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Blackarachnia (BW)

2010-01-30T11:05:29Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|predacon|maximal|maximalbm|unicron|decepticon|ttautobot}}
{{disambig3|Blackarachnia}}

:''Blackarachnia is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] who changes allegiances with alarming frequency from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Blackarachniabw.jpg|right|240px|thumb|Hot, poisonous, and deadly. Rawr!]]
A sultry femme fatale, '''Blackarachnia''' is smart, sexy, and dangerous. She's got eight legs, and she knows how to use them. Of the several rebellious Predacons under [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s command, she's one of the very few who can, on occasion, outguile him. Always looking out for Number One, Blackarachnia values her independence and freedom above all else. She would rather be deactivated than be a slave.

Blackarachnia's greatest weakness, other than her overconfidence, is her feelings for the Maximal [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. Something about his heroic demeanor and the kindness he shows her makes her uneasy. She hasn't experienced unconditional love before, and it scares her, though she'll never admit it.

{{quote|Even when I'm good, I'm still bad.|Blackarachnia|"[[Crossing the Rubicon]]"}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Blackwidow'''
:''French-Canadian name (original toy):'' '''Mygale'''
:''French-Canadian name (cartoon):'' '''La Veuve Noire''' (The Black Widow")<ref name=TM2BA>Whether Transmetal II Blackarachnia had different French and Spanish names is uncertain at this point.</ref>
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Hēi Jr-jū''' (黑蜘蛛, "Black Spider") / '''Jr-jū''' (蜘蛛, "Spider", used in ''Beast Machines'' sometimes)
:''Cantonese name:'' '''Alaina''' (雅麗娜 ''Aa Lai Naa'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Arachna'''
:''Portuguese name:'' '''Aracniana'''
:''Brazilian name (Beast Wars only):'' '''Viúva Negra'''
:''Spanish name'': '''Araña Negra''' ("Black Spider")<ref name=TM2BA/>
:''Italian name:'' '''Arachnia'''

==Fiction==
===First wave toy bios===
Working by moonlight, Blackarachnia poses as a double agent. In reality, this is merely a ruse she utilizes in order to lure unwitting Maximals into her darkened den, where she first paralyzes her victim with a poisonous missile. She then proceeds to restrain her victim with her powerful legs, and subsequently sucks their life force dry... kinky. She is capable of converting thermal energy into [[cyber venom]]. {{storylink|Blackarachnia (BW)#Toys|Blackarachnia bio}}
{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[Bio|bios]] of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. They seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Fátima Noya]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:BAintroduction.jpg|left|300px|thumb|My face is up here!]]
Blackarachnia was born from one of the [[Maximal|Maximals']] fallen [[stasis pod]]s. [[Tarantulas]], watching a black widow fight and devour another spider, was inspired. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], observing the slim and attractive Blackarachnia transform and strike a few poses, suggested that he had "ulterior motives behind her beast form selection" but she was a Predacon, and that was what was important. In the battle with the Maximals that followed, she easily defeated [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] with a few well-placed kicks. She was later reported as "missing," though the reasons why and how were never addressed. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}}

She was soon assigned to a mission with [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] to dig under the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]] and use a [[sonic emitter]] she had invented to blow a hole into the bottom. She didn't get on well with either of them, but they managed to eventually get to the point where they were ready to trigger the emitter... only for [[Tigatron]] to steal it. By the time they caught up with the Maximal, the emitter was ready to explode, and they could only flee the blast area. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}} When [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]'s virus turned [[Optimus Primal]] into a berserker and he invaded the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur battled the other Maximals as they also tried to gain entry. Unfortunately Cheetor slipped past them and was able to rescue Primal, however at least the other Maximals were held off. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

Blackarachnia was present during the interrogation of Cheetor when the Predacons discovered that a [[temporal probe|Maximal probe]] was flying past the planet, and took part in the battle to destroy the signal array which the Maximals were building. Once [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] was locked into his dino-mode by Tarantualas's [[transformation lock lens]], Blackarachnia delivered the coup de grâce, only to be subsequently blasted off a cliff by [[Rattrap]]. {{storylink|The Probe}} The Predacons staged a deception, faking their own destruction and using signal dampeners invented by Blackarachnia to hide while the Maximals use parts from their ship to repair the ''Axalon''. After being discovered by Dinobot, they pursued him. During an attempt to rush the ''Axalon'', Blackarachnia was blasted by the ship's defenses. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

[[Image:TheSpark Blackarachnia spidermode.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
After Megatron turned [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] into a Predacon using a [[Transmuter]], Blackarachnia and Megatron were startled by Waspinator's impression of [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]. {{storylink|Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs}} Blackarachnia and Scorponok were dispatched to retrieve the latest crashed stasis pod. They encountered Tigatron, who disabled Scorponok, but was himself paralyzed by Blackarachnia's venom. At the pod, she fought Cheetor at length, but he caught her venom dart and used it to knock her out. {{storylink|The Spark}}

[[Image:The Trigger Blackarachnia chair.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The discovery of a mysterious [[Brigadoon|flying island]] led to Megatron dispatching Blackarachnia and Scorponok to investigate it. Blackarachnia, when she saw the power wielded by the island, resolved to herself that she would take control of it. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} As the pair reached the obelisk in the center of the island, Waspinator and Terrorsaur arrived, and Blackarachnia tricked them into using their weapons, causing the island defenses to blast them. She then got rid of Scorponok using one of the island's traps, and took control of the island's power herself. Though she started piloting the island toward the ''Axalon'', Tigatron was able to destroy its energy supply, and the whole thing crashed to the ground. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

She soon attempted to forge an alliance with Tarantulas, flattering him and accompanying him on a mission to secure the latest stasis pod to crash. Unfortunately they were too late to ensure the protoform obtained an arachnid beast mode, and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was born. While Blackarachnia was trying to get the new Predacon under control, Tarantulas made off with the real prize — the stasis pod itself. After the pod was destroyed, Tarantulas revealed to her that the planet was doomed, and she realised he'd intended to use the pod to build an escape ship, but he rebuffed her offer of further help and threw her out of his lair. {{storylink|Spider's Game}}

[[Image:Possession Blackarachnia slags Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|280px|This one frame turned a lot of fans into feminists. She's just that good, folks.]]
A Predacon plan to steal the [[rectifier coil]] from the ''Axalon'' resulted in the Maximals going feral, and Blackarachnia was part of the hunting party which pursued them into the jungle. She was defeated by Dinobot after the Maximals overcame their little problem. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] took control of Waspinator's body and the Predacons were able to conquer the ''Axalon'', the Decepticon took Blackarachnia under his wing as a student and revealed his true intent to overthrow Megatron. After he abandoned her in the Maximal base, leaving her to escape Primal and Dinobot on her own, she took that as a hint to return the favour, and later shot a cluster of energon crystals, blasting Starscream free from Waspinator. She then engaged in some quick talking to get herself out of trouble with Megatron. {{storylink|Possession}}

Tarantulas infected Rhinox with an [[energon discharge virus]], and was later himself incapacitated, leading the Predacons to investigate his lair to see if they could dig up any more of the virus. Blackarachnia was able to find a counter-virus, but while Megatron was attempting a brilliant gambit against the attacking Maximals, Rhinox countered with an almighty fart which left the Predacon forces hanging from a tree. {{storylink|The Low Road}} Some time later, Megatron called a truce when signs pointed to the [[Vok|aliens]] returning. Tarantulas stole a transwarp cell from the ''Darksyde'', leading Megatron to assign Blackarachnia to keep an eye on him. The two spiders attempted to stop Tigatron escaping the Predacon base, but were tricked into being flattened by a boulder by Dinobot. They were the least damaged, however, and dragged the rest of the Predacons back to base. {{storylink|Before the Storm}}

[[Image:OtherVoices2 possessed Blackarachnia.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Blackarachnia offered to help Tarantulas break into the Maximal base to steal a stasis pod. They were able to use one of Blackarachnia's inventions to penetrate the ''Axalon'' shields and overcome Rhinox and Dinobot. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}} As Tarantulas worked to turn the stasis pod into an escape ship, Blackarachnia turned on him, intending to use the pod herself. They were interrupted by Inferno, who slagged Tarantulas, but Blackarachnia was easily able to defeat him in return. She linked to Tarantulas's mind to obtain the necessary information, and successfully completed modifying the pod... only to be captured by the Maximals. Optimus forced her to change the control codes to respond to him, so he could pilot the pod himself and destroy the [[Planet Buster]] weapon threatening the planet. As it happened, Megatron had sabotaged the transwarp cell, and Optimus was unable to eject before impact. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

While attempting to escape from the Maximal base, Blackarachnia was shocked to discover that her earlier interfacing with Taratulas had resulted in a permanent mind-link between the two of them. Tarantulas was able to force her to take his body with her as she left the base. Though she was intercepted by Tigatron and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], Megatron happened to turn up at that point. He threatened to terminate Blackarachnia, but she talked her way out of it by pointing out the simple fact that Megatron's stock of troops was sorely depleted. Of course, during the inevitable battle, Tarantulas forced Blackarachnia to retreat with his body. {{storylink|Aftermath}}

[[Image:ComingoftheFuzors Blackarachnia downloading.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
Returning to the Predacon base, Blackarachnia interrupted Dinobot stealing the [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disk]]s, but refused Tarantulas's order that she should try to get them back. Instead she repaired him, but discovered that the mind link persisted. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} While Tarantulas went to help Megatron's latest battle, Blackarachnia dug through the base's computer for information on the Golden Disks and discovered important data, including the access codes to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. she was able to download it while Tarantulas was unconscious, and destroyed the computer. She later told Megatron and Tarantulas that Dinobot had destroyed the computer and the data lost. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

The two spiders were later sent with new recruit [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to build a refueling station in a cave full of energon. Tarantulas schemed to take over the cave himself and attempted to persuade Blackarachnia to join him, but soon realised she was hiding something from him. When he tried to rip the information from her mind, she cracked an energon cube, the radiation causing them both pain and forcing him to sever the mental link. He threatened to tear her apart, but was interrupted when Rattrap and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] arrived to fight. Silverbolt, much to Rattrap's annoyance, refused to strike Blackarachnia because she was female. In the end, Tarantulas used the battle as cover to fake the destruction of the cave, and the trio had to report their failure to Megatron. {{storylink|Tangled Web}}

When Dinobot attempted to defect back to the Predacons, Blackarachnia suggested he prove himself by fighting with Quickstrike. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} During another alien incursion, Megatron took Blackarachnia and Inferno to the Maximal base, where they were able to overcome Rhinox, the sole Maximal there. Blackarachnia grabbed the alien [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]]. Megatron and Tarantulas colluded to work against the aliens, and when Megatron questioned why, Blackarachnia revealed that she had learned from the mind link that Tarantulas hated the aliens and wanted to destroy them. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Though Blackarachnia was rendered unconscious by a blast from the [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]] that appeared, she was reactivated when Megatron took control of the construct and brought the other Predacons aboard. She was one of the Predacons sent out to defend the construct against the Maximals, but Tarantulas managed to infiltrate and destroy it anyway. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Blackarachnia fightback.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Spousal abuse!]]
When an energon blast sent her and Silverbolt into the middle of the dense jungles, they were forced to work together. Though attracted to the [[Fuzor]], Blackarachnia was endlessly frustrated by his seemingly idiotic chivalry and need to treat her specially. Megatron, listening in to their commlink chatter, was disgusted by the obvious romance going on. Still Silverbolt and Blackarachnia worked together surprisingly well, saving each other's life in turns, and eventually defeating [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] with the help of Optimus and Cheetor. {{storylink|Bad Spark}}

When the Predacons attacked the valley of proto-humans, Blackarachnia was teamed with Inferno. She did considerable damage to Dinobot before being blasted herself. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}

Blackarachnia took advantage of Silverbolt's obvious interest in her, meeting the Maximal at a secluded location to obtain a [[graviton generator]]. She used the generator to convert a stasis pod into a makeship hoversled, and later overheard Megatron giving a mission to Waspinator. As the Maximals fought their way into the Predacon base, Blackarachnia emerged on her sled to encounter Silverbolt. Silverbolt refused a direct order from Optimus to shoot her, allowing her to leave and tail Waspinator instead. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Silverbolt eventually caught up with Blackarachnia, who resorted to shooting him in order to try to get the point across that he should leave her alone. It didn't really work, and when the hoversled she was on hit Waspinator, Silverbolt saved her from plummeting to the ground. He subsequently joined her in digging into the side of the mountain they had been heading towards. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BA Silverbolt Agenda3.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I can walk, you know.]]
Finally they broke through into a huge cavern containing the Ark, and Blackarachnia explained the ship's significance to her companion. While she was keen to take the power for herself, Megatron arrived and knocked Silverbolt offline before caving in the tunnel they'd dug. Having always intended for her to reach the Ark as he knew she had the access codes, Megatron threatened to vape Silverbolt unless she did what he said. Bitterly, she agreed to his demands, reluctantly opening the ship and, while Megatron went on, using the Ark's security system to hold off the Maximals. Megatron took the opportunity to attempt to assassinate [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], potentially erasing the Maximals from history. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

Unfortunately for Megatron, Blackarachnia had originally been a Maximal protoform, and certainly wasn't willing to die for his cause. She activated [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I's]] security nets to force Megatron off the ship. With Silverbolt's help, she got the dying Autobot leader under life support and began the repairs. The Maximals were forced to accept her help, but while the Maximals were occupied with Megatron, Blackarachnia slipped out... only to be trapped by falling rocks, and slagged by Megatron during his escape. Silverbolt cradled her to her chest as she shut down, swearing vengeance until the other Maximals suggested he stop messing around and get her to a repair chamber. With no much other choice, Blackarachnia joined the Maximal ranks. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}} She even spent time on guard duty outside the base with Silverbolt. {{storylink|Deep Metal}}

Blackarachnia quickly showed her usefulness to the Maximals, building a hand-powered [[subaquatic stealth vessel]] that could retrieve Sentinel from the ''Axalon'''s underwater resting place. Rattrap was less than thrilled about having to use the "Predacon beach ball". {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

[[Image:Cutting Edge Blackarachnia kids.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Actually just picking up lunch.]]
She was even less thrilled when she ended up having to escort two human children back to their tribe along with Cheetor, who was exhibiting a boyish crush on her, much to Silverbolt's annoyance. Rattrap was also rather distrusting of her, as earlier he had spied Blackarachnia sneaking some parts from a classified area. But when Megatron's new [[cyber raptor]]s attacked, Blackarachnia showed her good side by defending the children, even taking a hit from Tarantulas for them, which she immediately denied to an impressed Silverbolt by saying she slipped. With the cyber raptors defeated, she informed Cheetor that he was a nice kid - which were two strikes against him, so don't go looking for strike three. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}}

[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] returned from a mission reporting that Cheetor had been destroyed trying to interfere with Megatron's experiment, however the Maximal had secretly brought back the [[Transmetal driver]], a component of Megatron's experiment. Though he tossed it into a pool of lava, Blackarachnia was able to grab it before it was destroyed. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} She took part in the search for Cheetor, leading Silverbolt to develop jealousy at her apparent concern for their comrade. He later turned up with, it transpired, a new [[Transmetal 2]] body, which Blackarachnia took particular interest in. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

[[Image:ProvingGrounds Blackarachnia wink.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
After Rhinox scanned her and found the [[shell program]] that made her a Predacon, Blackarachnia finally got fed up with Rattrap's attitude and Cheetor's crush, and would have choked/blasted them both if Optimus hadn't intervened. Weary that apparently she hadn't proven herself to the Maximals and thinking that Optimus and Rhinox were planning to force her to remove the shell, Blackarachnia decided to split... which turned out to be a bad decision, as [[Dinobot II]] had been waiting for this moment. Taking turns hunting each other, Blackarachnia got the upper hand but was caught off-guard by Dinobot's power and durability. Fleeing to a mesa, she was found by Silverbolt, who got in a fight with Dinobot and was about to be slagged. Blackarachnia shot him out of the way, then tried to make a deal with Dinobot to take over the Ark and the Predacons, which backfired and allowed Dinobot to stun her, but he was distracted by Silverbolt long enough for the two Maximals to finally defeat him. After an argument between the pair, Optimus arrived to point out that the decision to remove the program had always been up to her. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}}

When Megatron attempted to fire his new [[disruptor cannon]] on the Maximal base, the Maximals prepared for the worst, but the cannon blew up instead. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}}

[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|left|300px|thumb|80% more pointy edges!]]

Seeking more power, Blackarachnia attempted to use the Transmetal driver on herself. Silverbolt, not realizing what she was planning, bailed her out of the contraption. Like every good girlfriend, she began to chew him out, but was cut off as an energy surge made her lose control of her circuits. A security system Tarantulas installed had been triggered by her tampering with her core, and the only way to fix it was to cut the Predacon [[shell program]] loose. Reluctantly, she agreed, especially since this was a very difficult procedure that could lead to her death. With time running out, she passed the Ark's access codes on to Primal in case she didn't make it and shut herself down, leaving herself in Rhinox's care. Rhinox began the operation, but his tinkering tripped an alert in [[Tarantulas's lair]]. The Predacons got wind of what he was doing and mounted an attack on the Maximal base. The Maximals countered their attack, but the power was disrupted by a shot fired by Tarantulas at a critical stage. This apparently killed Blackarachnia.

Distraught, Silverbolt took off to avenge her death, blinded by rage. However, in Silverbolt's absence, Blackarachnia's body attracted the attention of the Transmetal driver, and she was resurrected in a new Transmetal 2 form. She arrived just in time to save Silverbolt from Rampage. Rampage admitted that he liked her new look, but tried to kill her just the same. Surprisingly, Blackarachnia was able to disarm and stun the titanic Rampage, ultimately throwing him over the horizon using her webs. Silverbolt was, of course, overjoyed to see his beloved alive, but Blackarachnia told him to knock off the vengeful hero stuff so she wouldn't have to keep endangering herself with inevitable rescue attempts. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Blackarachnia beast mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
Some time later, Blackarachnia returned to base to find the doors open. It was the result of Megatron's latest plan as it turned out, which involved Quickstrike taking control of Optimus Primal's body, rendering the other Maximals unconscious and placing them in a cage. Left in Rampage's "care", Blackarachnia was able to use some sort of telekinesis to make a girder fly through the air and disable the Predacon. After dealing with Inferno, she went to release the other Maximals, only to run into Quickstrike and Primal. She freed Primal by disabling Quickstrike's control suit, and subsequently managed to stop the Ark's destruct sequence, which Tarantulas had set in motion, before rescuing the other Maximals and helping fight Megatron off. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

[[Image:Nemesis2-Maximals.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Spot the Mega Class toy!]]

When an object from space destroyed the Predacon base, Blackarachnia realised that the aliens had returned — in this case in the form of the Vok emissary [[Tigerhawk]]. She cut short Rattrap's celebrations by pointing out that when Tigerhawk had finished with the Predacons, he'd probably come for them. {{storylink|Other Victories}} Tigerhawk, in fact, joined the Maximals. When Silverbolt was injured looking for the Predacons, Blackarachnia rode to his aid on Cheetor's back, and the pair took him back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} After Megatron raised the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' from the depths of the ocean, the Maximals struggled to prepare the Ark for moving. In search of something to make a power link, Blackarachnia grabbed Rattrap's tail-whip, snipping off the end and repurposing it as a power cable. Though the attempt to shift the Ark failed, Rhinox used a shuttle to defeat Megatron. The Maximals subsequently blasted off for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the shuttle. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}

====Beast Wars: Transformers Video Game====
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}
====Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals Video Game====
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
[[Image:N64Blackarachnia.jpg|200px|thumb|I'm... sure she has a nice personality... wait, no. No, she doesn't.]]
{{note|In the the N64 version of ''Beast Wars: Transmetals'', Blackarachnia was a stretched [[palette swap|palette-swap]] of [[Tarantulas|Transmetal Tarantulas]]. As you can see, this didn't work very well. The Playstation version does not stretch out Tarantulas, instead remeshing the model to resemble her Transmetal 2 form.}}
:''Voice actor:'' ? (English), ? (Japanese)

Transmetal Blackarachnia joins her fellow Predacons in distributing various one-on-one beat downs to the Maximals. Eventually, Silverbolt convinces her to defect to the Maximals but she never truly reforms. It is her betrayal at a key moment that eventually assures the Maximals victory in the Beast Wars. Once back on Cybertron, she works as a double-agent between the Maximal and [[Tripredacus Council]] with no loyalty to either side. She often ponders what would have happened if she had remained on the Predacon's team throughout the war. {{storylink|Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}
{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the N64 version of the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Blackarachnia’s fate in those outcomes.}}
{{-}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
[[Image:TMblackarachnia.jpg|200px|thumb|No boobs? No thanks.]]
While the Maximals attempted to remove her Predacon shell program, an alternate Transmetal "Vok" body was somehow automatically created (by someone, somehow) in [[subspace]] just in case it was needed. It wasn't, and so it was "sidelined". {{storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

{{note|This is [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] way of "sorta" working her [[McDonald's]] Happy Meal premium toy (see below) into continuity}}
{{-}}
====''Tales of the Beast Wars''====
Blackarachnia made a brief appearance in her Transmetal 2 form at [[Reaching the Omega Point|Omega Point]], being eviscerated by [[Shokaract]]'s firepower. Clearly, she got better as space/time rebooted itself with the destruction of the [[Unicron|Dark Essence]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}
====''Transformers Legends'' anthology====
{{note|This takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]"}}
Not long after Megatron took the original Megatron's spark into himself, he had Quickstrike deliver a device to the Maximal base which amplified the Maximals' aggression. Blackarachnia was attacked by Rhinox before escaping while Silverbolt distracted him. Once Optimus Primal was able to overcome the device's effects and free the other Maximals, they attempted unsuccessfully to capture Megatron in one of Blackarachnia's webs. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

{{note|This takes place during "[[Spark of Darkness]]"}}
Blackarachia was trying to persuade Silverbolt that it was all right for them to resume their romance after Megatron's apparent death, when they were attacked by a strange zombie-like creature. After it zapped Silverbolt, she unsuccessfully tried to attack it in retaliation. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}
{{-}}

====''Binaltech'' (unused)====
As the victorious Maximals travelled forward in time from prehistoric Earth to far-future Cybertron, their shuttle was suddenly struck by a powerful force of darkness. Hurled into the early 21st century, Blackarachnia was forced by Unicron to aid him in his efforts to destroy the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Her spark was placed inside the silver Beta Unit Honda S-2000 Aero Style body intended for the Autobot warrior [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and her mind was overwhelmed by an evil essence that forced her to do Unicron's bidding.

Still possessing her extrasensory Transmetal 2 powers including telekinesis, Blackarachnia gained several additional weapons courtesy of her new form: a long-range Venom Sniper Gun that fired system-disrupting energy bullets, a defensive riot shield that projected an electromagnetic field from its edge, and the ability to fire strong artificial webs from her grill, exhaust pipe and hands in robot mode.

Blackarachnia was partnered with the newly-created [[Decepticharge]] and dispatched to confront [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] forces on Earth. Finding them in the middle of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-led uprising, the pair put down the rebellion and ordered the Decepticons to defeat [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and destroy the Matrix.

While forced to act as a Decepticon, Blackarachnia's true self remained intact but submerged, struggling to overcome Unicron's control and desperate to correct the warped [[Alternators|Binaltech]] timeline.

[[Blackarachnia (BW)#TriviaBinaltech|''Maybe.'']]

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Márcia Moreli]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|When they say she's all legs, they ain't kidding!]]
When the Autobot shuttle crashed on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the Maximal team was gassed, Blackarachnia's Transmetal 2 powers were stripped away from her, as were her memories. As such, the amnesiac Maximal decided to head underground, distraught and confused. Locked out of her robot mode, she awaited her imminent deactivation...until the other three survivors—an equally disoriented [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rattrap]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]—plunged into her web. Primal made the decision to head underground, and Blackarachnia complied, using her webs to grant them safe passage. However, in her weakened state her webbing was limited, and so the foursome plummeted most of the way down into the chamber of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. She watched as Optimus emerged in his [[technorganic]] form, and she was the fourth and last Maximal to be [[Reformatting|reformatted]], emerging as a pink black widow spider with green markings. When attacked by a squadron of Cycle Drones, she put her technorganic mode to good use, trapping one of the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] in a tangle of web. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:Blackarachniamasterofthehouse.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Nice forehead!]]
Under Primal's tutelage, Cheetor and Blackarachnia relearned the ability to transform, and the Maximals set about finding a new base. Blackarachnia managed to goad Cheetor into accompanying her aboveground to find out what had happened to the residents of Cybertron. They accessed the [[Cybertron InfoCore]], only to find it had been wiped. The Maximals visited the [[Council Citadel]], allowing Blackarachnia to test her new powers in combat, including an ability to fire electrical "stings" through the ground. To her shock, they discovered that the mastermind behind the cleansing of Cybertron was none other than Megatron. {{storylink|Master of the House}} During an attempt to access the [[Cybertron Archives]], she received a vision of prehistoric [[Earth]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. She sneaked off to the spaceport to consult the records of their arrival and was followed by Rattrap. As well as encountering Megatron's new, sentient [[Vehicon general]]s, they discovered that there had been six occupants in the shuttle. Seeking more information, Blackarachnia attempted to access the logs from the shuttle itself, only for Megatron to attempt to access her own mind, and she was only prevented from revealing the location of the Maximal base by Rattrap severing the link. The pair were subsequently rescued by Primal and Cheetor, but Blackarachnia's information reawakened memories of Rhinox and Silverbolt in them all. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

Rattrap's use of a transformation enhancer got the Maximals captured by Megatron for a short time, but during their escape, Optimus reported that [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark seemed familiar. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} Blackarachnia and crew later discovered the bat-creature [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], who led them to a strange, organic fruit tree. Upon eating the fruit, Blackarachnia began to revert to her instinctual "animal" mind, and it was only thanks to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] that her feral mind returned to normal, and thanks to Primal that the bat's life was saved and reformatted into a technorganic body. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} After another mission was fouled up by Rattrap's antics during Optimus's convalescence from reformatting Nightscream, the remaining Maximals discussed what they needed to do about Rattrap. Blackarachnia was irritated by Rattrap's uselessness, but Cheetor asserted that they had to cover for their friend. They were shocked to find a while later that Rattrap had overheard them and taken up with Megatron in exchange for weapons. Primal talked Rattrap around, scolding the other Maximals that they undervalued their teammate. {{storylink|The Weak Component}}

[[Image:Revelations3 Blackarachnia closeup.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Later, the group stumbled across one of Megatron's many Transformer junkyards, where the lifeless, [[spark]]less bodies of the city's inhabitants were disposed of. When [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and Blackarachnia were split up from the battle, the two made an unofficial truce, but when Thrust saved her life and her spark, having strange recollections of doing so before, her mind was set: He was Silverbolt, mutated and made evil by Megatron. She resolved to get her lover back, but didn't reveal to the other Maximals that she believed Thrust was Silverbolt. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} When Cheetor enacted a subsequent plan to try to hack into Tankor, Blackarachnia volunteered to keep Thrust busy. She made numerous appeals to Thrust to try to bring out his Maximal nature, but Thrust was hesitant and was soon bullied into extracting her spark by [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} As her spark rocketed into the darkness, Nightscream fought Jetstorm for it. At the same time, on another plane of existence, Blackarachnia encountered Primal, who calmed her astral spirit down, at the same time allowing Nightscream to restore it and bring her back. She and Nightscream were able to come to Cheetor and Rattrap's aid, but they had found that Tankor was really Rhinox, and their old friend was now siding with Megatron's view of a technological Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

[[Image:Survivor Blackarachnia beast mode head.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
After Nightscream was snatched away by the Vehicons, the other Maximals gave pursuit. Blackarachnia's hesitation in attacking Thrust allowed the Vehicon to pursue Primal and Nightscream, who had discovered a [[fossil cave|cave full of fossils]], proving Cybertron was once organic. {{storylink|Survivor}} When Tankor gained control of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] and "infected" Nightscream and the new orchard with the Key, Blackarachnia quickly found that the [[organic goo]] they'd just discovered was a cure to the [[technomatter]]. While the other Maximals went to get a mole drone, Blackarachnia stayed behind to look after Nightscream, only to be infected by him and temporarily lose her own sanity. The other Maximals eventually returned with a drone and were able to cure her. {{storylink|The Key}}

[[Image:Silverboltjetstorm.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Sorry, your boyfriend was behind door number 2!]]
Taking a vial of the goo, Blackarachnia kidnapped Thrust, trapping him in a web and using the goo to force out his inner personality, in the expectation that Silverbolt would emerge. Instead, she discovered that Thrust was [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], who'd flown to Cybertron from prehistoric Earth. When Jetstorm attacked, another mishap with the organic goop occurred, and for a moment Silverbolt's true personality emerged, sweeping Blackarachnia in his arms. However, as he and Waspinator fought over Blackarachnia, the goo vanished from the both of them, and the Vehicons' minds both returned. Blackarachnia was swiftly rescued by the other Maximals, riding a giant vine created by a catalyst which Rattrap had found. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Blackarachnia was involved in the battle in Megatron's Citadel, holding off the Vehicons as Primal confronted Megatron within, though she, along with the others, were all overwhelmed by the Key to Vector Sigma and became comatose. {{storylink|End of the Line}} The clashing energies of the Key and the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] restored the four Maximals to life. Entering the Council Citadel, they found that the battle had claimed Primal, Megatron and Tankor. They headed for the Oracle in search of guidance, where they found Optimus Primal floating within, and they convinced him to return to real-space and continue his leadership.

