentience. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}} In the end, Megatron was defeated yet again, after which Starscream used the influence of the [[NAIL|neutral population]] to exile all Autobots and Deceptions who would not renounce their factions, including Soundwave. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

While out in the wilderness, Soundwave was alarmed to find Ravage was suffering from intense pain, and in a rare emotional moment ran to the other Decepticons pleading for help. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

[[File:Soundwaves-allofustogether.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Somewhere, right now, the "Justice League Unlimited" theme is playing.]]

{{charstubfiction}}{{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

{{NoteSLMirage}}
[[File:SpotlightMirage Soundwavescorpse.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Not so superior now, are you?]]
In a dream set in an alternate universe wrapped in an enigma surrounded by a soft taco shell dreamt by [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], Soundwave was part of the Decepticon strike force who attacked the last stronghold of the Autobots. Soundwave was attacked by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], who snapped his head off, killing him. But it was just a dream, so it didn't matter. Right? {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{-}}

===''TransTech''===
Soundwave—[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|in his Laser Cycle body]]—was seen among the inhabitants of the multiversal hub city of [[Axiom Nexus]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 4}}

===Timelines===
Soundwave was present with Megatron, [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], and [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] when the topic about finding new ultimate weapon ideas changed to [[BotCon 2010]]. As Breakdown mentioned that one of the things he was looking forward to was the debut of the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]], Soundwave turned to Counterpunch and pointed to himself. {{storylink|BotCon 2010 Promo}}

===''Mars Attacks: The Transformers''===
[[File:Mars Attacks The Transformers - Get him off me!.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Following a defeat at the hands of the Autobots, the Decepticons were [[stasis cuffs|stasis cuffed]] and taken away by humans. A [[Martian]] invasion gave them the opportunity to slip their bonds and attempt to form an alliance with the invasion, but when the Martians trapped them in a [[force field]], the Decepticons were forced to align with the Autobots instead. Soundwave and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] combined their power to bring the force field down. When Megatron was later reduced to the size of a toy by the Martians, Soundwave successfully reversed the effects of the shrink ray. {{storylink|Mars Attacks: The Transformers}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
[[File:Soundwavecommercial.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Say hello to my leetle friend!"]]

Soundwave's [[commercial]] appearances include:

* An appearance in his very own 1984 commercial. This early animation featured a Soundwave model colored in lavender, versus the dark blue used later. Also, instead of the cassettes ejecting themselves from his chest, he reached into his chest compartment with his own fingers and threw the (tiny) tapes into the air. He wasn't properly introduced.
* He's more on-form in a commercial for the Dinobots, where he, Ravage and Laserbeak are driven back by the robotic monsters amid a thunderstorm.
* Soundwave has a speaking part in the commercial for Blaster. When Rumble strolls into his base carrying a radio, Soundwave immediately identifies it as an "Autobot intruder" and dispatches Ravage and Laserbeak to attack the Autobot. Soundwave is given his correct voice and modulation.
* He's seen grappling with Springer in a 1987 commercial for the ''Headmasters'' comic.

==Games==
===Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Soundwave could interfere with Optimus Prime's progress, diverting him into areas of the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons packaging blurb and game}}

===''The Transformers'' (Commodore 64)===
{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (Commodore 64)}}

===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[File:TF PS2 Soundwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
:''Voice actor'': [[Robert Belgrade]]

====Decepticon story====
Soundwave and Starscream were sent to investigate strange reports of space-time warps and UFOs on the planet Zel Samine, bringing a space bridge with them on their shuttle that they would use to transport Megatron to the plant once they had landed. Inexplicably, their ship wound up crashing, and when they attempted to use the space bridge, it malfunctioned, dumping Megatron some distance away. After reuniting with his leader, Soundwave deduced that powerful electromagnetic rays from Zel Samine's sun, Paradius, were responsible for scrambling the systems of the shuttle and the space bridge, and that the Decepticons themselves would be subject to similar catastrophic system disruption if they tried venturing off the planet without a ship. The Decepticons immediately set about raiding local energy sources for energon to repair their craft, starting with a wind power plant on [[Mount Jaad]]. Then, after successfully draining the [[Ranpas geothermal plant]]—in part thanks to Soundwave deploying Laserbeak to locate any Autobot guards around the facility—Megatron chose the [[Monogan hydroelectric power station]] for their next target. Soundwave pointed out the heavy Autobot fortifications that had been set up around the station and suggested a different target, but Megatron dismissed his concerns, and when the Decepticons did indeed emerge victorious, Soundwave apologized for speaking out of turn and doubting his leader.

Via Laserbeak, Soundwave soon discovered that the Autobots on the planet had made contact with the occupants of one of the strange UFOs, and suggested to Megatron that they send a task force to intercept them. In the process, the Decepticons wound up allying themselves with the ''other'' UFO's passengers: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge, a trio of Decepticons from the future who had traveled back in time to locate and destroy the powerful [[Zel Quartz]], a weapon that threatened Galvatron's rule in their home time. Soundwave was teamed with Cyclonus to seek out possible locations of the quartz across the planet, and the communications officer stoically carried out his task, all the while struggling to keep Megatron and Galvatron from fighting with each other.

After failing to find the quartz at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], the Decepticons next decided to search the [[Karzite mine]]. Cyclonus informed Soundwave that he saw both him and Megatron as "worthless scrap", and warned the communications officer the mine yielded a similar lack of results, then he would be taking the blame, not Cyclonus. Soundwave agreed, but have a warning of his own: he charged a high price for being spoken to with disrespect. As it turned out, the quartz was not in the mine, and Soundwave accepted the blame as promised, only to then reveal his price: he had recorded his conversation with Cyclonus and played it back for Megatron, who did not take kindly to the future Decepticon's insults. At Megatron's command, Soundwave recorded Cyclonus's screams as the Decepticon leader subjected him to a vicious punishment.

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

====Autobot story====
Megatron had Soundwave send out a fake Autobot SOS transmission in an attempt to trick the Autobots into leaving their base. The plan was a success and Optimus Prime and his crew were lured out. When the Autobots realized that they had been deceived, Megatron sent a message through Soundwave's transmitter, gloating how he had tricked Prime and announced that his crew was going to steal the energon the Autobots had on their shuttle. When Megatron had finished his message, Soundwave returned to base. On the way back to their shuttle, the Autobots encountered Soundwave again, this time leading a hoard of Decepticon troops, and fought them. Despite his best efforts, Soundwave was overwhelmed and left to rejoin Megatron. Later, Soundwave fought the Autobots again while they were dealing with another swarm of enemies. He lost again, and left to fight another day.

Later on, Soundwave teamed up with his future self, Soundblaster, and with [[Full-Tilt]] as the final defense against the Autobots before they reached Megatron and Galvatron. When the Autobots arrived, Soundblaster started by expressing [[dull surprise]] at how the Autobots managed to survive up until the current point. Soundwave continued, warning the Autobots that he would not let them stand in Megatron's way. Both the present and future versions of the Communications Officer we all know and love put up the best fight they could, but even with Full-Tilt's help, the Autobots overpowered them.

===Transformers G1: Awakening===
[[File:Gluawakening soundwave.jpg|left|thumb|150px]]
Soundwave was among the Decepticons who pursued and boarded the Autobot [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. When the ship crashed on [[Earth]], all inside were sent into stasis, but the Decepticons woke up four million years later and resumed their conquering ways. When the Autobots began waking up as well, Soundwave was hot on their trail, and Ratchet and Bumblebee had to silence him before he could alert Megatron. After a series of skirmishes, Soundwave was among the Decepticons who failed to prevent the Autobots from finding the Decepticon [[space bridge]]. He accompanied Megatron back to Cybertron to lay a trap for the Autobots, but was equally unsuccessful as a prison guard. Trailing the Autobots to Earth, Soundwave was beaten up by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], took part in a disastrous assault on the Ark, and was unable to stop an Autobot attack on the Decepticon's Cybertron fortress. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
Soundwave and his tapes conducted a covert infiltration of the Autobot base, allowing them to pass information back to the Decepticons and ensure a string of Decepticon victories. He was eventually uncovered by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], who sent him packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations}} On another occasion, Soundwave infiltrated a human science facility with [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]] to gain access to a technology to increase [[Energon]] production. The trio were faced by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and his tapes. {{storylink|Espionage}}

Soundwave was among those who supported [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s bid for leadership. {{storylink|The Coronation of Starscream}}

When humans unlocked the secrets of [[Gravitronic Energy]], Soundwave and his minions attempted to take possession of the data, but were foiled by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. {{storylink|Box Trap}}

==Toys==
{{Main|Soundwave (G1)/toys}}
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
{{Main|Soundwave (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* The Decepticon faction insignia appears to be roughly based on Soundwave's head.
* Though Soundwave's toy is a microcassette recorder, his fictional appearances depict him as a stereo cassette deck or Walkman. (Likewise, his microcassette tapes are depicted as regular audio cassettes.)
[[File:Bm soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave gets slagged by Vehicons, and Nightscream escapes. How's that for injustice?]]
*A 1986 [[Panini]] stickerbook sold in Belgium and the Netherlands gave Soundwave the alternate French language name "Stacar". Whether this name was used in any other media made for French-speaking regions is unknown.
* Soundwave's computer model was used for one of the [[generic]] Transformers in Beast Machines. It is seen in "[[Forbidden Fruit]]" during [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] flashback being cornered by [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] just before Nightscream flees into the lower levels of Cybertron. Though the model was recolored, it was still really 'Soundwavey,' causing much confusion among fans. His computer model as well as [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s continued to show up for the rest of the series, used to represent deactivated Transformer shells.
* Later, Soundwave's character model showed up numerous times in various color schemes as a generic background character in the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon.
* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] listened to music using a tape deck resembling Soundwave in the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Memory]]". Later, after a new [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] was found, ''Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] held tape deck Soundwave in his arms. This caused a great disturbance in the [[force]]...
[[File:Unused AHM Soundwave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|What? You mean we don't use brick-sized microcassette recorders anymore?]]
* IDW Publishing seems to be undecided on Soundwave's speech pattern. In ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'', he speaks in his classic cartoon-based monotone. However, in "[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]", he speaks in a normal fashion. Which is once again reverted to the classic speech in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''.
* [[Guido Guidi]] made a concept drawing of Soundwave with a modern microcassette recorder as an alt-mode (which are still used by reporters and doctors today) for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' maxi-series. This was also unused. Consequently, Soundwave may go down as the Transformers character with the most unused designs.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Soundwave''' (サウンドウェーブ ''Saundowēbu'')
*''Cantonese:'' '''Jam Bo''' (音波, "Voice Wave")
*''English:'' '''New Soundwave''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Soundblaster)
*''French:'' '''Radar''' (Canada), '''Sonore''' (Canada Action Master, "Sound")
*''Hebrew:'' '''Gal Kól''' (גל קול, "Sound Wave")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Fülelő''' ("Listener"), '''Fürkész''' ("Seeker", ''The Movie'' 1st dub)
*''Indonesian:'' '''Sondwev''' (손둬빼 ''Soundwave'')
*''Italian:'' '''Memor''', '''Vizar''' (Soundblaster)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shēng-bō''' (Taiwan, 聲波, "Sound Wave"), '''Shēng Bàu''' (Taiwan Soundblaster, 聲爆, "Sound Blast")
*''Polish:'' '''Dźwiękofalowiec''' (''The Movie'', "Soundwaver")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Onda-Sonora''' (Portugal comics), '''Microonda''' (Brazil comics, "Microwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Barkhan''' (cartoon, Бархан, "Dune")<ref>Dubbers thought his name was "Sandwave".</ref>
*''Spanish:'' '''Sam''' (America ''The Headmasters'')
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Zvukohvyl''' (Звукохвил, "Soundwave")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Soundwave Soundwave's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Go-Bots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:United Decepticons]]
[[Category:Ladybird Books Decepticons]]

World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace

2014-06-29T05:56:34Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=28
|prev=The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10
|next=World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air
|image=MTMTE28 subcvr.jpg
|title="World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 30]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=April 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Rebecca Huard]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''The ''Lost Light'' has some new faces aboard, including a brand new captain... Megatron! But how did the fearsome former Decepticon's trial lead to him joining the crew, and why have things started to disappear all around the ship?'''

==Synopsis==
Six months have passed since the defeat of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], his attempt to fulfill the [[Dark Cybertron]] prophecy thwarted, and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' is back out among the stars. New crewmember [[Nautica]] returns from a visit to the fuel furnace, where the [[Pyrobot]]s are angry over some missing [[nucleon]] rods, and resumes her conversation with [[Brainstorm]], though she expresses some doubt in his idea for guns that shoot color-coded lasers which can tell if their wielder is "good" or "bad". As they pass by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s quarters, they observe several of the crew listening at the door, which Brainstorm explains is because their captain is receiving his first session with the psychiatrist. Their captain... [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]!

''Six months ago, back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]], eager to get back aboard the ''Lost Light'' and off on their quest once again, only to be informed that nobody is going anywhere until the captive Megatron is put on trial in accordance with the public's wishes, during which Optimus himself will sit in judgement in the absence of a [[Chief Justice]]. Starscream and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] show signs of uneasiness at a military trial, but Optimus points out the precedents of the [[Phobos]] and [[Desecrus]] trials. [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]], meanwhile, is disgusted with the whole idea of a trial, seeing it as pointless and urging for an execution, but brightens when he is appointed prosecutor; [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] is less enthused at speaking for the defense, but accepts the assignment quietly.''

''After the meeting ends, Optimus finally takes some time to catch up with Rodimus, and learns the disheartening news about the destruction of Rodimus's half of the Matrix. Rodimus explains that he is planning to continue his quest without the map the Matrix had held by seeking out [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who has professed to have had dreams that are leading him to the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. He also admits that he is worried about the great Autobot after recent attempts to reach him have failed, so Optimus takes him aside to show him a way that can hopefully expedite Megatron's trial and get him back on-mission quickly.''

Two hours into his session with Rung, Megatron is growing tired of the therapist's analysis of his [[fusion cannon]], so Rung takes a different tack, requesting that he describe some of the most significant encounters in his life. As [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] quietly listens from below the desk, Megatron describes how he met Rung himself, prompting Rung to consult what he describes as the only surviving original, unaltered copy of Megatron's own autobiography, "Towards Peace", to match up the dates. He asks a question about the work's history—namely, why Megatron removed a dedication to someone named "[[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]]" from a later edition of the book, deleting what he believed were all the dedicated copies, briefly digressing to offer up a candid opinion on the revealing nature of self-editing—but a sudden blackout that briefly plunges the room into darkness brings their session to an abrupt end. Megatron departs with the answer that Terminus was the one who taught him "not to get attached", and tells Rung that "self-editing" is not limited to just writings, but something that people do to their lives every day via denial, selective memory, and more. But sometimes, the former Decepticon notes, such editing is not enough, and one must start their lives over again—just like he is now.