The Maximals returned to the surface to find a [[Grand Mal|giant floating head]] in the likeness of Megatron. {{storylink|Fallout}} Blackarachnia and Nightscream tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate the head. Leaving Optimus to try and contact Megatron's spark, the other Maximals went to find the two remaining Vehicon generals and encountered a strange, organic Transformer named [[Noble]], who changed from a wolf into the dragon-like Savage. {{storylink|Savage Noble}} The Maximals later infiltrated the Council Citadel, looking for information, only to discover that Noble was actually Megatron, trapped in his own organic half. Megatron used [[spark extractor]]s to remove his spark, taking over the huge, flying head and reactivating the Vehicon drone army, which forced the Maximals back underground. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}

[[Image:Blackarachniasilverboltdarkestknight.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Vamp meets goth.]]
When Rattrap revealed he's created a device he hoped could be used to restore the stolen sparks into new bodies, Blackarachnia "borrowed" it. She managed to force Jetstorm into a large pool of the organic goo, and his body began to change. Scanning a nearby condor skeleton, he awoke in a new form, a purple technorganic bird of prey. Blackarachnia was startled by the change in him. Instead of the lovable, chivalrous knight in shining armor, he was a brittle, haunted bot, tormented by the images of the evil deeds he had done...done by choice. Though he gave up on himself, she never did, urging Silverbolt to forgive his past, prompting him to head to the Grand Mal to confront his old master and rescue Primal and Cheetor. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

Blackarachnia continued to assure Silverbolt that things would get better. After Silverbolt inadvertently spread a new, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]-enhanced version of the old [[Hate Plague]], causing dissension in the ranks, he blamed himself, but she and the other Maximals were supportive. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}} Later, when a Maximal spaceship crashed, the Maximals split up to reach it in time. As they did, Blackarachnia confided to Rattrap that she'd found Silverbolt increasingly cold towards her. At the ship, they encountered a strange, alien plant monster, which Primal reformatted, revealing it to be [[Botanica]], a fellow Maximal. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

The Maximals would soon encounter two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], whose gambit almost defeated them until Botanica stepped in. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} Blackarachnia and Silverbolt were teamed up with Cheetor during a search for the missing sparks. Though Silverbolt was uncomfortable about following someone he still regarded as a kid, Blackarachnia defended Cheetor. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}} The Maximals attempted to infiltrate the Grand Mal to find the missing sparks, only to discover that Megatron was using them to fuel his great ascension. Nightscream's intercession appeared to dispel the Vehicon leader's spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:Silverboltblackarachniaseedsofthefuture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Eeek! That smile! Go back to glowering!]]
Once the Maximals had celebrated, Blackarachnia tried to talk to Silverbolt, believing now was the time for them to renew their romance. Silverbolt was not convinced of Megatron's demise, and in fact, he was right: Megatron still lived as a disembodied and depolarized spark. The pair found themselves being attacked by a zombie of pieced-together Vehicon parts, animated by the power of Megatron's spark. Megatron was later trapped in a [[Diagnostic Drone]] by Rattrap. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Nightscream attacked the Vehicons while the others attempted to secure the sparks in the Grand Mal. They were subsequently able to put Megatron's Vehicon factory out of commission, but the Grand Mal itself was brought down. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Blackarachnia and Silverbolt were able to share a quiet moment before the final battle, and they received a spark power-up from the collective population of Cybertron. However, they were both felled during battle by Obsidian and Thrust, respectively. Their sparks were then torn from them by cycle drones. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}} Though unable to assist physically, Blackarachnia and the other Maximals were able to give moral support to Primal during his final battle against Megatron, which resulted in the sacrifice of both leaders and the reformatting of Cybertron into a technorganic paradise. With harmony restored, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were finally able to be together. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}
{{-}}

====''Universe''====
Shortly after the planet underwent the Great Reformatting, the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] seized the opportunity to attack, believing that the revolutionary change would have rendered the planets' inhabitants confused and docile. Suffice to say, the Transformers were greatly underestimated. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were successfully able to fend [[Cybertropolis]] from Quintesson invaders. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:Blackarachniaabduction.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She stabbed my basketball, and the speakers to my stereo!]]
One year later, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were chosen to greet a ship of returning Autobot heroes from the Great War. Their welcomes were ignored by the crew, which included [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]], and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]], when they realized that their home had been transformed into a strange technorganic paradise. Only [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was unphased, choosing to talk up Blackarachnia and Silverbolt so that he could mug for [[Rook (Universe)|Rook's]] cameras.

[[Image:TFU Blackarachnia vs Rattrap.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Hey, guys, I turned evil again!]]
Their greeting was interrupted by a series of what appeared to be fireworks. Instead, they were beams of energy sent by [[Unicron]] to capture the returning crew, Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt, and bring them to him. When they arrived, a booming voice welcomed them to the [[Pit]], a dimension inside Unicron. Blackarachnia and her fellow captives were painfully smelted down and reformed; only Trailbreaker emerged unchanged. Since she arrived, Blackarachnia had begun to feel a growing anger that she couldn't control. And in this new Unicron-tainted form, she more than welcomed the swarm of creatures that began swarming her group. Overwhelmed, Blackarachnia and the others were herded into the [[Cauldron]] and filed into prison cells. As Blackarachnia protested, she was silenced by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], one of their hosts.

It was revealed to them by the master of ceremonies, [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], that they would be forced to fight fellow abducted Transformers. The loser's [[spark]] would fuel and empower Unicron, whose form had fallen into disrepair. Blackarachnia's uncontrollable rage welcomed this bloodsport, as Silverbolt watched helplessly as she fell under Unicron's evil spell. {{storylink|Abduction}}

Optimus Primal, resurrected by [[Primus]], arrived to rescue the prisoners of the Cauldron, and with help from Silverbolt and Trailbreaker, its captives were set free. But Unicron's grip on Blackarachnia was too strong. She began lashing out madly, even at Silverbolt, and the Fuzor took tight hold of her so that he might swiftly remove her from Unicron's grip. But as the others began jumping through a portal that would lead them to their respective homes across the [[Continuity|multiverse]], Blackarachnia had a moment of clarity. Sadly, she told Silverbolt that Unicron had awakened her ''true'' nature, then bid him farewell and threw him through the portal.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Closure? Maybe?]]
Soon, she was escorted by Tankor and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] to the center of Unicron, where she was repulsed to meet a familiar face: Tarantulas! {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Blackarachnia was dispatched to Cybertron's [[Undercity]], where she observed Rattrap for a while. Finally, she made her presence known, stinging him with her cybervenom. She never had liked the vermin, after all. Suddenly, Rattrap was saved by [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], back from the dead. Blackarachnia was knocked out, and Depth Charge left the weakened Rattrap to fend for himself. As Depth Charge departed, he found himself surrounded by Blackarachnia's [[Piranacon (Universe)|Piranacons]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

{{note|[[3H Productions]] lost the license, and so this story was never finished as intended. However, look into the end of ''Universe'' was shown in a comic published by the next licensee, [[Fun Publications]].}}
Much later, Optimus Primal waged one last desperate assault against Unicron, and his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] were able to defeat the [[Minion of Unicron|Minions of Unicron]]. As Unicron himself seemed to dissolve below them, Silverbolt carried Blackarachnia with him, saving her from sharing the gruesome fate of her evil peers. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:Blackarach24.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Keeping something OUT of her crotch, for once.]]
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Blackarachnia was one of the few Transformers ''not'' to be upgraded into a [[Transmetal]]. As [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and his armies laid seige to the weakened Maximal base, Blackarachnia waited in secret for an opening. When [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] was forced to shut [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] down to let an injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] in, Blackarachnia saw her chance and entered the base. Knocking out Airazor and ripping [[Rattrap]]'s arm off, Blackarachnia confronted Rhinox. Rhinox proceeded to pull out a "gun", but instead of shooting her with it, he blasted himself in the head (the "gun" actually being a machine allowing him to enter [[Transwarp space]]). Confused, but seeing no further use for the Maximals, Blackarachnia left the base. As the base collapsed behind her, she was approached by Quickstrike, who didn't like her "interfering" with his business. Not in the mood, she immediately kicked his head off. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

{{-}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
Blackarachnia followed [[Reptilion|Reptillion]]{{sic}} in battle against [[Optimus Primal]] and his Autobot forces. She teamed up with [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] to fight [[Striker]] before being abducted by [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}

===''TransTech''===
[[Image:Scavengerblackarachniaalphatriontranscendent.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Silverbolt would not approve.]]
Though she may appear to be a native of [[Axiom Nexus]], Blackarachnia was brought online in a far different universe. On a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the Autobots and Decepticons had grown too decrepit to carry on the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], they constructed proxy armies in the form of the [[Maximal]]s and Predacons. As a result from her first moments Blackarachnia knew only strife and combat. Increasingly questioning the orders of her Autobot masters, the breaking point came with the death of her colleagues Silverbolt and Rhinox. She conspired with [[Nightscream (TransTech)|Nightscream]] and together they killed their commander, Optimus Primal.

Joined by the malcontent Predacons [[Immorticon]] and [[Scavenger (TransTech)|Scavenger]], they fled and activated an experimental [[transwarp]] device, hoping to escape Cybertron. Instead, they found themselves in Axiom Nexus. After processing, they were placed in the care of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]]. He convinced her that the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s who ruled the city were little different from the Autobots under whose yoke she had chafed. Under his tender ministrations, her spark was transferred from her Lowtech body into that of her Transcendent Technomorph [[Blackarachnia (TransTech)|counterpart]], with the authorities of Axiom Nexus none the wiser. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|"TransTech" Blackarachnia's profile in Club magazine #25}}

Thus upgraded, she joined Alpha Trion's insurrectionist organization, and was part of the raid on [[Shockwave (TransTech)|Shockwave]]'s laboratory in the hopes of rescuing [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]]. Blackarachnia and her comrades successfully stormed into Shockwave's inner sanctum, where they came face-to-face with the formidable [[Megatron (TransTech)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 5}}

{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
{{anchor|Dx1}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabwtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Post-op Tarantulas.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''D-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: Blackarachnia's original toy is a [[redeco]] of the [[Tarantulas]] mold, transforming into a rather generic-looking organic spider. It features a removable spring-loaded launcher hidden in its beast-mode abdomen. It nominally fires the "grappling hook" attached to its abdomen by a string, but its front four beast-mode legs can also be removed and used as ammunition. Like all first-year ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' Deluxes, the robot-mode head has both a "robot" face and a [[mutant head|"mutant" face]]; Blackarachnia is always depicted in fiction using the "robot" one (or a rough approximation thereof).

[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTakara.jpg|right|250px|thumb|She might have an F-cup...or an E.]]

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] release of the toy has numerous color differences from the [[Hasbro]] version, but they are of dubious merit as far as making her more "show-accurate" go. The bright green of the Hasbro version's forearms is replaced with dull silver, while the brighter purple is replaced with a darker, more desaturated purple. Her dark copper paint is replaced with a brighter gold. Her robot-mode facemask is painted gold, which is closer to the show model... but her face beneath is black with gold eyes (instead of gold with black eyes), and she inexplicably gains a new painted-black forehead crest, where the show model has gold.

: This mold was later used to make the [[Tarantulas|"Beast Wars 10th Anniversary" version of Tarantulas]], and the ''[[#BW10J|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' version of Blackarachnia. It was intended to be used to make [[#UnUni|a second ''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], but that toy set was canceled.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Deluxe BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWJVs}}
[[Image:VS8-TigatronBlackarachnia.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Battle of the redecos.]]
*'''Deep Forest Showdown: Tigatron VS Blackwidow''' (VS set, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VS-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: In Japan, "Blackwidow" was available both as an individual and in a "VS" pack with [[Tigatron]]. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|BWMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamctm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She's got a great personality.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 1997)
**''McNumber'': ??

: Part of the second [[List of Transformers restaurant promotions|McDonald's]] ''Beast Wars'' Happy Meal pack-in, Blackarachnia's "[[Transmetal]]" form rather resembles some sort of dust mite more than a spider, and the robot mode appears to have fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. It has a ''very'' similar transformation to the earlier promotional figure [[Beetle]].

:Like the other two Transmetal Happy Meal figures, Blackarachnia has some metallic-sheened plastic intended to resemble the colored chromed finish of the retail ''Transmetals'' toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TM2}}
[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTM2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Covers her privates for great justice/children everywhere!]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Transmetal 2, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-48'''
**''Accessories'': Mandible grapnel-line

: The Transmetal 2 version of Blackarachnia transforms into a large, organic/mechanical, monstrous spider, featuring a grappling hook, switching [[Insignia|faction symbols]] activated by [[#TriviaTM2spark|rotating her spark crystal around]], and a spring-loaded spin-kick action feature. She also has a half-assed "defense mode", bringing the chromed abdomen bits down to cover her chest. Like all larger Transmetal 2s, Blackarachnia has hints of an abandoned "transport" mode, mainly the free-spinning wheels and concealed rockets in the spider-mode abdomen.

: This toy was initially hard to find at retail, as one of the toy's features, a piece of removable chest armor (no, really), was altered slightly, delaying later shipments.

: This mold was used to make the [[BotCon 2000]] [[exclusive]] [[Arcee (G1)#Toys|Arcee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
[[Image:Beast Machines Blackarachnia Toy.JPG|right|300px|thumb|She's definitely going to need a big nail file.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2000)

: An early toy in the ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' line, Blackarachnia transforms into a [[technorganic]] spider. In spider mode, squeezing its pedipalps together raises its central fangs; they were spring-loaded to release and lower, respectively. In keeping with the early ''Beast Machines'' "articulated features" motif, her robot mode head has a multi-piece articulated brow, which can slide up to reveal two extra sets of eyes, as she does on the cartoon.

: This mold was later redecoed to make the [[#UniDx|''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], as well as [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Beast Machines Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BMMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamcbm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This is transformed correctly, right? Right?]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 2000)
**''McNumber'': ??

: As one of ''ten'' toys in the third Transformers McDonald's Happy Meal promotion, Blackarachnia is a super-simplified version of her retail toy, with a coloration closer to the [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] CG model, though more shockingly pink rather than maroon. This toy is designed for the younger set, with softer plastic and no removable parts.

: She is the only [[Beast Era]] character to get two McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/McBlackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BM Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWR}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabeastwarsreturnstoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You will pay a lot of money to own this extra-pink girl <strike>doll</strike>action figure.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-04'''

: Part of the Japanese Toys "R" Us-[[exclusive]] ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' series, this toy is a redeco of the original ''Beast Machines'' Blackarachnia in a more show-like maroon coloration. Reportedly, this toy was limited to 3000 pieces, a full thousand ''less'' than the others in the original assortment. Since she was also the most changed from the US release in the initial batch of toys, this made her considerably harder to get.

{{-}}
===Universe (2003)===
{{anchor|UniDx}}
[[Image:Blackarachniauniversetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You can pick your faction, and you can pick your girlfriend, but you can't pick your girlfriend's faction.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2003)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Deluxes, Blackarachnia returned as a [[Decepticon]] and as a redeco of [[#BMDx1|the original ''Beast Machines'' figure]]. However, her forearms were [[Misassembly|mistakenly swapped]], leaving her forearm "spikes" pointing up towards her biceps rather than down near her elbows. She received a Decepticon [[Insignia|faction symbol]] over her [[spark crystal]] as well.

: This mold (with the same swapped-forearms error) was used to make [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Universe Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|UnUni}}
[[Image:Blackarachnia unreleased.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Eyow.]]
*'''Leatherhide Vs. Blackarachnia''' (Halloween Horrorcon value pack, unreleased)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

:In 2004, a group of test-shots made their way onto eBay, among them a [[redeco]] of the original ''Beast Wars'' Tarantulas/Blackarachnia mold in black with silver spider-legs and salmon-colored robot parts. Later, Hasbro's official website checklist featured listings for two ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Halloween [[Horrorcon (Universe)|Horrorcon]] Value Packs" that were to be Wal-Mart [[exclusive]]s... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of other ''Transformers'' exclusives were canceled during the ''Universe'' era.) One of the sets was "[[Leatherhide]] Vs. Blackarachnia"... and thus, the mystery spider was confirmed, as the other test-shots in that group lined up with the name listings given in the sets.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
===Beast Wars Telemocha Series===
[[Image:Blackarachniatelemocha.jpg|right|300px|thumb|It almost works!]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-06'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: As part of the ''[[Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' line, the [[#Dx1|original Blackarachnia toy]] was ''extensively'' redecoed with a ridiculous number of gold [[paint operation]]s, making her closer to [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] in coloration than the other versions of the mold, but still not quite there. (Her biceps are silver in the show.) All of the [[gimmick]]s of the original toy were retained, though her alternate head didn't receive any paint that wasn't intended to make her nominal head look more show-accurate.

:She came with a DVD containing "The Assassin Virus", the Japanese dubbing of ''Beast Wars'' episode 10, "[[Gorilla Warfare]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Destron/BlackWidow/blackwidow.htm More information on Telemocha Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
[[Image:Blackwidowwildrider.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Honda wouldn't appreciate their car being hot, poisonous, and deadly.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Binaltech, unreleased)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''BT16'''
**''Accessories'': Engine-rifle, roof-shield

: In 2005, the mold used for ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Decepticharge]] was presented as an upcoming release for the Japanese ''Binaltech'' line. They decided to give the toy an entirely new deco, as the Hasbro toy's deco didn't appeal to their ideal of "real-life accuracy". In robot mode, the toy was given a color scheme based on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia, with the toy's name being changed to "Blackwidow", Takara's name for the character. Though a [[bio]] and story chapter were written to accommodate it into the ''Binaltech'' fiction, and photoshopped images released through an online retailer revealed the intended color scheme, Takara ultimately decided to cancel the toy altogether, as they were fearing that another redeco (in addition to the upcoming ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toys) would be too repetitive. Plans to release this toy as part of a different line were never picked up again.

: This mold was ultimately released in Japan as part of an unexpected ''Binaltech'' continuation, this time as [[Arcee (G1)#Binaltech|Arcee]]. The original version of the mold was used to make ''Alternators'' [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and ''Binaltech'' [[Overdrive]].
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
* '''Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game''' (1997)
:Blackarachnia was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Wars [[Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game|card game]].

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroescheetorblackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cute and poisonous.]]
* '''Cheetor vs. Blackarachnia''' (2-pack, 2008)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]''-branded [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]], Blackarachnia is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. She was only available in a two-pack with [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]].

{{-}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWBlackarachniaCardArt.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Dirty girls, make some noise. Move that ass for dirty boys.]]
* Blackarachnia's original Beast Wars card art has her wearing a spike-studded collar... while her chest seems to be leopard-spotted. Kinky.

* Reportedly, Blackarachnia's show model was created after some Mainframe folks had taken the design modeler to a strip club only a few days prior for, um... ''inspiration''. <ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/593687e427efddad Why Blackarachnia Looks Asian] on [[alt.toys.transformers]].</ref>

* Much like her fellow spider [[Tarantulas]], her original beast mode is depicted with ''nine'' eyes rather then eight.

* In the "jovial" Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Blackarachnia's character underwent a few small (depending on your point of view) changes. Firstly, she had a voice that can only be described as "bipolar". She would switch between her usual sultry, flirtatious voice to a screaming blood-thirsty maniac at the drop of a hat. Another notable change is that, while still a strong female character, she was made less independent and was occasionally prone to ''begging for mercy'' from her enemies, something she never did in the English version. However, this isn't the first time the Japanese have done their best to [[Arcee (G1)#The Headmasters cartoon|"improve" upon a female character]].

* The [[:Image:Blackarachniahappymeal.jpg|artwork]] advertising the Transmetal Blackarachnia toy on Happy Meal Bags was rendered with the toy transformed incorrectly. Her beast mode head isn't flipped down, leaving her organic-looking robot mode chest exposed.

{{anchor|TriviaTM2spark}}
* Even though Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia's toy has a unique faction-switching [[spark crystal]], the feature doesn't make sense in a fictional context. By that point in the ''Beast Wars'' television series, the Transmetal Driver had destroyed her Predacon [[shell program]], making her fully Maximal. (Though, to be fair, it ''had'' happened mere moments previously.)

* Blackarachnia exhibited what appears to be telekinesis not long after gaining her Transmetal 2 form, levitating a steel girder to stop Rampage in "[[Master Blaster]]". The ability only appeared once and was never explained, though it resembles the other strange, almost supernatural powers wielded by Transmetals 2 in the cartoon. Following her reformatting in ''Beast Machines'', Blackarachnia no longer possessed this ability.

[[image:Sourcebook1Blackarachnia.jpg|thumb|200px|Woke up in Vegas next to [[BB#Notes|BB]].]]

{{anchor|TriviaBinaltech}}
* Character and fiction information for the cancelled BT-16 "Blackwidow" toy finally emerged in late 2007 with the release of ''The Transformers Binaltech Stories: Profiles and Technical Specifications'', an unofficial publication by ''Binaltech'' story writer [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] that compiled all then-current ''Binaltech'' information as well as that of the unreleased Blackarachnia and [[Ginrai]] toys. As it was never officially released, this information can be considered [[Pseudocanon|pseudocanonical]] at best.

* Blackarachnia is (strangely) depicted solely using a golden orange version of her Transmetal II body in her IDW ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' profile entry. She received properly colored coverage of all her modes in the trade paperback version.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Alpha Trion's acolytes]]
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Predacons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Blackarachnia (BW)

2010-01-30T11:04:14Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|predacon|maximal|maximalbm|unicron|decepticon|ttautobot}}
{{disambig3|Blackarachnia}}

:''Blackarachnia is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] who changes allegiances with alarming frequency from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Blackarachniabw.jpg|right|240px|thumb|Hot, poisonous, and deadly. Rawr!]]
A sultry femme fatale, '''Blackarachnia''' is smart, sexy, and dangerous. She's got eight legs, and she knows how to use them. Of the several rebellious Predacons under [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s command, she's one of the very few who can, on occasion, outguile him. Always looking out for Number One, Blackarachnia values her independence and freedom above all else. She would rather be deactivated than be a slave.

Blackarachnia's greatest weakness, other than her overconfidence, is her feelings for the Maximal [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. Something about his heroic demeanor and the kindness he shows her makes her uneasy. She hasn't experienced unconditional love before, and it scares her, though she'll never admit it.

{{quote|Even when I'm good, I'm still bad.|Blackarachnia|"[[Crossing the Rubicon]]"}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Blackwidow'''
:''French-Canadian name (original toy):'' '''Mygale'''
:''French-Canadian name (cartoon):'' '''La Veuve Noire''' (The Black Widow")<ref name=TM2BA>Whether Transmetal II Blackarachnia had different French and Spanish names is uncertain at this point.</ref>
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Hēi Jr-jū''' (黑蜘蛛, "Black Spider") / '''Jr-jū''' (蜘蛛, "Spider", used in ''Beast Machines'' sometimes)
:''Cantonese name:'' '''Alaina''' (雅麗娜 ''Aa Lai Naa'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Arachna'''
:''Portuguese name:'' '''Aracniana'''
:''Brazilian name (Beast Wars only):'' '''Viúva Negra'''
:''Spanish name'': '''Araña Negra''' ("Black Spider")<ref name=TM2BA/>
:''Italian name:'' '''Arachnia'''

==Fiction==
===First wave toy bios===
Working by moonlight, Blackarachnia poses as a double agent. In reality, this is merely a ruse she utilizes in order to lure unwitting Maximals into her darkened den, where she first paralyzes her victim with a poisonous missile. She then proceeds to restrain her victim with her powerful legs, and subsequently sucks their life force dry... kinky. She is capable of converting thermal energy into [[cyber venom]]. {{storylink|Blackarachnia (BW)#Toys|Blackarachnia bio}}
{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[Bio|bios]] of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. They seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Fátima Noya]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:BAintroduction.jpg|left|300px|thumb|My face is up here!]]
Blackarachnia was born from one of the [[Maximal|Maximals']] fallen [[stasis pod]]s. [[Tarantulas]], watching a black widow fight and devour another spider, was inspired. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], observing the slim and attractive Blackarachnia transform and strike a few poses, suggested that he had "ulterior motives behind her beast form selection" but she was a Predacon, and that was what was important. In the battle with the Maximals that followed, she easily defeated [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] with a few well-placed kicks. She was later reported as "missing," though the reasons why and how were never addressed. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}}

She was soon assigned to a mission with [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] to dig under the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]] and use a [[sonic emitter]] she had invented to blow a hole into the bottom. She didn't get on well with either of them, but they managed to eventually get to the point where they were ready to trigger the emitter... only for [[Tigatron]] to steal it. By the time they caught up with the Maximal, the emitter was ready to explode, and they could only flee the blast area. {{storylink|A Better Mousetrap}} When [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]'s virus turned [[Optimus Primal]] into a berserker and he invaded the [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur battled the other Maximals as they also tried to gain entry. Unfortunately Cheetor slipped past them and was able to rescue Primal, however at least the other Maximals were held off. {{storylink|Gorilla Warfare}}

Blackarachnia was present during the interrogation of Cheetor when the Predacons discovered that a [[temporal probe|Maximal probe]] was flying past the planet, and took part in the battle to destroy the signal array which the Maximals were building. Once [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] was locked into his dino-mode by Tarantualas's [[transformation lock lens]], Blackarachnia delivered the coup de grâce, only to be subsequently blasted off a cliff by [[Rattrap]]. {{storylink|The Probe}} The Predacons staged a deception, faking their own destruction and using signal dampeners invented by Blackarachnia to hide while the Maximals use parts from their ship to repair the ''Axalon''. After being discovered by Dinobot, they pursued him. During an attempt to rush the ''Axalon'', Blackarachnia was blasted by the ship's defenses. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

[[Image:TheSpark Blackarachnia spidermode.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
After Megatron turned [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] into a Predacon using a [[Transmuter]], Blackarachnia and Megatron were startled by Waspinator's impression of [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]. {{storylink|Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs}} Blackarachnia and Scorponok were dispatched to retrieve the latest crashed stasis pod. They encountered Tigatron, who disabled Scorponok, but was himself paralyzed by Blackarachnia's venom. At the pod, she fought Cheetor at length, but he caught her venom dart and used it to knock her out. {{storylink|The Spark}}

[[Image:The Trigger Blackarachnia chair.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]
The discovery of a mysterious [[Brigadoon|flying island]] led to Megatron dispatching Blackarachnia and Scorponok to investigate it. Blackarachnia, when she saw the power wielded by the island, resolved to herself that she would take control of it. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}} As the pair reached the obelisk in the center of the island, Waspinator and Terrorsaur arrived, and Blackarachnia tricked them into using their weapons, causing the island defenses to blast them. She then got rid of Scorponok using one of the island's traps, and took control of the island's power herself. Though she started piloting the island toward the ''Axalon'', Tigatron was able to destroy its energy supply, and the whole thing crashed to the ground. {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 2}}

She soon attempted to forge an alliance with Tarantulas, flattering him and accompanying him on a mission to secure the latest stasis pod to crash. Unfortunately they were too late to ensure the protoform obtained an arachnid beast mode, and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was born. While Blackarachnia was trying to get the new Predacon under control, Tarantulas made off with the real prize — the stasis pod itself. After the pod was destroyed, Tarantulas revealed to her that the planet was doomed, and she realised he'd intended to use the pod to build an escape ship, but he rebuffed her offer of further help and threw her out of his lair. {{storylink|Spider's Game}}

[[Image:Possession Blackarachnia slags Starscream.jpg|thumb|right|280px|This one frame turned the [[fandom]] into feminists. She's just that good, folks.]]
A Predacon plan to steal the [[rectifier coil]] from the ''Axalon'' resulted in the Maximals going feral, and Blackarachnia was part of the hunting party which pursued them into the jungle. She was defeated by Dinobot after the Maximals overcame their little problem. {{storylink|Call of the Wild}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] took control of Waspinator's body and the Predacons were able to conquer the ''Axalon'', the Decepticon took Blackarachnia under his wing as a student and revealed his true intent to overthrow Megatron. After he abandoned her in the Maximal base, leaving her to escape Primal and Dinobot on her own, she took that as a hint to return the favour, and later shot a cluster of energon crystals, blasting Starscream free from Waspinator. She then engaged in some quick talking to get herself out of trouble with Megatron. {{storylink|Possession}}

Tarantulas infected Rhinox with an [[energon discharge virus]], and was later himself incapacitated, leading the Predacons to investigate his lair to see if they could dig up any more of the virus. Blackarachnia was able to find a counter-virus, but while Megatron was attempting a brilliant gambit against the attacking Maximals, Rhinox countered with an almighty fart which left the Predacon forces hanging from a tree. {{storylink|The Low Road}} Some time later, Megatron called a truce when signs pointed to the [[Vok|aliens]] returning. Tarantulas stole a transwarp cell from the ''Darksyde'', leading Megatron to assign Blackarachnia to keep an eye on him. The two spiders attempted to stop Tigatron escaping the Predacon base, but were tricked into being flattened by a boulder by Dinobot. They were the least damaged, however, and dragged the rest of the Predacons back to base. {{storylink|Before the Storm}}

[[Image:OtherVoices2 possessed Blackarachnia.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
Blackarachnia offered to help Tarantulas break into the Maximal base to steal a stasis pod. They were able to use one of Blackarachnia's inventions to penetrate the ''Axalon'' shields and overcome Rhinox and Dinobot. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}} As Tarantulas worked to turn the stasis pod into an escape ship, Blackarachnia turned on him, intending to use the pod herself. They were interrupted by Inferno, who slagged Tarantulas, but Blackarachnia was easily able to defeat him in return. She linked to Tarantulas's mind to obtain the necessary information, and successfully completed modifying the pod... only to be captured by the Maximals. Optimus forced her to change the control codes to respond to him, so he could pilot the pod himself and destroy the [[Planet Buster]] weapon threatening the planet. As it happened, Megatron had sabotaged the transwarp cell, and Optimus was unable to eject before impact. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}}

While attempting to escape from the Maximal base, Blackarachnia was shocked to discover that her earlier interfacing with Taratulas had resulted in a permanent mind-link between the two of them. Tarantulas was able to force her to take his body with her as she left the base. Though she was intercepted by Tigatron and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], Megatron happened to turn up at that point. He threatened to terminate Blackarachnia, but she talked her way out of it by pointing out the simple fact that Megatron's stock of troops was sorely depleted. Of course, during the inevitable battle, Tarantulas forced Blackarachnia to retreat with his body. {{storylink|Aftermath}}

[[Image:ComingoftheFuzors Blackarachnia downloading.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
Returning to the Predacon base, Blackarachnia interrupted Dinobot stealing the [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|Golden Disk]]s, but refused Tarantulas's order that she should try to get them back. Instead she repaired him, but discovered that the mind link persisted. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)}} While Tarantulas went to help Megatron's latest battle, Blackarachnia dug through the base's computer for information on the Golden Disks and discovered important data, including the access codes to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. she was able to download it while Tarantulas was unconscious, and destroyed the computer. She later told Megatron and Tarantulas that Dinobot had destroyed the computer and the data lost. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

The two spiders were later sent with new recruit [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to build a refueling station in a cave full of energon. Tarantulas schemed to take over the cave himself and attempted to persuade Blackarachnia to join him, but soon realised she was hiding something from him. When he tried to rip the information from her mind, she cracked an energon cube, the radiation causing them both pain and forcing him to sever the mental link. He threatened to tear her apart, but was interrupted when Rattrap and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] arrived to fight. Silverbolt, much to Rattrap's annoyance, refused to strike Blackarachnia because she was female. In the end, Tarantulas used the battle as cover to fake the destruction of the cave, and the trio had to report their failure to Megatron. {{storylink|Tangled Web}}

When Dinobot attempted to defect back to the Predacons, Blackarachnia suggested he prove himself by fighting with Quickstrike. {{storylink|Maximal, No More}} During another alien incursion, Megatron took Blackarachnia and Inferno to the Maximal base, where they were able to overcome Rhinox, the sole Maximal there. Blackarachnia grabbed the alien [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Golden Disk]]. Megatron and Tarantulas colluded to work against the aliens, and when Megatron questioned why, Blackarachnia revealed that she had learned from the mind link that Tarantulas hated the aliens and wanted to destroy them. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 1)}} Though Blackarachnia was rendered unconscious by a blast from the [[Metal Hunter|alien construct]] that appeared, she was reactivated when Megatron took control of the construct and brought the other Predacons aboard. She was one of the Predacons sent out to defend the construct against the Maximals, but Tarantulas managed to infiltrate and destroy it anyway. {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Blackarachnia fightback.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Spousal abuse!]]
When an energon blast sent her and Silverbolt into the middle of the dense jungles, they were forced to work together. Though attracted to the [[Fuzor]], Blackarachnia was endlessly frustrated by his seemingly idiotic chivalry and need to treat her specially. Megatron, listening in to their commlink chatter, was disgusted by the obvious romance going on. Still Silverbolt and Blackarachnia worked together surprisingly well, saving each other's life in turns, and eventually defeating [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] with the help of Optimus and Cheetor. {{storylink|Bad Spark}}

When the Predacons attacked the valley of proto-humans, Blackarachnia was teamed with Inferno. She did considerable damage to Dinobot before being blasted herself. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}

Blackarachnia took advantage of Silverbolt's obvious interest in her, meeting the Maximal at a secluded location to obtain a [[graviton generator]]. She used the generator to convert a stasis pod into a makeship hoversled, and later overheard Megatron giving a mission to Waspinator. As the Maximals fought their way into the Predacon base, Blackarachnia emerged on her sled to encounter Silverbolt. Silverbolt refused a direct order from Optimus to shoot her, allowing her to leave and tail Waspinator instead. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)}} Silverbolt eventually caught up with Blackarachnia, who resorted to shooting him in order to try to get the point across that he should leave her alone. It didn't really work, and when the hoversled she was on hit Waspinator, Silverbolt saved her from plummeting to the ground. He subsequently joined her in digging into the side of the mountain they had been heading towards. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:BA Silverbolt Agenda3.jpg|right|250px|thumb|I can walk, you know.]]
Finally they broke through into a huge cavern containing the Ark, and Blackarachnia explained the ship's significance to her companion. While she was keen to take the power for herself, Megatron arrived and knocked Silverbolt offline before caving in the tunnel they'd dug. Having always intended for her to reach the Ark as he knew she had the access codes, Megatron threatened to vape Silverbolt unless she did what he said. Bitterly, she agreed to his demands, reluctantly opening the ship and, while Megatron went on, using the Ark's security system to hold off the Maximals. Megatron took the opportunity to attempt to assassinate [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], potentially erasing the Maximals from history. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}

Unfortunately for Megatron, Blackarachnia had originally been a Maximal protoform, and certainly wasn't willing to die for his cause. She activated [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I's]] security nets to force Megatron off the ship. With Silverbolt's help, she got the dying Autobot leader under life support and began the repairs. The Maximals were forced to accept her help, but while the Maximals were occupied with Megatron, Blackarachnia slipped out... only to be trapped by falling rocks, and slagged by Megatron during his escape. Silverbolt cradled her to her chest as she shut down, swearing vengeance until the other Maximals suggested he stop messing around and get her to a repair chamber. With no much other choice, Blackarachnia joined the Maximal ranks. {{storylink|Optimal Situation}} She even spent time on guard duty outside the base with Silverbolt. {{storylink|Deep Metal}}

Blackarachnia quickly showed her usefulness to the Maximals, building a hand-powered [[subaquatic stealth vessel]] that could retrieve Sentinel from the ''Axalon'''s underwater resting place. Rattrap was less than thrilled about having to use the "Predacon beach ball". {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

[[Image:Cutting Edge Blackarachnia kids.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Actually just picking up lunch.]]
She was even less thrilled when she ended up having to escort two human children back to their tribe along with Cheetor, who was exhibiting a boyish crush on her, much to Silverbolt's annoyance. Rattrap was also rather distrusting of her, as earlier he had spied Blackarachnia sneaking some parts from a classified area. But when Megatron's new [[cyber raptor]]s attacked, Blackarachnia showed her good side by defending the children, even taking a hit from Tarantulas for them, which she immediately denied to an impressed Silverbolt by saying she slipped. With the cyber raptors defeated, she informed Cheetor that he was a nice kid - which were two strikes against him, so don't go looking for strike three. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}}

[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] returned from a mission reporting that Cheetor had been destroyed trying to interfere with Megatron's experiment, however the Maximal had secretly brought back the [[Transmetal driver]], a component of Megatron's experiment. Though he tossed it into a pool of lava, Blackarachnia was able to grab it before it was destroyed. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1}} She took part in the search for Cheetor, leading Silverbolt to develop jealousy at her apparent concern for their comrade. He later turned up with, it transpired, a new [[Transmetal 2]] body, which Blackarachnia took particular interest in. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 2}}

[[Image:ProvingGrounds Blackarachnia wink.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
After Rhinox scanned her and found the [[shell program]] that made her a Predacon, Blackarachnia finally got fed up with Rattrap's attitude and Cheetor's crush, and would have choked/blasted them both if Optimus hadn't intervened. Weary that apparently she hadn't proven herself to the Maximals and thinking that Optimus and Rhinox were planning to force her to remove the shell, Blackarachnia decided to split... which turned out to be a bad decision, as [[Dinobot II]] had been waiting for this moment. Taking turns hunting each other, Blackarachnia got the upper hand but was caught off-guard by Dinobot's power and durability. Fleeing to a mesa, she was found by Silverbolt, who got in a fight with Dinobot and was about to be slagged. Blackarachnia shot him out of the way, then tried to make a deal with Dinobot to take over the Ark and the Predacons, which backfired and allowed Dinobot to stun her, but he was distracted by Silverbolt long enough for the two Maximals to finally defeat him. After an argument between the pair, Optimus arrived to point out that the decision to remove the program had always been up to her. {{storylink|Proving Grounds}}

When Megatron attempted to fire his new [[disruptor cannon]] on the Maximal base, the Maximals prepared for the worst, but the cannon blew up instead. {{storylink|Go with the Flow}}

[[Image:CrossingtheRubicron-newbody.jpg|left|300px|thumb|80% more pointy edges!]]

Seeking more power, Blackarachnia attempted to use the Transmetal driver on herself. Silverbolt, not realizing what she was planning, bailed her out of the contraption. Like every good girlfriend, she began to chew him out, but was cut off as an energy surge made her lose control of her circuits. A security system Tarantulas installed had been triggered by her tampering with her core, and the only way to fix it was to cut the Predacon [[shell program]] loose. Reluctantly, she agreed, especially since this was a very difficult procedure that could lead to her death. With time running out, she passed the Ark's access codes on to Primal in case she didn't make it and shut herself down, leaving herself in Rhinox's care. Rhinox began the operation, but his tinkering tripped an alert in [[Tarantulas's lair]]. The Predacons got wind of what he was doing and mounted an attack on the Maximal base. The Maximals countered their attack, but the power was disrupted by a shot fired by Tarantulas at a critical stage. This apparently killed Blackarachnia.

Distraught, Silverbolt took off to avenge her death, blinded by rage. However, in Silverbolt's absence, Blackarachnia's body attracted the attention of the Transmetal driver, and she was resurrected in a new Transmetal 2 form. She arrived just in time to save Silverbolt from Rampage. Rampage admitted that he liked her new look, but tried to kill her just the same. Surprisingly, Blackarachnia was able to disarm and stun the titanic Rampage, ultimately throwing him over the horizon using her webs. Silverbolt was, of course, overjoyed to see his beloved alive, but Blackarachnia told him to knock off the vengeful hero stuff so she wouldn't have to keep endangering herself with inevitable rescue attempts. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

[[Image:MasterBlaster Blackarachnia beast mode.jpg|right|250px|thumb]]
Some time later, Blackarachnia returned to base to find the doors open. It was the result of Megatron's latest plan as it turned out, which involved Quickstrike taking control of Optimus Primal's body, rendering the other Maximals unconscious and placing them in a cage. Left in Rampage's "care", Blackarachnia was able to use some sort of telekinesis to make a girder fly through the air and disable the Predacon. After dealing with Inferno, she went to release the other Maximals, only to run into Quickstrike and Primal. She freed Primal by disabling Quickstrike's control suit, and subsequently managed to stop the Ark's destruct sequence, which Tarantulas had set in motion, before rescuing the other Maximals and helping fight Megatron off. {{storylink|Master Blaster}}

[[Image:Nemesis2-Maximals.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Spot the Mega Class toy!]]

When an object from space destroyed the Predacon base, Blackarachnia realised that the aliens had returned — in this case in the form of the Vok emissary [[Tigerhawk]]. She cut short Rattrap's celebrations by pointing out that when Tigerhawk had finished with the Predacons, he'd probably come for them. {{storylink|Other Victories}} Tigerhawk, in fact, joined the Maximals. When Silverbolt was injured looking for the Predacons, Blackarachnia rode to his aid on Cheetor's back, and the pair took him back to base for repairs. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1}} After Megatron raised the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' from the depths of the ocean, the Maximals struggled to prepare the Ark for moving. In search of something to make a power link, Blackarachnia grabbed Rattrap's tail-whip, snipping off the end and repurposing it as a power cable. Though the attempt to shift the Ark failed, Rhinox used a shuttle to defeat Megatron. The Maximals subsequently blasted off for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the shuttle. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}

====Beast Wars: Transformers Video Game====
{{charstubfiction}}
{{-}}
====Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals Video Game====
{{note|This game takes place in an alternate version of the second season of the [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]] cartoon.}}
[[Image:N64Blackarachnia.jpg|200px|thumb|I'm... sure she has a nice personality... wait, no. No, she doesn't.]]
{{note|In the the N64 version of ''Beast Wars: Transmetals'', Blackarachnia was a stretched [[palette swap|palette-swap]] of [[Tarantulas|Transmetal Tarantulas]]. As you can see, this didn't work very well. The Playstation version does not stretch out Tarantulas, instead remeshing the model to resemble her Transmetal 2 form.}}
:''Voice actor:'' ? (English), ? (Japanese)

Transmetal Blackarachnia joins her fellow Predacons in distributing various one-on-one beat downs to the Maximals. Eventually, Silverbolt convinces her to defect to the Maximals but she never truly reforms. It is her betrayal at a key moment that eventually assures the Maximals victory in the Beast Wars. Once back on Cybertron, she works as a double-agent between the Maximal and [[Tripredacus Council]] with no loyalty to either side. She often ponders what would have happened if she had remained on the Predacon's team throughout the war. {{storylink|Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}
{{note|Each character possessed an alternate ending, displayed if the N64 version of the game was beaten with said character. Each character has only their own ending listed on their pages, see the other characters' pages for Blackarachnia’s fate in those outcomes.}}
{{-}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
[[Image:TMblackarachnia.jpg|200px|thumb|No boobs? No thanks.]]
While the Maximals attempted to remove her Predacon shell program, an alternate Transmetal "Vok" body was somehow automatically created (by someone, somehow) in [[subspace]] just in case it was needed. It wasn't, and so it was "sidelined". {{storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

{{note|This is [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] way of "sorta" working her [[McDonald's]] Happy Meal premium toy (see below) into continuity}}
{{-}}
====''Tales of the Beast Wars''====
Blackarachnia made a brief appearance in her Transmetal 2 form at [[Reaching the Omega Point|Omega Point]], being eviscerated by [[Shokaract]]'s firepower. Clearly, she got better as space/time rebooted itself with the destruction of the [[Unicron|Dark Essence]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}
{{-}}
====''Transformers Legends'' anthology====
{{note|This takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]"}}
Not long after Megatron took the original Megatron's spark into himself, he had Quickstrike deliver a device to the Maximal base which amplified the Maximals' aggression. Blackarachnia was attacked by Rhinox before escaping while Silverbolt distracted him. Once Optimus Primal was able to overcome the device's effects and free the other Maximals, they attempted unsuccessfully to capture Megatron in one of Blackarachnia's webs. {{storylink|A Meeting of Minds}}

{{note|This takes place during "[[Spark of Darkness]]"}}
Blackarachia was trying to persuade Silverbolt that it was all right for them to resume their romance after Megatron's apparent death, when they were attacked by a strange zombie-like creature. After it zapped Silverbolt, she unsuccessfully tried to attack it in retaliation. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}
{{-}}

====''Binaltech'' (unused)====
As the victorious Maximals travelled forward in time from prehistoric Earth to far-future Cybertron, their shuttle was suddenly struck by a powerful force of darkness. Hurled into the early 21st century, Blackarachnia was forced by Unicron to aid him in his efforts to destroy the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Her spark was placed inside the silver Beta Unit Honda S-2000 Aero Style body intended for the Autobot warrior [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and her mind was overwhelmed by an evil essence that forced her to do Unicron's bidding.

Still possessing her extrasensory Transmetal 2 powers including telekinesis, Blackarachnia gained several additional weapons courtesy of her new form: a long-range Venom Sniper Gun that fired system-disrupting energy bullets, a defensive riot shield that projected an electromagnetic field from its edge, and the ability to fire strong artificial webs from her grill, exhaust pipe and hands in robot mode.

Blackarachnia was partnered with the newly-created [[Decepticharge]] and dispatched to confront [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] forces on Earth. Finding them in the middle of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-led uprising, the pair put down the rebellion and ordered the Decepticons to defeat [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and destroy the Matrix.

While forced to act as a Decepticon, Blackarachnia's true self remained intact but submerged, struggling to overcome Unicron's control and desperate to correct the warped [[Alternators|Binaltech]] timeline.

[[Blackarachnia (BW)#TriviaBinaltech|''Maybe.'']]

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Márcia Moreli]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|When they say she's all legs, they ain't kidding!]]
When the Autobot shuttle crashed on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the Maximal team was gassed, Blackarachnia's Transmetal 2 powers were stripped away from her, as were her memories. As such, the amnesiac Maximal decided to head underground, distraught and confused. Locked out of her robot mode, she awaited her imminent deactivation...until the other three survivors—an equally disoriented [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rattrap]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]—plunged into her web. Primal made the decision to head underground, and Blackarachnia complied, using her webs to grant them safe passage. However, in her weakened state her webbing was limited, and so the foursome plummeted most of the way down into the chamber of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]. She watched as Optimus emerged in his [[technorganic]] form, and she was the fourth and last Maximal to be [[Reformatting|reformatted]], emerging as a pink black widow spider with green markings. When attacked by a squadron of Cycle Drones, she put her technorganic mode to good use, trapping one of the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] in a tangle of web. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:Blackarachniamasterofthehouse.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Nice forehead!]]
Under Primal's tutelage, Cheetor and Blackarachnia relearned the ability to transform, and the Maximals set about finding a new base. Blackarachnia managed to goad Cheetor into accompanying her aboveground to find out what had happened to the residents of Cybertron. They accessed the [[Cybertron InfoCore]], only to find it had been wiped. The Maximals visited the [[Council Citadel]], allowing Blackarachnia to test her new powers in combat, including an ability to fire electrical "stings" through the ground. To her shock, they discovered that the mastermind behind the cleansing of Cybertron was none other than Megatron. {{storylink|Master of the House}} During an attempt to access the [[Cybertron Archives]], she received a vision of prehistoric [[Earth]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. She sneaked off to the spaceport to consult the records of their arrival and was followed by Rattrap. As well as encountering Megatron's new, sentient [[Vehicon general]]s, they discovered that there had been six occupants in the shuttle. Seeking more information, Blackarachnia attempted to access the logs from the shuttle itself, only for Megatron to attempt to access her own mind, and she was only prevented from revealing the location of the Maximal base by Rattrap severing the link. The pair were subsequently rescued by Primal and Cheetor, but Blackarachnia's information reawakened memories of Rhinox and Silverbolt in them all. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

Rattrap's use of a transformation enhancer got the Maximals captured by Megatron for a short time, but during their escape, Optimus reported that [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'s spark seemed familiar. {{storylink|Mercenary Pursuits}} Blackarachnia and crew later discovered the bat-creature [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], who led them to a strange, organic fruit tree. Upon eating the fruit, Blackarachnia began to revert to her instinctual "animal" mind, and it was only thanks to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] that her feral mind returned to normal, and thanks to Primal that the bat's life was saved and reformatted into a technorganic body. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} After another mission was fouled up by Rattrap's antics during Optimus's convalescence from reformatting Nightscream, the remaining Maximals discussed what they needed to do about Rattrap. Blackarachnia was irritated by Rattrap's uselessness, but Cheetor asserted that they had to cover for their friend. They were shocked to find a while later that Rattrap had overheard them and taken up with Megatron in exchange for weapons. Primal talked Rattrap around, scolding the other Maximals that they undervalued their teammate. {{storylink|The Weak Component}}

[[Image:Revelations3 Blackarachnia closeup.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]
Later, the group stumbled across one of Megatron's many Transformer junkyards, where the lifeless, [[spark]]less bodies of the city's inhabitants were disposed of. When [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and Blackarachnia were split up from the battle, the two made an unofficial truce, but when Thrust saved her life and her spark, having strange recollections of doing so before, her mind was set: He was Silverbolt, mutated and made evil by Megatron. She resolved to get her lover back, but didn't reveal to the other Maximals that she believed Thrust was Silverbolt. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} When Cheetor enacted a subsequent plan to try to hack into Tankor, Blackarachnia volunteered to keep Thrust busy. She made numerous appeals to Thrust to try to bring out his Maximal nature, but Thrust was hesitant and was soon bullied into extracting her spark by [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} As her spark rocketed into the darkness, Nightscream fought Jetstorm for it. At the same time, on another plane of existence, Blackarachnia encountered Primal, who calmed her astral spirit down, at the same time allowing Nightscream to restore it and bring her back. She and Nightscream were able to come to Cheetor and Rattrap's aid, but they had found that Tankor was really Rhinox, and their old friend was now siding with Megatron's view of a technological Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

[[Image:Survivor Blackarachnia beast mode head.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
After Nightscream was snatched away by the Vehicons, the other Maximals gave pursuit. Blackarachnia's hesitation in attacking Thrust allowed the Vehicon to pursue Primal and Nightscream, who had discovered a [[fossil cave|cave full of fossils]], proving Cybertron was once organic. {{storylink|Survivor}} When Tankor gained control of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] and "infected" Nightscream and the new orchard with the Key, Blackarachnia quickly found that the [[organic goo]] they'd just discovered was a cure to the [[technomatter]]. While the other Maximals went to get a mole drone, Blackarachnia stayed behind to look after Nightscream, only to be infected by him and temporarily lose her own sanity. The other Maximals eventually returned with a drone and were able to cure her. {{storylink|The Key}}

[[Image:Silverboltjetstorm.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Sorry, your boyfriend was behind door number 2!]]
Taking a vial of the goo, Blackarachnia kidnapped Thrust, trapping him in a web and using the goo to force out his inner personality, in the expectation that Silverbolt would emerge. Instead, she discovered that Thrust was [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], who'd flown to Cybertron from prehistoric Earth. When Jetstorm attacked, another mishap with the organic goop occurred, and for a moment Silverbolt's true personality emerged, sweeping Blackarachnia in his arms. However, as he and Waspinator fought over Blackarachnia, the goo vanished from the both of them, and the Vehicons' minds both returned. Blackarachnia was swiftly rescued by the other Maximals, riding a giant vine created by a catalyst which Rattrap had found. {{storylink|The Catalyst}}

Blackarachnia was involved in the battle in Megatron's Citadel, holding off the Vehicons as Primal confronted Megatron within, though she, along with the others, were all overwhelmed by the Key to Vector Sigma and became comatose. {{storylink|End of the Line}} The clashing energies of the Key and the [[Plasma energy|Plasma Energy Chamber]] restored the four Maximals to life. Entering the Council Citadel, they found that the battle had claimed Primal, Megatron and Tankor. They headed for the Oracle in search of guidance, where they found Optimus Primal floating within, and they convinced him to return to real-space and continue his leadership.

The Maximals returned to the surface to find a [[Grand Mal|giant floating head]] in the likeness of Megatron. {{storylink|Fallout}} Blackarachnia and Nightscream tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate the head. Leaving Optimus to try and contact Megatron's spark, the other Maximals went to find the two remaining Vehicon generals and encountered a strange, organic Transformer named [[Noble]], who changed from a wolf into the dragon-like Savage. {{storylink|Savage Noble}} The Maximals later infiltrated the Council Citadel, looking for information, only to discover that Noble was actually Megatron, trapped in his own organic half. Megatron used [[spark extractor]]s to remove his spark, taking over the huge, flying head and reactivating the Vehicon drone army, which forced the Maximals back underground. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}

[[Image:Blackarachniasilverboltdarkestknight.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Vamp meets goth.]]
When Rattrap revealed he's created a device he hoped could be used to restore the stolen sparks into new bodies, Blackarachnia "borrowed" it. She managed to force Jetstorm into a large pool of the organic goo, and his body began to change. Scanning a nearby condor skeleton, he awoke in a new form, a purple technorganic bird of prey. Blackarachnia was startled by the change in him. Instead of the lovable, chivalrous knight in shining armor, he was a brittle, haunted bot, tormented by the images of the evil deeds he had done...done by choice. Though he gave up on himself, she never did, urging Silverbolt to forgive his past, prompting him to head to the Grand Mal to confront his old master and rescue Primal and Cheetor. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

Blackarachnia continued to assure Silverbolt that things would get better. After Silverbolt inadvertently spread a new, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]-enhanced version of the old [[Hate Plague]], causing dissension in the ranks, he blamed himself, but she and the other Maximals were supportive. {{storylink|A Wolf in the Fold}} Later, when a Maximal spaceship crashed, the Maximals split up to reach it in time. As they did, Blackarachnia confided to Rattrap that she'd found Silverbolt increasingly cold towards her. At the ship, they encountered a strange, alien plant monster, which Primal reformatted, revealing it to be [[Botanica]], a fellow Maximal. {{storylink|Home Soil}}

The Maximals would soon encounter two new Vehicon generals, [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], whose gambit almost defeated them until Botanica stepped in. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} Blackarachnia and Silverbolt were teamed up with Cheetor during a search for the missing sparks. Though Silverbolt was uncomfortable about following someone he still regarded as a kid, Blackarachnia defended Cheetor. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}} The Maximals attempted to infiltrate the Grand Mal to find the missing sparks, only to discover that Megatron was using them to fuel his great ascension. Nightscream's intercession appeared to dispel the Vehicon leader's spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

[[Image:Silverboltblackarachniaseedsofthefuture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Eeek! That smile! Go back to glowering!]]
Once the Maximals had celebrated, Blackarachnia tried to talk to Silverbolt, believing now was the time for them to renew their romance. Silverbolt was not convinced of Megatron's demise, and in fact, he was right: Megatron still lived as a disembodied and depolarized spark. The pair found themselves being attacked by a zombie of pieced-together Vehicon parts, animated by the power of Megatron's spark. Megatron was later trapped in a [[Diagnostic Drone]] by Rattrap. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

Silverbolt, Blackarachnia and Nightscream attacked the Vehicons while the others attempted to secure the sparks in the Grand Mal. They were subsequently able to put Megatron's Vehicon factory out of commission, but the Grand Mal itself was brought down. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral}} Blackarachnia and Silverbolt were able to share a quiet moment before the final battle, and they received a spark power-up from the collective population of Cybertron. However, they were both felled during battle by Obsidian and Thrust, respectively. Their sparks were then torn from them by cycle drones. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}} Though unable to assist physically, Blackarachnia and the other Maximals were able to give moral support to Primal during his final battle against Megatron, which resulted in the sacrifice of both leaders and the reformatting of Cybertron into a technorganic paradise. With harmony restored, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were finally able to be together. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}
{{-}}

====''Universe''====
Shortly after the planet underwent the Great Reformatting, the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] seized the opportunity to attack, believing that the revolutionary change would have rendered the planets' inhabitants confused and docile. Suffice to say, the Transformers were greatly underestimated. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were successfully able to fend [[Cybertropolis]] from Quintesson invaders. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:Blackarachniaabduction.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She stabbed my basketball, and the speakers to my stereo!]]
One year later, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were chosen to greet a ship of returning Autobot heroes from the Great War. Their welcomes were ignored by the crew, which included [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]], and [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]], when they realized that their home had been transformed into a strange technorganic paradise. Only [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was unphased, choosing to talk up Blackarachnia and Silverbolt so that he could mug for [[Rook (Universe)|Rook's]] cameras.