''As the ''Lost Light'' gets ready to resume its mission, [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] holds auditions for new crewmembers with a little help from [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] and a disinterested [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. His criteria for admission prove deeply unusual, as he rejects [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] for being easily distracted and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] for looking too much like Prowl, but just as he is about to turn down a particularly enthusiastic Nautica for having a trisyllabic name, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] bursts in and reveals that the whole thing is a prank Swerve is playing—after all, Ultra Magnus would never have permitted the interviews to be advertised as "crewditions".''

''Optimus and Rodimus visit Megatron in his cell, bringing [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], intending to have him use his mnemosurgery skills to extract memories from Megatron's mind that can be used to corroborate his testimony in court, thereby ending the trial quicker. A horrified Megatron cries out for his guards, fearful that the procedure will be used as cover for tampering with his mind—something which he refuses to permit, and will die to prevent. A resigned Prime departs with Chromedome, but Rodimus remains behind a moment to deliver a final speech to Megatron, matter-of-factly stating how happy everyone will be when he is inevitably executed. Megatron takes his words in quietly, then calmly requests that he do him a favour, and hands him a [[communicube]].''

Nightbeat and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] try to check on Chromedome, who has slunk back into depression following the end of Megatron's trial, and now stays in his hab suite listening to [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'s final message on repeat. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't answer the door when the pair knock, and Nightbeat decides it's best to leave him be, more intrigued by the curious absence of the "8" from the suite's door number. As they leave, neither seems to notice that some letters have also disappeared from the "fuel furnace" sign behind them in the length of time they have been standing there... and neither is present to share in Chromedome's shock when Rewind's repeating message suddenly ''changes'', ending on a tortured scream.

Returning to his quarters, Megatron discovers his door defaced with graffiti denouncing him as a murderer whose time is marked. Seconds later, he blocks an arrow sent flying towards his head with his hand, and turns to see [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] standing with a bow. Whirl is apparently about to deny his actions, before suddenly savagely attacking Megatron, tackling him through a wall and into the fuel furnace below. Whirl claims that he is tired of waiting for Megatron to make his move to settle their old score, and so he has struck first. Boasting about his "immortality" as they fight, Whirl is offered a shocking revelation by Megatron: the only reason he has lived so long is because Megatron ''ensured'' it, ordering his Decepticons never to kill Whirl so that he could have him for himself. Taunted by the knowledge of what he turned Megatron into, a furious Whirl punches through Megatron's stomach... only to have his arm disappear, lost to the Gordian Knot of [[space bridge]] portals that Shockwave's manipulations have turned Megatron's innards into. Megatron instructs Whirl to clean up the graffiti in exchange for his keeping quiet about the attack, and leaves, muttering about the absence of the workshy Pyrobots from the furnace. Whirl recovers and follows a short time later, reporting to someone over a communicator that his attempt to bait Megatron into attacking him has failed...

''Before the assembled populace of Cybertron, the shackled Megatron is escorted to his hearing, and the trial begins. Prowl reads off his litany of charges, and Megatron quietly, calmly, pleads guilty.''

Megatron returns to the bridge for an update on the ship's progress tracking Thunderclash. Magnus also informs him that an unidentified object they had detected out in space earlier is now within visual range. Study of the [[Insignia|Autobranded]] object's size and lack of engines suggests it is a ''coffin''...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in the flashback portion of the issue.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Nautica]] (2)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (3)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (4)
*[[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (5)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (6)
*[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (7)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (9)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (10)
*''[[Atomizer]]'' (11)
*''[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'' (12)
*''[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]'' (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'' (14)
*''[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (15)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (16)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (17)
*''[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]'' (20)
*''[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'' (21)
*''[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]'' (22)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (23)
*''[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]'' (24)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (25)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (26)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (27)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (28)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}

*''[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]'' (31)
*''[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]'' (32)
*''[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'' (34)
*''[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]'' (35)
*''[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'' (36)
*''[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]'' (37)
*''[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]'' (38)
*''[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]'' (39)
*''[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (40)
*''[[Xaaron]]'' (41)
*''[[Powerflash]]?'' (42)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (43)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (45)
*''[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]]'' (46)
*''[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'' (47)
*''[[Siren]]'' (48)
*''[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'' (49)
*''[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]'' (50)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (51)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (19)
|c4=
*''[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]'' (18)
*''[[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]]?'' (29)
*''[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'' (30)
*''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (33)
}}

==Quotes==

"Color coded '''lasers.''' '''Red''' if you're an Autobot, '''purple''' if you're a Decepticon. And this is the best bit: '''the color changes depending on who's firing the gun.'''" 
"So the gun would—" 
"'''—know if you were good or bad!''' Yes! What do you think? Good idea? '''Amazing''' idea? Be honest." 
"Honestly? I think for an intuitive weapon to promote long-discredited notions of '''moral absolutism''' is problematic in the extreme." 
"..." 
"..." 
"It doesn't '''have''' to be red and purple..."
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Brainstorm'''

"Starscream! Will you stop saying "my people"? They're not your people. They're not your '''anything'''. They're ordinary Cybertronian citizens who went '''insane''' and put you in charge. Any day now they'll wake up, realize what they've done, and kill themselves. Suicide by '''face-palm'''."
:—'''Rodimus'''

"I hate to disappoint you, Rung, but sometimes a fusion cannon is just a fusion cannon."
:—'''Megatron''' on compensation

"My life is a succession of decisions made in '''confined spaces'''."
:—'''Megatron'''

"Here's a little—whatever. A little thing. A disclosure. An insight. '''Revisionism'''—I've always been fascinated by it. By the idea of a writer going back and altering things. Make no mistake: an edit is a '''profoundly aggressive''' act. As '''Froid''' once said, we grieve for the '''murdered word'''. If you want to get the measure of an author, don't look at what they've left on the page.... look at what they've '''taken away'''."
:—'''Rung'''

"I was once reprimanded for making an '''aside.'''"
:—'''Swerve'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Everyone crowded around Rung's door in the opening sequence is a new arrival on the ''Lost Light''. With the exception of Groove, all those present were shown to have been on Cybertron at various points during the first two years of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''.
*In a long distance shot of Metroplex, we can see Atomizer supervising the spray-painting of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s name onto the ship; fitting, since he's a former decorator.
*Optimus refers to the trial of a character named [[Phobos]], adding context to the "Phobos controversy" mentioned in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]].
*Rodimus's Matrix-half was shattered back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]. That issue also feature the defeat of Tyrest that Rodimus mentions, which is why there is no Chief Justice available for Megatron's trial, forcing Optimus to take the chair. When he does, he wears a crown like Tyrest's.
*The ''Lost Light'' was previously shown to be searching for Thunderclash in [[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|"Dark Cybertron" Chapter 1]]. The superlative Autobot's divine guidance towards the Knights of Cybertron was introduced when the crew first encountered him in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*Rung's "encounter" with Megatron was shown in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|issue #22]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]. It was Rung's first pictorial appearance.
*Megatron's line about decisions in small spaces (mine shafts, alt modes, cells) was a direct response to his meeting with Whirl in a cell from that same issue. His decision in a mine shaft almost certainly refers to the opening from [[Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1]]. The last reference may also be to an event mentioned in the ongoing issue #22 -- after the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], Megatron's [[Transformation cog|T-cog]] was damaged and he was trapped in gun mode for two years. The decision this led to is unknown, though.
*Rung refers to [[Froid]], his psychoanalytical rival mentioned in "[[Signal to Noise]]".
*Riptide is one of the [[Hydrobot]]s, a team that was mentioned in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|issue #24]]. We also hear of his teammate [[Aquabat]].
*We learn that the mines Megatron originally worked in (before he was reassigned to [[Messatine]], per [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]]) were beneath [[Nova Point]], adding substantially greater meaning to the fact that he delivered his declaration of war from the top of this peak, as we learned in [[Rules of Disengagement|issue #7]].
*Rewind's farewell message appeared back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]].
*In this issue, Rewind's message contains the line "And to think I'll never see you again," which is repeated twice. In its appearance in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], the same line was rendered "And to think -- I will never see you again," without the contraction. Little edits...
*One of the slurs scrawled onto Megatron's door is 'spawn of [[Mortilus]]', an term previously used by Metroplex to refer to [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] in [[The Illusion of Control|''Monstrosity'' #10]]. It's usage here as what is clearly an idiom seems intended to confirm that Trypticon isn't ''actually'' a spawn of Mortilus, which was almost certainly the misguided intent of the original dialogue.
*Broadside was last seen in [[Before the Dawn|''Robots in Disguise'' #14]], in which the building he was in was crushed by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The same goes for Sky High, who was crushed in Devastator's grip. Nice to see they're okay!
*Meanwhile, his fellow Triple Changer and former Wrecker Sandstorm reappears here for the first time since ''[[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Chaos]]''. And he's no longer [[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|hideous]]. Thank Primus for a new toy, amirite?
*If you're not darkening your pants at the use of the word "coffin" in this issue's final panel, it's 'cause you're not remembering the message from the future from all the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]] which warned "Don't open the coffin".

===Transformers references===
*Brainstorm's color-coded guns hearken back to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], in which each faction's weapons fired uniquely-colored blasts. However, in what might be an error, Brainstorm here suggests that Autobot guns would fire ''red'' energy blasts; in the cartoon, the Autobots' weapons fired ''orange'' blasts, this being their signature color in every respect save for [[insignia]] and their blue eyes, used for bases, technology, spaceships and more, in the same way the Decepticons used purple for everything (except their ''red'' eyes!). The idea of red energy blasts for Autobots wasn't introduced until the [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons.
*The Dostoyevsky quote on the first page is written in [[Richard Starkings]]' "Bithead" typeface which was first used way back in [[BotCon 1997]]'s "[[Ground Zero]]" for [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] dialog.
*The wireframe "X-ray" effect Rung and Megatron are drawn with during the brief blackout pays homage to [[Unicron]]'s reformatting of the abandoned Decepticons in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*Megatron has taken up residence in hab suite 113, another of Roberts's [[113 (disambiguation)|multiple references]] to the number.
*Before Megatron and Whirl crash into the fuel furnace, a sign on the wall reads "P-38", in reference to Megatron's original Walther P38 pistol alternate mode. Below that is "C-16"; 16 was Megatron's original [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]], from before they started adding "C-" or "D-" to them to denote whether the toy was a "Cybertron" (the Japanese name for the Autobots) or "Destron" (Decepticon). Megatron's an Autobot now, hence this little "C-16" in-joke.
*Rung has a model [[Starhopper]] in his spaceship collection.

===Real-life references===
*The title of this three-parter is derived from the [[Wikipedia: Julian Cope|Julian Cope]] [[Wikipedia:World Shut Your Mouth (song)|song of the same name]].
*The issue opens with the dialogue "aaaaand... we're '''back!'''", which is, of course, a meta-reference to this issue's position as ''More than Meets the Eye''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 'second season premiere' after the interlude that was "Dark Cybertron".
*Megatron's "Sometimes a fusion cannon..." line is a paraphrasing of the famous quote "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar", a phallic imagery joke misattributed to [[Wikipedia: Sigmund Freud|Sigmund Freud]].
*Bluestreak directly references the 1994 movie ''[[Wikipedia: Shallow Grave|Shallow Grave]]''.
*Nautica is a quantum mechanic, a play upon the real-life field of {{w|quantum mechanics}}. The cheat engines and Möbius ships she professes interest in are also wordplays, on {{w|Heat engine|heat engines}} and {{w|Möbius strip|Möbius strips}} respectively.
*As with real [[wikipedia:Distilled beverage|distilled alcoholic spirits]], such as [[wikipedia:vodka|vodka]], "triple distilled" [[engex]], per Chromia's description of Nautica's demand for "really good" engex, is apparently the expensive stuff.

===Errors===
*There's a free-floating asterisk after Rodimus says "the greatest Autobot of all time" that doesn't have a footnote attached to it.
*As Chromedome listens to Rewind's message, it includes the line "I've probably got 0.8 seconds..." In issue #16, this was rendered as two sentences spliced together "I've probably got about n—ought point eight seconds"; the word "about" has disappeared from the line this issue. While it's tempting to draw a parallel with this issue's theme of editing, this accidentally-dropped word was actually a mistake by TFWiki when the speech was written up and edited for readability for issue #16's article (which also included turning "n—ought point eight" into "0.8"). Seems like Roberts knew he could source the quote from the article quickly rather than spend time searching his hard drive for the script!
*To the extreme left of the trial double-page splash, by Sandstorm's elbow, [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] appears to be sitting in the audience, despite having died in the [[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|conclusion to "Dark Cybertron"]].

===Crew manifest===
*The crew gets a big overhaul. The exact number of 'bots aboard is presently unknown, having last been calculated at 190 functional crewmembers and several non-functional wounded. (In Roberts' letter at the end, he says there are 300, but that may be an inexact number.)
**Confirmed previous crew: Ultra Magnus, Brainstorm, Rung, Skids, Chromedome, Whirl, Perceptor, Mainframe, Blaster, Getaway, Swerve
**Confirmed new arrivals: Megatron, Nautica, Joyride, Nightbeat, Mirage, Hosehead, Groove, Sky High, Bluestreak, Ravage
**Confirmed departures: [[Fizzle]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]

===Other trivia===
*Ravage's appearance on the ''Lost Light'' comes as a surprise. One of James Roberts's early ideas for ''More than Meets the Eye'' included Ravage stowing away on the ship; whether or not that's what happening here isn't quite clear yet.
*Rung refers to female "fellow bibliophile" from whom he acquired the original copy of "Towards Peace". Given Nautica's voracious love of reading, mentioned a few pages later during her interview with Swerve, and the fact that the opening scene of the issue established that she knows Rung is a booklover, it's highly unlikely this bibliophile is anyone other than her, rather than some new mystery female character.
*Rung reveals that his cute little round spectacle-like optics actually ''are'' a pair of [[Spectacles|spectacle lenses]] than he can remove, as he does so this issue.
*Bluestreak comments that this is his second attempt to sign up for the ''Lost Light'', an outside reference to the fact that Roberts tried to get the character for the book at its outset, but he wound up going to ''Robots in Disguise'' because that book's artist [[Andrew Griffith]] loves the character.
*This issue's story is followed by a letter from James Roberts welcoming readers to the book, which is missing from the Comixology download.
*Optimus has somehow managed to convince Chromedome to perform mnemosurgery on Megatron, despite Chromedome making it abundantly clear he was finished with it just [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|two issues]] earlier, in response to a similar request.
*Similar to the pre-launch promotion for ''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' two years prior, this series was trailed by a "scavenger hunt" for a series of six promo posters that were released to various sites around the internet. This round of '' More than Meets the Eye'' images featured a "tarot" theme, and included: Megatron on [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152346827453279&set=a.10150239372238279.337626.8473603278&type=1&stream_ref=10 IDW's Facebook page], Nautica on [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/idw-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-28-seibertron-exclusive-nautica-teaser/30039/ Seibertron.com], Nightbeat on [http://bwtf.com/node/3262 BWTF.com], Riptide on [https://twitter.com/trnsmissions/status/460908171368738818 The TransMissions podcast's Twitter], Tailgate on [https://twitter.com/theunderbase/status/460886217186226176 The Underbase podcast's Twitter] and Trailcutter on [http://tformers.com/trailcutter-the-catalyst-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-exclusive-promotional-art-cover/23186/news.html TFormers.com].