[[Image:TFU Blackarachnia vs Rattrap.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Hey, guys, I turned evil again!]]
Their greeting was interrupted by a series of what appeared to be fireworks. Instead, they were beams of energy sent by [[Unicron]] to capture the returning crew, Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt, and bring them to him. When they arrived, a booming voice welcomed them to the [[Pit]], a dimension inside Unicron. Blackarachnia and her fellow captives were painfully smelted down and reformed; only Trailbreaker emerged unchanged. Since she arrived, Blackarachnia had begun to feel a growing anger that she couldn't control. And in this new Unicron-tainted form, she more than welcomed the swarm of creatures that began swarming her group. Overwhelmed, Blackarachnia and the others were herded into the [[Cauldron]] and filed into prison cells. As Blackarachnia protested, she was silenced by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], one of their hosts.

It was revealed to them by the master of ceremonies, [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], that they would be forced to fight fellow abducted Transformers. The loser's [[spark]] would fuel and empower Unicron, whose form had fallen into disrepair. Blackarachnia's uncontrollable rage welcomed this bloodsport, as Silverbolt watched helplessly as she fell under Unicron's evil spell. {{storylink|Abduction}}

Optimus Primal, resurrected by [[Primus]], arrived to rescue the prisoners of the Cauldron, and with help from Silverbolt and Trailbreaker, its captives were set free. But Unicron's grip on Blackarachnia was too strong. She began lashing out madly, even at Silverbolt, and the Fuzor took tight hold of her so that he might swiftly remove her from Unicron's grip. But as the others began jumping through a portal that would lead them to their respective homes across the [[Continuity|multiverse]], Blackarachnia had a moment of clarity. Sadly, she told Silverbolt that Unicron had awakened her ''true'' nature, then bid him farewell and threw him through the portal.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Closure? Maybe?]]
Soon, she was escorted by Tankor and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] to the center of Unicron, where she was repulsed to meet a familiar face: Tarantulas! {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Blackarachnia was dispatched to Cybertron's [[Undercity]], where she observed Rattrap for a while. Finally, she made her presence known, stinging him with her cybervenom. She never had liked the vermin, after all. Suddenly, Rattrap was saved by [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]], back from the dead. Blackarachnia was knocked out, and Depth Charge left the weakened Rattrap to fend for himself. As Depth Charge departed, he found himself surrounded by Blackarachnia's [[Piranacon (Universe)|Piranacons]]. {{storylink|Homecoming (issue)|Homecoming}}

{{note|[[3H Productions]] lost the license, and so this story was never finished as intended. However, look into the end of ''Universe'' was shown in a comic published by the next licensee, [[Fun Publications]].}}
Much later, Optimus Primal waged one last desperate assault against Unicron, and his [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] were able to defeat the [[Minion of Unicron|Minions of Unicron]]. As Unicron himself seemed to dissolve below them, Silverbolt carried Blackarachnia with him, saving her from sharing the gruesome fate of her evil peers. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:Blackarach24.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Keeping something OUT of her crotch, for once.]]
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Blackarachnia was one of the few Transformers ''not'' to be upgraded into a [[Transmetal]]. As [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and his armies laid seige to the weakened Maximal base, Blackarachnia waited in secret for an opening. When [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] was forced to shut [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] down to let an injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] in, Blackarachnia saw her chance and entered the base. Knocking out Airazor and ripping [[Rattrap]]'s arm off, Blackarachnia confronted Rhinox. Rhinox proceeded to pull out a "gun", but instead of shooting her with it, he blasted himself in the head (the "gun" actually being a machine allowing him to enter [[Transwarp space]]). Confused, but seeing no further use for the Maximals, Blackarachnia left the base. As the base collapsed behind her, she was approached by Quickstrike, who didn't like her "interfering" with his business. Not in the mood, she immediately kicked his head off. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

{{-}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
Blackarachnia followed [[Reptilion|Reptillion]]{{sic}} in battle against [[Optimus Primal]] and his Autobot forces. She teamed up with [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] to fight [[Striker]] before being abducted by [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}

===''TransTech''===
[[Image:Scavengerblackarachniaalphatriontranscendent.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Silverbolt would not approve.]]
Though she may appear to be a native of [[Axiom Nexus]], Blackarachnia was brought online in a far different universe. On a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the Autobots and Decepticons had grown too decrepit to carry on the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], they constructed proxy armies in the form of the [[Maximal]]s and Predacons. As a result from her first moments Blackarachnia knew only strife and combat. Increasingly questioning the orders of her Autobot masters, the breaking point came with the death of her colleagues Silverbolt and Rhinox. She conspired with [[Nightscream (TransTech)|Nightscream]] and together they killed their commander, Optimus Primal.

Joined by the malcontent Predacons [[Immorticon]] and [[Scavenger (TransTech)|Scavenger]], they fled and activated an experimental [[transwarp]] device, hoping to escape Cybertron. Instead, they found themselves in Axiom Nexus. After processing, they were placed in the care of [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]]. He convinced her that the [[Transcendent Technomorph]]s who ruled the city were little different from the Autobots under whose yoke she had chafed. Under his tender ministrations, her spark was transferred from her Lowtech body into that of her Transcendent Technomorph [[Blackarachnia (TransTech)|counterpart]], with the authorities of Axiom Nexus none the wiser. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|"TransTech" Blackarachnia's profile in Club magazine #25}}

Thus upgraded, she joined Alpha Trion's insurrectionist organization, and was part of the raid on [[Shockwave (TransTech)|Shockwave]]'s laboratory in the hopes of rescuing [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]]. Blackarachnia and her comrades successfully stormed into Shockwave's inner sanctum, where they came face-to-face with the formidable [[Megatron (TransTech)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 5}}

{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
{{anchor|Dx1}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabwtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Post-op Tarantulas.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''D-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: Blackarachnia's original toy is a [[redeco]] of the [[Tarantulas]] mold, transforming into a rather generic-looking organic spider. It features a removable spring-loaded launcher hidden in its beast-mode abdomen. It nominally fires the "grappling hook" attached to its abdomen by a string, but its front four beast-mode legs can also be removed and used as ammunition. Like all first-year ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' Deluxes, the robot-mode head has both a "robot" face and a [[mutant head|"mutant" face]]; Blackarachnia is always depicted in fiction using the "robot" one (or a rough approximation thereof).

[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTakara.jpg|right|250px|thumb|She might have an F-cup...or an E.]]

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] release of the toy has numerous color differences from the [[Hasbro]] version, but they are of dubious merit as far as making her more "show-accurate" go. The bright green of the Hasbro version's forearms is replaced with dull silver, while the brighter purple is replaced with a darker, more desaturated purple. Her dark copper paint is replaced with a brighter gold. Her robot-mode facemask is painted gold, which is closer to the show model... but her face beneath is black with gold eyes (instead of gold with black eyes), and she inexplicably gains a new painted-black forehead crest, where the show model has gold.

: This mold was later used to make the [[Tarantulas|"Beast Wars 10th Anniversary" version of Tarantulas]], and the ''[[#BW10J|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' version of Blackarachnia. It was intended to be used to make [[#UnUni|a second ''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], but that toy set was canceled.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Deluxe BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWJVs}}
[[Image:VS8-TigatronBlackarachnia.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Battle of the redecos.]]
*'''Deep Forest Showdown: Tigatron VS Blackwidow''' (VS set, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VS-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: In Japan, "Blackwidow" was available both as an individual and in a "VS" pack with [[Tigatron]]. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|BWMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamctm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She's got a great personality.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 1997)
**''McNumber'': ??

: Part of the second [[List of Transformers restaurant promotions|McDonald's]] ''Beast Wars'' Happy Meal pack-in, Blackarachnia's "[[Transmetal]]" form rather resembles some sort of dust mite more than a spider, and the robot mode appears to have fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. It has a ''very'' similar transformation to the earlier promotional figure [[Beetle]].

:Like the other two Transmetal Happy Meal figures, Blackarachnia has some metallic-sheened plastic intended to resemble the colored chromed finish of the retail ''Transmetals'' toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TM2}}
[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTM2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Covers her privates for great justice/children everywhere!]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Transmetal 2, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-48'''
**''Accessories'': Mandible grapnel-line

: The Transmetal 2 version of Blackarachnia transforms into a large, organic/mechanical, monstrous spider, featuring a grappling hook, switching [[Insignia|faction symbols]] activated by [[#TriviaTM2spark|rotating her spark crystal around]], and a spring-loaded spin-kick action feature. She also has a half-assed "defense mode", bringing the chromed abdomen bits down to cover her chest. Like all larger Transmetal 2s, Blackarachnia has hints of an abandoned "transport" mode, mainly the free-spinning wheels and concealed rockets in the spider-mode abdomen.

: This toy was initially hard to find at retail, as one of the toy's features, a piece of removable chest armor (no, really), was altered slightly, delaying later shipments.

: This mold was used to make the [[BotCon 2000]] [[exclusive]] [[Arcee (G1)#Toys|Arcee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
[[Image:Beast Machines Blackarachnia Toy.JPG|right|300px|thumb|She's definitely going to need a big nail file.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2000)

: An early toy in the ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' line, Blackarachnia transforms into a [[technorganic]] spider. In spider mode, squeezing its pedipalps together raises its central fangs; they were spring-loaded to release and lower, respectively. In keeping with the early ''Beast Machines'' "articulated features" motif, her robot mode head has a multi-piece articulated brow, which can slide up to reveal two extra sets of eyes, as she does on the cartoon.

: This mold was later redecoed to make the [[#UniDx|''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], as well as [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Beast Machines Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BMMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamcbm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This is transformed correctly, right? Right?]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 2000)
**''McNumber'': ??

: As one of ''ten'' toys in the third Transformers McDonald's Happy Meal promotion, Blackarachnia is a super-simplified version of her retail toy, with a coloration closer to the [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] CG model, though more shockingly pink rather than maroon. This toy is designed for the younger set, with softer plastic and no removable parts.

: She is the only [[Beast Era]] character to get two McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/McBlackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BM Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWR}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabeastwarsreturnstoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You will pay a lot of money to own this extra-pink girl <strike>doll</strike>action figure.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-04'''

: Part of the Japanese Toys "R" Us-[[exclusive]] ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' series, this toy is a redeco of the original ''Beast Machines'' Blackarachnia in a more show-like maroon coloration. Reportedly, this toy was limited to 3000 pieces, a full thousand ''less'' than the others in the original assortment. Since she was also the most changed from the US release in the initial batch of toys, this made her considerably harder to get.

{{-}}
===Universe (2003)===
{{anchor|UniDx}}
[[Image:Blackarachniauniversetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You can pick your faction, and you can pick your girlfriend, but you can't pick your girlfriend's faction.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2003)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Deluxes, Blackarachnia returned as a [[Decepticon]] and as a redeco of [[#BMDx1|the original ''Beast Machines'' figure]]. However, her forearms were [[Misassembly|mistakenly swapped]], leaving her forearm "spikes" pointing up towards her biceps rather than down near her elbows. She received a Decepticon [[Insignia|faction symbol]] over her [[spark crystal]] as well.

: This mold (with the same swapped-forearms error) was used to make [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Universe Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|UnUni}}
[[Image:Blackarachnia unreleased.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Eyow.]]
*'''Leatherhide Vs. Blackarachnia''' (Halloween Horrorcon value pack, unreleased)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

:In 2004, a group of test-shots made their way onto eBay, among them a [[redeco]] of the original ''Beast Wars'' Tarantulas/Blackarachnia mold in black with silver spider-legs and salmon-colored robot parts. Later, Hasbro's official website checklist featured listings for two ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Halloween [[Horrorcon (Universe)|Horrorcon]] Value Packs" that were to be Wal-Mart [[exclusive]]s... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of other ''Transformers'' exclusives were canceled during the ''Universe'' era.) One of the sets was "[[Leatherhide]] Vs. Blackarachnia"... and thus, the mystery spider was confirmed, as the other test-shots in that group lined up with the name listings given in the sets.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
===Beast Wars Telemocha Series===
[[Image:Blackarachniatelemocha.jpg|right|300px|thumb|It almost works!]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-06'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: As part of the ''[[Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' line, the [[#Dx1|original Blackarachnia toy]] was ''extensively'' redecoed with a ridiculous number of gold [[paint operation]]s, making her closer to [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] in coloration than the other versions of the mold, but still not quite there. (Her biceps are silver in the show.) All of the [[gimmick]]s of the original toy were retained, though her alternate head didn't receive any paint that wasn't intended to make her nominal head look more show-accurate.

:She came with a DVD containing "The Assassin Virus", the Japanese dubbing of ''Beast Wars'' episode 10, "[[Gorilla Warfare]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Destron/BlackWidow/blackwidow.htm More information on Telemocha Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
[[Image:Blackwidowwildrider.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Honda wouldn't appreciate their car being hot, poisonous, and deadly.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Binaltech, unreleased)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''BT16'''
**''Accessories'': Engine-rifle, roof-shield

: In 2005, the mold used for ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Decepticharge]] was presented as an upcoming release for the Japanese ''Binaltech'' line. They decided to give the toy an entirely new deco, as the Hasbro toy's deco didn't appeal to their ideal of "real-life accuracy". In robot mode, the toy was given a color scheme based on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia, with the toy's name being changed to "Blackwidow", Takara's name for the character. Though a [[bio]] and story chapter were written to accommodate it into the ''Binaltech'' fiction, and photoshopped images released through an online retailer revealed the intended color scheme, Takara ultimately decided to cancel the toy altogether, as they were fearing that another redeco (in addition to the upcoming ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toys) would be too repetitive. Plans to release this toy as part of a different line were never picked up again.

: This mold was ultimately released in Japan as part of an unexpected ''Binaltech'' continuation, this time as [[Arcee (G1)#Binaltech|Arcee]]. The original version of the mold was used to make ''Alternators'' [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and ''Binaltech'' [[Overdrive]].
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
* '''Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game''' (1997)
:Blackarachnia was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the Beast Wars [[Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game|card game]].

===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroescheetorblackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cute and poisonous.]]
* '''Cheetor vs. Blackarachnia''' (2-pack, 2008)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]''-branded [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]], Blackarachnia is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. She was only available in a two-pack with [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]].

{{-}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWBlackarachniaCardArt.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Dirty girls, make some noise. Move that ass for dirty boys.]]
* Blackarachnia's original Beast Wars card art has her wearing a spike-studded collar... while her chest seems to be leopard-spotted. Kinky.

* Reportedly, Blackarachnia's show model was created after some Mainframe folks had taken the design modeler to a strip club only a few days prior for, um... ''inspiration''. <ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/593687e427efddad Why Blackarachnia Looks Asian] on [[alt.toys.transformers]].</ref>

* Much like her fellow spider [[Tarantulas]], her original beast mode is depicted with ''nine'' eyes rather then eight.

* In the "jovial" Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Blackarachnia's character underwent a few small (depending on your point of view) changes. Firstly, she had a voice that can only be described as "bipolar". She would switch between her usual sultry, flirtatious voice to a screaming blood-thirsty maniac at the drop of a hat. Another notable change is that, while still a strong female character, she was made less independent and was occasionally prone to ''begging for mercy'' from her enemies, something she never did in the English version. However, this isn't the first time the Japanese have done their best to [[Arcee (G1)#The Headmasters cartoon|"improve" upon a female character]].

* The [[:Image:Blackarachniahappymeal.jpg|artwork]] advertising the Transmetal Blackarachnia toy on Happy Meal Bags was rendered with the toy transformed incorrectly. Her beast mode head isn't flipped down, leaving her organic-looking robot mode chest exposed.

{{anchor|TriviaTM2spark}}
* Even though Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia's toy has a unique faction-switching [[spark crystal]], the feature doesn't make sense in a fictional context. By that point in the ''Beast Wars'' television series, the Transmetal Driver had destroyed her Predacon [[shell program]], making her fully Maximal. (Though, to be fair, it ''had'' happened mere moments previously.)

* Blackarachnia exhibited what appears to be telekinesis not long after gaining her Transmetal 2 form, levitating a steel girder to stop Rampage in "[[Master Blaster]]". The ability only appeared once and was never explained, though it resembles the other strange, almost supernatural powers wielded by Transmetals 2 in the cartoon. Following her reformatting in ''Beast Machines'', Blackarachnia no longer possessed this ability.

[[image:Sourcebook1Blackarachnia.jpg|thumb|200px|Woke up in Vegas next to [[BB#Notes|BB]].]]

{{anchor|TriviaBinaltech}}
* Character and fiction information for the cancelled BT-16 "Blackwidow" toy finally emerged in late 2007 with the release of ''The Transformers Binaltech Stories: Profiles and Technical Specifications'', an unofficial publication by ''Binaltech'' story writer [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] that compiled all then-current ''Binaltech'' information as well as that of the unreleased Blackarachnia and [[Ginrai]] toys. As it was never officially released, this information can be considered [[Pseudocanon|pseudocanonical]] at best.

* Blackarachnia is (strangely) depicted solely using a golden orange version of her Transmetal II body in her IDW ''[[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' profile entry. She received properly colored coverage of all her modes in the trade paperback version.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Alpha Trion's acolytes]]
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Predacons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Marv Wolfman

2009-10-10T11:11:29Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:MarvWolfmanDVD.jpg|thumb|250px|Refuses to work at any company that would publish stories with the [[wikipedia:Bug-Eyed Bandit|Bug-Eyed Bandit]].]]

'''Marv Wolfman''' (born May 13, 1946) is a mildly legendary comic book writer, known for his work on ''Tomb of Dracula, Blade, The New Teen Titans,'' and ''[[Wikipedia:Crisis on Infinite Earths|Crisis on Infinite Earths]],'' among many others. He was also story editor for at least part of the third season of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon.

==Writing credits==
===Generation 1===
*[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]] (co-written with [[Cherie Wilkerson]])
*[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]] (co-written with [[Cherie Wilkerson]])

===''Beast Wars''===
*[[The Probe]] (co-written with [[Craig Miller]])

===''Beast Machines''===
* Original story outline.[http://www.marvwolfman.com/WHAT%20TH%209.html] (Though "the mystical stuff" was created by Bob Skir at Hasbro's request.)[http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html]
*[[Fires of the Past]]
*[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
*[[The Key]]
*[[Prometheus Unbound]]

==External Links==
* [http://www.marvwolfman.com/ Marv Wolfman's official site]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marv_Wolfman Marv Wolfman at Wikipedia]

{{stub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfman, Marv}}
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Writers]]

Marv Wolfman

2009-10-10T11:10:04Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:MarvWolfmanDVD.jpg|thumb|250px|Refuses to work at any company that would publish stories with the [[wikipedia:Bug-Eyed Bandit|Bug-Eyed Bandit]].]]

'''Marv Wolfman''' (born May 13, 1946) is a mildly legendary comic book writer, known for his work on ''Tomb of Dracula, Blade, The New Teen Titans,'' and ''[[Wikipedia:Crisis on Infinite Earths|Crisis on Infinite Earths]],'' among many others. He was also story editor for at least part of the third season of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon.

==Writing credits==
===Generation 1===
*[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]] (co-written with [[Cherie Wilkerson]])
*[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]] (co-written with [[Cherie Wilkerson]])

===''Beast Wars''===
*[[The Probe]] (co-written with [[Craig Miller]])

===''Beast Machines''===
* Original story outline.[http://www.marvwolfman.com/WHAT%20TH%209.html] (Though "the mystical stuff" was created by Bob Skir at Hasbro's request.)[http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html]
*[[Fires of the Past]]
*[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
*[[The Key]]

==External Links==
* [http://www.marvwolfman.com/ Marv Wolfman's official site]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marv_Wolfman Marv Wolfman at Wikipedia]

{{stub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfman, Marv}}
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Writers]]

Megatron (BW)

2009-09-29T12:35:24Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|predacon|vehicon|decepticon}}

{{disambig3|Megatron}}
:''Megatron is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]], a [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]], and a [[Decepticon]] in the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He's also briefly known as [[Noble|Savage and Noble]]. He's a busy villain, yesss.''

[[Image:Beastwarsmegatron-thegatheringcover.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Best. Megatron. Ever. Yesss...]]
'''Megatron''' began with one goal: restoring glory and power to the Predacon race, with himself at the helm. What distinguishes Megatron from the countless others who share this goal is his chutzpah. He is willing to risk everything—time, space, himself—if need be. And there were times he would have made it happen were it not for [[Optimus Primal]].

Megatron is skillful at orchestrating vast schemes by manipulating others into doing them for him—an idle suggestion here, a conspicuously-planted object of interest there. He knows his enemies, and these include [[Tarantulas|some]] [[Blackarachnia (BW)|minions]], inside and out and exactly how to provoke them. He has no friends, only pawns, or occasionally, [[Inferno (BW)|pawns that are too reliable to risk losing]]. Because of this attitude, this superiority complex, he despises working with the very troops he needs to carry out his plans. His hubris does not make him very popular, and so he must rely on power and fear to rule them. In fact, he prefers [[Vehicon (BM)|mindless drones]].

Megatron is a gambler and can sometimes be a ham. (His manner of saying "Yesss..." is practically vaudevillian.) He has a twisted sense of humor and an over-developed sense of drama which rule everything he conceives, both long and short term. When he destroys you, he wants you to know that it was he who did this, and just how badly you were had. This is his greatest weakness. Like a Bond villain, he'll gladly boast to the hero at length about how smart and clever he was, giving his victim time to formulate a counterattack (he admits the Predacons sometimes gloat too much). He often sabotages himself by neglecting the quick and easy solutions for the bigger, meaner, and more complex.

Prior to the signing of the [[Pax Cybertronia]], Megatron was a field commander in the Predacon army, where he learned much about strategy and tactics. Upon ratification of peace with the [[Maximal Imperium]] most Predacons laid down their arms. Megatron refused and went rogue.

{{quote|The universe cowered once at the name of Megatron and it shall do so again!|—Megatron, "[[Optimal Situation]]}}

:''Japanese name (Alligator version):'' '''Megaligator'''
:''European-market name (Transmetal):'' '''Metal T-Rex'''
:''European-market name (Transmetal 2):'' '''Dragone'''
:''Botcon 2008 script reading:'' '''Joe''' and later '''Joe Convoy'''
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Kǔng-lúng Wáng''' (恐龍王, "King Dinosaur", not ''[[Dinoking]]'')
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Bawang Lung''' (霸王龍, "Tyrannosaur")

==Fiction==
{{note|There are many ''Beast Wars'' continuities, but most use the ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'' cartoons as a basis.}}

===Optimus Primal vs Megatron!===
The Maximal's "[[bio-genetic morphing process]]" allowed them to fuse organic musculature and Transformers technology... so Megatron and his Predacons did the same thing, with the DNA of Earth's most vicious predators! When the Maximals tried to destroy the Predacons' lab, Megatron was waiting in his ferocious alligator form. Mistaken for a harmless Earth creature, he was able to get to the drop on Optimus Primal and summoned in his soldiers [[Tarantulas]] and [[Waspinator]].

The battle was still lost, leading to Megatron destroying the lab so his enemies couldn't get its secrets. He then fled, vowing to return with new forms and new plans when the Maximals least expected it. {{storylink|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!|Optimus Primal vs Megatron!}}

Megatron believes that the Predacon way of life is to prosper or perish, and that the Maximals must be wiped out if the Predacons are to prosper. As for Optimus Primal, he plans to ''eat'' him! {{storylink|Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars|Megatron bio}}

{{note|This comic, along with the on-package [[Bio|bios]] of the first wave of Beast Wars toys, predate the development of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon and its backstory. They seem to present the characters as a direct continuation of the previous Autobot/Decepticon conflict, with Optimus Primal actually being a new form of Optimus Prime and Megatron being his Generation 1 counterpart, and their battles taking place on present day, [[human]]-inhabited Earth, rather than in the distant past. Once the cartoon launched, the toyline adjusted itself to match that continuity instead, relegating this one to an aborted [[micro-continuity]].}}

===''Beast Wars II'' catalog===
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]".}}

[[Image:MegatronGalvatronBW1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Pwned.]]
On planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Megatron once disagreed with [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] over opinions on galactic conquest, and engaged him in battle over it. At the time, Megatron momentarily let his guard down, and was defeated. Galvatron declared "Your era is over, Megatron!"

Later, Megatron noted that while Galvatron was ambitious, he cared for his underlings—and although he was loathe to admit it, he acknowledged that Galvatron probably had all the regal bearing of a new [[Emperor of Destruction]]. {{storylink|Catalog}}

{{-}}

===Timelines===
====Theft of the Golden Disk====
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]".}}
[[Image:Megatronbwtheft.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Megatron steals sacred Maximal cup coaster.]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English)

Megatron was the star pupil of the crimelord [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]], and successfully carried out his plan to steal the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]]. Cryotek loved him like a son—which didn't stop him setting up Megatron to take the fall for the crime, knowing he'd betray him some day anyway. Unfortunately for Cryotek, "some day" was today—Megatron had everyone on the mission who wasn't loyal to him killed, had the data for the location of the Disk secretly decoded by [[Tarantulas]], and then kept it for himself while directing the Maximals to his tutor. This was the first known time that Megatron would co-opt the plan of someone who thought they were the ones being manipulative and backstabbing, but [[Other Voices, Part 2|wouldn't]] [[The Agenda (Part 2)|be]] [[The Agenda (Part III)|the]] [[Nemesis Part 1|last]]. {{storylink|Theft of the Golden Disk}}

{{-}}

====Dawn of Future's Past====
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]".}}
[[Image:Megatronbwsuit.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Megatron's technicolor dreamcoat.]]
On Cybertron, Megatron wore removable transformable armor, which transformed into a missile-launching armored platform, over his basic bodyframe (which transforms into a hovertank). This quickly-discarded outer shell was possibly used to comply with the ratification of the [[Pax Cybertronia]], which required Predacons to lay down their arms. A Predacon field commander before the peace, Megatron refused to comply with these new regulations and struck out on his own to destroy the [[Maximal Imperium]].

With some [[Cryotek (RID)|help]] from [[Divebomb (G1)|various sources]], he assembled a crew of ragtag criminals and miscreants for the purpose of stealing the Golden Disk and using it to find [[Earth]]. Succeeding in stealing the disk, he, [[Dinobot (BW)|his lieutenant]], and [[Scorponok (BW)|another accomplice]] fought their way out of the [[Archives]], eliminating [[Unit 1|one guard]] and dodging [[Tigatron|another]]. They were swiftly picked up by the ''[[Darksyde]]'', a ship stolen by the rest of their crew.

Megatron instructed [[Tarantulas]] to study the disk for the coordinates of Earth while the ''Darksyde'' battled its several pursuers. Although they were followed by the Maximal ships [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']] and the ''[[Chromia 10]]'', the ''Darksyde'''s mission was also aided by a third ship crewed by the Predacon agents [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. Though the ''Chromia 10'' and the Predacon ship were destroyed, the ''Darksyde'' was still followed by the ''Axalon''. Megatron removed his transformable armor and patched a video feed through to the ''Axalon''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s captain, [[Optimus Primal]]. Declaring himself the leader of the Predacons, Megatron opened a [[transwarp]] portal through which both ships travelled. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

====Bee in the City====

{{note|This takes place after Beast Wars, but its placing beyond that is unknown}}

Somehow ending up at the multiversal hub of [[Axiom Nexus]], Megatron hid out under the alias "Joe". When he ran into [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and learned of the [[AllSpark Key]], he pretended to be a heroic character and helped rescue Bumblebee's friends, only to steal the Key. Using his experience with MacGuffins, he swiftly learned how to power himself and create an army. Unfortunately, his army turned on him after learning of bureaucracy and the amount of forms they'd have to fill in now that they were alive. However, before being carried away by his former minions, Megatron promised that he would be back, and that he would get his extremely overwrought and melodramatic revenge. {{storylink|Bee in the City}}

===Dreamwave Generation 1===
{{note|This fiction takes place before "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]".}}
After stealing the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], Megatron broke into [[Vector Sigma]] along with [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] and reviewed historical files on many of the Autobots and Decepticons from the era of the Great War. He told Dinobot to refer to him henceforth as Megatron. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #8}}

{{note|The Golden Disk was wrongly drawn as the [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Alien Disk]]. This two-page story is contradicted by many other versions of the story—specifically Megatron's spontaneous renaming of himself—possibly placing it in a version of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] that occurs only in Dreamwave's Generation 1 continuity. Of course, Dreamwave chose that time to [[Pat Lee|fold]] before this could be explained.}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English), [[Shigeru Chiba]] (Japanese), [[Antonio Moreno]] (Portuguese), [[Hans Sievers]] (German) [[Tony Fuochi]] (Italian)

[[Image:Megatronbwspidersgame.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I thought I told you NO MORE BARNEY JOKES.]]
After stealing the Maximal relic, the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]], and [[Darksyde|a ship]], he and his crew were followed through a [[transwarp]] portal by the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']]. After crashing on a planet that was supposed to be [[Earth]], yet seemingly wasn't, both the [[Maximal|Maximals]] and the Predacons took organic beast forms to protect themselves against the massive amount of Energon radiation. Megatron now transformed into a purple ''Tyrannosaurus rex''.

Dinobot chastised Megatron, accusing him of leading the Predacons to the wrong planet and challenged Megatron for leadership of the Predacons. Megatron simply ignored the challenge and had Scorponok dispose of him. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)|Beast Wars (Part 1)}}

Despite the loss of a formidable crony, Megatron positioned himself on the new world and the "Beast Wars" began. Being on a world filled with Energon allowed [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to find a superhorde, and power himself to great levels. With this power, Terrorsaur was able to demolish Megatron in battle and take over the Predacons. However, through the Maximals' actions, the superhorde was destroyed. Terrorsaur was eventually ridden of his newfound power and returned to an angered Megatron, who was rebuilt by [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]]. {{storylink|Power Surge|Power Surge}}

[[Image:Megatronbwtrex.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Today is a beautiful day to be stomping on things!]]

Again, Terrorsaur tried to usurp Megatron, this time using an apparently-turned [[Rattrap]], who used a device to paralyze Megatron. The Predacons argued over who would be leader, but agreed to put Rattrap and Megatron away for the time being. Megatron was able to easily escape using his secret voice commands, leaving Rattrap to his fate. Revealing himself to have escaped, Megatron allowed Terrorsaur to lead the Predacons in battle with the Maximals. Terrorsaur failed miserably, showing his ineptitude to the Predacons, which was Megatron's plan all along. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy|Double Jeopardy}}

Megatron later formulated a plan to get off Earth. First, he had the other Predacons act dissatisfied with his leadership, causing a battle that apparently destroyed the Predacons, using a Maximal spy camera that he was aware of to play out the trick. Then, the Maximals scavenged the ''Darksyde'' for parts to repair the ''Axalon'''s stardrive. Dinobot discovered the deception and rushed to warn the leaving Maximals. In the scuffle, Megatron snuck aboard. In the ''Axalon'', he managed to knock out every Maximal on the ship but Rattrap, who he started crushing to death. An angered [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] woke up and threw Megatron off the ''Axalon''. However, Megatron's tail weapon was stuck in the console, causing the ''Axalon'' to crash. Again. {{storylink|Victory (episode)|Victory}}

[[Image:Megs transmetal.JPG|left|180px|thumb|Gimme fuel Gimme fire Gimme that which I desire BOOM!]]

Later, Megatron caught wind of the return of the [[Vok]] and called a ceasefire between the two factions, realizing he had more important things to worry about. He carefully manipulated events so the Maximals would find out about the Vok and that Tarantulas's attempt to escape with a modified stasis pod would succeed. {{storylink|Before the Storm|Before the Storm}} The Vok did indeed return, and planned to destroy the planet the Transformers were on with their massive [[Planet Buster]] (cleverly disguised as the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]). Optimus Primal stopped the Buster by using Tarantulas's stasis pod as a kamikaze weapon. Megatron, having planned (via a virus) to hijack the pod for that purpose anyway, decided to take advantage of this and locked the pod door so that Primal could not escape and was destroyed alongside the Planet Buster. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2|Other Voices, Part 2}}

The [[quantum surge]] from the exploding planet buster bathed Megatron in quantum energies, upgrading him into a [[Transmetal]]. Megatron quickly rallied his forces and attempted an all-out attack on the leader-less Maximals. Megatron and the Predacons took the upperhand in battle until a Transmetal Optimus Primal (brought back online by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]) saved the day. He was annoyed to find the Disks had been stolen from him by Dinobot and that [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had destroyed his back-ups (while lying that Dinobot had done it). {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

With both factions now aware that the planet they were stranded on was really prehistoric [[Earth]], Megatron was free to put his full plan into motion. He continued his operations without the Disks and successfully retrieved them, simultaneously plotting to alter history and to exploit any new Vok incident. However, both the Maximals and Tarantulas ruined his attempt to hijack the Vok [[Metal Hunter]] {{storylink|Other Visits (Part 2)|Other Visits (Part 2)}}, and Dinobot both destroyed the Golden Disk and ruined Megatron's attempt at eradicating the human race's prehistoric ancestors to alter the Great War. {{storylink|Code of Hero|Code of Hero}} With the humans scattered, only a fragment of the Disk remaining and the quantum surge meaning the [[Tripredacus Council]] knew where to send their agents, Megatron could only gamble. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda (Part 1)}}

[[Image:Agenda3 MegatronOptimusPrime.jpg|right|250px|thumb|A little off the top, sir?]]

The gamble paid off; the Tripredacus Council sent former Decepticon [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] to capture Megatron, while Blackarachnia fled to the location of the crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], having gained its location and [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]]'s access codes from the Disk back-ups. From behind his cell, Megatron manipulated Optimus Primal into a trap while using the Disk's one last fragment (containing part of the original Megatron's message) to get Ravage to switch loyalties to him. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)|The Agenda (Part 2)}} While his army fought the Maximals, Megatron arrived at the Ark just as Blackarachnia had done all the work for him and forced her to give him access. He finally took "the ultimate risk", the mission from the first Megatron that he'd been previously been unwilling to completely follow, and attempted to alter history by assassinating the unconscious [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. By doing so, he intended to ensure the defeat of the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and thus the victory of the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] and Predacons. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)|The Agenda (Part III)}}

The Maximals managed to save Prime's life by having Teletraan I repair his body while Optimus Primal kept his spark within his own structure, transforming his body into a more powerful form. The Maximals defeated Megatron and returned Prime's spark to its proper place. {{storylink|Optimal Situation|Optimal Situation}}

[[Image:Megatrontm2render.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Two Megatrons for the price of one.]]

Megatron did not rest. He went on to [[Transmetal driver|reverse-engineer alien technology]], gained by means unknown, to create the [[Transmetal|Transmetal 2]] process and create himself a loyal clone of Dinobot. {{storylink|Feral Scream Part 1|Feral Scream Part 1}} He also worked towards taking control of Optimus and seizing control of the new Maximal base, allowing him to enter the Ark again. Wanting to replicate the effect Optimus Prime's spark had on Primal, he deliberately took the spark of the original Megatron and placed it in his body. He was transformed into a powerful dragon and able to give Optimus Primal a sound beating, until chased away by the recovered Maximal group. {{storylink|Master Blaster|Master Blaster}}

[[Image:Megs tm2.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Red dragon, without Hannibal Lecter.]]

Even this power was useless when [[Tigerhawk]] arrived and casually destroyed the Predacon base. {{storylink|Other Victories|Other Victories}} Desperate once again, Megatron investigated the now-deceased Tarantulas's base for anything of value—and found the legendary Decepticon battleship, the [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]], rebuilt and with Transwarp capabilities. Bringing it out of the ocean depths, Megatron intended to pilot it back to the future and lay waste to the Maximals on Cybertron. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}}

First, however, he planned to annihilate the entire Ark rather than simply Optimus Prime.

Primal infiltrated the Nemesis and kept Megatron busy until Rhinox could fly a shuttlecraft through the bridge and take the Predacon out. The Nemesis crashed a second time and thus preserved history. After returning the original Megatron's spark to its proper body, the Maximals headed back to Cybertron with the incarcerated Megatron shackled to the outside of their ship. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2|Nemesis Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Tales of the Beast Wars''===
{{note|This fiction takes place during the first season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.}}

{{charstubfiction}}

{{storylink|Ground Zero}}

{{note|This fiction takes place during the second season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. The Shokaract events ended with them being paradoxed out of existence.}}
[[Image:Antagony megatron.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Kinky.]]
[[Antagony]], future-born Herald Maximo of [[Shokaract]], arrived on prehistoric Earth to protect the Dark Essence of [[Unicron]]. She attempted to terminate Megatron, who quickly conned her into fighting Optimus and then took her captive when she went into stasis lock. {{storylink|Visitations}}

He began patiently (and happily) torturing her for information on the future she came from, and when that failed he hacked into her mind using a nanoprobe "mind drill". That triggered a suicide device that killed her before he could gain any information; Megatron was left with no information, beyond that her master would surely try again.

{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Master Blaster]]".}}
Almost immediately after his transformation into dragon form, Megatron detected a temporal breach. Having his troops ambush the Maximals (who had also detected), he attempted to reach the time-traveller ([[Windrazor (BW)|Windrazor]]) and gain access to the future, not caring what would happen if he took the original Megatron's spark with him. In the process, he encountered the Dark Essence and almost became a willing vessel for it, until it realised Windrazor would be easier to control. When the Fuzor fought the influence off, Shokaract himself emerged. {{storylink|Herald, Covenant, Schism, Paradox}}

Megatron's reaction to a horrifically powerful spark-devouring demigod, and time and space being shattered into a chaotic maelstrom was to blackmail said demigod by opening fire on the Dark Essence of the Chaos-Bringer, demanding knowledge of the future or he'd cause the erasure of Shokaract's future. Megatron is ''hardcore''. He failed, but this was a crucial distraction that helped bring about Shokaract's defeat. {{storylink|Terminus}}

===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon===
{{note|This fiction takes place during the first season of ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''.}}
[[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] tried to summon a Megatron to [[Gaea]] using a time machine. [[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger|Maybe this one. Maybe not.]]

When his brother [[Megastorm|Gigastorm]] screws up the wavelength calculations and instead summons the titanic [[Majin Zarak]], Galvatron is pleased and declares, "we obtained a weapon far superior to Megatron". {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger}}

===''Robot Masters''===
====Pack-in comic====

{{storylink|The New Battle Begins!}}

====Cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Toshitsugu Takashina]] (Japanese)

{{note|This fiction takes place after ''[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger]]''.}}
Taking advantage of the [[Blasty Zone]] as a means of time travel (and apparently size-enhancer), Megatron journeyed to a point in history where the original Megatron had gone missing, leaving the [[Decepticon]]s without a leader. "Beast Megatron" took command of the Decepticons, leading them on a quest to collect a powerful element, [[solitarium]], from within the Earth. Beast Megatron's plans were quickly thwarted by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and a troop of time-displaced Autobots and Maximals, including [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]], [[Victory Leo]], [[Lio Convoy]] and Beast Megatron's arch nemesis, [[Optimus Primal]]. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

Beast Megatron later discovered a large deposit of solitarium beneath [[New York City]], and along with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Smokesniper]], [[Gigant Bomb]] and [[Wingstun]], laid waste to the Big Apple. The Autobots, accompanied by [[Reverse Convoy]], arrived and dealt with Beast Megatron's forces quickly. However, Reverse Convoy revealed himself to be the original Megatron in disguise and betrayed them. Now going by the name [[Megatron (G1)|Rebirth Megatron]], he teamed up with Beast Megatron and the pair made trouble for the Autobot commanders. However, the Autobots were able to defeat the two Megatrons, sending the villains into retreat. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}

====Online comic====

===IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics===
{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Changing of the Guard]]".}}
[[Image:IDW Megatron Magmatron.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Go back to anime, Magmatron!]]
In Lio Convoy's opinion, Megatron was a simple wild card, no real threat when compared with [[Magmatron]]. This drives home the fact that Cybertron had no idea of the damage Megatron had and would inflict, or the lengths he would go to becoming arguably the most powerful Transformer since the Great War.

After dispatching [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] to oversee the installation of [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] into the [[Darksyde]], Megatron was attacked by Magmatron, who had been assigned to arrest him by the [[Tripredacus Council]]. Although Megatron proved more than a match for the experienced Predacon general individually, he was ambushed and paralyzed by [[Iguanus (BW)|Iguanus]] and [[Drill Bit (BW)|Drill Bit]]. Magmatron intended to use a [[transwarp shunt]] to transport his prisoner back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 3|The Gathering #3}} Thanks to the intervention of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Optimus Minor]], and [[Razorbeast]], Magmatron was sent home empty-handed. Razorbeast was tempted to dispatch the prone Megatron, but released him instead, due to his desire to avoid interfering with the timeline. {{storylink|The Gathering issue 4|The Gathering #4}}

{{note|This fiction takes place during and after "[[Nemesis Part 2]]".}}
[[Image:MegatronAscending4.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Oh, we are so dead]]
Ravage attempted to free Megatron after his capture, but didn't progress very far in his plans. {{storylink|The Ascending issue 1|The Ascending #1}} Despite this, Megatron arrived to a battle-damaged Cybertron, having finally completed his transwarp journey, and having arrived long before the Maximals responsible for his defeat, thanks to Shokaract's suicide, with little else to stand in his way. Yessssss... {{storylink|The Ascending issue 4|The Ascending #4}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Machines'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (English), [[Shigeru Chiba]] (Japanese), [[Francisco José]] (Portuguese), [[Jan Spitzer]] (German) [[Giorgio Locuratolo]] (Italian)

[[Image:Megatron for life.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear. If you've something to hide, you shouldn't even be here..."]]
Breaking free from his constraints on the Autobot shuttle while it traveled through transwarp space, Megatron arrived back home on Cybertron well before the Maximals did. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} He used the window of opportunity for maximum effect, releasing a [[Transformation virus|virus]] across the planet that quickly incapacitated the population. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} He then began extracting the victims' [[spark]]s and storing them in a citadel, planning to one day absorb them into his own spark. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}} Meanwhile, he used factories to rebuild the bodies into mindless [[drone]]s he called "[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]." {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} Eventually, he had almost every spark on Cybertron in his possession.

Clearly Megatron had changed since the Beast Wars, not only in his goals, but also in his mannerisms. Gone was the ham who sought conquest for the sake of glory and power and the Predacon cause. He spoke not of revenge on the Maximals, but rather of the liberation of all Transformerkind from the chaos of free will. He referred outright to his own ascension to godhood. And he had also developed a sense of honor, keeping his word to his enemies even at the risk of future losses. {{storylink|The Weak Component}} This was quite the change, as right up to the end of the Beast Wars he would flatten a subordinate for even mentioning "the H word." {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}} In that time, he had also positively ''reveled'' in his dinosaur and dragon beast modes. But on his return to Cybertron, something convinced him that beast modes and other vestiges of the organic were an abomination which should be scoured from the planet, leaving only technological purity. Despite his pontifications, Megatron himself had not achieved the "purity" of which he spoke. His dragon form remained, and at times, it overwhelmed his control. His unfruitful attempts to remove the organic elements from his own body became a source of constant frustration. This was a new and even madder Megatron.

{{note|The time period from when Megatron broke free from the shuttle, to when Optimus Primal and the Maximals arrived on Cybertron, was vastly transformative for both Megatron and the planet, and probably constituted an epic story in its own right. Nevertheless, the period was only vaguely described in the cartoon and barely elaborated upon in secondary media. Many questions remain unanswered.}}
When the Maximals arrived in their shuttle, they found the planet empty aside from Vehicons who immediately attacked them with canisters of a gas that infected them with the virus. The fully-Transmetal among them "devolved" into their original beast modes but were able to keep moving and escape. The remaining two, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (who never received any form of upgrade on Earth), were instead paralyzed and quickly overtaken. Their sparks soon joined Megatron's collection. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}}

The escaped Maximals would have succumbed to the virus eventually if not for the [[Oracle]] [[reformatting]] them. This was the beginning of Megatron's undoing, for their new [[technorganic]] bodies were both immune to the virus and (while in beast mode) invisible to Vehicon sensors. Megatron's first resulting change in strategy was to imbue three Vehicons with captured sparks so they could think on their feet in battle. The original personalities of these "[[Vehicon general|generals]]" were deeply buried under shell programs, which allowed Megatron to use sparks of the Maximals' former allies. Thus, if the Maximals discovered who they really were, they would be reluctant to destroy them. The recently-captured Silverbolt and Rhinox were made into [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] and [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], respectively. The third general, [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], was created from the Predacon [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] for reasons that remain opaque.

[[Image:Survivor Megatron dragon.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Just don't call him "Patches" or he'll scorch your ass.]]
Megatron considered using the same technology on himself, transferring his own spark to a "pure" Vehicon body. But he decided it was not worth the risk to expose his spark, however briefly. Previously, he had apparently been attempting to use alternative methods of transforming his current body into a purely technological one without leaving it or becoming unconscious—with little success, though his dragon form had taken on a ragged patchwork "cyborg" appearance as a result of these failed attempts.

Rhinox eventually awakened and went rogue, planning a grand scheme to usurp Megatron's dominance, but Megatron effortlessly seized control of his traitor-general's evil plan at the last minute and almost wiped out all resistance with the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. At the last moment, Optimus unleashed the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] force {{storylink|End of the Line|End of the Line}} and the combined energies destroyed Megatron's body. He was presumed dead, but the combined energies had actually succeeded in separating his organic half from his body—unfortunately, his spark went with it and was now trapped in a purely organic Transformer. He took the identity of "innocent" Maximal [[Noble]] and, preying on [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream's]] survivor guilt and Optimus's inherent goodness, got the Maximals to help transfer his spark to the [[Grand Mal]], a vessel shaped in his own head. {{storylink|Prometheus Unbound}}

With Tankor destroyed and Jetstorm eventually reformatted into Silverbolt, Megatron used the sparks of famous generals [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] to replace them. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} He also managed to gain a link to the [[Vector Sigma|Oracle]] itself, stealing the knowledge from Primal. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search}} This gave him the ability to move ahead with his grand plan—to consume the captured sparks and eventually consume/replace the [[Allspark]] itself—but Nightscream temporarily stopped him by depolarizing Megatron's own spark. Now severed from a body, it jumped between discarded shells and attacked everyone in a zombie like fashion. Rattrap would use a [[spark extractor]] to repolarize his spark, allowing Megatron to regain his senses, but trapping him in a [[Diagnostic Drone]]. {{storylink|Spark of Darkness}}

[[Image:Megatron Sparkwar Search.JPG|left|180px|thumb|"We've been expecting you, Mr. Anderson."]]
Immediately following this, Megatron launched an all-out battle for the sparks and succeeded in capturing them, as well as the sparks of all the Maximals and obliterating their [[technorganic]] orchard—leaving just Optimus Primal and himself as the only two Transformers on the entire planet. To add insult to injury, he uploaded his spark into a copy of Primal's old Optimal Optimus form. Over the conflict, his personality had gradually become more like that of his Beast Wars self, and by this point he was once again hamming it up—revelling in his victory, mocking his enemies (his stated reason for copying Optimus's old body) and deliberately not killing Optimus outright, and having melodramatic outbursts when in his new body.

[[Image:Optimalmegatronoptimusprimal.jpg|right|150px|thumb|They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.]]
At the end of a fierce one-on-one fight, Megatron won and began consuming his amassed sparks, growing ever more powerful and planning to become both the new Matrix and the new core consciousness of Cybertron. However, he'd made his old mistake—leaving Optimus alive (to make him watch his "ascension") instead of killing him. When he attempted to use the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to transform the planet's [[organic core]] into [[technomatter]], Primal managed to dislodge them both. They plummeted into the planet's goopy core and from there, Primal was able to reformat the entire planet, destroying himself and Megatron completely, but freeing all the lost sparks to repopulate their newly redecorated planet. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

{{-}}

===Transformers Legends Anthology===
{{note|This fiction takes place during "[[Spark of Darkness]]".}}
When Megatron was defeated by Nightscream, the spark of Rhinox attempted to act as a spirit guide and redeem the tyrant. Megatron proved to be a lost cause. While briefly tempted to move on, his inherent hypocrisy manifested and—despite fervently advocating the eradication of individuality—refused to relinquish his own identity. Rhinox’s attempts at enlightenment were misconstrued, and his efforts only strengthened Megatron’s desire for apotheosis. Repeated returns to Cybertron convinced him that godhood was still within his reach and as he charged his particles with “purity of purpose”, erased Rhinox's spark from existence.

===''Universe'' comic===
{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]".}}
When [[Optimus Primal|Optimus Primal's]] spark is revived from the within the Matrix to protect the multiverse, this action freed Megatron's spark as well. The reborn Megatron returned to the ranks of the Predacons, but this time, Optimus Primal found himself in an uneasy alliance with him against Unicron. Megatron traveled with his old nemesis from universe to universe, wherever the growing multiversal conflict had spread. But now with Unicron disappeared into the [[Unicron Singularity]], it remains to be seen whether Megatron's insane ambition will resurface.

Prior to the Universe Conflict an alternate dimension's Megatron was killed by a [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Tigerhawk]] who was corrupted by the Vok. Yet another dimension's Megatron was killed by its reality's [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. All three Megatron-murderers were eventually promoted to the rank of [[Unicron's General]]. It seems that killing Megatron may be part of Unicron's criteria for choosing a General.

===''Beast Wars Reborn''===
{{note|This fiction takes place after "[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]".}}
[[Image:BeastWarsRebornMegatronArtwork1.jpg|right|233px|thumb|Reborn on the wagon of a travelin' show, Primal used ta dance fer the money they'd throw! Megatron would do whatever he coooouuuld!]]
Both Megatron and Optimus Primal awoke inside a bizarre temple-like spaceship which was hurtling through space. Neither had any memory of who they were or how they got there, only their own names and a feeling of discomfort between one another. The pair went about investigating the ship in search of answers. While Megatron's memory was lost, his personality remained mostly intact: he was more concerned with seizing control of the ship before Primal did in order to gain the upper hand.

They eventually found a data log and discovered that their sparks had been taken and they were reborn into new bodies (unbeknownst to them, bodies identical to their original Earth forms). However, their memories were intentionally not uploaded into their new bodies. While searching the log they discovered that the ship's main power source was a [[Golden Disk]] lodged within a giant pillar. Megatron immediately raced to obtain the Disk and Primal followed him. The closer they got to the disk the more the ship attempted to thwart their advance by manipulating its atmosphere conditions.

Once they reached the chamber the ship's environment suddenly morphed to that of a decaying planet littered with the corpses of robots. The corpses came to life and began shambling toward them, intent on eating their sparks. They made short work of the zombies, leaving Megatron to obtain the Golden Disk and Primal with a feeling that he shouldn't entirely trust Megatron.

From another dimension beyond time and space, [[Primus]] recognized that something was amiss and sent one of his messengers to meet Primal and Megatron within the spaceship. {{storylink|The Mysterious Temple in Space}} {{storylink|Master of the Game}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
{{note|This fiction takes place after an altered version of the first season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.}}
After killing Optimus Primal in a Transwarp explosion, Megatron was mutated by the resulting Quantum Surge into a Transmetal, as was every other Transformer on [[Earth|Energoa]]. With their leader dead and their forces scattered, Megatron wasted no time in plotting an immediate counter-attack on the Maximals. Quickstrike and his drone forces were sent to attack the Maximal base while, with Tarantulas's help, Megatron recovered and resurrected Primal's body as a mindless killing machine.

Through a strange voodoo ritual, Megatron attempted to use his mutated blood to put Primal's body under his everlasting control. However, with the intervention of Rhinox, Primal's spark was retrieved from Transwarp Space and returned to his body. Primal swiftly defeated Megatron in battle. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

===3D Battle-Card Game===
Megatron leads a ragtag group of Decepticon warriors from various backgrounds (and/or universes) against Optimus Primal and his Autobot allies.

==Toys==
:''Main article: [[Megatron (BW) toys]]''

==Merchandise==
:''Main article: [[Megatron (BW) toys|Merchandise]]''

==Notes==
[[Image:Dinobot Clone.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A picture can tell lots without words.]]
*Hasbro originally intended Inferno to be the new body for Megatron. According to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview conducted by fan HooksX], [[Bob Forward]] stated: "For a while there Hasbro was planning to make the Inferno toy the new Megatron. We were going to kill Megatron and bring him back as Inferno."

*Throughout the series, Megatron seems to have a mild obsession with creating [[Clone|clones]] of Dinobot, as seen with the [[Dinobot Clone|purely biological clone]], the [[Cyber raptor|Cyber raptors]] and [[Dinobot II]]. Some people never know when to let a relationship go.

[[Image:BWRConcept35.jpg|right|200px|thumb|TM2 Megatron's control art. Look! Spark figure! Painful amounts of detail!]]
*The Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'' chose to interject humor at every available opportunity. Due to this, Megatron's personality and character were taken on a complete U-turn. Instead of being a smooth and charismatic leader, he was a screaming maniac and a bumbling oaf. His most notable character-trait in Japan was that whenever he was fired-upon or startled he would let out a high-pitched shriek like a [[Scorponok (BW)|little girl]].

*During the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon, Megatron said "yesss..." 166 times, and "no..." 54 times. Someone was clearly bored, yesss.

*He was once seen [[Humanization|brushing]] his Rex Head/Hand's Teeth.
{{-}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/MegatronGator/megatron.htm Megatron at TFU.info]
*[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Maximal/BeastChanger/beastchanger.htm Beast Changer at TFU.info]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hJkvwoddxY All of Megatron's Yeeeessss's and No's in Beast Wars on YouTube]

[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
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All Hail Megatron issue 15

2009-09-29T12:33:42Z

Black Mage:

{{disambigr|"Lost & Found"|other stories with that title|Lost and Found (disambiguation)}} 
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' #15
|prev=All Hail Megatron issue 14
|next=All Hail Megatron issue 16
|image=AllHailMegatron15 CoverA.jpg
|caption=Insert ''Saving Private Ryan'' quote here for maximum effect.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 16]], [[2009]]
|coverdate=September 2009
|written by=[[Nick Roche]] with assistance from [[James Roberts]] "Everything in Its Right Place" [[Denton J. Tipton]] "Lost & Found"
|art by=[[Nick Roche]] "Everything in Its Right Place" [[Casey Coller]] "Lost & Found"
|colors by=[[Kris Carter]] "Everything in Its Right Place" [[Joana Lafuente]] "Lost & Found"
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=pre-[[IDW timeline|''All Hail Megatron'']]
}}
'''Kup and Perceptor get a second lease on life.'''

=="Everything in Its Right Place"==
'''Prowl is a ''crafty'' prick.'''

===Synopsis===
Prowl admits to himself that Springer's arrival on ''[[Ark-17]]'' could not have begun any other way. Indeed, the Autobot tactician had predicted Springer's reaction to finding the convalescent veteran Kup missing from the Autobot ship: a sudden uppercut to Prowl's jaw. Letting Springer vent, Prowl rights himself while he internally laments that so many of the Autobot forces follow the Wreckers commander's example and have become mavericks and loose cannons. Seeing his opportunity, Prowl silences Springer with the revelation of ''why'' Kup is not on the ship, the fact that Perceptor and his team of scientists have gotten the old codger up and running again. Springer expresses doubt, having seen the emaciated madman that Kup had been reduced to. Prowl counters by revealing that Perceptor had teamed with the talented Autobots of the [[Kimia Facility]] and had achieved a technological breakthrough with some rather unusual procedures. Springer is wary, as due to his role as Wreckers leader his primary experience with the facility has been in testing experimental weaponry. Prowl reminds Springer that the facility was also where the successful refinement of the [[Pretender]] process reverse-engineered from Decepticon technology was accomplished. He then explains that the same principles were applied to resolve Kup's technological incompatibility with modern upgrades, with Kup's cerebro-cortex interfacing with his new body in a nearly identical manner, though he cannot separate from his pretender carapace.

Springer's reactions are still mixed until Prowl shows him footage of Kup's new body in combat trials. Indeed, it appears that Springer's old commanding officer is fully rehabilitated, in a body that moves like it's in the prime of youth. Springer however notices a foreign object in Kup's mouth, a [[cigar|cy-gar]]. Asking why Kup has such a relic of the decadent pre-war days of Cybertron, Springer is told by Prowl that this is how Perceptor keeps the veteran from lapsing into flashbacks of his time stranded on the alien world. Emitting a synthetic replica of the radiation Kup had become addicted to, the cy-gar manages his cravings and keeps him mentally stable. Internally, Prowl notes that without Kup's continued mental stability his ''own'' plans for the veteran would be for naught. Reassuring Springer, he notes that Kup is a potent symbol to rally the Autobot troops behind.

[[Image:AHM Kup nightmare.jpg|300px|thumb|left|Don't do drugs, Kup.]]

Finally allowed to see Kup in person, Springer's doubts are nearly all laid to rest. Kup is undergoing a final diagnostic disassembly before resuming field duty, and is jovial, joking with his former subordinate. However when seeing his own arm laying on the nearby table, Kup briefly begins to have a flashback, only snapped out of it by Perceptor supplying his cy-gar to him. Stabilized, his friendly demeanor returns and a still-nervous Springer expresses gratitude to see him rejoining their ranks.