<gallery>
File:MTMTEpromo megatron.jpg|"The Apostate"
File:MTMTEpromo nautica.jpg|"The Savant"
File:MTMTEpromo nightbeat.jpg|"The Inquisitor"
</gallery><gallery>
File:MTMTEpromo riptide.jpg|"The Knave"
File:MTMTEpromo tailgate.jpg|"The Ingenue"
File:MTMTEpromo trailcutter.jpg|"The Catalyst"
</gallery>

===Soundtrack===
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45vgN4F_6bk A Question of Trust]'' by [[Wikipedia: Their Hearts Were Full of Spring|Their Hearts Were Full of Spring]]
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjPqsDU0j2I Mr Blue Sky]'' by [[Wikipedia: Electric Light Orchestra|Electric Light Orchestra]]
*''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlX0Hfh1_3Y Let's Get Started]'' by [[Wikipedia: Frisbie (band)|Frisbie]]

===Covers (3)===
*'''Standard cover:''' Megatron superimposed on a starfield as the ''Lost Light'' boldly goes forward, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Megatron and the cast recreate [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]'s Cover E, which was an homage to Kevin Maguire's 1986 ''Justice League'' #1, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Incentive cover:''' Megatron by [[Livio Ramondelli]], part of a three-piece image alongside [[A 'Bot and Her City|''Windblade'' #1]] and [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|''Robots in Disguise'' #28]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE28 cvrA.jpg|
File:MTMTE28 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE28 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*[[Dawn of the Autobots]]
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #29
*''Star Mage''
*IDW: Getting Into Your Head for 15 Years (back cover)

==External links==
* [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/idw-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-28-full-preview/30044/ Preview]

Transformers: Energon (cartoon)

2014-06-26T04:05:05Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{nav-energon}}
[[File:TransEnergonTitle.JPG|250px|thumb|And the Transformers meet their greatest foe... CGI]]

'''''Transformers: Energon''''', known as '''''Transformers: Super Link''''' (トランスフォーマースーパーリンク) in Japan, is a cartoon series produced by [[Actas Inc.]] and [[Studio A-CAT]]. It aired in the US from January 2004 to June 2005 for <strike>52</strike> 51 episodes, in support of the toyline of the same name. It is a direct sequel to ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' and forms the second part of the "[[Unicron Trilogy]]".

The show takes place ten years after the finale of ''Armada'', opening in an age of peace on Cybertron and Earth which is destined not to last long. ''Energon'' pits the Autobots against an array of villains: the reborn [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], the barely functional [[Unicron]], and the mysterious [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] and his [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] minions.

''Energon'', like ''Armada'', was written and animated in Japan and dubbed for US consumption. The series introduced to Transformers cartoons the technique of combining cel-shaded [[Computer-generated imagery|computer animation]] with 2D cel-animation, creating a fusion between the CGI of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''/''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Machines]]'' and traditionally animated series such as ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]''.

For ''Super Link'', "[[Taiyō no Transform!!]]" plays as its opening [[Japanese themes|theme]] and "[[Calling You]]" for its ending theme.

:''Preceded by: [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]''
:''Followed by: [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]''

==Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
'''Main Cast'''

* [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
* [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] ([[Brent Miller]])
* [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno/Roadblock]] ([[Michael Daingerfield]])
* [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] ([[Matt Hill]])
* [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
* [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
* [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] (Scott McNeil)

'''Team Rodimus'''

* [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
* [[Prowl (Energon)|Prowl]] ([[Alistair Abell]])
* [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] ([[Ward Perry]])

'''Team Bulkhead'''

* [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] ([[French Tickner]])
* [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] ([[Doron Bell, Jr.]])
* [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] ([[Ty Olsson]])

'''Omnicons'''

* [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] ([[Sharon Alexander]])
* [[Signal Flare (Energon)|Signal Flare]] ([[Michael Dobson]])
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] ([[Terry Klassen]])
* [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (Scott McNeil)

'''Combiner teams'''

*[[Air Team]]
** [[Superion Maximus]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
** [[Storm Jet (Energon)|Storm Jet]]
** [[Sky Shadow (Energon)|Sky Shadow]]
** [[Terradive (Energon)|Terradive]]
** [[Treadshot (Energon)|Treadshot]]
** [[Windrazor (Energon)|Windrazor]]

'''Others'''
* [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]] ([[Ron Halder]])
* [[Autobot nurse]]s (?)
* [[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys]] ([[Tony Sampson]])

|c2=
'''Main Cast'''

* [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron/Galvatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
* [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus/Snow Cat]] ([[Don Brown]])
* [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] ([[Alvin Sanders]])
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] ([[Michael Dobson]])
* [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave/Mirage]] ([[Doug Parker]])
* [[Shockblast]] ([[Brian Drummond]])
* [[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] ([[Terry Klassen]])

'''Combiner teams'''

* [[Construction Team]]
** [[Constructicon Maximus]] (Don Brown)
** [[Steamhammer (Energon)|Steamhammer]]
** [[Bonecrusher (Energon)|Bonecrusher]]
** [[Duststorm (Energon)|Duststorm]]
** [[Sledge (Energon)|Sledge]]
** [[Wideload (Energon)|Wideload]]

* [[Destruction Team]]
** [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]] ([[Trevor Devall]])
** [[Barricade (Energon)|Barricade]]
** [[Blackout (combiner)|Blackout]]
** [[Blight (Energon)|Blight]]
** [[Kickback (Energon)|Kickback]]
** [[Stormcloud (Energon)|Stormcloud]]

'''Terrorcons'''

* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
* [[Battle Ravage]]/[[Command Ravage]]
* [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]]/[[Blackout (Terrorcon)|Blackout]]
* [[Cruellock]]
* [[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]]

|c3=
'''Regulars'''
* [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] ([[Brad Swaile]])
* [[Misha Miramond (Energon)|Misha Miramond]] ([[Ellen Kennedy]])
* [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Brian Jones]] ([[Ron Halder]])
* [[Alexis Thi Dang (Armada)|Alexis]] ([[Tabitha St. Germain]])
* [[Carlos Lopez (Armada)|Carlos Lopez]] ([[Matt Hill]])
* [[Miranda Jones (Energon)|Miranda Jones]] ([[Nicole Oliver]])
* [[Rad White]] ([[Kirby Morrow]])
* [[Sally Jones (Energon)|Sally Jones]] (Nicole Oliver)

|c4=
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] ([[Trevor Devall]])
* [[Primus]] ([[Ron Halder]])
* [[Unicron]] ([[Mark Acheson]])

|nonumbering=true
}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Energon episodes}}

{{collist|4|
#[[Cybertron City (episode)|Cybertron City]]
#[[Energon Stars]]
#[[Scorpinok]]
#[[Megatron's Sword]]
#[[The New Cybertron City]]
#[[Megatron Resurrected]]
#[[Megatron Raid]]
#[[Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary]]
#[[Battle of the Asteroid Belt]]
#[[Energon Tower]]
#[[The Legend of Rodimus]]
#[[Crisis in Jungle City]]
#[[Kicker Beware!]]
#[[Energon Grid]]
#[[Rodimus Friend or Foe?]]
#[[Go for Unicron!]]
#[[The Return of Demolishor]]
#[[A Tale of Two Heros]]
#[[Battle Stations]]
#[[Alpha Q: Identity]]
#[[Shockblast: Rampage]]
#[[Survival Instincts]]
#[[Each One Fights...]]
#[[Unicron Unleashed]]
#[[Open Fire!]]
#[[Ripped Up Space]]
#[[Team Optimus Prime]]
#[[Protection]]
#[[Imprisoned Inferno|Improsoned Inferno]]
#[[Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet]]
#[[Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead]]
#[[Farewell Inferno]] [[Return! Our Scorponok]]
#[[Crash Course]]
#[[Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme]]
#[[A Heroic Battle]]
#[[The Power of Unicron|The Power]]
#[[Optimus Supreme]]
#[[Unicron Perishes]]
#[[Ambition]]
#[[Wishes]]
#[[Galvatron!]]
#[[Break Through]]
#[[Distribution]]
#[[The Omega Train]]
#[[Decepticon Army|Deception Army]]
#[[Ironhide Team]]
#[[Formidable]]
#[[Galvatron Terror]]
#[[Destructive Power]]
#[[Spark (episode)|Spark]]
#[[The Sun]]
}}
"Return! Our Scorponok" was to be "Scorponok's Scars", but it never aired and was probably never dubbed. It is not considered to exist in the English version of the series.

==Criticisms==
{{bigquote|Something cool ''finally'' happened!|[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] announces that the series is over.<ref>No, really! In every preview for ''Super Link'', Alpha Q promised the audience that "Something cool might happen" in the next episode. When the series ended, he finally declared that the promised coolness had, at last, come to pass. He might be crazy, but he's not ''entirely'' wrong in the head.</ref>}}

The [[Unicron Trilogy]] was a franchise that got off to a poor start, fictionally speaking. ''Armada'' (the predecessor to ''Energon'') suffered from a bad beginning that, in the eyes of many, condemned the entire show. Although it improved as it went along (with the "Unicron Battles" story arc regarded as fairly good in comparison), the sub-par start left it laboring under a bad reputation that it never escaped. Many fans had hopes that ''Energon'' would be a return to glory.

It was quite the proverbial [[brick (term)|brick]] to the testicles, then, that ''Energon'', the televisual representation of Transformers for its 20th anniversary year, turned out to be just the opposite — a series with a strong beginning, which slowly but surely degenerated into what is widely considered the worst Transformers cartoon broadcast in the U.S. In retrospect, the fans' positive initial reaction may have been simply because it wasn't ''Armada.''

===Conceptual and storytelling flaws===
====Plotting====
The primary flaw of ''Energon'' is that it simply does not have enough plot to fill 52 episodes. The first half of the series moves at a respectable pace, and around episode #20, the villains achieve their objective — the restoration of Unicron. However, because there are another 30 episodes to fill, an attack by the Autobots and their allies [[Battle Stations|deactivates Unicron]]. The storyline is then essentially ''repeated'' for twenty more episodes, until Unicron is reactivated ''again'' and [[Unicron Perishes|destroyed ''again'']]. But even then, there are ''still'' thirteen more episodes to go, and with the ''driving aspect of the plot'' destroyed, viewers are served up a virtually pointless storyline full of [[To sell toys|repaints and combiners]], which added nothing to what had already taken place.

Individual episodes are likewise padded out with time-killing scenes such as [[stock footage]] sequences, generally a minimum of three per episode. An ''incredible'' amount of time is consumed in communication and report scenes, in which the characters stand around in front of video screens and [[Team Optimus Prime|tell one another things that the viewers already know]].

====Character de-evolution====
The series takes a ''very'' dismissive attitude towards characters and their development. With the exception of [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (who survives the series and resolves his long-running feud with [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]), the writers seemed unable to carry personal sub-plots and conflicts through to any conclusion. Instead, they would either quietly drop these opportunities for character development, or (much more gallingly) the characters would die and/or get mindwiped, so the stories would not ''have'' to be resolved. Examples:

* Demolishor's uncertainty in the Decepticon cause? "Resolved" by having him sacrifice himself to save Megatron, then having Megatron resurrect him with no memories.
* Inferno's struggle against Megatron's Decepticon programming? Brought to an end by having him kill himself, then be resurrected, only to do ''absolutely nothing'' for the rest of the series.
* Kicker's hatred of Transformers? Vanishes with no explanation after roughly two episodes, save for the occasional kick to Ironhide.
* Rodimus and Optimus Prime's ideological feud over whether Unicron should be destroyed? Rodimus puts himself under Optimus's command for the mission to defeat Galvatron, and the argument never comes up again.
* Wing Saber's dedication to capturing Shockblast? Well, he captures him . . . but when Shockblast escapes again, Wing Saber doesn't say a word.

Many similar examples exist.

====Promoting toys====
Of course, any Transformers series exists [[to sell toys]], but in promoting the abilities and gimmicks of its toyline, ''Energon'' frequently ignored common sense to the most amazing degree in order to shoehorn these concepts into a setting and story where they didn't make sense.

[[File:Carsinspace.jpg|thumb|Their wheels spin and everything.]]
In choosing to set most of its action in the void of space, ''Energon'' foolishly robbed the Transformers of any real reason to ''transform.'' They can all happily fly in robot mode (in space, on planets, anywhere), inviting the question of why transformation is necessary. But, to promote the fact that the toys transform, characters would routinely change to vehicle mode anyway, even in outer space. Cue innumerable scenes of cars, trucks, and snowmobiles ''driving through space.'' Characters would even transform to vehicle mode on the ground, and then ''drive away into the air''. Everyone could control their flight with no problem in either form, completely invalidating the need for any variety in [[alternate mode]]. Conversely, on occasions when it might actually make sense to transform to a speedy vehicle form for fast or long-distance travel, characters often choose to run to where they're going instead.

Whereas the English version of the series takes its name from the central plot element (the collection of Energon), the Japanese version, ''Super Link,'' takes its name from the main thematic concept/[[gimmick]]: Autobots [[powerlinx]]ing. The Japanese version of the show contained a lot of waffling about the symbolic nature of this ("Even when one heart is weak, together, we are strong!"). Unfortunately, the fact remains that, almost without exception, these combinations are used in straight firefights, where combining two soldiers into one means ''fewer guns to fire at the enemy.'' Further, the resulting combined soldier rarely shows any sign of enhanced firepower.

Further failing to advertise the combining gimmick are the "Maximus" combiner teams. For about 90% of their screen time, the three giants are seen in ''only'' their combined super robot modes, rarely splitting into individual vehicles. The central torso units are seen as individual robots for perhaps 5 seconds in the entire series, and the show doesn't even acknowledge that the limbs could ''be'' individuals.

===Production flaws===
====Art and animation====

[[File:Scorponok blacklines.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Rescale what now?]]
''Energon'', animated by [[Actas Inc.]] and [[Studio A-CAT]], introduced a new concept to Transformers cartoons: the blending of CGI with traditional cel animation. The animators rendered the Transformer characters in cel-shaded CGI, while animating humans and other aspects of the show through traditional means. On the plus side, this allowed for a consistently high level of cel animation quality (especially enjoyable after the often scattershot quality of ''Armada''). In particular, the show uses the CGI to show many characters in motion at once, often with a high frame rate that gives them a very fluid appearance (for example, the many charges of the [[Battle Ravage]] Terrorcon drones, replete with numerous stamping legs and bobbing heads and tails.)