Prowl recalls his meetings with Perceptor and the scientist's reluctance to be assigned directly to Kup in the field. He had to remind Perceptor that the Autobot ranks look up to Kup, and that if their secret actions at reforming the way Autobots look at tactics were to be successful they needed the veteran stable and able to capably lead others by example. In so doing, they might turn the tide of the war and have the Autobots fighting more effectively overall, bringing about peace sooner.

Meanwhile, Prowl and Springer discuss that Kup will never be told what he did while stranded on that remote planet. Prowl addresses Springer's concerns, stating that all involved have been contacted and sworn to silence.

After Springer departs, Prowl muses further on the streak of individuality and insubordination that inevitably undermines all Autobot tactics. Even Optimus Prime, he notes, seems more inclined to listen to the bellicose plans of Ironhide than his own more sound battle strategies. That is all about to change, if the personality subroutines installed in Kup take hold. Personality subroutines that will have Kup give the advice that ''Prowl'' wants him to give...

He recalls another conversation with Perceptor, in which the scientist noted with no small amount of irony that in doing this Prowl had gone maverick himself, conducting secret plans beyond the chain of command. Prowl felt no contradiction in this, as what separated him from an individual like Hot Rod was the fact that none of what he was doing was something he sought recognition or admiration for. Instead, his only concern was the shared success of the Autobot forces and the final resolution of the Cybertronian civil war.

===Featured characters===
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (1)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (2)
* [[Outback]] (3)*†
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (4)
* [[Brainstorm]] (5)*
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (6)
* [[Waverider]] (7)*
* [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (8)*
* [[Cloudburst]] (9)*
* [[Groundbreaker]] (10)*
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (11)*
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (12)*
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)*
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (14)*
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (15)‡
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (16)‡
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (17)‡
|c2=
* [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (18)*
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (19)*
* [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (20)*
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (21)*
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (22)*
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (23)*
}}

{{note|
 * flashback † deactivated ‡ on video monitors}}

===Quotes===

"Tell me you didn't just drag Kup here to reverse-engineer some kind of weapon that can inflict that sort of radiation damage on a Decepticon?" 
"No, Springer--" 
''But don't think I didn't consider it.''
:—'''Springer''', '''Prowl''', and '''Prowl's narration'''

"The average Autobot default setting is daredevil, maverick. That's not ''us'', Perceptor. ''We'' can subdivide this war into its purest mathematical form and generate solutions all we want, but unless we happen to be ''surfing'' on a ''meteoroid'' at the time, ''no one'' will pay attention."
:—'''Prowl'''

"But with Kup, ''everyone'' wants to hear what he has to say. So now, when he ''speaks''... you won't even see my lips move."
:—'''Prowl'''

===Errors===
* None yet identified.

===Items of note===
* "Surfing on a meteoroid" may be a nod to "[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]", which Roche also drew.
* The implication of page 10 is that Optimus was listening to people like Ironhide during ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' and ''that's'' how the Autobots blundered into a trap.
* Grimlock has ''113'' files devoted to his insubordination.
* Thunderwing is depicted as his pre-Pretender self.

=="Lost & Found"==
'''Perceptor goes from scientist to sniperer in just 11 pages!'''

===Synopsis===
Aboard the starship ''[[Trion]]'', Drift has inexplicably managed to teach patience to Blurr through the equally inexplicable use of the [[Earth]] game "[[Go]]". The two of them muse on their lives before the war, apparently not fazed by the looming presence of Perceptor's damaged body in the [[CR chamber]] above them.

[[Image:AHM_bludgeoniseeevill.jpg|300px|thumb|Bludgeon has goo for a face.]]

One hundred games later, Kup is haranguing Blaster over his inability to hail any other Autobot outposts. Drift admonishes his impatience, and Kup explains that all the Autobot distress signals have him antsy. Blurr arrives and announces that Perceptor is online once more.

The crew goes to see Perceptor in his lab, where he is fervently working on reinforcements and refinements to his body. Among them is a new chest panel that will presumably prevent the grievous wound that sidelined him from ever occurring again. Shortly afterwards, he installs stabilizers in his arms to improve his aim. Kup objects, as Perceptor is more valuable in the lab than on the field. Perceptor however feels he can be more useful in battle, and thus repay the debt he feels he owes for the saving of his life. Kup lectures him, but is interrupted by Blaster, who has received a patchy transmission from Hot Rod. The hotheaded Autobot is being pursued by a Decepticon ship under the command of Bludgeon. The Trion moves to intercept, but Perceptor is warned to stay behind.

At the crash site of Hot Rod's shuttlecraft, Bludgeon orders the Monstructor Six to execute the Autobot. Kup's crew arrive via [[orbital bounce]] to even the odds. However the Autobots are quickly overwhelmed by the formation of Monstructor, and the odds of the battle seem bleak. In the nick of time, a precise burst of laser fire hits the vulnerable connector joint of the immense combiner, reducing Monstructor back into its component Decepticons. The stunned Autobot crew turns to find that their savior is Perceptor himself. Blaster expresses vehement misgivings on Perceptor having "defiled" himself by repurposing his body to combat specifications. Kup deflects this by telling Blaster to tend to the wounded Springer, and takes Perceptor along to give chase to the fleeing Decepticons.

===Featured characters===
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (1)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (3)
* [[Roadbuster]] (4)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (5)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (6)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (7)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (8)
|c2=
* [[Birdbrain]] (9)
* [[Bristleback]] (10)
* [[Slog]] (11)
* [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (12)
* [[Wildfly]] (13)
* [[Scowl]] (14)
* [[Icepick]] (15)
* [[Monstructor]] (16)
}}

===Quotes===
"Just doin' my job."
:—'''Perceptor''''s upgrades apparently include a "can't pronounce the g at the end of his verbs anymore" function.

===Errors===
* Why the hell are Drift and Blurr playing an Earth game? None of the team were ''on Earth'' until AHM.
* If Decepticon Pretenders are presented as supremely powerful horrors, ''why is Bludgeon retreating'' because Monstructor is down? He should be capable of wiping out the Autobots.

===Items of note===
* Perceptor has two different bodies in this story; his G1 look (from "[[Spotlight: Blaster]]" and "[[Spotlight: Drift]]") and his semi-updated look from ''AHM''.
* Why is Bludgeon not in [[Garrus-9]]? And when did he get his mind back?! And why is he suddenly loyal and working with the other 'cons?! Denton J. Tipton has confirmed that we'll find out what happened at Garrus-9 in ''[[The Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''. <ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=6643&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30</ref>
* Hot Rod was seen piloting the Decepticon ship he acquired in [[Spotlight: Hot Rod|his ''Spotlight'']], given a fresh coat of paint to match its new pilot. <ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=6643&start=60#151871</ref>
* The Decepticons appear to have reverse-engineered and now drafted the Monstructor Six.
**Apparently they did a lousy job, though. In "[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]" it takes [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]]'s whole [[Decepticon Secret Service]] to battle Monstructor, but here one [[Autobot]] who isn't even a warrior by main profession takes him down with one shot.
* The ending appears to lead into Hot Rod's flashback tale in [[All Hail Megatron issue 5|''All Hail Megatron'' #5]].

==Covers (3)==
* '''Cover A:''' [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Kris Carter]].
* '''Cover B:''' Schematic of a newly-rebuilt [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (an homage to [[wikipedia:Vitruvian Man|da Vinci's Vitruvian Man]]), art by [[Casey Coller]] and colors by [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Art deco of Perceptor looking brooding; art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
<gallery>
Image:AllHailMegatron15 CoverA.jpg|Prepare for trouser-shattering.
Image:AHM15casey.jpg|See that text down in the bottom-left hand side? Well, IDW's lawyers sure wish THEY had.
Image:AHM15trevhutch.jpg|Rambo.
</gallery>

==Advertisements==
* ''[[All Hail Megatron issue 16|All Hail Megatron #16]]''
* ''Astro Boy: The Movie'' adaptation and prequel
* ''The Adventures of Digger and Friends''
* ''Ghostbusters: Displaced Aggression''
* ''Star Trek Archives: Best of Alternate Universes''
* ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]''
* ''[[I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime]]''
* ''We Are [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''
* IDW digital comics (back cover)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Where Is Thy Sting?

2009-09-27T00:05:08Z

Black Mage:

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|image=WhereIsThySting-reflectingface.jpg
|caption=Get out of my head!
|ep=34
|title="Where Is Thy Sting?"
|airdate=[[March 28]], 2009
|written by=[[Todd Casey]]
|directed by=[[Kalvin Lee]] [[Shigeharu Takahashi]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
}}

'''A crazed Wasp finds his way to Earth to exact his revenge on Bumblebee... but he doesn't count on the Elite Guard following him.'''

==Synopsis==
Drawing closer to [[Earth]] in their pursuit of the presumed traitor [[Wasp]], [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] are at their stations on the bridge of the [[Elite Guard]]'s ship when [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]] contacts them and demands to know what they are doing in Earth Sector. [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] joins the conference call to apologize for not letting Longarm know of the situation, pointing out that they couldn't risk tipping off Wasp when he stands poised to lead them to his Decepticon contact on the planet. Except, as Jazz points out, Wasp isn't headed for the [[Decepticon]]s... he's making a <s>bee</s>waspline for the [[Autobot]]s' base!

In the Autobots' headquarters, [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] is immersed in a game of ''[[Ninja Gladiator]]'' when [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] shuts the television off and reprimands Bumblebee for neglecting his monitor duty. In mid-argument, the base computers detect a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] signal nearby, but no other information can be obtained due to interference caused by recent torrential rain. Prime and the other Autobots thus have to depart to investigate firsthand. Bumblebee, of course, returns to playing his video game.

The Elite Guard ship touches down in Detroit, and Sentinel and Jazz disembark. Sentinel is immediately disgusted by the notion of liquid falling from the sky, and he finds himself all but incapable of driving on the slick roads, but Jazz just rolls with it.

[[Image:WhereIsThySting-Bumblebeecreepilydefeated.jpg|left|thumb|200px|We enjoyed that together.]]
Back at the base, Bumblebee continues playing games until the base is suddenly plunged into darkness. As the red emergency lights come on, Bumblebee finds himself staring into the all-too-familiar face of Wasp, now sporting an Earth-mode body styled after Bumblebee's own. Bumblebee tries to explain that they had both been set up by Longarm, but the insane Wasp doesn't care. He downs Bumblebee with a blast of his stingers and takes off his own helmet, revealing a wound on the top of his head. Just before passing out, Bumblebee sees Wasp standing over him, holding a strange gun fitted with a glowing green canister and vowing to make Bumblebee lose everything, just like he did...

A little later, Bumblebee awakens to find the other Autobots all staring down at him, including...himself? Looking down at himself, Bumblebee is horrified to discover that Wasp has repainted his armor, swapped their helmets, and exchanged their vocal synthesizers, making each a dead ringer for the other. As Wasp stands there, with Bumblebee's [[battle mask]] "stuck" up, Bumblebee attempts to convince the other Autobots that he is himself, but they aren't sold. When [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] attempts to [[stasis cuffs|stasis cuff]] him, Bumblebee is forced to shoot out the lights and make a break for it. He zooms out of the plant, right past Sentinel Prime and Jazz, who intercept Prime and the other Autobots when they try to pursue him. Sentinel demands to know why Optimus's Autobots haven't checked in in so long, but when Optimus tries to explain, Sentinel refuses to listen, informing them he is here to bring in Wasp...who, Optimus points out, just drove right past him. Sentinel ignores Optimus when he tries to tell him that Longarm is the real traitor, and departs immediately to hunt down "Wasp". Optimus instructs his Autobots to locate Wasp first, and they head out to search, while the true Wasp tells them he will stay behind in case Bumblebee comes back.

On Cybertron, Shockwave desperately makes another attempt to contact the missing [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. He transmits a message to him alerting him to the direness of the situation, adding that Shockwave is about to take matters into his own hands...

[[Image:WhereIsThySting-obligatorymisunderstanding.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I has logos-Autobot on my shoulders, da?]]
Back on Earth, Optimus and Ratchet are discussing how odd "Bumblebee" has been behaving when two jets suddenly come roaring by overhead. Knowing that no organic could pilot a plane the way these two crafts fly, the two Autobots assume they are dealing with Decepticons and zoom after them in hot pursuit. The two jets soon track down "Wasp", who is desperately attempting to rub his green paint off with a discarded couch cushion, and transform to robot mode to attack him with blasts of flame and roaring hurricane winds. Ratchet and Optimus arrive to hold off these apparent Decepticons, who reveal a remarkable power to combine into [[Safeguard (Animated)|one mighty robot]], but before the fighting can get too intense, Sentinel and Jazz arrive to reveal that these two are, in fact, Autobots! Sentinel introduces [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]], Elite Guard warriors created using specs from [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], and orders the duo to resume their mission.

In the Autobots' base, Wasp is playing (and losing) ''Ninja Gladiator'', and he decides that he could get used to being Bumblebee. In order to complete the illusion, Wasp scans the Autobots' computer files, so that he can learn everything about Bumblebee and better pass himself off as his old rival.

[[Image:WhereIsThySting-hotdogbot.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Bumblebee needs a lesson in [[kitbashing]].]]
Racing through the city streets, Bumblebee discovers a hot dog cart and desperate tries slathering his armor in mustard to make him look more like himself. He is caught in the act by [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]], but he is finally able to convince Bulkhead of his true identity when he tells him something only he could know: namely, that he took the blame for Bulkhead knocking a tower over on Sentinel Prime at [[Autobot boot camp|boot camp]]. Jetfire and Jetstorm arrive just in time to witness this happy scene, but get the wrong end of the stick and assume that Bulkhead and Prowl are traitors as well! The twins report this to Sentinel, and he, Optimus, Jazz and Ratchet head for their position, with Sentinel obstinately refusing to listen to Optimus's attempts to explain the numerous misunderstandings that have happened. When everyone reunites, Bulkhead explains that Bumblebee is definitely Bumblebee, and Optimus orders everyone back to the plant to straighten everything out.

[[Image:WhereIsThySting-UltraMagnusDamaged.jpg|thumb|right|200px|If anyone inserts a "He's been dealt with" caption here, so help us...]]
A little later, back at the plant, Wasp cheerily denies Bumblebee's accusations, using the information he has gleaned from the Autobots' files to "prove" he is who he claims. When interrogation yields no results, Bulkhead comes up with the best way to figure out who's who: a versus match on ''Ninja Gladiator''! Before the game even starts, Wasp chokes and grabs Bumblebee, holding his stinger to 'Bee's neck. Wasp insists that he was always a good bot, but Bulkhead says that isn't true; he might not be a traitor, but he was always mean to Bulkhead and Bumblebee and was hardly good. Wasp blasts out the lights to cover his escape, and when the emergency lights kick in, both Wasp and Bumblebee are gone. The Autobots head outside, where they spot what looks like Bumblebee lying on the ground. Bulkhead assumes it is Wasp and leaps upon the prone figure, pummeling him and ripping off his helmet...only to find out that it really is Bumblebee underneath. Prowl examines Bumblebee's helmet and discovers that their colors were switched so quickly because Wasp had hit him with an [[electronic paint job]] that he could turn off with the press of a button. As things begin to calm down, the truth of the whole matter hits Jazz—if Wasp really was innocent, that means that Longarm Prime really is a Decepticon spy!

Sometime later, on Cybertron, [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] is searching for Longarm in order to apprehend him. Entering the council chamber, Ironhide is horrified to discover the mangled, barely-alive body of Ultra Magnus. He asks the Supreme Commander where [[Magnus Hammer|his hammer]] is and who was responsible. Before collapsing, Ultra Magnus manages to choke out, "Shock...wave..."

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|c1=
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (1)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Wasp]] (7)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (8)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] (11)
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] (12)
*[[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] (13)
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave/Longarm Prime]] (3)
|}}

==Quotes==
"Besides, if I'm playing ''Ninja Gladiator'', I'm at least getting valuable combat training." 
:—'''Bumblebee''' gives justification for slacking off.

"Liquid falling from the sky? What is ''wrong'' with this planet?!" 
"Crazy! It's like a planet ''and'' a car wash! You diggin' this or what?"
:—'''Sentinel Prime''' and '''Jazz''' share their thoughts on the rain.

"Wasp—I mean, Bumblebot—I mean, ''I'' will stay here in case Bumblebot—I mean, Wasp comes back." 
:—'''Wasp''' blows his cover several times, but the Autobots still don't pick it up.

'''Ratchet''': Come on! You're doing it wrong! Turn ''into'' the skid! 
'''Sentinel''': Into the skid? That's stupid! 
'''Jazz''': Just gotta go with the flow, S.P.! 
'''Optimus''': How do you put up with him? 
'''Jazz''': I just tune out half of everything he spits out. 
'''Optimus''': Only half?
:—The Autobots attempt to put up with the jerk, with no such luck.

"You're not arresting ''anyone'', Sentinel." 
"So you ''are'' in on it, Optimus." 
"No, Sentinel. I just have something you never will: respect for my teammates." 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' defines exactly ''how'' '''Sentinel Prime''' is a jerk.

"So hit me with that one more time. A robot in disguise swaps metal with a double agent, who is really on the level?" 
"Makes even less sense when you say it."
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Bulkhead''' try their best to fathom what's been going on.

"You were always mean to me and Bumblebee. You may not be a traitor...but you were ''never'' a good bot."
:—'''Bulkhead''' has a go at the traumatised victim of a frame-job—who's holding his best friend hostage.

==Notes==

===Animation or technical errors===
*When Bulkhead knocks Jetfire back, Jazz (who isn't even ''there'' yet), instead of Jetstorm, is standing next to Bumblebee.
*When Wasp is playing Bumblebee's video game (and liking it), the characters on screen switch sides as he loses.
*It seems that the animators can't decide which parts of the city are raining.
*Oddly, for a cartoon that tries to stay close to the transformation of the actual toys, Safeguard's transformation is nothing like the toy.
*When Wasp is on his own playing ''Ninja Gladiator'' and later, when he breaks character near the end, he has his original voice. How come Bumblebee couldn't do that?
*For that matter, after Wasp leaves Bumblebee behind, he has his original voice back too. Bumblebee is also still sporting a yellow version of Wasp's helmet.
*At certain points in the episode, Wasp (as Bumblebee) and Bumblebee (as Wasp) wear the design of their false identity's thighs.
*During the close up of Bumblebee (as Wasp), Jetfire and Jetstorm switch places. They're in the correct order in the next scene.

===Continuity errors===
*This isn't an ''error'' as such, but just when did Wasp get an identical Earth form to Bumblebee's? And perhaps more to the point, ''how'' did he change form - both Optimus' crew and the Elite Guard reformatted on their well-equipped ships. Wasp was last seen beside a space bridge with no ship of any kind. Though it's possible that Wasp has the same ability as [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut]] to scan and adapt [[altmodes]] on his own.
*Given how close Ratchet is to [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] you'd think he'd know better than to say "no Autobot flies."

===Transformers references===
[[Image:WhereIsThySting-Bumblebeesvideogame.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Referenciality!]]
*We last saw Wasp in "[[Autoboot Camp]]", to which this episode is essentially a sequel. A brief flashback from the episode is shown after Bumblebee says he "took the rap" for Bulkhead for what happened to Sentinel Prime. In an attempt to maintain his ruse, Wasp also mentions all the things that Bumblebee had done then which accidentally embarrassed Sentinel Prime.He also mentions the events in "[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]]".
* Optimus' Autobots discovered that Wasp wasn't guilty in "[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]]".
* The background of the ''Ninja Gladiator'' video game prominently features [[TORQ III]].
* In the scene before he switches places with "Bumble-Bot", Wasp is wearing a [[rubsign]] in place of a conventional Autobot insignia. This is identical to [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] - at this time he does not belong to either faction.
* Sentinel Prime discusses the modifications made to Jetfire and Jetstorm, which took place in the "[[First (and Second) in Flight]]" comic book.
* Sentinel Prime still doesn't remember his time with Bumblebee and Bulkhead, as he did (didn't?) in "[[The Elite Guard]]".
* [[Tigatron]] Stadium, which will be seen in the next episode, can be seen in the background.

===Real-world references===
* The episode's title is a reference a Bible verse: namely, [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:55&version=31 1 Corinthians 15:55]: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"
* Sentinel Prime's cry of "Arrest 'em all and let Ultra Magnus sort 'em out!" is a reference to a popular English translation of a saying by Abbot [[:wikipedia:Arnaud Amalric|Arnold Amaury]], before the massacre of Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade: "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out."
** According to [[David Kaye]], [[Jeff Bennett]] once used this line in a recording session during the first season, causing the cast to burst into laughter and forcing them to take five.{{fact}}
* The four-armed insect from ''Ninja Gladiator'' is [http://www.micro-outpost.com/pictures/aliens/antron/antron.html Antron] from the ''[[Micronauts]]''. According to Derrick Wyatt, the black figure the insect fights is [[Snake-Eyes]].[http://twitter.com/SentinelPrime/status/1418651506][http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1418656175]
* The Jet bros. combination sequence, like much else about them, is based on the stock footage sequences of the various Symmetrical Docking robots from ''King Of [[Brave]]s GaoGaiGar''.
* Bumblebee's line, 'Deceptions, why'd it have to be Decepticons?' hearkens back to ''Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark''.

===Trivia===
*This episode received an impromptu online debut on [[March 25]], [[2009]], when a copy loaded onto the [[Cartoon Network]] website's server, intended to go live after the episode aired a few days later, was pilfered and leaked by some ne'er-do-wells. The next episode, "[[Five Servos of Doom]]", was leaked a few days later.

*Wasp has purple eyes, which were visible even with Bumblebee's battle mask up, and retained the striped design on his thighs. Bumblebee still had his blue eyes and other retained properties. The Autobots didn't notice this because...?

*You could ask the same question regarding the Jet twins. Although their Elite Guard insignias are on their hips, Optimus and Ratchet should have seen the insignia on their shoulders when they merged into Safeguard.

*Not to mention that Optimus and Ratchet have very obvious Autobot symbols. Why didn't the twins try to introduce themselves before diving into battle with them? Course, if Sentinel trained them, they might be bigger jerks then we realize and just assumed them traitors.

* When Bulkhead runs into the green Bumblebee in the street, Bumblebee puts his hands in the air to surrender and starts wailing that he's Bumblebee. Bulkhead ''knows'' Wasp was framed, locked up in the stockade for years, may well be traumatised, and has not as yet actually hurt anybody, but he still starts swinging his wrecking ball with intent to pummel. Later on when Wasp is revealed and takes Bumblebee hostage, Bulkhead starts telling the frightened and angry mech he's not a good bot. And when Wasp runs off, and Bulkhead sees a yellow mech lying outside face down and motionless, he instantly attacks what he thinks is Wasp. This episode doesn't do anything for Bulkhead's rep as an Autobot ''at all.''

*Apparently it doesn't rain on Cybertron, because Sentinel Prime was irritated that liquid falls from the sky on Earth.

*Strangely, the Autobots don't try and work out who's Wasp and who's Bumblebee by [[A Prime Problem|having a race]].

[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Megatron (Armada)

2009-09-25T04:40:46Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Megatron}}
{{disambig3|Galvatron}}
: ''Megatron is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy]] [[continuity family]]. When in his powered-up forms, he is known as '''Galvatron'''.''

[[Image:Megatronut.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Sorry, Hot Shot, no JaAm for you!.]]
'''Megatron''' is not content with conquest of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When he learns of some power greater than his own, he does not attempt to merely defeat it. He will subjugate it, bend it to his will, carve up its corpse and integrate its power into himself. Megatron demands complete submission from those around him. Any opposition is savagely crushed, any insubordination violently punished. He is a monster in every sense of the word. Megatron tempers this barbarism with regal militaristic formality. He calls his closest troops "gentlemen." He speaks politely and intelligently. He makes it perfectly clear that he is completely cognizant of his madness.

Megatron's only weakness is his obsession with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. No matter how much power he attains, his final, glorious battle must be against him. On the occasions Prime has seemingly been destroyed, Megatron has sunk into a deep depression. Once Optimus Prime is gone, there may be no further challenges in this universe.

:''Japanese ''Micron Legend'' name (Galvatron)'': '''Megatron Super Mode''' 
:''Japanese ''Super Link'' name'': '''Galvatron''' / '''Galvatron G''' 
:''Japanese ''Galaxy Force'' name'': '''Master Megatron / Master Galvatron'''

==Fiction==
{{cleanup|September 2009|Frankly, we can do better than this.}}
===Cartoon continuity===
====Armada====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]] (US), [[Kiyoyuki Yanada]] (Japan), [[José Santacruz]] (Brazil), [[Willi Röbke]] (Germany), [[Fredrik Hiller]] (Sweden)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Armada Megatron FirstEncounter surprise.jpg|left|180px|thumb|What the hell does he turn into?]]
Millions of years ago, the civil war on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] reached a bloody stalemate as both Autobots and Decepticons augmented their forces with a race of small power-enhancing Transformers known as the [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]. In the end, a truce was settled where the Mini-Cons would be exiled, never to be used as tools of war again. However, Megatron betrayed the truce, attacking with the full force of the Decepticon fleet in an attempt to capture all the Mini-Cons in one fell swoop. The Autobots, anticipating this turn of events, launched their fleet to protect the fleeing ''[[Exodus]]'' Mini-Con ship as it warped away.

[[Image:ArmadaMegatron onside.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Why didn't anyone tell me my robot bits were showing?"]]
In the year 2010, Cybertron received a Mini-Con homing beacon from a small primitive world known as [[Earth]], unwittingly activated by a group of human children. Megatron led his most loyal Decepticon warriors to this planet in search of the Mini-Cons, only to discover his arch-enemy [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] had followed to stop him. {{storylink|First Encounter|First Encounter}}

After a tactical retreat, it was revealed that the Decepticons had established a base in the ruined hulk of the Mini-Con ship on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. While pondering his next move, Megatron discovered a [[Mini-Con storage panel]] buried in the moon dust. Activating it, he discovered it contained his old Mini-Con partner, [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]]. Counting upon this as his edge over the Autobots, he reconfigured the vehicle modes of his forces and set out to capture the human children and their Mini-Con friends. After surrounding them, he was thwarted yet again by the timely arrival of Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. However, Megatron soon demonstrated the great power a Mini-Con [[Powerlinx]] bestows on a Transformer, initially overwhelming the Autobots with his sheer firepower. {{storylink|Metamorphosis|Metamorphosis}} {{storylink|Base|Base}}

[[Image:ArmadaMegs fallenover.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Make my monster grow!"]]
Megatron went on to run a successful campaign, regularly capturing Mini-Cons and successfully combining the first two Mini-Con weapons, the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] and the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]]. Through the machinations of his tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] (who was at the time indirectly being manipulated by [[Unicron]]), Megatron then acquired the final weapon, the [[Requiem Blaster]], which with the other two served to power the newly-built [[Hydra Cannon]]. The destructive force of his new weapon was unleashed against Earth, but Optimus Prime took the blast to save the planet, killing himself in the process.

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime hangon to Galvatron.jpg|left|180px|thumb|This heroic sacrifice won't stop him from coming back and being just as much of a jerk as ever.]]
Prime's death plunged Megatron into a deep depression, having lost his greatest opponent without the chance to finish him with his own hands. Thankfully for all concerned, the Mini-Cons were able to resurrect Optimus, restoring Megatron to his former self - but he soon underwent another change that allowed him to surpass all he had been, when he was among the Transformers who had their powers boosted by their Mini-Cons. Renaming himself "Galvatron," he returned to Cybertron with a renewed vigor for conquest. However, the emergence of the threat of Unicron was ignored by Galvatron, forcing his lieutenant [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] to sacrifice himself to make his leader see the truth, and Galvatron again came to fear the end of his war in the face of Unicron's power.

Galvatron entered Unicron's body along with Optimus Prime, and was absorbed into the demi-god's body and mind, but when the Autobots' human allies freed the Mini-Cons from Unicron's thrall, Galvatron too was freed. Believing the threat of Unicron to be over, he challenged Prime to a final duel. However, the energies released in the battle reawakened Unicron, and Galvatron saw that the only way to end the circle was to destroy himself - sacrificing his life rather than live in an era of peace, Galvatron plunged himself into Unicron's maw, and in a flash, the two seemingly ceased to exist.

====Energon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]], [[Richard Newman]] (Episode 14 only) (US), [[Junichi Endō]] (Japan), [[Fredrik Hiller]] (Sweden)

{{charstubfiction}}

[[Image:Energon MegatronisBack.jpg|left|150px|thumb|";Galvatron is no more...behold: Megatron! ...what?";]]
[[Image:EnergonMegatron punishScorponok.jpg|right|150px|thumb|STOMP! A musical adaptation by Megatron; percussions: Scorponok's face]]
Although he was believed dead by both the Autobots and Decepticons, Megatron, like Unicron, had survived the final battle, his body now a decayed husk, absorbed into the equally damaged body of Unicron, where it lay for ten years. When the being called [[Alpha Quintesson]] began his plan to re-energize Unicron, Megatron saw his opportunity, siphoning off some of the [[Energon (Energon)|energon]] that Alpha Q's [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] stole, working towards his own rebirth. To turn the Decepticons to his side, Alpha Q forged a sword from Megatron's [[spark]], but when an enraged [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] stabbed Megatron's corpse with the blade, Megatron was born anew. Taking the sword for his own, he proceeded to take over Unicron's body, sending Alpha Q fleeing in Unicron's head, {{storylink|Megatron Resurrected|Megatron Resurrected}} and restarted his campaign against Earth and the Autobots, seeking energon to reactivate Unicron, who he would use as the ultimate weapon.

Megatron eventually succeeded in bringing Unicron to the vicinity of Cybertron and transforming the planet-eater to robot mode. However, in an attempt to stop him, Alpha Q rammed Unicron's head, charged with the positive energon of Earth, into Unicron's body. The resultant reaction between Earth's energon and the negatively-charged energon that powered Unicron tore [[Rift (Energon)|a rupture in reality]] that led to [[Alpha Q's universe|a new region of space]] {{storylink|Ripped Up Space|Ripped Up Space}} where Alpha Q recreated all the planets Unicron had consumed. Megatron immediately saw these new worlds as targets to acquire more energon, and after another series of attacks, Megatron successfully amassed enough to fully reanimate Unicron. {{storylink|Optimus Supreme|Optimus Supreme}} However, the Autobots managed to destroy Unicron's body for good, and the Chaos Bringer's consciousness invaded Megatron's body, taking over his mind. {{storylink|Unicron Perishes|Unicron Perishes}}

Although [[Optimus Supreme]] was able to destroy Unicron's body, his mind lived on, buried within Megatron, subtly directing him to attack Cybertron and uncover a reservoir of Super Energon beneath the planet's surface. {{storylink|Ambition|Ambition}} Megatron immersed himself in the powerful liquid and underwent another power boost, once again taking the name of Galvatron. {{storylink|Wishes|Wishes}} Quickly acquiring control of the planet, he forced the Autobots underground with energon gas and used the planet's Energon Towers to relocate Cybertron to [[Alpha Q's universe|Alpha Q's region of space]]. {{storylink|Formidable|Formidable}} Once there, Galvatron once again soaked himself in Super Energon, growing to a colossal height, {{storylink|Destructive Power|Destructive Power}} but as he did so, Unicron's influence totally seized control of his mind and directed him out into space to re-merge with his spark. Optimus Prime forced him into a battle, knowing that Galvatron's hatred of him would force his consciousness to surface again, and when it did, Prime drained Unicron's influence from Galvatron, sealing it within himself. {{storylink|Spark (episode)|Spark}}

Enraged by Unicron's manipulations, Galvatron intended to destroy Unicron's spark, but wound up being possessed by it once more. While struggling to fight the control of Unicron, he was confronted by Optimus Prime once again, and rather than fight him, he plunged himself into the foundling sun created by Primus, igniting the star and once again seemingly destroying himself rather than allow Unicron victory. {{storylink|The Sun|The Sun}}

====Cybertron====
:''Voice actor:'' [[David Kaye]], [[Trevor Devall]] (Episode 1, "Fallen" only) (US), [[Jouji Nakata]] (Japan), [[Wolf Frass]] (German)

{{charstubfiction}}
{{cleanup|September 2009|Needs storylinks to individual episodes as well as general expansion. He's a major character.}}

[[Image:Cybertron MegatronStarscream firstappearance.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Is it hot in here, or is it just me?]]
Ten years later, Primus's plan to imprison Unicron's spark at the heart of the sun ultimately failed, leading the star to collapse, creating a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] which threatened the existence of Cybertron, and the rest of the universe. Escaping his confinement within the sun, Megatron enhanced his powers by merging his body with [[Armor of Unicron|the remnants of Unicron's shattered form]], increasing his power with the dark god's own.

[[Image:Cyb Megatron forcelightning.jpg|right|180px|thumb|...Do I really need to say anything? K-CHOW!!!]]
As the Autobots prepared to evacuate Cybertron in the wake of disasters caused by the black hole, Megatron struck, approaching the unprotected ancient Transformer [[Vector Prime]], and stealing a holographic map containing locations of the [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet Keys]] that could be used to seal the black hole. Operating out of a fiery pocket dimension, Megatron schemed to used the world-shaping power of the Cyber Planet Keys and their focal [[Omega Lock]] to accelerate the universal degeneration created by the black hole, destroying the universe and using the keys to remake it in his own image.

Leaving [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] and [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] to search for the Omega Lock on Earth, Megatron located the resting place of the first Cyber Planet Key on [[Velocitron]], the Speed Planet. Recruiting the native troublemakers [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] to do his bidding, he deduced that the planet's racing trophy was the key. After failing to defeat planet ruler [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] in a race to learn more, however, he left Ransack and Crumplezone to compete in tournaments and win the trophy and turned his attention to the [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]], home of the second Cyber Planet Key, where he ingratiated himself with planet ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]]. Both missions ultimately ended in failure, however, when the Autobots acquired the keys.

[[Image:CybertronMegatron DeathMachineGun.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Too bad my toy's gun isn't that cool.]]
Attempting to find the third key, Megatron discovered that he had been betrayed by Starscream when the planet map - in reality, a duplicate switched out by Starscream - led him to a dead sector of space and sealed him within a metallic sphere. Scourge was able to liberate him a short time later, but in that time, Starscream had obtained the third Cyber Planet Key, from Earth, for himself, along with the Omega Lock and other keys. Megatron made a beeline for his treacherous lieutenant, but was intercepted by the Autobots [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], who intended to hold him off until the other Autobots could stop Starscream. Starscream's attempts to harness the Earth Key, however, caused a release of its energies which endowed Megatron with a new Cyber Key power - the "Death Machine Gun," which he used to mow down the Autobots in his path.

The Autobots managed to retake the keys from Starscream, but a further attack from Megatron saw the Decepticon leader steal them out from under Optimus Prime's nose and retreat into his pocket dimension. Prime pursued him through the portal and defeated him in a pitched battle, reacquiring the lock and returning to Cybertron. As Megatron attempted to follow him, Vector Prime combined his portal-opening powers with the Cyber Planet Keys and collapsed Megatron's dimension in upon itself, destroying the villain.

[[Image:Cyb DontscrewwithGalvatron 1.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's a lum-ber-jack and he's OK...]]
This was not to be the end for Megatron, however, as the power of his Unicron armor sustained him as a ghost-like entity composed of pure darkness. In this state, he rematerialized on Cybertron and used Unicron's reformatting powers to upgrade the injured Crumplezone into Dark Crumplezone. As he came under attack from the Autobot [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]], his regeneration completed and his physical body was restored, even as he used the remainder of the lingering darkness to create an evil doppleganger of Leobreaker, [[Nemesis Breaker]], out of the Autobot's own dark thoughts. Merging with Nemesis Breaker to form Dark Claw Mode, Megatron battled Optimus Prime and Leobreaker's Savage Claw Mode and made a further play for the Omega Lock, until news of the location of the fourth and final Cyber Planet Key led him to withdraw.

Guided through a spatial warp by the mysterious [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]] to [[Gigantion]], the Giant Planet, home of the final key, Megatron engaged the world's leader, [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]], in battle. Much to his surprise, however, he was utterly defeated in seconds. Consumed with rage, the power of Unicron within his armor reached out and detected the energies of the Giant Planet's Cyber Planet Key, drawing upon them and infusing Megatron's body with them. Attacking the Autobots in a dark, shadowed form, he decimated most of their forces before being confronted by Optimus Prime and completing his transformation - once again, Megatron had become Galvatron.

After taking revenge on Metroplex, Galvatron joined the race to acquire the Giant Play key, which included a rematch with the reborn Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot. Yet again, the Autobots were able to acquire the key, but Galvatron then stole the completed Omega Lock, only to be attacked by Starscream, who battled with Galvatron for possession of the artifact. Galvatron ultimately claimed victory in the battle, with the sheer amount of energy released in the clash actually blasting Starscream (along with [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and Soundwave, who were trying to nick the lock) into another universe. With the lock and keys now in his hands, Galvatron attacked Primus and returned to the Black Hole, where he was confronted and finally defeated by the five planet leaders, right before they returned the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys to Primus, whose Spark was then restored and who used the Ark to finally seal the black hole for good.

Having had ultimate power torn from his grasp, Galvatron contemplated giving up. He was then spoken to by Starscream's spirit, who said that if he was to give up just like that, then he was "no Unicron." Starscream vanished but stayed as a memory. His crown, left floating in space after his demise, came to Galvatron, who clenched it close. He realized that his former lieutenant was right and decided to continue his conquest (presumably keeping the crown as a trophy). He challenged Optimus Prime to one final duel. Battling on Cybertron's moon, Galvatron generated a massive blade of dark energy, which Prime countered with Vector Prime's sword. As the two old enemies charged towards each other in a final strike, Prime impaled Galvatron, whose body crumbled and dissolved as he met his end once and for all.

In a montage sequence at the conclusion of the series, however, Galvatron's evil proved eternal, as, beyond the veil of time and space, his spark battled with that of Vector Prime.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
====Armada====
One million years ago, Cybertron was at relative peace. Most Transformers were nothing more than citizens of the planet, the Autobot army simply guarded the majestic [[Cyber City]], and no one had heard of "Decepticons." The standard-sized Transformers lived alongside villages of the smaller-sized Mini-Cons, and all of them were caught unawares by the sudden rise of Megatron. He and his soldiers came seemingly out of nowhere, sweeping through Mini-Con villages and performing horrible experiments on the diminutive Transformers. The Decepticons had discovered how to rewire Mini-Cons to interface with them, drawing power from their new slaves. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Dreamwave Armada issue 1}}

After capturing all but [[Sparkplug (Armada)|a]] [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team|handful]] of Mini-Cons, Megatron and his enhanced troops assaulted Cyber City, defeating the Autobots in a single battle. But while Optimus Prime's forces retreated, the rogue Mini-Cons infiltrated Decepticon headquarters and spirited all of their imprisoned brethren away in a [[Exodus|spaceship]]. To Megatron's great consternation, the ship fled from Cybertron to [[Earth|parts unknown]]. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Dreamwave Armada issue 2}}

Despite this loss, the Decepticons still held the power of the Mini-Cons they had been using in the battle of Cyber City, and this gave them continual combat superiority. Cybertron was completely unprepared for Megatron's assault; thousands of citizens submitted themselves to slavery. Megatron's rule brought chaos and injustice, and while the Autobots never gave up their fight, they had to resort to guerrilla tactics from underground bases. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 3|Dreamwave Armada issue 3}}

At some point, Prime would recall having heard about Megatron for the first time while he (Prime) was still in [[Cybertronian Military Academy|military academy]]. Prime said that the rumors surrounding Megatron were positive: that he was an unbeatable warrior with an unrivalled intellect. But Megatron soon turned his abilities against the Cybertronian governments, raising the Decepticon army in a march of conquest. After Prime's first field mission, he witnessed Megatron's ruthlessness in the form of a devastated energon refinery filled with the dead and dying. Prime claimed that this experience cemented his desire to defeat Megatron at all costs. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada}}

{{note|Prime's story appears incongruous with the known progress of the Mini-Con enslavement, which happened after Prime had ascended to a command position. As the Mini-Con villages fell, everyone seemed completely in the dark about who Megatron and the Decepticons were, and they were shocked by the idea of a war being declared. There is no known reason for Prime to have lied about his memories, but since he may have made those statements even a million years after the fact, perhaps allowances can be made for false recollections.}}

For a million years, the war raged on Cybertron, but when [[Rad White|some]] [[Alexis|human]] [[Carlos Lopez|children]] stumbled upon the crashed Mini-Con ship and activated a distress beacon, the conflict took a new turn. The Decepticons, controlling Cybertron's communications satellites, intercepted the signal and mounted a [[Space bridge|spacebridge]] assault on Earth. Meanwhile, the Autobots, having hacked into the communications system, also saw the signal and made a spacebridge trip of their own. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Dreamwave Armada issue 2}} The two forces inevitably clashed, but at last the Autobots were able to gain the upper hand when some of the reactivated Mini-Cons lent their power to fight the Decepticons. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Dreamwave Armada issue 4}}

Megatron, however, was undeterred by the Mini-Cons' newfound resistance. In addition to the Mini-Cons he had maintained lordship over for millennia, Megatron also gained control of the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team|Air Defense Team]] and their [[Star Saber (Armada)|Dark Saber]] combination. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 6|Dreamwave Armada issue 6}} But he couldn't keep control of it, as he lacked respect for its power. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 7|Dreamwave Armada issue 7}} He later attempted to seize control of the Mini-Con Moon Base and its inhabitants; rushing in without thinking, he gave [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]] the means to seal him in a security room and almost torture him to death. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 11|Dreamwave Armada issue 11}}

He came out of this with the [[Destruction Mini-Con Team]] as his prisoners, only to find they had a failsafe in their systems that gave out both unfettered power and incredible pain to anyone linking to them by force. Having tasted that power, Megatron was unwilling to let it go, and so actually made a deal with [[Dualor]] in return for it, {{storylink|Fire & Ice|Fire & Ice}} ''even though'' he knew they'd end up betraying him. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 13|Dreamwave Armada issue 13}}

At some point, Megatron somehow gained even more power and a new paint job, rechristening himself "Galvatron." By itself, this new form was more powerful than his old body ''with'' Mini-Con enhancement. Still refusing to accept any limits, Galvatron discarded Leader-1 and sought to create the ultimate Mini-Con in his place. He began with [[Clench (Armada)|Clench]] and "upgraded" him with parts extracted from other victims. Clench took to his servitude gladly, grateful for the power of his new body. This was just one example of Galvatron's increased ability to manipulate those around him to serve his own ends. Sadly for his allies, this came with an even greater disregard for anyone and anything besides his own quest for physical enhancement. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada}}

{{note|It is unclear when or where Megatron turned into Galvatron, but it likely was after he came to Earth, since Galvatron's body was in all respects but color identical to the form Megatron took upon arrival. More certainly, it can be said that the Galvatron upgrade was a temporary state, as ''Armada'' would end with Megatron - as Megatron - being consumed by Unicron and imprisoned incorporeally until well into ''Energon''.}}

When [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] suddenly vanished, Megatron led an attack on Autobase, critically wounding [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] in the process. This was disrupted by the machinations of [[Unicron]], whose heralds took out the Decepticons' Cybertron base and Earth forces. Megatron fought a vicious battle to the death with the herald [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], whom he dismembered with the help of the Air Defense Team as the Star Saber. {{storylink|Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}}

Regrouping after this, he formed an alliance with the returned Optimus to get "payback." The Decepticons joined the Autobots and Mini-Cons in battling Unicron, who emerged from another dimension via a portal close to Cybertron. While almost all of the Transformers were pouring their efforts into a direct assault, Megatron covertly flew to Unicron's surface with the intent of striking a deal. Just as he was landing, [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]] opened the [[Mini-Con Matrix]] and dealt Unicron a critical blow. Megatron changed his plan to simple looting, but before he could even begin, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] shot him at pointblank range in revenge for Smokescreen. As the dimensional portal closed back around Unicron, Megatron was pulled helplessly into the Chaos-Bringer's departing body. {{storylink|The End|The End}}

====Energon====
{{charstubfiction}}

Though his body was meticulously and painfully disassembled and cannibalized by Unicron's defense systems, his consciousness survived within Unicron's spark core. In secret, he constructed a new body for himself and, after teleporting Optimus Prime into Unicron and convincing him to shut down some sensors, returned to Earth and destroyed [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]. [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] was worried that Megatron would kill him too, but Megatron told him that he wanted him alive so that he could tell everyone that he had returned. 

{{note|Dreamwave went bankrupt before Megatron's full intentions could be revealed.}}

At an unspecified time after Megatron would reclaim leadership of the Decepticons, he ordered [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Slugslinger (Energon)|Slugslinger]], and [[Sharkticon (Energon)|Sharkticon]] to attack [[Ocean City]]. Each of them failed in various embarrassing ways, then lied about it afterward in an attempt to defend their failures.

Megatron

:was not

::amused.

He ''was'', however, impressed with Slugslinger's lie, and in fact promoted him for it. {{storylink|Perspective|Perspective}}

===''Universe'' comics===
Unicron, his ruined body trapped between dimensions, was teleporting Transformers from across time and space into himself, where he would pit them against each other and absorb their [[energon radiation]] and, eventually, [[Spark|sparks]]. One of his abductees was Megatron, bearing the tank-based form he took after first arriving on Earth. Megatron found himself alongside [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Optimus Primal]], and all three were dropped into a cauldron (possibly ''the'' [[Cauldron]]). They fought their way out, with Primal taking the lead (as he had been sent there on a mission from [[Primus|God]]). {{storylink|OTFCC Live-Action Drama|OTFCC Live-Action Drama}} The trio instigated a prison break that ended with many of Unicron's captives returning to their home universes. Presumably Megatron did as well. {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Megatron (Armada) toys}}

{{-}}
==Trivia==
[[Image:Concept-ArmadaMegatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Sweet Zombie Jesus!]]
* A conceptual drawing in the ''[[Micron Legend Year Book 2003|Micron Legend Yearbook 2003]]'' showed ''Armada'' Megatron as originally being more weapon-laden and certifiably able to '''kill you to death'''.

*Also in the ''Micron Legend Yearbook 2003'', ''Armada'' Megatron's cannon's concept art specifically notes that there is a [[Galvatron (G1)|"'80s Galvatron"]] homage sculpted on the barrel.

* A different development sketch in the ''Yearbook'' revealed that "[[Megatron (RID)|Gigatron]]" was one of ''Armada'' Megatron's working names.

* According to [[Aaron Archer]] as ORSON on the now-defunct "Orson's World" forum at [http://www.tfw2005.com TFW2005.com], ''Armada'' Megatron's "antlers" were part of an aborted Mini-Con grabber gimmick. The gimmick didn't make it, but the antlers remained.

* Also according to Archer, the chin on ''Armada'' Megatron is supposed to look like a pair of fangs to play up the character's evil nature. How well this was actually pulled off in the final sculpt is debatable.

* When a fan asked him why ''Energon'' Megatron was not named Galvatron, owing to continuity with the ''Armada'' series and the obvious visual [[homage]] in the figure's design, Archer explained that it was due to Hasbro needing to protect their trademarks, as well as Megatron being a more recognizable (and thus marketable) product name. He added that he personally wanted to call the toy '''Galvatron Imperius'''.

[[Image:Armada megatron toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Back in Armada this was considered a dynamic pose.]]
* According to the [[Transformers (Melbourne House)|''Armada'' Playstation 2 game]] instruction booklet, Megatron's ''Armada'' body has the following statistics:

:Height: 22' 11" (8' 3" vehicle mode)
:Weight: 106,925 lbs
:Power: 1,600 hp
:Vehicle top speed: 50mph

* During his stint on the ''Armada''' comic, it seems [[Pat Lee]] may have been referring to the original Hasbro stock photo of a mis-assembled Megatron toy (seen on the right), as he consistently draws Megatron's feet as being flipped with the "grates" from the tops of the feet facing forward.

* In the Transformers video game by Melbourne House, Megatron's tank barrel is not portrayed as sticking of the front of his chest, but rather to point up, resting on his back. Due to the weight of the barrel on the toy it is impractical to pose it in this manner, but this orientation allows Megatron to be portrayed in more dramatic situations - such as in the opening cutscene, where he notably does not prematurely skewer Optimus Prime like a kebab before trying to kill him.

{{-}}

==External links==
* [http://www.shmax.com/Figure_Details/3006/Master_Galvatron Master Galvatron at www.shmax.com]
* [http://www.tfu.info/2002/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm Megatron at TFU.info]
* [http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/binalternator/unreleased/megatron_soundwave/ Energon Megatron redeco with Smallest Transformers Soundwave gallery]

[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:Energon characters]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Titanium Series]]
[[Category:Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Toys with sound]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]

Call of the Wild

2009-09-23T23:05:33Z

Black Mage:

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=19
|image=Call of the Wild Optimus scope.jpg
|caption=Scopes munky trial?
|title="Call of the Wild"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[January 7]], 1997
|written by=[[Bob Forward]]
|directed by=[[Jonathan Goodwill]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''The Predacons steal the rectifier coil from the Maximal base, which causes the Maximals to revert into a more feral state.'''

:''Japanese title:'' よみがえれビーストパワー! (''Yomigaere Beast Power!'', "Revive, Beast Power!")

==Synopsis==
A cheetah enthusiastically chases some antelopes, when the ground around it breaks up and it is sent falling into hot lava. Before the cat gets burned, the sequence ends, revealed to be a dream of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s. Cheetor awakens from his nightmare in time to hear the alarms triggered by a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] assault. As the other [[Maximals]] prepare [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]], [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] drags Cheetor outside to battle.

[[Image:Call of the Wild Waspinator Terrorsaur.jpg|left|200px|thumb|What do we do about the slime?]]
[[Optimus Primal|Primal]] exits the Maximals' control room via the roof hatch, but is unable to prevent [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] from grabbing a piece of Maximal hardware off the roof and retreating with the other Predacons. A well-placed rocket from [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] prevents Primal from chasing the fliers. [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is just able to catch the Maximal leader before he crashes into the ground, but lowering Primal after taking a hit from Terrorsaur seriously taxes Airazor's systems. On the upside, the Predacons are no longer attacking.

Inside the base, recuperating, the Maximals suddenly feel the harmful effects of [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] build-up. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] explains that without the [[rectifier coil]] the Predacons stole, the Maximals will have to stay in Beast Mode. Meanwhile, the Predacons, after an uncharacteristically successful mission, enjoy a hearty laugh together.

[[Image:Call of the Wild Rhinox Optimus Rattrap.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Maximals look on as Michael Bay attempts to direct a scene.]]
Days later, Rhinox interrupts a dream Primal has (of being a real ape) to mention that Predacons are still haunting the local area. [[Rattrap]] suffers frustration from his Beast Mode's diminutive size and limb length. Primal and Rattrap almost get into a fight with each other, their minds suffering from bestial traits leaking into their personalities, but Rhinox lays down the line. Once the Preds leave, the Maximals take some much-needed rest.

[[Image:Call of the Wild Hunt.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Be very, very quiet. We're hunting Maxies.]]
In his dreams, Primal is tormented by eyes glowing in the dark, Dinobot dreams of hunting surprisingly tiny hadrosaurs, and Rattrap dreams of rat stuff. The dreams overpower their respective dreamers, and the Maximals awaken, trapped in the mindsets of the creatures whose forms they wear. The animals all eventually exit [[Axalon (BW)|their base]]. Their foes' intellects gone, Megatron and the Predacons begin their hunt.

Airazor exits the [[CR Chamber]] to meet [[Tigatron]] in the empty Maximal base. Tigatron resolves to reform his Maximal companions before they're killed, while Airazor has her own mission. She heads to the unoccupied [[Darksyde|Predacon base]], deftly dodging the automated defenses. Inside, the rectifier coil is under no protection she can't destroy.

[[Image:Call of the Wild Optimus Megatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Peter Jackson likely watched this episode.]]
In the jungle, Tigatron comes to face the feral Cheetor and Rhinox. The two follow him for reasons their animal minds don't comprehend. Next Tigatron recruits the primal Optimus into his party, and finally Dinobot and Rattrap. His friends gathered, Tigatron speaks to the dormant minds of his friends. He explains how the schism that exists between the Maximals' two modes is a side effect of a programming block, and as long as that program exists, the animal and Maximal identities will never reach cohesion. Now embracing the beasts within, the restored Maximals are ready to "Slag some bot!"

Primal swings Megatron off of his throne as the two Maximal cats tackle the two Predacon goons who were carrying their leader. Dinobot's raptor mode conquers [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. Rhinox knocks over a tree to ground the Predacon fliers, and a ratball special puts Rattrap into position to pump gunfire into Terrorsaur. After the Predacons start to feel the effects of Energon build-up, Megatron orders a retreat.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (4)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (5)
* [[Rattrap]] (6)
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (7)
* [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (12)
* [[Tigatron]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]](2)
* [[Tarantulas]] (3)
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (8)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (9)
* [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (10)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
* [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Man, I swear them polka-dots go clear through to the brain."
:—'''Rattrap''' on Cheetor.

"Trouble with the neighbours again."
:—'''Airazor''' spots the ''Axalon'' under attack.

"Predacons, fall back!" 
"Now he tells me!"
:—'''Megatron''''s order comes a wee bit too late to save '''Tarantulas'''.

"Hunting from the air with automatic weapons—now ''that's'' a sport!"
:—'''Terrorsaur'''

"She stoops to conquer!"
:—'''Airazor''' shows some wit.

"Rat...robot. Rat...robot. I'm a robot ''and'' a rat! Yeahh, I ''like'' it!" 
"Hrmf, I do not see why."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Dinobot'''

"Remember, do not fight your beast instincts. Let them help your robot forms both in battle and in peace. But for now, let us maximize (''transforms into robot mode), AND SLAG SOME BUTT!"''
:—'''Tigatron''' delivers solid advice.

==Other notes==
===Animation errors===
===Continuity errors===
* In one of the bigger continuity errors in ''Beast Wars''—because it is actually in the spoken dialogue and not a result of [[Code of Hero|careless animation]] or [[Transmutate (episode)|time-filling sound edits]]—Megatron says his plan is contingent on his research of Maximal programming, and Tigatron later confirms the existence of this specifically Maximal weakness. So ''why is Dinobot affected at all?''

===Other errors===
* In his beast dream, Dinobot—supposedly experiencing the instincts of his beast mode, Asia's ''[[wikipedia:velociraptor|Velociraptor]]''—dreams of chasing what appears to be a ''[[wikipedia:parasaurolophus|Parasaurolophus]]'', which only lived in the Americas and which furthermore is portrayed as far too small. Since the creature is never actually named, it may be taken as representing a different dinosaur species as-yet-undiscovered.

===Transformers references===
===Real-world references===
* The episode was likely named after [[wikipedia:Jack_London|Jack London's]] 1903 novel ''[[wikipedia:The_Call_of_the_Wild|The Call of the Wild]]''.
* Airazor's "she stoops to conquer" line is a ''double'' reference: first, and most obviously, to 1773 play ''[[wikipedia:She_Stoops_to_Conquer|She Stoops to Conquer]]'', and secondly to a ''stoop'', which is the dive of a bird of prey. [[Ben Yee|Some people]] do not get it.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* This episode marks the only use of Megatron's right arm-mounted missile launcher, which fires from the same port the laser beam emanates from. What is with Transformers and the one-use weapons?
* This episode explores many themes that several of the same characters would later explore in ''[[Beast Machines]]''. The idea of the Maximals taking on more bestial personalities because of their beast modes is used in the episode "[[Forbidden Fruit]]". A similar concept would have been touched on in the unproduced ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[A Greater Ape]]".
* When the Maximal computer announces that the Predacons are withdrawing from the area, text in the Maximal version of the Cybertronix [[Cybertronian languages|language]] scrolls by the bottom of the screen, and more text flashes in blue in the middle of the screen. The blue flashing text reads "area clear", and the text on the bottom reads "its been a long time since ive had sweet thistle pie".

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Bonecrusher (Movie)

2009-09-23T11:36:39Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|decepticon}}

{{disambig3|Bonecrusher}}
{{disambig2|the Decepticon in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 Transformers movie]]|the nameless Decepticon in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]] that looks like him|Buffalo MPV Decepticon}}

:''Bonecrusher is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Movie (franchise)|2007 movie franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:MovieBonecrusher.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''He was a sk8ter boi She said see ya later boy'']]

'''Bonecrusher''' is a Transformer that can be described with one word: Hate. While other Decepticons get by on greed, ambition, or just their fondness for dispensing chaos, Bonecrusher is fueled by sheer, unrelenting hate. He hates everyone and everything, be they Autobot, Decepticon, or anything in-between—he even hates ''himself'', revolted by his misshapen, hunchbacked robot mode, which he considers a reflection of all the ugliness and malice inside himself. The full force of this vicious cycle of hatred finds release in explosive frenzied bursts of psychotic brutality, as Bonecrusher takes out the full force of his bitterness and self-loathing on anyone who looks at him sideways. He hates that. He also hates [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], but would hate being terminated by the Decepticon leader more, so he sticks around.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Bonecrusher was actually quite a skilled tactician—dedicated to the art of war, a fast thinker who could plough into battle while others were still mapping out strategy, and, most importantly in Megatron's eyes, a masterfully ''dirty'' fighter. However, Bonecrusher's skills left him consigned to a supervisory position and kept him off the battlefield, which, of course, he hated. Naturally, this only helped to increase his already epic levels of frustration and misery at his lot in life, until he became what he is today. <ref>Bonecrusher profile in [[Transformers Comic issue 8|Titan's UK Transformers Comic #8]]</ref> He's so intensely pent-up that he'll unflinchingly take on opponents of any size{{m-}}the bigger the better! Bonecrusher wouldn't hesitate to confront [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] head on, if he could.