On the other hand, the CGI animation is positively primitive. Characters possess no sense of weight and can not move in any manner but the most basic. Even ''walking'' is a challenge for characters with bulky models, like Ironhide, who is often reduced to swinging his arms and legs back and forth while sliding along a predetermined path. The black-line outlines of character models were often not rescaled for different shots, resulting in the characters sometimes appearing as indecipherable masses of heavy black lines.

[[File:GuessIronhidesEmotion.jpg|250px|thumb|The above images feature: A horrified Ironhide witnessing Demolishor's death; a surprised Ironhide asking a question; a determined Ironhide charging into battle; and a fighting-mad Ironhide striking a decisive blow. Can you figure out which is which?]]
[[File:Energon InfernoImprisoned torture.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Are you @&#%$ kidding me?!]]

Additionally, "emotion" is nonexistent; the blank-faced CGI models could not easily display any [[Dull surprise|facial expressions beyond "mouth open" and "mouth closed."]] Numerous characters don't ''have'' facial animation, even ones with mouths. Most prominent among these is Alpha Q, who has ''no facial animation at all'' despite the fact that he's basically nothing but four faces. In some cases, when it was necessary for a character to emote visibly (Megatron's pronounced yawning, Inferno's [[Imprisoned Inferno|tortured screaming]]), or to do something visually dynamic ([[Jungle Planet (episode)|acrobatic transformation]]), the CGI would actually be ''replaced'' with cel animation, because it just ''looked more impressive''. Does that seem ''right'' to you?

In addition, the show's CGI compares very poorly with ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines,'' both of which came out ''years'' previously, both of which were ''fully'' CGI (without the crutch of cel animation to fall back on), and both of which had characters who boasted complex, nuanced facial expressions and fluid, constant body language — even [[Diagnostic Drone|the ones with utterly inhuman faces and bodies]]. The only way to spare the animators' reputation is to assume that Energon's budget was miniscule in comparison -- and, to be scrupulously fair, ''Beast Wars'' was one of the most expensive animated television programs ever made at the time.

Even within the limits of the animation, many bad editing, design, and lighting choices make the series difficult to follow visually. Unicron's body — primarily black, to match his ''Energon'' redeco toy — is frequently lost against the blackness of space. When Alpha Q energizes Unicron's head, it becomes the [[Energon Orb]], with no visual indication as to what it used to be. Scenes set underground or within Unicron's body are commonly underlit, to the point that the characters can't even be distinguished. Strange elements such as the [[Rift|rift in space]] are inconsistently animated and described by the characters, making it difficult to figure out what they are.

====Editing====
[[File:E3 titlecard.jpg|thumb|left|Anyone who's got a spare "o" and is in need of an "i"?]]
At times, ''Energon'' tends to flow like a single feature-length film... a film that has been mercilessly chopped up into 22 minute segments. Thus, confusing, unclear elements like the [[Rift|rift in space]] and [[Unicron]]'s dark, partially re-energized body are routinely shown in closeup without any introductory establishing shots, making it extraordinarily unclear what's happening or where for the viewer who's just watching one particular episode by itself. To be a ''little'' bit fairer, this "chopped-up film" sensation is not exactly uncommon in Japanese animated series with a defined length, but ''Energon'' is a good example of the method at its very worst.

[[File:Improsonedinferno.jpg|thumb|Yeah, why?]]
The show's scene editing also tends to be very abrupt and choppy. Battle animation in particular routinely cuts between numerous, very short scenes, showing several simultaneous but unrelated events as if the viewer must be kept up to date on ''all'' of them in real time. This makes it difficult to grasp the significance of ''any'' of the events shown. When boiled down, this editing style often serves to mask the fact that not much is actually happening.

To make things worse for the credibility of the editors, "[[Scorpinok]]", "[[A Tale of Two Heros]]", "[[Imprisoned Inferno|Improsoned Inferno]]", and "[[Decepticon Army|Deception Army]]" all have blatant spelling errors '''''in the titles!''''' Making it more annoying is that only the latter two of those four were corrected for the DVD release.
{{-}}

====Music====
This is maybe the only good part of Energon... because the soundtracks for both versions are outstanding. The music created uses a combination of orchestral and synthesized sounds, and has pieces that can be used in any situation. Sadly one of the issues in Energon is the use of music that does not fit the tone of the scene; in "[[Imprisoned Inferno]]", the episode ends with triumphant music despite being a very somber event.

====Scripting and dubbing====
The original Japanese version of the show is, in short, sluggish and confusing... but at least the conversations make sense. Even that got lost when the show was ported for North American consumption.

The dub of ''Energon'' seems even ''more'' rushed than ''Armada,'' which was already known for being so hurried that dubbers were working with unfinished animation, got names wrong, and had moments of dialogue that didn't jibe with the action. ''Energon'' [[Battle of the Asteroid Belt|generally]] got completed animation, and ''usually'' got names right—but [[Misha Miramond (Energon)|Misha]] gets three different names during the course of the show, and [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] are constantly confused.

The rushed dub script is full of mistranslations. Though some elements obviously needed to be altered to suit a Western audience, it seems that many portions of the dub were never checked to see if they made logical sense. As a result, the script is stilted, perfunctory, and repetitive, constantly throwing in cliche, time-killing phrases like "We've gotta [repeat the plot which everyone already knows]", "Let's do it!", and "It's time to [perform some action that's already blatantly obvious]". There is arbitrary new dialogue (that seems to exist purely due to writers' carelessness) which ''does not match what is occurring onscreen''. The final result is a show with some bizarre non-sequiturs and more than a few moments of ''genuine nonsense.''

To cite just one example: at the start of "[[Team Optimus Prime]]", Dr. Jones says, in a frustrated tone, "I ''can't'' get back the energon I sent to Kicker. That's ''impossible!''" The entire notion of "getting it back" is absurd on the surface, akin to trying to get back water that went down a drain; saying that not getting it back is ''impossible'' is even more ridiculous; and further, the original dialog is a passive lament, more along the lines of "It's not like that energon I sent is ever coming back." Similar examples exist in nearly every single episode of the show.

Outside of these accidents, there are also some strange ''deliberate'' changes, chief among them the tendency for [[Primus]] to be intermittently ignored. In one episode, Primus would be dubbed accurately, talking with other characters normally, while in the next, he would be deliberately edited out, with his lines erased or given to other characters, and references to him replaced with "the core". Other odd instances include Terrorcon drones having spoken lines randomly inserted in some scenes, never attributed to any one Terrorcon; and a steadfast refusal to acknowledge the deaths of any characters.

Given all of this, the quality of voice acting frequently suffers throughout the show. This can be a common result of the antiseptic ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording) environment, where actors perform solo, with no one to play off. But ''Energon'' is particularly bad in this regard. Lead talents such as [[Garry Chalk]] and [[David Kaye]] still turn in strong performances, but actors for many of the secondary characters clearly struggle to make something of the material they're given, often sounding flat and uninspired, or just confused. There are many times when ''all'' the actors clearly have no idea what their lines mean in the greater scheme of things, nor any idea of what they're really talking about; the Dr. Jones quote cited above is also an example of this problem.

There's also a pronounced amount of "filling dead air," with characters talking from offscreen simply to make noise where there was none originally. Take a drink every time someone goes "Uhh?" to break the silence, and you'll be hammered by the first commercial break.

{{bigquote|I really wish they would put this terrible series out on DVD. Not because I really want to watch it again, but because it would fill that unsightly gap between Armada and Cybertron with unsightly content.|The nicest words ever spoken about the Energon cartoon, [http://tinyurl.com/5tuucc "Gustavo!", August 2008]}}

==Home video releases==
===''Super Link''===
[[File:Tf superlink vol 01.jpg|thumb|200px|]]
{{main|Interchannel}}

The ''Super Link'' version of ''Energon'' was released on DVD by Interchannel in [[Japan]] while the series was still on air.

*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 001 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 002 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 003 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 004 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 005 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 006 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 007 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 008 (2004)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 009 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 010 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 011 (2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 012 ([[April 20]] 2005)
*''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 013 (2005)
{{-}}

===''Energon''===
[[File:Energon Ultimate Collection DVD.jpg|thumb|100px|]]
{{main|Paramount Pictures}}
When Paramount Home Entertainment released a handful of ''Energon'' collections on VHS and DVD in 2004 and 2005, several episodes were re-dubbed to fix numerous mistakes that occurred in the episodes that were broadcast, as well as throwing in some new dialogue.
*''Transformers: Energon—Volume 1: The Battle for Energon'' ([[June 27]], 2004)
*''Transformers: Energon—Volume 2: The Return of Megatron'' (2004)
*''Transformers: Energon—Volume 3: Shockblast Unleashed'' (2005)
*''Transformers: Energon—Volume 4: Omega Supreme'' (2005)
*''Transformers: Energon—The Ultimate Collection'' (2008)
{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC_%E3%82%B9%E3%83%BC%E3%83%91%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AF ''Transformers: Super Link'' at the Japanese Wikipedia]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Energon (cartoon)}}
[[Category:Energon media| ]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Skids (G1)

2014-06-26T03:53:18Z

AlphaTyrant: /* IDW Generation 1 continuity */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Skids}}
:''Skids is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:Skidsg1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Gee, that REALLY looks like his Alternators head, what are the odds?]]
'''Skids''' is a theoretician. This is appropriate, as some would say his existence is merely theoretical; everyone forgets who he is or that he was there. But if they got to know him, they'd learn that he likes to daydream, get built into furniture, and pick up cowboy chicks.

Though a theoretician by trade, he's also a congenital learner, capable of mastering almost any skill naturally. While this makes him suited for just about any task, it makes him a surprisingly skilled warrior and special ops agent as he learns more combat techniques. The only skills he seems to have trouble mastering are people skills. To his closest friends or even his superiors, he's gruff, introverted, and sullen. Plus, it's hard for him to take an interest in anything since he'll almost immediately master it and it'll stop being a challenge. But the real source of his bad attitude is that despite being able master anything, the only thing he can't quite figure out is himself. And it ticks him off.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michael Chain]] (English, "[[Quest for Survival]]"), [[Dan Gilvezan]] (English, "[[Triple Takeover]]"), [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japanese, "Quest for Survival"), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese, "Triple Takeover")|[[Roberto Alexander]] (Latin American)}}

[[File:Skidsanimated.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Hoist, Prime, and Skids ogle Bumblebee's animation model.]]
Like many of the Autobots who first appeared in 1985, the exact circumstances behind Skids joining the original group of Earth-based Autobots remain unknown. Skids first appeared as part of a strike force that was sent to stop the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] from ravaging a human farm, only to meet with failure. Apparently injured in the battle, Skids underwent some repairs by [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] upon return to Autobot Headquarters, where he responded incredulously to [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]]'s report that he had retrieved [[robotic insecticide]] from the planet [[Floron III]] to deal with the Insecticon threat. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}}

[[File:TripleTakeover Skids.jpg|thumb|Racing into obscurity.]]
Later, Skids was part of a team sent to investigate bombs that were raining down on a city from a football stadium (the work of the [[Triple Changer]] [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]). Blitzwing, however, had the stadium surrounded by a massive "Zone Defense" maze built by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], and while attempting to traverse it, Skids crashed into [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and was driven over by tank-mode Blitzwing. Skids and the other Autobots' remains were then gathered by [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], who built a throne for himself out of them. These Autobots were soon rescued and quickly rebuilt, and participated in the crises that ensued as Blitzwing, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] vied for Decepticon leadership. Following that skirmish, Prowl opined that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was the greatest leader in the universe, which prompted himself, Skids, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] to form themselves into a throne for Prime; Prime refused to sit, saying that thrones were for Decepticons—he'd rather roll. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
[[File:Binaltech skids cardart.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|After using up all of his vacation and sick days, Skids returned to work to find that the Transformers cartoon had been cancelled.]]
Skids was the first of the Binaltech Autobots created simply with the intent of upgrading an existing, healthy Transformer, rather than in the name of repairing one that had been injured. Outfitted with self-repairing nanomechanical antibodies, Skids's body can, barring heavy damage in battle, theoretically function for thousands of years without maintenance. In both his original and new body, Skids dedicated time to studying the chronal warp on [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], which gave rise to the Autobot strategy known as "[[Operation: Distant Thunder]]", a last-ditch scheme should the Decepticons tamper with the fabric of space-time. That horror occurred in [[2004]] when Ravage used the [[Kronosphere]] to alter the timeline, and Skids prepared to initiate the plan and send [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s memory data back in time to avert the catastrophe. {{storylink|Darkest Hour (prose)|Darkest Hour}}

The data probe was launched, but as the timeline was righting itself a [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]] arrived, and manipulated the temporal wave to preserve the Binaltech timeline separate from the original continuity. Possessed by the Spark of the [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Protector]], hailing from some future point in time, Nemesis Prime informed Skids and the others that their timeline was destined to produce great warriors capable of safeguarding the entire multiverse, and therefore must continue on its new course. {{storylink|Binal Time}}
{{-}}

=====''Henkei! Henkei!''=====
[[File:Skids and screech.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
When Skids successfully proved the existence of particles able to cross over between dimensions, he put his discovery to work for the forces of good, coating his armor in these "Dimension Slide" particles and endowing himself with the power to move between realities, as well as a snazzy new green paintjob. In this quest to examine anomalies within the multiverse, Skids found he could summon other versions of himself from different dimensions to aid him, but for unknown reasons, one of these alternate versions wound up trapped in Skids's home dimension, unable to return to his own world. Named "[[Screech (Generations)|Screech]]" (presumably to save all the Autobots a headache), this alternate Skids teamed up with his counterpart, and together, the pair worked as "Quantum Operatives" policing the multiverse while searching for a way to get Screech home. {{storylink|#Toys|Skids's toy bio}} {{storylink|Screech (Generations)|Screech's toy bio}}

Hot on the trail of one such multiversal anomaly, Skids and Screech pursued [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]'s ghost across the multiverse to a [[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (franchise)|parallel dimension]] where he was causing trouble. While the two dimension-hoppers kept the ghost busy with wordplay and pop culture references, the [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] of that world used his illusion casting powers to scare Starscream into fleeing the dimension by projecting an illusion of his greatest fear: [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]! {{storylink|Starscream's New Body}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Skidsnatives.jpg|100px|thumb|We bet you can't.]]
In the event that the [[Ark (G1)|Ark's]] mission would require more manpower, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] had several Autobots encode copies of their personalities as light patterns within crystals, including Skids. When a large number of Prime's troops were then injured during the opening volleys of the war on [[Earth]], Prime arranged for the construction of new bodies, which the personalities were then programmed into, bringing Skids and the others to life "for a second time." Now in a new body that transformed into a blue van, Skids' first mission was to aid in preventing [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] from stealing sonic energy from a [[Brick Springhorn]] concert, and he immediately took a liking to the music of Earth and the possibilities of what could be learned from interacting with mankind. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

When [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] ran out of fuel in the middle of the [[Powder River Basin]] in [[Wyoming]], Optimus Prime took Skids and a few other Autobots to prevent harm to the humans who had discovered him. Unfortunately, these humans (and their military) forced the Autobots into a retreat. {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!}}

[[File:Charleneskids.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Proving once and for all that chicks dig giant robots.]]
On the way to raid the [[Wyoming base|Decepticon base]], Skids accidentally clipped the car of hot-tempered [[Jake Dalrymple]], who pursued the Autobots on their mission and distracted Skids just enough for [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to blast him off a cliff. Although Optimus Prime mourned the loss of Skids, neither the Autobot leader nor any other Autobot thought to recover the believed deactivated body of Skids later after their mission had been completed. {{storylink|Command Performances!}} Lying crippled and unable to transform, Skids was shortly discovered by register girl [[Charlene (cowgirl)|Charlene]], who, thinking he was an ordinary van, had him fixed up with the intent of keeping him for herself. Skids was open to the idea at first, preferring a peaceful life to that of a warrior, but after another bout of road rage with Dalrymple, the unearthly stunts he performed left him no option but to reveal his true nature of Charlene.

A somewhat unusual [[Transformer romance|relationship]] ensued between the two, but more trouble soon came Skids's way in the form of [[Donny Finkleberg]], who was being hunted down by Ravage. Fleeing from the Decepticon with Charlene and Donny, Skids hid out at an abandoned mining town, but yet again, the raging Dalrymple tracked him down and shattered his windshield, knocking him unconscious and into a dream where he died through his refusal to attack Megatron and save Charlene. Reawakening, he engaged Ravage in battle again, finally finding the strength to act, and causing his foe to tumble down a mineshaft. Skids then parted ways with Charlene, having come to the realisation that their two roles in life were too different for their relationship to work out. {{storylink|Showdown!}}

[[File:Skidslimbo.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Oh, hey, remember Skids?]]
Skids returned to the Ark with Finkleberg, and later embarked on a mission with him to track down a group of missing Autobots who had been captured by the [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team]]. Unfortunately, money still governed Finkleberg's actions, and he promptly sold out Skids to RAAT's leader [[Walter Barnett (G1)|Walter Barnett]] when Skids was deactivated for the night. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Skids was disassembled for study, but when the Decepticons [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] appeared on Earth and began defacing landmarks, RAAT operative [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] was forced to enter into a deal with the Autobots to stop them. Skids and the other Autobots' components were combined to form a jury-rigged robot that Circuit Breaker used to stop the [[Battlecharger]]s, but in return for their co-operation, Skids and the Autobots were allowed to go free. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

''On the return trip to the Ark, however, Skids was abruptly torn from reality when the future Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] traveled back in time from [[2006]], shunting Skids into [[limbo]] to maintain temporal balance.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Skids remained in limbo for two years while Galvatron ran amok on Earth, his mind steadily succumbing to the dream-illusions created by the [[Limbo parasite|parasites]] native to the realm.''

{{note|While Skids was lost to limbo in the UK comics, no such fate befell him in the American stories. Luckily enough for continuity's sake, he never did anything important in the US comics again, only showing up in crowd scenes: He attended Optimus Prime's funeral {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}}, witnessed the arrival of the Spacehikers {{storylink|Spacehikers!}} and watched [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] fight for Autobot leadership on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. He was presumably either offlined during the subsequent Decepticon ambush, {{storylink|Totaled!}} or during [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream's]] [[Underbase]] powered rampage. {{storylink|Dark Star}} To maintain consistency, the UK printings of these stories either redrew Skids into a different, [[generic]] robot, or erased him from the art entirely.}}

[[File:Skidssurvivors.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|And then he stole [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]'s head.]]
''With Galvatron's eventual destruction during the [[Time Wars]], Skids was finally returned to Earth, but he had spent too long in Limbo—the limbo-creatures had succeeded in shaping a reality from his dreams, and the nightmarish monsters that he had imagined materialised on Earth with him. Fleeing from the beasts, who desired to merge with Skids so that they might become more powerful, Skids lured them into a nuclear power plant which he had planned to detonate, wiping out the monsters and himself, but the remnants of the Autobot [[Wrecker]]s—joined by [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] of the Decepticon [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—arrived to aid him, defeating the monsters. Skids joined with this group of Transformers, forming the [[Survivors]].'' {{storylink|Survivors!}}

[[File:Grimlockwasthatwise.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Hey, who here remembers when I was damaged and shoved into the medbay? No? Well, that makes all of us.]]
Grimlock traveled to [[Hydrus Four]] to use [[Nucleon]] to revive the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. Returning to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he also pumped Nucleon into the med bays, reviving Skids and several others, and headed towards [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Grimlock used the Ark as a blunt instrument across [[Unicron]]'s head, forcing Skids and the others to evacuate and join the battle against the Chaos Bringer. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}
{{-}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
When Carnivac ran off on his own to avenge Catilla's death, Skids and the other Survivors insisted Springer contact Grimlock and the Earthforce for back-up. Hooked up with these Autobot reinforcements, they stormed the Mayhem Attack Squad's tropical island base to save their friend. Skids personally confronted [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] in single combat, holding his own against the murderous Pretender. {{storylink|Where Wolf?}}

On a later mission for Earthforce, Skids and the Survivors protected an [[oil tanker]] from [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], while the rest of the Decepticons were trying to distract the Autobots with an all-out assault on their base. Undeterred by the sleight-of-hand, the Survivors caught up with Starscream in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Skids used a flying leap by Carnivac as a distraction to catch Starscream with his liquid nitrogen cannon, and then [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] knocked the Decepticon commander into the drink. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
In [[2012]], when Optimus Prime discovered Megatron was still active on Earth, he took a detachment of Autobots, including Skids, to put an end to the tyrant's menace once and for all. Battling Megatron's reanimated Decepticon [[zombie]]s as the two leaders clashed, Skids called dibs on taking out [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]]. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}}

After the battle, Skids and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] attended to [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] as he recovered from a [[Scraplet]] infection. He then departed Earth with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

===Find Your Fate Junior===

{{note|In the first book in this series, Skids transforms into a red compact, matching the description of his toy's Honda City Turbo [[alt-mode]] in one of its [[Diaclone]] color schemes. He is apparently even smaller than Bumblebee}}
Although Skids had reported the strange electromagnetic readings he'd been getting from [[Dolphin's Bay]] even before [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] sent [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] to [[Bandit's Bluff]] to remove the [[cerebro-shell]]s from the rampaging [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], it took [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock's]] report that evening to prompt Optimus to have Skids investigate it for possible Decepticon activity. Prime chose [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] to accompany him in [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack's]] [[Star mini-submarine|new mini-submarine]], but wasn't sure whether to assign [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] to the mission as well, since Skids clearly didn't want him along.

If Prime left Sludge out, Skids celebrated by absentmindedly crashing into [[Mount Lomas]], crumpling his hood and causing Bumblebee to notice a suspicious trail in the woods. If the pair followed it instead of continuing to the bay, they walked into a trap set by [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] and [[Gravedigger]], who disassembled Bumblebee and Skids to serve as the first components of the [[Autobot Memorial Power Plant]].

If they continued to Dolphin's Bay and the sub, Skids traced electromagnetic waves back to some [[black coral]], then hacked into a Decepticon computer and learned of a plot to convert the coral into superfuel. Bumblebee then exited the hatch to break a piece off, triggering an explosion which trapped him in a canyon beneath broken columns of crimson coral. Without underwater gear, Skids had only two options: If he went back to the channel for help, Seaspray used his laser to free Bumblebee, then tried to sail back to the Ark, only to have Starscream blow all three of them up with a cluster bomb. If Skids tried translating some nearby dolphins' language, he succeeded in five minutes, talking the three largest dolphins into moving the broken coral. Skids and Bumblebee brought the black coral and his report back to Optimus Prime, ensuring an Autobot victory.

If Prime ''did'' include Sludge, Skids and Bumblebee made it to the bay first, then used the sub to track the readings to an underwater cave. Bumblebee entered it, radioed Skids about Operation Black Coral, then failed to reemerge. If Skids chose to return to the Ark for help, two possible endings saw an Autobot assault save Bumblebee and destroy the Decepticons' base. If Skids tried to radio Bumblebee, the sub was promptly hit by a sonic attack from Frenzy, making it go haywire and tear through the bay. Whether Skids tried to stop it by activating the backup systems or shorting the controls out with his electron blaster, he was saved by Sludge, ensuring an Autobot victory in two more endings. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

===3H comics===
[[File:Skidswreckers2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|In the context of science, "theory" does not mean "guess" or "hunch", Rodimus. You should probably pay attention.]]
Skids was among the senior scientists (including [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], and [[Rad]]) who questioned [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]'s plan to send out the best of the remaining Autobot science and research members to establish deep-space reconnaissance posts. {{storylink|Betrayal}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
8.2 million years ago, Skids was in the [[Chamber of the Ancients]], observing the ceremony in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optronix]] was given the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and transformed into [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Immediately, three Decepticon assassins attacked, and though Skids acted to protect the new Prime, his arm was cut off by [[Umbra]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

Skids was repaired and he returned to his post at the [[Decagon]]. While Prime was absent, Skids picked up radar of incoming Decepticon invaders and a transmission from the force's field commander, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} Skids manned auto-defenses from inside the Decagon until they and their [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]] units were destroyed. Picking up their personal weaponry, Skids and the other Autobots were all that was left to defend [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], but defend it they did and Shockwave's forces were driven back. {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}}

During the Dark Ages, Skids served with [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]'s faction of Autobots. {{storylink|Devastation}} The team got involved in a skirmish with [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and the giant Decepticon jumped onto a building in which Skids was trying to hide, crushing him. He survived though. {{storylink|Revelation (The Dark Ages)|Revelation}}

Skids was not among the Autobots who traveled to Earth aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], remaining behind on Cybertron as the planet slipped into the deactivated state known as the [[Great Shutdown]]. When Shockwave began reactivating the planet and successfully unified the Autobot and Decepticon factions, Skids was a member of the council of Autobots who served to represent their faction in the alliance. Few of the council members were actually suited for leadership, however, and slowly found themselves giving more and more control to Shockwave. Eventually, the example shown by the Ark's returning crew and several homegrown Autobot insurgency cells tore the blinders from the council's optics, and Skids gathered his fellow councilmen in taking to the streets and ousting the Decepticons from power. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' continuity===
During an Autobot peace ceremony on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Skids reported to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] that [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] had yet to find the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] that had gone missing while chasing [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] Their conversation was then interrupted due to a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}}

Skids was later stationed on the ''[[Arc II]]'' on Earth, where he helped his comrades in the field by warning them about incoming G.I. Joe [[S.H.A.R.C.]]s. When the ship came under attack by the [[Pretender Monster]]s, Skids was knocked out by [[Icepick (G1)|Icepick]] while alerting the others on board. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}} He was sent to [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|the Pit]] for repairs and was expected to quickly recover from his injuries. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}

===''TransTech''===
In an Offworld Zone of [[Axiom Nexus]], a Skids was yet another victim of [[Bulletbike (TransTech)|Bulletbike]], murdered for a cred-key. {{storylink|I, Lowtech}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:Skidsbacksoff.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|-gulp-]]
Before the [[Great War (G1)|war]], Skids trained as a theoretician at the [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Senator Shockwave]]'s [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology|Academy of Advanced Technology]], {{storylink| Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} secretly recruited to the school because of his status as an "[[outlier]]" with special powers—in Skids's case, a "super-learning" ability that allowed him to master many skills. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} He was present at the academy on the day that [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] arrived to take Shockwave into protective custody, and his attempt to stop them was quickly quashed when the towering Roller intimidated him into silence. {{storylink| Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} It was not long, however, before Skids's teacher returned and recruited him and classmates "[[Glitch (IDW)|Glitch]]" and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] for a plan formulated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] to steal a bomb disguised as the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] from [[Nominus Prime]]'s body as it lay in the [[Primal Basilica]]. Skids was somewhat disappointed that his sole contribution to the plan was not one of his many skills, but merely the fact he had a grappling hook in his arm that they could use to lower Pax into the Basilica, but despite a minor snag when the technology-disrupting Glitch accidentally jammed his hook's winch, the mission was a success. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:Getaway Skids ArmTheLonely.jpg|thumb|He's been trained to kick your ass. Theoretically, of course.]]

After graduating to full-fledged theoretician status, Skids went on to join the [[Diplomatic Corps]], to work to persuade other races to support the Autobot cause. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} At some point, he disappeared under currently unknown circumstances and was believed dead, {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} though the first clue that he yet lived came in the form of a mysterious message from the future that was sent—albeit too late to be heeded—to the Autobots departing to find the lost [[Knights of Cybertron]], which warned: "Don't let them take Skids". {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} Skids had, in fact, become part of [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'s covert [[Special Operations]]. Partnered with [[Getaway]], he was sent to attempt an "assassination" on [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]], using a [[nudge gun]] to implant the impulse to resign in the Chief Justice's mind. The plan failed, and Skids was only able to escape using a shuttle made from [[mode lock]]ed [[Legislator]]s. Using the nudge gun's other charge, Skids erased his own memory after setting the shuttle to home in on the nearest of his handlers, the [[Duobot]]s. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

[[File:LiarsAtoD2-Skids.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|How do you like me now?]]

It was in this amnesiac state that he arrived on the planet where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' had crashed. Abruptly, the mode lock deactivated and the ship began transforming, so Skids made an impulsive decision: he reactivated the lock, sent the ship crashing into the surface, and bailed out. Making it to the ground safely, Skids found himself under attack from the Legislators that had made up his ship — though one of them had been killed in the crash, the other two were coming after him with giant swords and fire breath. Skids came upon the deceased bodies of two Autobots who had failed to survive the ''Lost Light'' crash—[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] and [[Polaris]]—and used their weapons and abilities to eliminate another of the pursuing robots. Running from the lone survivor, Skids came upon a small party of Autobots from the ''Lost Light'', who deactivated the inhibitor claw for him, allowing him to access his weapons and destroy last Legislator. Skids was invited to join the crew of the ''Lost Light'', though he was less than enthusiastic about [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s proposition that the pair of them should team up. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

[[File:LiarsAtoD3-RungSkids.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|MEANWHILE IN A 20 MILE RADIUS OF THIS EVENT]]
When a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] got loose aboard the ''Lost Light'', requiring the crew to be sealed in their quarters, Skids, having decided to exploit his missing memories to entirely reinvent himself and deciding he disliked confinement, left through the ventilation system. Drawn by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s cries, he saved the psychiatrist from a close call with the Sparkeater, and at [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]'s request, led the creature through the vents to the engine room where Rodimus disposed of it. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} As a celebration of the death of the Sparkeater, Swerve opened a [[Swerve's|bar]] where Skids got drunk together with [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]. He failed to notice that Chromedome stole his gun while he was messing around with his grappling hook and a server-robot. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} After attending a ceremony to commend Chromedome, [[Brainstorm]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] on recent heroics, {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}} Skids was next spotted still hanging out at the bar with some other Autobots as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] put Chromedome's ability to identify an Autobot based on their transformation sound to the test. {{storylink|Interiors}} He later tried to comfort Swerve following his accidental shooting of Rung. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}}

When a swarm of [[Nanocon]]s that had lain dormant inside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s body were mysteriously reactivated, Skids and a few others were shrunk by Brainstorm's mass-displacement gun and sent inside Magnus to eliminate them. Once that was dealt with, Skids attended [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]'s Autobot Initiation Ceremony, during which he relayed Swerve's report from the engine room that dead crewmember [[Ore]] had come back to life. The chaos only continued when Skids and a team of Autobots were abruptly teleported by [[Galactic Council]] to the planet [[Theophany]], there to investigate the razing of [[Crystal City]]. Beneath the city, they found a slumbering [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]], leading to discussions on the Transformers' creation myths and the meaning of life; Skids and Chromedome shared a belief that life was shaped not by destiny or gods, but by interactions with others. Skids theorized that both the Nanocons and Ore had come back to life thanks to the psychic emanations of the Metrotitan, then helped [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] fend off the Galactic Council's forces until the Autobots could free the Metrotitan, which teleported them all back to the ''Lost Light'' and quantum-jumped the ship to safety. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:CybertronianHomesickBlues-SkidsRung.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|"Legs: Yes. Bow-tie: Cool...I can buy a fez."]]

Inspired by their talk, Skids requested that Chromedome use his [[mnemosurgery]] to unlock his lost memories; Chromedome discovered that only Skids's last year of memories had been erased, while the others had been repressed by a trauma so horrific he did not dare restore them. Chromedome was, however, able to identify the music in his head as the "[[The Empyrean Suite]]", and hoped he would never learn its significance. {{storylink|Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}}

Skids was among the group of Autobots gathered by [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] in Swerve's bar to help tell a story to aid in Rung's mental recovery. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} When his old altercation with Roller came up, Whirl called him a wuss, and he countered that his skills as a theoretician wouldn't have been useful in a fight. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} At the culmination of the story Rung still showed no signs of recovery...until Skids deliberately mispronounced his name a couple of times, prompting the psychiatrist to speak and correct him. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} The storytelling session was brought to an end by the sounding of alarm to ready the crew for a battle with Decepticons on the planet [[Temptoria]]; during the fight, Skids, Chromedome and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] battled [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]. {{storylink|Before & After}} Later, to unwind, Skids joined the crew of the ''Lost Light'' on some "shore leave" on the planet [[Hedonia]], where he tried out his new personality-generated [[holomatter]] avatar, only to find his amnesia kept it from creating a fake identity for him. As the group played the "Nemesis Game", Skids identified [[Misfire]] as his worst enemy, and then wound up getting into a drunken brawl with [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]]. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Skids bought Rodimus a [[Galactic Council]] captain's hat as a souvenir of the trip. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

[[File:TheFecundMoon-Skids.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Skids kind of lost it a bit after Charlene left.]]

When the mass-murdering Decepticon [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] ran wild on the ship, Skids joined in the futile effort to hold back his rampage. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Overlord was ejected from the ship thanks to the sacrifice of Rewind, and Skids tried to console Chromedome over the loss of his lover, only to find that the mnemosurgeon was eerily calm about the whole thing. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} When the ''Lost Light'' encountered the long lost satellite [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], Skids got Chromedome to accompany the band of Autobots heading to the surface to see if the satellite had a way to return Skids's memories. He went to the ship's oil reservoir for some alone time, where he was attacked by a number of [[Legislator]]s. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} While he managed to hold them off long enough for Swerve to arrive to help, a [[Star Saber (Victory)|mysterious and enigmatic robot]] appeared behind him, and impaled him with a large sword. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Fortunately for Skids, he survived this, and was later teleported by Star Saber into a cell which contained Rodimus' crew. Perceptor examined his wound, while Swerve explained what happened to them. After Skids said that he would apologize for whatever he had done to Tyrest, Star Saber returned to the cell, carrying his [[Getaway|"Partner in crime"]] with him. Chromedome then explained that when he read Skids' mind, he had done it wrong, and misinterpreted the remnant memory as an "Imperative to escape". In actuality though, it was a name, Getaway. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} Getaway was able to fill Skids in on his lost memories of their ill-fated mission to change Tyrest's mind, and explained Tyrest's mad plan to reach [[Cyberutopia]]. With the newcomer's help, Skids and the others were freed from the cell and confronted Tyrest, only to be incapacitated by the lawmaker's suggestion weapon. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Thanks to Tailgate, the suggestion weapon was disabled, and Skids cuffed [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], only for the medic to promptly escape when his back was turned. The Autobots caught up with him at Tyrest's gate to Cyberutopia, but only Skids, finally at peace with himself, was able to step through the guilt-detecting force field. He found himself standing on a strange landscape being talked to by a multi-colored [[spark]]. On hearing cries for help from Rung, he dashed back through the portal to help fight the Legislators until Tailgate was able to shut them down with some amendments to the law. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

Before the ''Lost Light'' left Luna 1, Skids played a film compiled by Rewind to detail the ship's voyage. Unfortunately the film failed to impress the members of the [[Circle of Light]] who rejected any notion of joining the crew. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

==Games==
===3D Battle-Card Game===
Skids was one of [[Optimus Primal]]'s many Autobot allies in a fight against [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s Decepticon forces, in what might possibly have been an inter-universe battle. {{storylink|3D Battle-Card Game#Energon Wars expansion|Energon Wars Expansion Set}}
{{-}}
===''Transformers Legends''===
During the war on Cybertron, Skids was among a group of Autobots led by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], who went to [[Tyrest (polity)|Tyrest]] in an attempt to reason with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. They were ambushed by the Decepticons, and Sentinel Prime was killed. {{storylink|The War Within}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
{{anchor|G1v1}}
[[File:G1 Skids toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Introducing the new Nikahimi Deathtrap. With its poly-cotton body shell, it's the fastest car in the world... to open with the jaws of life. The Nikahimi Deathtrap—the last car you'll ever drive.]]
*'''Skids''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1985)
**''Accessories'': "Liquid nitrogen rifle", "twin electron blaster", "rocket pod" launcher, 3 rockets
:Skids began life as part of [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline, where he was known simply by the name of his alternate mode, the [[wikipedia:Honda City Turbo|Honda City Turbo]], and was available in blue, red or black color schemes (see [[#Notes|Notes]], below). The blue version of the figure was used by [[Hasbro]] as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, sans a small scooter accessory that the ''Diaclone'' figure had come with which stored inside his trunk. Despite sharing this common point of origin with many of his fellow Autobot cars, he features a few unusual touches: his rear wheels fold into his feet for added robot-mode stability, and his weapons attach by clipping over his forearms, rather than plugging into his fists. Among his armament is a "rocket pod", the spring-loaded missile-firing mechanism of which was neutered for Hasbro's release of the figure.

:Because Skids was not one of the original eleven [[Autobot Cars]] released at the line's inception, he is commonly grouped in with the later 1985 Autobot Cars both fictionally and in the minds of [[fandom|fans]]. However, Skids was actually added to the 1984 assortment some time before the 1985 wave was released (December 1984 is the current earliest confirmed availability of the figure), during which time he came in 1984 packaging including a "TM" mark by the "Transformers" logo, rather than a "(R)" mark. Like the other 1984 cars, at least some of these early Skids releases lacked the [[rubsign]] on the roof that would later be added to all Transformers toys in 1985. He was also one of the ''rarest'' mass-release G1 figures, with just one Skids included per every ''two'' [[Case|shipping cases]].

:Skids has been reissued several times; this article lists each reissue separately where appropriate. This mold itself is a [[retool]] of an earlier ''Diaclone'' toy, the Honda City R; this earlier tooling was used to make [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] and the ''[[Transformers Generations 2009]]'' exclusive [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Skids/skids.htm More information on Skids at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VSZ}}
[[File:G1toy vsz set.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Skids & Sunstreaker vs Buzzsaw''' (multi-pack, 1985)
**''ID number'': '''VSZ'''
**''Accessories'': "Liquid nitrogen rifle", "twin electron blaster", "rocket pod" launcher, 3 rockets
: Skids was not released on his own in the Japanese Generation 1 toyline, and was instead available only in a multi-pack with [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], which was also the only way to get the other two on the Japanese market at the time. This box set remains a considerable rarity on the secondary market.
{{-}}

===The Transformers Collection===
[[File:TF Collection 3 Skids.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Skids''' (reissue, [[September 27|9-27]]-[[2002]])
**''ID number'': '''3'''
**''Accessories'': "Liquid nitrogen rifle", "twin electron blaster", "rocket pod" launcher, 3 rockets

:Skids received his first reissue in 2002, when [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] made him available as part of their "book-box" ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'' series, surprising many with the inclusion of such an overlooked character so early in the line. He features no significant differences from the original (save for a working missile launcher, as with the original Japanese release), though the figure suffered from a common, if not universal, problem: an excess of plastic on the underside of Skids's right foot means that his rear wheel can not fold down flat beneath it, resulting in a slightly unstable robot mode. Since the original Japanese figure was released only in a giftset, Skids did not get a [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]] at the time, a situation this reissue rectifies by retroactively giving him the ID number '''96''' on the included [[Tech Spec]] and [[bio]] card.

:The aforementioned Crosscut was released exclusively through [[e-HOBBY]] in conjunction with this reissue.

::*''[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/reissue/Skids_template.html More information on Transformers Collection Skids at TF-1.com]
{{-}}

===Commemorative Series===
[[File:G1toy commemorative skids.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Skids''' (reissue, 2004)
**''Accessories'': "Liquid nitrogen rifle", "twin electron blaster", "rocket pod" launcher, 3 rockets

:Skids got his first Hasbro reissue as part of the eighth wave of their ''[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Commemorative Series]]'' line, [[exclusive]] to [[Toys"R"Us]] stores. He features no notable differences from the earlier Takara ''Transformers Collection'' release, except for the fact that his launcher's spring has been removed.
{{-}}

===Alternators===
[[File:Alt Skids toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Heavily clearanced so fanboys could customize him into Ironhide.]]
{{anchor|Alt}}
*'''Autobot Skids''' (2005)
**''Alternator ID number'': '''17'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''BT-16'''
**''Accessories'': Engine-rifle

:Skids transforms into a 1:24-scale blue Scion xB. All four doors open, revealing a fully-detailed realistic interior with seats for a driver and passengers, plus his hood pops open to reveal his engine. His robot mode is very reminiscent of his original toy, with his head sculpt based off his animation model with toy details. His engine pops out and unfolds to become his hand-held pistol.

:The Hasbro ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' release (part of the first wave of new "bubble packaging" toys) differs from the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''Binaltech'' release in that it has a much darker shade of blue, tinted windows, and various Scion-type tampographed flame decals. The Japanese release naturally has die cast metal parts, is painted a lighter shade of blue, and has different paint decos. It also includes a sheet of stickers, including flames resembling the ones printed on the ''Alternators'' version, as well as some Generation-1-style red stripes, and most humorously, a Japanese "New Driver" badge.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk|Binaltech Asterisk]]'' [[Blaster (G1)#Binaltech Asterisk|Broadblast]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/AltSkids/skids.htm More information on ''Alternators'' Skids at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Encore===
[[File:G1toy encore skids.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Skids''' (reissue, 2009)
*''ID number:'' '''18'''
**''Accessories'': "Liquid nitrogen rifle", "twin electron blaster", "rocket pod" launcher, 3 rockets

:TakaraTomy reissued Skids again in October 2009 as part of their ''[[Transformers Encore]]'' series. This version of the figure shifted its colors a little, changing him from tomato-red and blue to cherry-red and blueish-purple, as well as noticeably lightening the translucent blue plastic used for his windows. His Autobot symbol and tail light stickers were replaced with [[tampograph]]s, while some of his other stickers were updated slightly, including his factory-applied front grill sticker. Like past reissues, this figure too suffered with an unstable robot mode, and ''both'' feet had wheels that would not fold away flat.
{{-}}

[[File:G1toy quantum operative skids.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|You sure you can call this an homage?]]
*'''Skids & Screech Quantum Operative Ver.''' (exclusive multi-pack, 2009)
**''Accessories:'' "Material acceleration pistol", dual-barreled gun, "quantum shield" launcher, 3 rockets, scooter

:"Quantum Operative" Skids is a green redeco of the original Generation 1 toy, available in conjunction with his ''Encore'' release, and including for the first time the scooter accessory that was eliminated from the ''Diaclone'' toy for his original Transformers release. He was sold in a set with [[Screech (Generations)|Screech]] that was a mail-away [[exclusive]] available only with volume 3 of [[Million Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers Generations 2009]]''. While Skids's colors are an homage to ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]], Screech is likewise a match for Skids's twin [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]].

:Amusingly, the color scheme for this exclusive was accidentally revealed early by TakaraTomy when they [[:File:Encore Skids Tokyo Toy Show 2009.jpg|mistakenly included its missile launcher]], denoted by its bright green launching tab, with the normal ''Encore'' version that was on display at Tokyo Toy Show 2009.<ref name="internat">[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/5790/20/ TakaraTomy Accidentally Gives Clue to TF Generations Vol. 3 Mail Away Figure?!]</ref>
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Cybertron/Skids/skids.htm More information on Quantum Operative Skids at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:Generations Skids.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The theoretician the world deserves, not the one it needs right now.]]
*'''Autobot Skids''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / #009'''
**''Accessories:'' Nudge gun & nitrogen gun (combine to form rifle)

:Part of the seventh wave of 2012-onwards ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' "Autobot Skids" transforms from a contemporary-looking hatchback into a robot mode largely based on [[Alex Milne]]'s design for [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' comic, most notably featuring that body's numerous integrated weapons. He also includes the [[nudge gun]] carried by Skids in said comic and a new version of the liquid nitrogen rifle from his original toy, the two of which can combine into a larger rifle.

:There are numerous reports of the figure's hips being assembled the [[Misassembly|wrong way round]], thus affecting the car mode as well as hampering the leg articulation (and it could even result in the ball joints at the waist snapping off), this can simply be fixed by popping them out and swapping them to the right place (just as long as you are careful with the aforementioned ball joints).

:He comes packaged with the [[Little Victories|twenty-second issue]] of IDW's aforementioned ''More than Meets the Eye'' comic series, featuring a cropped version of its retailer incentive cover, which is called out as a 'Hasbro Exclusive Cover' on its front. Skids was later [[retool]]ed into [[Crosscut (Autobot)#Generations|Crosscut]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenSkids/skids.htm More information on ''Generations'' Skids at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
[[File:Decoy skids.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)

:Skids was among the many characters rendered by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as part of their series of 1.5" soft rubber ''keshigomu'' figurines. Like all the figures in the series, Skids featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his [[Tech Spec]]s, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines. He was available in red as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, in peach as part of various other randomly-packed box sets released by Takara subsidiary [[Seven]], and in a wide variety of different colors in "gachapon" capsule machines.

*'''Skids''' (1987)
**''Decoy number:'' '''12'''

:The Skids figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Skids/skids.htm More information on Decoy Skids at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

'''3d Battle-Card Game'''

{{anchor|3DBC}}[[File:EnergonWarsSkids.jpg|thumb|Are, uh, you sure you're a G1 character?]]
*'''Skids''' (3D Battle-Card, 2007)
:A 26-point "common" character in the [[3D Battle-Card Game]]'s "Energon Wars" expansion, Skids "transforms" into a grey pickup truck of indeterminate make. He uses the same parts layout as [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] and [[Dropkick]].

:He is equipped with a LN2 Cryo Rifle, an Electron Blaster, and a Rocket Launcher, which are similar to his G1 weapons — but due to the interdimensional nature of the Energon Wars subset, the Battle-Card may or may not also represent the [[Skids (Movie)|live-action movie Skids]].
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:DiacloneSkids.jpg|thumb|A rainbow of theoretical flavors.]]
[[File:Skidsdiacloneconceptart.jpg|thumb|Suck it, Ironhide! This head was mine first!]]
*The ''[[Diaclone]]'' version of Skids was additionally available in black or red. Neither of these color schemes has been used within the ''Transformers'' toyline as yet, but with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], you never know.
*Skids' animation model head appears to be based on early ''Diaclone'' promotional concept art. The toy's head would be different... and ultimately different from the [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] head shown in his instructions, which also popped up a few times in the UK comics.
*Though Skids' toy turned into a Honda City Turbo, his car mode was often misinterpreted in Transformers fiction as one of the then-new minivans, despite the fact that a Honda City Turbo is a subcompact car, and as such, could theoretically be stowed in the back seat of an actual minivan. This is likely because most Americans in 1985 wouldn't know what a subcompact car is.
*As Skids was released in the interim between the original 1984 launch and the big push of new 1985 figures, the character consequently fell by the wayside in the Generation 1 fiction of the 1980s. He was not included in the commercial promoting the new 1985 range of Autobot Cars, as he wasn't technically part of it. Similarly, he was also left out of the list of new 1985 product in the Generation 1 cartoon's [[production bible]] intended for inclusion in the show's second season, and as such, only managed to appear in little more than cameo roles in just two episodes, speaking one line in each and voiced by a different actor each time. He fared a little better in the Marvel comics, debuting alongside (an incomplete roster of) the other 1985 cars, but after getting an issue dedicated to himself, he all but completely vanished from the book and was banished to [[limbo]] by the UK comic for upwards of 100 issues, abandoned and forgotten.
*In the "[[Survivors!]]" story, Skids was suddenly drawn with the original Diaclone toy's head (which years later would be used for the new character [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]]). "Survivors!"' artist, [[Dan Reed]], previously drew him with his real head, so it'd be interesting to learn why and how this change happened. (He would later mysteriously regain his own face.)
*In more recent years, toys sporting the name "Skids" have required an additional "Autobot" prefix for [[trademark]] reasons, hence making the official name "'''Autobot Skids'''".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Skids''' (スキッズ ''Sukizzu'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shā chē''' (China, 刹车, "Brake")
*''French:'' '''Platon''' ("Plato")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Szán'''
*''Italian:'' '''Furetto''' ("Ferret")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Patins''' (Brazil comic, "Skate"), '''Pe-de-cabra''' (Portugal comic, "Crowbar")
*''Russian:'' '''Tormoz''' (Тормоз, "Brake")

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Skids Skids's ''Universe'' profile at NTFA.net]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:Scientists]]

Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2014-06-26T03:25:14Z

AlphaTyrant:

{{suite}}
[[File:SpotlightUltraMagnus-HisWayOrTheHardWay.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Aww, betcha say that to all the treaty-breaking weapons dealers."]]
Even in war, there are laws. '''[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]''', Duly Appointed Enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]], is the thin blue line that enforces those laws. Whether Autobot or Decepticon, break them and you can do things his way... or the hard way.

He's so popular that people just love to cosplay as him!

{{quote|But is it enough to make me "bend"? In my book, one compromise leads to another... and '''''another'''''... and pretty soon... you've '''''crossed''''' the line you're supposed to be holding.|Ultra Magnus|''[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]''}}

{{TOCclear}}

==IDW Generation 1 continuity==
{{ongoing}}
[[File:Parasites-OrionPaxUltraMagnusSparring.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Foreshadowing!]]
The legend of the immortal lawman known as Ultra Magnus began with the first 'bot to bear the name: a stern, no-nonsense Autobot who, during the early years of the war, fought alongside [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and the legendary [[Delta Magnus]] to contain the Decepticons. {{storylink|Parasites}} {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} When Orion sided with [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] to overthrow [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]'s corrupt government, Magnus and his security forces stood with them, {{storylink|Overthrown}} but when Zeta was deposed, Megatron betrayed Orion and took over the planet, sending Magnus, [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] into hiding. They were captured when their safehouse was raided by the Decepticons, {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} but were soon liberated by [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hot Rod]] and met back up with Orion, who had been transformed into [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] and awoken the dormant [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Rise}} Alongside the entire Autobot army, Ultra Magnus then marched on the [[Citadel]] to fight Megatron for the control of Cybertron. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After the Decepticons had been chased out of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], Magnus aided Optimus Prime in inspecting the remains of Zeta Prime's cache of outlawed weaponry. {{storylink|Endgame}}

Shortly after Optimus Prime's rise to leadership, Ultra Magnus was part of a unit sent to defend the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] from [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s Decepticons. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} During the Autobots' attempts at stopping a rampaging [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Magnus was responsible for bringing out the strongest weapons in the Autobot arsenal {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and subsequently fought at Prime's side during the battle with the beast in [[Harmonex]]. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Following the defeat of Trypticon at the hands of Megatron and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], Ultra Magnus saw the calm as a chance to arrest Megatron, but was discouraged from doing so when the rest of the Decepticon army arrived. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast}}

[[File:MTMTE19 magnus armor.jpg|thumb|225px]]
But all beings have a fixed lifespan, and Ultra Magnus was no different. When he passed away (under currently unrevealed circumstances), the legend he left in his wake inspired Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] to ensure that he lived on. Circulating a rumor that Magnus had merely faked his death, Tyrest fashioned a suit of [[Magnus Armor|armor]] cast in Magnus's image and bestowed it upon a succession of other 'bots—the first being '''[[Suture]]''', with later successors including '''[[Datum]]''', '''[[Ramp]]''' and '''[[Blockus]]'''—who took on Magnus's name and reputation, and served Tyrest as a Duly Appointed Enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]], upholding the [[Code of Interplanetary Conflict]], a treaty between Autobots, Decepticons and other alien races. Each wearer was a "loadbearer", a kind of [[Point One Percenter]] possessing a [[spark]] with an animating force strong enough to integrate the Magnus armor. Upon the passing of each wearer, a trigger in the armor would return it to Tyrest wherever he was in the galaxy, so that it could be passed on to his next chosen wearer. The Cybertronian public only ever believed that there was a solitary Ultra Magnus who flouted death at every turn; {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} the "freak recoveries" he made only enhanced Magnus's reputation, and he would later be cited by [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] as an example of a larger sized bot whose Spark could recover from the kind of damage suffered by [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]. {{storylink|Before & After}}

[[File:MTMTE16 magnus on simanzi.jpg|left|thumb|300px|You know Magnus, you don't need this much firepower just to fix a leak in your basement.]]
As such, it becomes hard to know exactly which Magnus was involved in which of his recorded appearances, such as his battle against [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] as part of the [[113th Battalion]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement}} One bearer of the Magnus Armor perished on [[Simanzi]], 1st Cycle 3718, when he was caught offguard by a [[Cybernought|Cybernaught]] while heading toward the [[Crucible]] with [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]. Later, during the 2nd Cycle, another Magnus fell when he took a direct hit from the [[K-Class]] Decepticon [[Torque (G1)|Torque]] while giving orders during a battle on [[Clemency]] over the [[Nightmare Engine]]. In the 3rd Cycle, the statistician '''[[Datum]]''' was wearing the Magnus Armor and took part in the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he blocked the exhaust vent of [[Hell's Point|the ship in question]] with his body, trusting that the [[Warriors Elite]] wouldn't risk destroying it by blasting him off without Megatron's permission. [[Heretech]] simply raised ''Megatron in gun mode'' and blasted him off. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} Legend held that the smirk Magnus had given the warriors was the only time he ever smiled in his life. {{Storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Still another Magnus would fall victim to the Spark affliction known as a [[zero point]], {{storylink|Zero Point}} and another to the [[Fast-Folding Sun]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

The Magnus of the "current" era was '''[[Minimus Ambus]]''', spark brother to noted Autobot philanthropist [[Dominus Ambus]], who aspired to be the kind of lawman the original Ultra Magnus was. He had many adventures in his duties as enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, including the arrests of both a Decepticon peddling miniaturization technology who infected him with [[Nanocon]]s, {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} and wannabe [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] [[Blip]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} When [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s renegade creation [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] cut a swathe of destruction across the galaxy, Magnus hunted her down, using a combination of holographic trickery and shock grenades to subdue her so she could be sent to the [[Garrus-9]] penitentiary. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

[[File:SpotlightUltraMagnus shoots Scorpie.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Tracking down Decepticon wheeler-dealer [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] on the planet [[Zull]], Magnus was convinced to let the criminal go in exchange for information on the current whereabouts of an even greater offender: [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], against whom Magnus bore a personal grudge. Magnus followed Swindle's lead to the planet [[Nebulos]], and although he disrupted Scorponok's operations, the Decepticon was able to escape. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The cycle repeated years later when Magnus caught up to Swindle again, arresting him for yet another violation, only to wind up once again letting him go in return for a fresh lead on Scorponok's new location. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}

While en route to help deal with the fallout of a [[Spotlight: Arcee|break-in at Garrus-9]], Magnus changed course in response to a distress call from [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s crew, who were under attack by [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]]. After Magnus drove Cyclonus off, he teamed with Hound's crew to track him to [[Corata-Vaz]] and stage an ambush, only to be beaten back when he unleashed [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] on them. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}} After obtaining further intel on the plot being orchestrated by Cyclonus and his fellow [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} Magnus co-ordinated a simultaneous strike against their various [[Nega-Core]] installations. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

[[File:MaxDinos5 Grimlock Magnus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|It's now my job to jail all the interesting guys.]]
Sometime after the foiling of the Dead Universe [[Expansion]], Ultra Magnus received a signal from a battered Hot Rod, requesting some backup for [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], who was in the process of confronting Scorponok on Earth. Determined to put an end to his old quarry once and for all, Magnus headed for Earth. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}} Scorponok had already been defeated by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]] by the time Magnus arrived, though he made it in time to stop them from killing him, intent on seeing Scorponok punished by the law. After stripping Scorponok's [[Machination]] facility of Cybertronian tech and providing Optimus Prime with a report on the events, Magnus departed for Garrus-9 with Scorponok, [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] and Grimlock, who had surrendered to Magnus in exchange for his rescinding the warrants on the other Dynobots. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers1-trysomethinghilarious.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Ultra Magnus uses sarcasm quotes to remind you he doesn't find ''anything'' hilarious.]]
Magnus was soon to discover that he had picked up a stowaway when he left Earth: human runaway [[Verity Carlo]]. Surprisingly, Magnus warmed to Verity in his own way and allowed her to stay with him; she, in return, affectionately dubbed him "Uncle Magnus". After about four years of adventuring together, Magnus and Verity were called upon by [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] to transport the Autobot commando squad known as the [[Wrecker]]s to Garrus-9, which had been overrun by Decepticons during a [[Surge (G1)|galaxy-wide uprising]] a few years before. En route, the group picked up former Wreckers leader and Garrus-9 escapee [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], {{Storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|Last Stand of the Wreckers #1}} who Magnus encouraged the recalcitrant [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] to take on the mission with them. Magnus proceeded to brief the Wreckers and sent them on their way, but refrained from participating in the mission himself, both to turn a blind eye to the Wreckers' often-brutal methods, and because Prowl had requested his presence back on Earth to investigate the murder of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. {{Storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} The mission was a disaster at best, with many Wreckers dying at the hands of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]; Magnus would go on to carry great guilt over his non-participation. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Further, on the return trip, Magnus discovered that Verity had also left him, having stolen away with the Wreckers on their mission; {{storylink|In Word and Deed}} despite appearances, he would dearly miss her. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

[[File:SeasonsInFlight-RodimusMagnus.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]
Arriving on Earth, {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} Magnus discovered the Autobots in disarray, Ironhide's death having caused Optimus Prime to surrender to human agency [[Skywatch]], leaving Bumblebee in charge. Magnus called for the Autobots' full cooperation, but after performing an autopsy of Ironhide's body and learning that the 'bot who had led the mission on which he died, Hot Rod, had broken away from Bumblebee's group, he elected to search Hot Rod out for questioning. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} Discovering that Hot Rod—now calling himself "Rodimus Prime"—had begun to construct a rocket to leave Earth, and had allied himself with Decepticons in order to do so, including Magnus's old stoolie Swindle, Magnus attempted to arrest Rodimus under charges of treason. Prowl stood up for Rodimus, and, unable to arrest ''everyone'', the furious Magnus returned to Bumblebee's cave. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} In short order, he forcibly recruited a team of Autobots to arrest Rodimus and his followers, but when they returned to Rodimus's launch site, they were confronted by Swindle's secret weapon: the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]] [[combiner]] [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], who was ordered to kill Magnus first. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 4: "Enemies of the System"|Enemies of the System}} Magnus fared poorly in the battle, but was saved from death at Menasor's hands by Optimus Prime, who had brokered an alliance with Skywatch. Repaire after the battle, Magnus was furious to find Swindle had slipped through his fingers again, and took out his frustrations on Rodimus. When Bumblebee tried to diffuse the situation, Magnus attempted to cite his greater authority of his legal jurisdiction, but was put in his place when the younger Autobot pointed out that on Earth, ''he'' was in charge. However, as this was going on, Rodimus took off in Ultra Magnus' shuttle, leaving him stuck on Earth with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}}

Temporarily provided with a ship by Skywatch, {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|The Land Ironclads}} Magnus recovered the surviving Wreckers from Garrus-9, and delivered the fruit of their mission to Prowl: a [[data slug]] containing complete records of Autobot war crimes from the [[Aequitas]] computer. Knowing that it would be disastrous if the data got out, Magnus maintained his plausible deniability and left it in Prowl's hands. {{Storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

[[File:IDW16 magnus under fire.jpg|thumb|350px|Eastbound and Down.]]
Some time later, when Bumblebee was the victim of an attempted assassination, Magnus lost patience with [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]'s raging and threatened to have him restrained. He was interrupted by the news that the plane carrying Optimus Prime's team back from [[North Korea]] had been blown out of the sky, but before he and [[Kyle Pennington|Pennington]] could get any real information about the attack, the Decepticons launched an attack on the base. Ultra Magnus was incapacitated by [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]'s sonic powers, allowing the Decepticons to free their captive comrades and escape. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}} In the aftermath of the attack, Magnus took command and relocated everyone to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]'s location, but not before leaving Brawn with a mission to find and recruit the aid of the disenfranchised Decepticon [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} On the way to Omega, the Autobots were attacked by humans who didn't want them on their planet, and Pennington had to talk Ultra Magnus out of retaliating. Unfortunately, things got worse when Megatron himself showed up and easily dispatched Ultra Magnus and his troops. Assuming that he was out to destroy the Autobots as usual, Magnus tried to distract Megatron from killing the Skywatch soldiers, but the Decepticon made it clear that the humans were just as important targets for his revenge. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} The injured Magnus was held hostage by Megatron and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and used as leverage to get Optimus Prime to meet with them. This meeting ended with Megatron retreating with a [[stasis lock]]ed Soundwave, and Ultra Magnus was brought to safety. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} As he awaited repairs, Magnus told Prime that he had managed to place a tracking chip on Soundwave, allowing the Autobots to find Megatron's hideout. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}}

Six weeks later, Ultra Magnus watched as Rodimus returned to Earth with the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and several lost Autobots in tow. He brought news that Galvatron had built an army and taken control of Cybertron, prompting Optimus Prime to lead his Autobots back to their home planet. On Bumblebee's orders, Ultra Magnus remained on Earth with him, Prowl and a few others to investigate charges brought against [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] for the supposed murder of [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} He still participated in talks of what would be done with Megatron, who had surrendered himself and been taken into space with Prime's Autobots. When [[Xaaron]] explained that they needed a neutral third party to judge the Decepticon leader for his crimes, Magnus suggested [[Tyrest (G1)|Chief Justice Tyrest]], and opined that they should aim for a death sentence. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[File:IDW29 magnus arrests swindle.jpg|left|thumb|350px]]
Magnus chewed out Prowl and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] after the latter had broken protocol and transformed into robot mode during a mission to spy on Witwicky. Prowl brought up his suspicions of anti-Transformer pundit [[Ben Simpson]] and of a deeper Decepticon conspiracy, but Magnus ordered him to stick to the case at hand. {{storylink|Police Action: Part 1|Police Action #1}} The Autobots then brought in [[Sandra (G1)|Sandra]], a former Skywatch agent who abandoned Spike's unit once it started breaking too many rules. Ultra Magnus commended her for sticking to military protocol before questioning her on Spike's past. {{storylink|Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|Only Forward}} Around this time, Ultra Magnus was on hand to witness Bumblebee bring all five Stunticons into custody to everyone's surprise. {{storylink|The Question}} Then, after learning the whereabouts of Ben Simpson from Sandra, Bumblebee and Magnus agreed to circumvent the slow human legal system and rolled out with Skywatch to confront Simpson, discovering him to be a [[facsimile construct]] controlled by none other than Swindle. The Decepticon tried to escape again, but Ultra Magnus dismembered him and dragged him back to base, where he admitted under interrogation that he had been supplying Spike Witwicky and Skywatch with Cybertronian technology from the start. This revelation caused the Autobots to sever their ties with Skywatch. {{storylink|Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|A Second Chance at Eden}}

[[File:LiarsAtoD1-MagnusVision.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Risk of criminal activity: None. Practically perfect in every way.]]
The Autobots on Earth returned to Cybertron once Optimus Prime's team had defeated Galvatron, [[D-Void]] and the Decepticons. Feeling that the Autobots were no longer wanted on post-war Cybertron, Ultra Magnus decided to accompany Rodimus and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] on their quest to find the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} He joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' as Rodimus's second-in-command, but soon started to become increasingly petty about minor infractions and had many, ''many'' reservations about those who had signed up for the quest. Magnus's troubles on the ''Lost Light'' started when an accident at launch caused the ship to [[quantum jump]] to a random point in space. {{Storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} A ruptured hull led to a portion of the crew being sucked out into space, so Rodimus and Ultra Magnus set the ''Lost Light'' down on a nearby planet and went out searching for them. {{Storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} The ship was soon repaired and took off again, only for a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] to be discovered on board, reminding Ultra Magnus of Blip. Magnus heavily disapproved of Rodimus using [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] as bait to lure the creature in to be killed, and told Rodimus that he had to call him out on that because nobody else would, but Rodimus brushed off the lecture, stating that ''he'' was in charge now. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

As time went on, Magnus became increasingly anal about ''everything'', especially minor, pointless things like dirt {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}, Autobrands at angles, lighting problems, and so on—an inability to cope with peacetime had led to a full-blown nervous breakdown for Magnus that saw him try to append as much weight to the everyday rules of life as he had to the rules of war. {{storylink|Parasites}} {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} He made life hell for just about everyone of the ship with his obsessive-compulsive tendencies and relentless attempts to enforce petty, pointless standards of conduct that the entire crew did their best to defy, Rodimus most of all, who simply started ignoring his many, many memos. He started to question why he'd joined the quest and tried to leave several times, but Rodimus would keep talking him into staying. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

[[File:IDW MtMtE5 MagnusTailgateAttentionDirt.jpg|'''DIRT?!'''|thumb|left|250px]]
Discovering that the naive [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who had been offline for the duration of the war, wanted to be a Decepticon Magnus reported him to Rodimus. A history lesson courtesy of [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] quickly disabused Tailgate of this notion, and he decided to be an Autobot instead {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} so Magnus began educating him in the [[Autobot Code]]—a long tortuous process that saw Magnus pore over the unabridged version and go over it in excruciating detail. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

After attending a ceremony honoring [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and [[Brainstorm]], Ultra Magnus was among the crew members temporarily frozen in place by one of Brainstorm's backfiring weapons. {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}} Learning of the [[Swerve's|bar]] that [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] had set up, he promptly arrested the big-mouthed 'bot, and sent him to join Rewind replacing rivets on the ship's hull. When Fortress Maximus took Rung and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] hostage, Magnus listened in on his threats. {{storylink|Interiors}}

[[File:MtMtEAnn2012-Magnus smile.jpg|If looks could kill.|thumb|300px]]
The infestation of Nanocons, long thought eradicated, became active within Ultra Magnus, so a team of hardy Autobots were miniaturized and implanted inside him to try to fight the creatures. The Nanocons eventually ended up at Magnus's mouth pistons, and he was forced to destroy them by smiling—not without great effort, as those mechanisms had become rusted with disuse. Though he was greatly embarrassed by it and the crew consequently mocked him for it, Rodimus assured him that it meant they were beginning to accept him. When the ''Lost Light'' encountered the [[Galactic Council]] ship ''[[The Benign Intervention]]'', Magnus was able to use his bureaucratic skills to talk [[K'gard|Captain K'gard]] into allowing a delegation of Autobots to visit Crystal City. He himself was beamed aboard the Council ship, where K'gard told him that he was trusted by the Council and tried unsuccessfully to talk him into joining them—he even smiled at the idea the other Autobots might influence him to be less strict in his outlook. When the Council ship came under apparent attack from the surface, Magnus was beamed back aboard the ''Lost Light'' before K'gard began the process of destroying the Autobot ship with an incineration shell. Fortunately the ship had a last-minute save, courtesy of a freed [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:MTMTE12 magnus in action.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
Following a reconnaissance mission to [[Temptoria]], {{storylink|Before & After}} Magnus returned to the ''Lost Light'' to find Cyclonus had been blamed for an attack on [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and was forced to restrain Cyclonus after Drift's attempted interrogation turned violent. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} When it turned out Red Alert's decapitation was self-inflicted, Magnus suggested putting him into cold storage, something Rodimus reluctantly agreed with. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} This matter dealt with, the Autobots were able to follow up on Magnus's information from Temptoria, which pointed to the missing [[Circle of Light]] possibly being held there by Decepticons. Magnus joined a task force of Autobots in an attack on the Decepticon base on the planet, his prowess in the subsequent battle particularly impressing Tailgate. Though they liberated Temptoria's capital, they failed to find the Circle of Light. {{storylink|Before & After}}

[[File:MtMtE13-VerityMagnus.jpg|thumb|250px|Fire exits. Important stuff.]]
Having been ordered by Rodimus to go on shore leave to Hedonia, Magnus joined Swerve's social group and debuted his holomatter avatar: a copy of Verity. Slipped a [[nucleon]] mickey by Whirl, Magnus fell unconscious, awakening just long enough to break down in front of Swerve, admitting that he hated the quest, was upset that nobody liked him, and believed everything had gone wrong when he'd accepted Tyrest's offer. Passing out once more, his unconscious body was hauled out into the street by Swerve and friends, where they jumped up and down on him until he reflexively transformed, allowing them to drive him back to the shuttle. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Afterwards, he tried to socialise with Rung and even tried jokes, to toe-curlingly embarrassing failure. Despite that, they got on quite well. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

When Overlord was set free aboard the Lost Light, Magnus was the first one to charge against the loose Decepticon, still carrying the guilt after the Garrus-9 fiasco. He managed to briefly beat Overlord into submission until the Decepticon stabbed him through the spark with Drift's [[Great Sword]]. While the rest of the crew dealt with dispatching Overlord, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] tended to Magnus's injuries, only to discover that he would be unable to prevent the collapse of his spark. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} The comatose Magnus was given only ten days to live, but before that happened, within the Magnus Armor, Ambus reflexively tripped the recall switch. Under its own power, the armor levitated from the med-slab, carrying Ambus within it, appropriating a shuttle that would take him to Tyrest, who currently dwelt on Cybertron's lost moon, [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} [[File:Ambus Unveiled.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|Do not remove from packaging!]] Upon arrival, Magnus's body was recovered by Tyrest and taken to [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], who was able to use Tyrest's collection of bleeding-edge tech to save his life. While the doctor worked, however, Tyrest reviewed Magnus's journals, and was appalled to see how he had become reduced to an officious, bureaucratic ''joke''. He angrily deactivated the Magnus Armor, stripping Minimus Ambus of the role he had played for years and made his very life. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

Presently, a contingent of ''Lost Light''ers arrived on Luna 1, having tracked Magnus there, and were promptly captured by Tyrest's forces. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Learning from Tyrest that they were to be put to death for harboring a criminal—amnesiac crewmember [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]—Ambus requested to be placed in a cell alongside them. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} As the other 'bots had no knowledge of his dual identity, Ambus pretended to be an energon trader and got them to tell him about their recent escapades, hoping to prove to Tyrest that they, like he, had no knowledge of Skids's criminal past. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} That went wrong when Rung was able to recognize the personal tics of Magnus in Ambus, and he forced Ambus to come clean about his identity and explain his life story to Rodimus and the others. Rodimus's story also had its share of surprises for Ambus, as he learned that Tyrest was working with the Decepticon [[Titan Hunters]] and had amassed a graveyard of [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]] remains. Determined to find out what was going on, and why the ''Lost Light''ers were being charged with "crimes against creation", he confronted Tyrest for answers. The revelations were shocking: Tyrest believed that all Transformers "constructed cold" were abominations and he intended to exterminate them all with a universal killswitch. Ambus refused to allow him to go through with his plans, so Tyrest initiated the newest amendment to his accord—pre-emptive execution—and had one of his [[Legislator]] robots crush Ambus's head. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

Back in the cell, [[Getaway]], Skids' partner in "crime" was brought up to date on Minimus Ambus' dual identity. Getaway told a startled Rodimus that Ambus/Ultra Magnus had lured Rodimus, and presumably his crew, to Luna 1 and Tyrest's cell. They were ''exactly where Ultra Magnus wanted them to be.'' Later, when an escaped Skids and Rodimus looked upon the empty Magnus Armour, Skids said cryptically that he didn't believe Minimus was hiding inside "that thing" the entire time.

Rodimus finally saw what had become of Minimus when the crew barged upon Tyrest in his control room. A headless body, turned into what Tyrest cruelly described as a ''tripping hazard''. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

{{charstubfiction}}

====BotCon 2014 "Revengeance" script reading====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jack Angel]]
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
*[[Simon Furman]] spent some time teasing an Ultra Magnus/[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] fight in homage to the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Transformers'' comic]], but had abandoned it by the time he wrote ''Revelation''.<ref>[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/12/06/its-qa-time-again/ IT’S Q&A TIME AGAIN! | simon furman] ''
''20. You previously mentioned that we’d see Ultra Magnus vs Galvatron. Is this still going to happen?
SF) This was where my plans for Revelation/Expansion really did change, and not just because of the shift in format. Originally, I really wanted to have an Ultra Magnus/Galvatron smackdown in the tradition of the one from Target: 2006, but once I'd arranged all the players in Revelation I realised it just wasn’t going to work.</ref>
*Optimus Prime's unnamed Senator friend wandered around the "Shadowplay" 3-parter in not only a Magnus-style design, but in Ultra Magnus' colours. This was deliberate, making us believe that this was going to be the origin of Ultra Magnus rather than the origin of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]].<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-comics-discussion/716601-transformers-more-than-meets-eye-11-discussion-spoilers-29.html#post8649838 Forum post by Alex Milne]</ref>
*James Roberts had carefully seeded some clues of Ultra Magnus's true identities in issues of ''More Than Meets The Eye'':
**In "[[Interiors]]", Skids mentions that Magnus used to do wisecracks.
**In the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]], he prescriptively describes himself using the third person. Twice.
**Magnus refers to Tyrest giving him everything he wanted in "[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues]]".
**The fatal damage done to Magnus in "[[Under Cold Blue Stars]]", the damage First Aid says can't be fixed? It's exactly the same type of damage First Aid says Magnus survived once before in "[[Before & After]]".
**"[[The Gloaming]]" flashbacks showed Ultra Magnus dirty, with a crooked badge, and wise-cracking, all things his present self could never do, and each flashback ended with damage that Magnus would be really lucky to survive.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]
[[Category:Point One Percenter]]