He transforms into a Buffalo mine-clearing vehicle used by the military, perhaps because it was the vehicle he hated the least.

{{quote|'''Let it die.''' And ''you'' with it.|Bonecrusher to [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] about [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s death|[[Planetfall]]}}

:''Hungarian name:'' '''Csonttörő'''
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Hǔei-mìeh Chě''' (毀滅者, "Annihilator" or "Devastator"... [[Brawl (Movie)|uh-oh...]])

== Fiction ==
===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Bonecrusher was known and feared by Autobots for never giving up. He almost killed [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] once and pursued him and his comrade [[Clocker (Movie)|Clocker]] for ages, driven by his hatred of nice-looking shiny robots (or nice-looking ''anythings''). As he said, "I figure, why should they look so nice... when I look like ''this!''" Clocker covered the wounded Jazz's retreat and tried to fight Bonecrusher, who hated that and killed him. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 6|Lost In Space 4: Jazz}}

{{notetitantlg}}
[[Image:Titan11_Bonecrusher.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Should we tell him we don't have bones?" "Nah. He'd hate that."]]
Bonecrusher was surprisingly still alive and was in charge of security at the Decepticon's [[All Spark]] holding facility. Although he was happy that he has his arm and head reattached, he hated his job, as he was just a glorified drone director, and not able to kill anything himself. Thus, when he learned that Ironhide and Ratchet were trying to get into the facility, he decided to let the two Autobot infiltrators in, just so he could personally confront and kill them. So he not only disliked his job, he also wasn't very good at it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 11|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3}} His fists hated on Ironhide's face before Ratchet stepped in, tearing the Decepticon up with offensive weaponry. [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee's]] team arrived to take out the Swindles, leaving Ironhide and Ratchet free to bash up Bonecrusher {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4}}; you'd think he would have hated this and wanted it to stop, but when the Autobots got pinned down by [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] drone fire, Bonecrusher ''tore apart his own troops'' to reach and kill the Autobots. He fought Ironhide again and this time lost, and may have been blown up with the All Spark. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}}

===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{charstubfiction}}

{{Storylink|Defiance issue 2}} {{Storylink|Defiance issue 4}}

[[Image:Movie BarricadeBonecrusher protoforms.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Bonecrusher's pre-Earth body. Bonecrusher hates retro-designs.]]

Bonecrusher was a member of Starscream's unit that was keeping [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s reinforcements out of [[Tyger Pax]]. When [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] arrived with news of Megatron and the All Spark, Bonecrusher insisted that they move on as they had already killed all the Autobots in the area. He then demanded that Brawl take them to Megatron or he would kill them all. Witnessing the launch of the All Spark, [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] commented that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] would die, but Bonecrusher replied that they should let it die, and that Barricade should join it in death. After Starscream and Blackout settled their differences, the group headed after Megatron. {{storylink|Planetfall|Planetfall}}

They landed on [[Mars]], the fourth planet of the solar system where they had detected the All Spark's energy signature. The Decepticons destroyed a [[Beagle 2 Rover|primitive life form]] encountered on the surface. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream Issue Number One|The Reign of Starscream issue 1}}

The Decepticons made planetfall on [[Earth]] in Afghanistan, quickly attracting the attention of a nearby [[United States military|US military]] base, which sent out an armoured personnel carrier to investigate. Bonecrusher declared his satisfaction in finally having something to kill, but this chance was snatched away when [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] scanned the vehicle and destroyed it. He hated when that happened. Hitting the US airbase, Bonecrusher easily killed the humans before scanning a Buffalo mine-clearance vehicle. Bonecrusher hated the notion of "disguise", but hated standing out more. After scanning, he complained that there weren't enough lifeforms to kill. {{storylink|Planetfall|Planetfall}}
{{-}}
===''Ghosts of Yesterday'' prequel novel===
Bonecrusher was aboard the crew of the ''Nemesis'', led by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], who were searching for Megatron, who was lost thousands of years ago, along with the [[All Spark]]. He hated Starscream, but all the other Decepticons do as well, making it something he has in common with his fellow Decepticons.

When Starscream left to go destroy [[Ghost 1|an alien vessel]], Bonecrusher eagerly joined [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]'s plan to attack the ''[[Ark (Movie)|Ark]]'' against Starscream's orders, as there was nothing else to attack. Bypassing [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], he headed straight for the ''Ark''. However, [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] were waiting, and unleashed hell upon him. He hated that. When Blackout ordered a withdrawal, Bonecrusher reluctantly complied.

Shortly afterwards, Barricade picked Bonecrusher to lead another assault on the ''Ark''. His only response to the command was a growl. After Blackout had his [[exhaust port]] handed to him for challenging Starscream, Bonecrusher had to drag him back to the ''Nemesis''. During the subsequent fight, Bonecrusher had to fight Ironhide, and managed to dent his armor. However, Bonecrusher demands answers from Starscream when Blackout demands information on why the Decepticon leader wanted to destroy the alien ship, cause damn it, even Bonecrusher needs reasons to kill (well, not really, he was just getting fed up with Starscream). Bonecrusher was forced to drag Starscream back to the ''Nemesis'' when he was injured by the alien ship. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday}}

===''Transformers'' (2007) film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jimmie Wood]] (English)

[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher carflip.jpg|left|250px|thumb|He hates the sundown slowdown.]]
Bonecrusher was hiding out in the motor pool of a military base when he received a communique from Starscream ordering the Decepticons to mobilize and converge on the location of the All Spark. Leaving the base, he reported that he was "rolling" out. Sometime after this, he rendezvoused with [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]], and the three Decepticons headed off together to intercept the Autobots and their human allies who had the All Spark in their possession.

[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher face.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Bonecrusher, like most celebs, hates the paparazzi. He also hates closeups.]]

Devastator wandered off somewhere, so Bonecrusher and Barricade continued their pursuit on the freeway. Barricade activated his sirens to clear the traffic and allow them more maneuvering room. Unsatisfied with Barricade's less conspicuous method, Bonecrusher used his mine-scoop to flip cars out of his way. Surprisingly, the Autobots didn't find this out of the ordinary, and only reacted when [[Sam Witwicky|ladiesman217]] recognized Barricade and warned the Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] aligned to block the Decepticons from [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], who had the All Spark and the fleshlings.

[[Image:Movie2007_Bonecrusher_attacks_Prime.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Bonecrusher loves (for once) to watch things burn. Just not himself.]]

After Barricade pulled over to the side of the road, Bonecrusher transformed while still moving and skated towards the Autobots. Optimus Prime transformed and slid into position to block his path. Seeing the Autobot he really hated, Bonecrusher smashed through a bus, and tackled Optimus Prime, pushing him off an overpass tumbling and falling off the edge, dragging the Autobot leader down with him.

[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher dies.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Thus began (and ended) Bonecrusher's hatred of Prime's sword.]]

When they landed, he sucker-punched Optimus Prime, who then hit Bonecrusher so hard one of the Decepticon's [[Sensors#Optical sensors|optics]] popped free from its socket, all the while being observed by a little kid in an SUV, who though the entire experience was ''totally'' cool. The two played a little cat-and-mouse along the overpasses. After Prime jumped down to ground level, Bonecrusher swung his tail wildly at the Autobot, all the while screaming incoherently. This gave Optimus the opportunity he needed to get his sword ready... which the Autobot leader used to cleave Bonecrusher's right arm and run through the Decepticon's neck, nearly severing it. Optimus then wrenched Bonecrusher's head from its neck and tossed it aside. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers}}

{{note|Though decapitated, Bonecrusher's remains were not among those that were disposed of in the [[Laurentian Abyss]].}}

===Toy Bio===
{{notemoviebio}}

Despite all appearances, Bonecrusher managed to escape after his encounter with Optimus Prime (missing his head? beaten to a pulp?), and went to hide out in the South American jungle. And while he was in the jungle, his version of relieving stress was ripping apart trees and destroying South American military convoys.

He also, during the final battle of the AllSpark, faced of with Jazz in a final battle to the ultimate finish.

==Games==
===Transformers The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Daniel Riordan]]

{{note|Bonecrusher only appears in the Decepticon campaign of the game, and as a non-playable character t'boot on the console. He would've hated being playable.}}
While hiding in a military base, Bonecrusher came under attack by the humans twice, and required assistance from Starscream to escape. He hates needing help from people. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game (console)}}

===Transformers The Game (PSP)===
After the Autobots manage to secure the All Spark, they are attacked by Decepticon drones led by Bonecrusher. To give Bumblebee time to escape with the Cube, Optimus Prime takes on Bonecrusher personally, eventually besting him. After this Bonecrusher wasn't seen or mentioned through the rest of the game. Bonecrusher hates not being seen or mentioned.{{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:Movie Legends JazzBonecrusher toys.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Sure Bonecrusher is smaller, that just means his hate is extra-concentrated.]]
*'''Autobot Jazz vs. Bonecrusher''' (Legends multi-pack, 2007)

: As part of the ''AllSpark Battles'' refresh of the Movie toyline, a Legends-class [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] with altered [[Paint operation|paint applications]] is repacked in a Versus two-pack with an all-new Legends class figure of Bonecrusher. In Europe, he was packaged individually.

*'''Bonecrusher''' (Legends, 2008)

: An individually packaged release of the Legends class toy, released within Europe.
{{-}}
====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Moviebonecrushertoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The name's doomed to be nothing but bulldozers or buffaloes. And he hates that.]]
*'''Bonecrusher''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''MD-09'''

: Bonecrusher transforms into a [[wikipedia:Buffalo_(mine_protected_vehicle)|Buffalo mine-protected vehicle]], with an articulated "mine-fork" for removing mines or cars or robots or unsuspecting buildings from his path. The fork can change from its packaged "Grabber claw" configuration into a more fork/shovel like configuration, a fact not stated on the instructions. He has six rolling wheels in this mode, and two sculpted, non-functional spare wheels.

: In robot mode he has elements resembling both his 2005 design and the final design used in the movie, though a major deviation to both designs is that the entire front shell halves of the vehicle mode are mounted upon his arms. His arms have limited articulation due to this [[kibble]], but can extend out into '''really''' long arms. His legs fare better, with ball jointed hips, swivel knees and ankles, but his hips can often detach from the codpiece holding them together. The mine-fork splits to form a grabber-claw, which can snap onto victims with a geared slider [[Automorph Technology|Automorph]] mechanism.

: He is named "Bonescrusher" on the Canadian [[cross-sell]]. Guess how Bonecrusher feels about ''that'' little mispelling.
{{-}}
*'''Deluxe three-pack''' (Costco exclusive multi-pack, 2007)

:This Costco exclusive three-pack contains an unchanged Deluxe Class Bonecrusher together with equally unchanged Deluxe Class [[Brawl (Movie)|Decepticon Brawl]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Autobot Jazz]] toys. It also comes with a nifty poster depicting all three toys in a standoff scene. Not so nifty is that the box accidentally places Brawl and Bonecrusher's bios underneath each other.
{{-}}
[[Image:Movie JungleBonecrusher toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The living definition of a Mean Green Fighting Machine. Don't tell him that, though; Bonecrusher hates cliches.]]
*'''Jungle Bonecrusher''' (Deluxe, 2008)

: Finally, the big guy gets a [[redeco]], in deep forest green and olive green, as part of the "All Spark Power" refresh line. It's not easy being green, and he hates that. He also hates redecos, slavish or not. He also hates quality control, and [[Fandom|fans]] who complain that the claw arm now has a habit of popping off with little force, while the original did not. Reviewer [[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]] pointed out that this interferes with the automorph trick, as the arm can now pop off while sliding that lever. It's obvious by now how he feels about Ben Yee, [[Swivel joint|swivel joints]], quality control, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|cars addicted to]] [[JaAm]], sore shoulders (& possibly his own shoulders as well), [[Ball joint|ball joints]], JaAm, etc...
:*{{external|http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/JungleBonecrusher/bonecrusher.htm|Jungle Bonecrusher}}
*'''Freeway Brawl (Two-Pack)''' ("Screen Battles" Deluxe, 2008)

: An unchanged Deluxe Class Bonecrusher packed with a [[Repaint|repainted]] Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to reference their battle under a freeway overpass that ended with Bonecrusher's decapitation and Prime standing heroically bathed in the light of a sunset.
{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Attacktix MovieTransformers Tournament Set.jpg|right|250px|thumb|So many people to crush, so little time. (Bonecrusher hates having little time to crush).]]
*'''Transformers Tournament Set'''

: Available exclusively in this set, this Attacktix playing piece of Bonecrusher is funnily enough one of the most accurate pieces of merchandise he has. The set also includes unique playing pieces of Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee. Bonecrusher hates the fact that everybody else has [[Cannon|guns]], and he has to use a claw.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Danglers====
[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher dangler.jpg|right|173px|thumb|Bonecrusher hates being cute and adorable and super deformed and not having a transformation-scheme. Wow he's really serious with this hate thing.]]
*'''Bonecrusher''' (2007)

:Released by [[Tomy Yujin]] in November 2007<ref name="TomyYujin">[http://www.gachausa.com/products/transformers.asp Tomy Yujin ''Transformers'' page]</ref> as part of the [[Danglers Collection]], this toy is a weird plastic [[super deformed]] version of Bonecrusher that pops out his vehicle mode when you squeeze him. This little figurine has a little strap on it so that it can be put on cell phones or portable gaming devices.
{{-}}

===Revenge of the Fallen===
====RPMs - Robot Powered Machines====
=====Battle Series=====
*'''Optimus Prime vs Bonecrusher''' (2009)
**''Number:'' ???

{{comingsoontoy}}

===Robot Heroes===
*'''Ironhide vs Bonecrusher''' (2007)

[[Image:Rhboneiron.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Bonecrusher is actually pretty glad that he doesn't come with sword-wielding RH Prime.]]
:Bonecrusher comes packaged with the impressively-armed [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. He is depicted lunging forward on his roller-skate feet, presumably to deliver an extremely enthusiastic hug. This figurine is notorious for not actually being able to stand up on its feet very well, usually requiring one of its hands to be used for balance.
{{-}}
==Trivia==
[[Image:PhotoshopedBuffalo.PNG|right|250px|thumb|*Giant fork and Decepticon insignia not included with the real Buffalo.* Bonecrusher hates those disclaimers.]]
* The real Buffalo mine-sweeping vehicle doesn't have such a huge fork. It is only 14 inches (35 cm) wide. The image that inspired Bonecrusher's design was actually a Photoshopped image put on the official Force Protection company's site to make it look more impressive[http://www.forceprotection.net/models/buffalo/]. A 10-foot-wide (3 m) appliance had to be fixed on Bonecrusher's arm for the movie.

* Force Protection really loves Bonecrusher and the fact that he has picked their Buffalo as its alt mode. They are actually quite proud of it.[http://www.forceprotection.net/news/transformers.html]

* Bonecrusher's toy was used as a prop for a CNN Headline News report demonstrating the real Buffalo vehicle's mine-sweeping arm.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAWP2uVd7M]

* According to a press kit sent out in conjunction with the movie, Bonecrusher is, "another [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]" who "forms [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl's]] left arm".[http://numberonestars.com/transformers/production/decepticons.htm] Thus far, there have been no reports of people using Bonecrusher as one of Brawl's arms, left or otherwise.

* At various points during his fight with Optimus Prime, Bonecrusher emits some garbled roars that ''might'' be English. However, there is little agreement among viewers as to what he might be saying, and indeed, whether he even said anything at all. The subtitles and closed captions for the film do not identify any dialogue, just labelling it as "roaring". Maybe he just hates speaking? Someone should really ask Jimmie Wood.

* Bonecrusher is [[Michael Bay]]'s favorite character from the film, despite his limited screentime —so much so that Bay named [[Bonecrusher (ROTF)|his new dog]] after him. Bonecrusher still hates Bay for the small screen time he gets though.

* Bonecrusher is never discussed or mentioned in ''[[Transformers: The Movie Guide]]''.

* In one of [[Hasbro Q&A|Hasbro's bimonthly Q & As]], it was revealed that in retrospect, Hasbro thinks a Voyager-class figure would have been a better fit for the figure than the Deluxe.

* According to the DVD commentary, Bonecrusher's sequences were particularly difficult for [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] to do at first. The solution came from videotaping employees rollerblading in the parking lot, and a pair of fighting experts going through the motions wanted for Bonecrusher and Prime, then using that footage as references.

* Bonecrusher's movements seem to be heavily inspired by several types of sports including hockey (his running movements) and American football (his tackling on Optimus Prime).

*During the Egypt battle in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen]]'', a [[Buffalo MPV Decepticon|nameless Decepticon]] is seen among the protoform army which possesses Boncrusher's alternate mode. Bonecrusher hates clones.

* Last but not least, Bonecrusher hates ''you''. Yeah, you. You know who you are. Don't try to pretend you don't know, either. Bonecrusher hates ignorance.

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/Bonecrusher/bonecrusher.htm Bonecrusher at TFU.info]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Movie characters]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]

Bonecrusher (Movie)

2009-09-19T22:09:55Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|decepticon}}

{{disambig3|Bonecrusher}}
{{disambig2|the Decepticon in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 Transformers movie]]|the nameless Decepticon in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]] that looks like him|Buffalo MPV Decepticon}}

:''Bonecrusher is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Movie (franchise)|2007 movie franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:MovieBonecrusher.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''He was a sk8ter boi She said see ya later boy'']]

'''Bonecrusher''' is a Transformer that can be described with one word: Hate. While other Decepticons get by on greed, ambition, or just their fondness for dispensing chaos, Bonecrusher is fueled by sheer, unrelenting hate. He hates everyone and everything, be they Autobot, Decepticon, or anything in-between—he even hates ''himself'', revolted by his misshapen, hunchbacked robot mode, which he considers a reflection of all the ugliness and malice inside himself. The full force of this vicious cycle of hatred finds release in explosive frenzied bursts of psychotic brutality, as Bonecrusher takes out the full force of his bitterness and self-loathing on anyone who looks at him sideways. He hates that. He also hates [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], but would hate being terminated by the Decepticon leader more, so he sticks around.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Bonecrusher was actually quite a skilled tactician—dedicated to the art of war, a fast thinker who could plough into battle while others were still mapping out strategy, and, most importantly in Megatron's eyes, a masterfully ''dirty'' fighter. However, Bonecrusher's skills left him consigned to a supervisory position and kept him off the battlefield, which, of course, he hated. Naturally, this only helped to increase his already epic levels of frustration and misery at his lot in life, until he became what he is today. <ref>Bonecrusher profile in [[Transformers Comic issue 8|Titan's UK Transformers Comic #8]]</ref> He's so intensely pent-up that he'll unflinchingly take on opponents of any size{{m-}}the bigger the better! Bonecrusher wouldn't hesitate to confront [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] head on, if he could.

He transforms into a Buffalo mine-clearing vehicle used by the military, perhaps because it was the vehicle he hated the least.

{{quote|'''Let it die.''' And ''you'' with it.|Bonecrusher to [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] about [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s death|[[Planetfall]]}}

:''Hungarian name:'' '''Csonttörő'''
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Hǔei-mìeh Chě''' (毀滅者, "Annihilator" or "Devastator"... [[Brawl (Movie)|uh-oh...]])

== Fiction ==
===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Bonecrusher was known and feared by Autobots for never giving up. He almost killed [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] once and pursued him and his comrade [[Clocker (Movie)|Clocker]] for ages, driven by his hatred of nice-looking shiny robots (or nice-looking ''anythings''). As he said, "I figure, why should they look so nice... when I look like ''this!''" Clocker covered the wounded Jazz's retreat and tried to fight Bonecrusher, who hated that and killed him. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 6|Lost In Space 4: Jazz}}

{{notetitantlg}}
[[Image:Titan11_Bonecrusher.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Should we tell him we don't have bones?" "Nah. He'd hate that."]]
Bonecrusher was surprisingly still alive and was in charge of security at the Decepticon's [[All Spark]] holding facility. Although he was happy that he has his arm and head reattached, he hated his job, as he was just a glorified drone director, and not able to kill anything himself. Thus, when he learned that Ironhide and Ratchet were trying to get into the facility, he decided to let the two Autobot infiltrators in, just so he could personally confront and kill them. So he not only disliked his job, he also wasn't very good at it. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 11|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3}} His fists hated on Ironhide's face before Ratchet stepped in, tearing the Decepticon up with offensive weaponry. [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee's]] team arrived to take out the Swindles, leaving Ironhide and Ratchet free to bash up Bonecrusher {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 12|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4}}; you'd think he would have hated this and wanted it to stop, but when the Autobots got pinned down by [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] drone fire, Bonecrusher ''tore apart his own troops'' to reach and kill the Autobots. He fought Ironhide again and this time lost, and may have been blown up with the All Spark. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 5}}

===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{charstubfiction}}

{{Storylink|Defiance issue 2}} {{Storylink|Defiance issue 4}}

[[Image:Movie BarricadeBonecrusher protoforms.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Bonecrusher's pre-Earth body. Bonecrusher hates retro-designs.]]

Bonecrusher was a member of Starscream's unit that was keeping [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s reinforcements out of [[Tyger Pax]]. When [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] arrived with news of Megatron and the All Spark, Bonecrusher insisted that they move on as they had already killed all the Autobots in the area. He then demanded that Brawl take them to Megatron or he would kill them all. Witnessing the launch of the All Spark, [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] commented that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] would die, but Bonecrusher replied that they should let it die, and that Barricade should join it in death. After Starscream and Blackout settled their differences, the group headed after Megatron. {{storylink|Planetfall|Planetfall}}

They landed on [[Mars]], the fourth planet of the solar system where they had detected the All Spark's energy signature. The Decepticons destroyed a [[Beagle 2 Rover|primitive life form]] encountered on the surface. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream Issue Number One|The Reign of Starscream issue 1}}

The Decepticons made planetfall on [[Earth]] in Afghanistan, quickly attracting the attention of a nearby [[United States military|US military]] base, which sent out an armoured personnel carrier to investigate. Bonecrusher declared his satisfaction in finally having something to kill, but this chance was snatched away when [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] scanned the vehicle and destroyed it. He hated when that happened. Hitting the US airbase, Bonecrusher easily killed the humans before scanning a Buffalo mine-clearance vehicle. Bonecrusher hated the notion of "disguise", but hated standing out more. After scanning, he complained that there weren't enough lifeforms to kill. {{storylink|Planetfall|Planetfall}}
{{-}}
===''Ghosts of Yesterday'' prequel novel===
Bonecrusher was aboard the crew of the ''Nemesis'', led by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], who were searching for Megatron, who was lost thousands of years ago, along with the [[All Spark]]. He hated Starscream, but all the other Decepticons do as well, making it something he has in common with his fellow Decepticons.

When Starscream left to go destroy [[Ghost 1|an alien vessel]], Bonecrusher eagerly joined [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]'s plan to attack the ''[[Ark (Movie)|Ark]]'' against Starscream's orders, as there was nothing else to attack. Bypassing [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], he headed straight for the ''Ark''. However, [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] were waiting, and unleashed hell upon him. He hated that. When Blackout ordered a withdrawal, Bonecrusher reluctantly complied.

Shortly afterwards, Barricade picked Bonecrusher to lead another assault on the ''Ark''. His only response to the command was a growl. After Blackout had his [[exhaust port]] handed to him for challenging Starscream, Bonecrusher had to drag him back to the ''Nemesis''. During the subsequent fight, Bonecrusher had to fight Ironhide, and managed to dent his armor. However, Bonecrusher demands answers from Starscream when Blackout demands information on why the Decepticon leader wanted to destroy the alien ship, cause damn it, even Bonecrusher needs reasons to kill (well, not really, he was just getting fed up with Starscream). Bonecrusher was forced to drag Starscream back to the ''Nemesis'' when he was injured by the alien ship. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday|Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday}}

===''Transformers'' (2007) film===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Jimmie Wood]] (English)

[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher carflip.jpg|left|250px|thumb|He hates the sundown slowdown.]]
Bonecrusher was hiding out in the motor pool of a military base when he received a communique from Starscream ordering the Decepticons to mobilize and converge on the location of the All Spark. Leaving the base, he reported that he was "rolling" out. Sometime after this, he rendezvoused with [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]], and the three Decepticons headed off together to intercept the Autobots and their human allies who had the All Spark in their possession.

[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher face.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Bonecrusher, like most celebs, hates the paparazzi. He also hates closeups.]]

Devastator wandered off somewhere, so Bonecrusher and Barricade continued their pursuit on the freeway. Barricade activated his sirens to clear the traffic and allow them more maneuvering room. Unsatisfied with Barricade's less conspicuous method, Bonecrusher used his mine-scoop to flip cars out of his way. Surprisingly, the Autobots didn't find this out of the ordinary, and only reacted when [[Sam Witwicky|ladiesman217]] recognized Barricade and warned the Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], and [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] aligned to block the Decepticons from [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]], who had the All Spark and the fleshlings.

[[Image:Movie2007_Bonecrusher_attacks_Prime.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Bonecrusher loves (for once) to watch things burn. Just not himself.]]

After Barricade pulled over to the side of the road, Bonecrusher transformed while still moving and skated towards the Autobots. Optimus Prime transformed and slid into position to block his path. Seeing the Autobot he really hated, Bonecrusher smashed through a bus, and tackled Optimus Prime, pushing him off an overpass tumbling and falling off the edge, dragging the Autobot leader down with him.

[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher dies.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Thus began (and ended) Bonecrusher's hatred of Prime's sword.]]

When they landed, he sucker-punched Optimus Prime, who then hit Bonecrusher so hard one of the Decepticon's [[Sensors#Optical sensors|optics]] popped free from its socket, all the while being observed by a little kid in an SUV, who though the entire experience was ''totally'' cool. The two played a little cat-and-mouse along the overpasses. After Prime jumped down to ground level, Bonecrusher swung his tail wildly at the Autobot, all the while screaming incoherently. This gave Optimus the opportunity he needed to get his sword ready... which the Autobot leader used to cleave Bonecrusher's right arm and run through the Decepticon's neck, nearly severing it. Optimus then wrenched Bonecrusher's head from its neck and tossed it aside. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers}}

{{note|Though decapitated, Bonecrusher's remains were not among those that were disposed of in the [[Laurentian Abyss]].}}

===Toy Bio===
{{notemoviebio}}

Despite all appearances, Bonecrusher managed to escape after his encounter with Optimus Prime (missing his head? beaten to a pulp?), and went to hide out in the South American jungle. And while he was in the jungle, his version of relieving stress was ripping apart trees and destroying South American military convoys.

He also, during the final battle of the AllSpark, faced of with Jazz in a final battle to the ultimate finish.

==Games==
===Transformers The Game===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Daniel Riordan]]

{{note|Bonecrusher only appears in the Decepticon campaign of the game, and as a non-playable character t'boot on the console. He would've hated being playable.}}
While hiding in a military base, Bonecrusher came under attack by the humans twice, and required assistance from Starscream to escape. He hates needing help from people. {{storylink|Transformers The Game (console)|Transformers The Game (console)}}

===Transformers The Game (PSP)===
After the Autobots manage to secure the All Spark, they are attacked by Decepticon drones led by Bonecrusher. To give Bumblebee time to escape with the Cube, Optimus Prime takes on Bonecrusher personally, eventually besting him. After this Bonecrusher wasn't seen or mentioned through the rest of the game. Bonecrusher hates not being seen or mentioned.{{storylink|Transformers The Game (PSP)|Transformers The Game (PSP)}}

==Toys==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Legends Class toys====
[[Image:Movie Legends JazzBonecrusher toys.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Sure Bonecrusher is smaller, that just means his hate is extra-concentrated.]]
*'''Autobot Jazz vs. Bonecrusher''' (Legends multi-pack, 2007)

: As part of the ''AllSpark Battles'' refresh of the Movie toyline, a Legends-class [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] with altered [[Paint operation|paint applications]] is repacked in a Versus two-pack with an all-new Legends class figure of Bonecrusher. In Europe, he was packaged individually.

*'''Bonecrusher''' (Legends, 2008)

: An individually packaged release of the Legends class toy, released within Europe.
{{-}}
====Deluxe Class toys====
[[Image:Moviebonecrushertoy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The name's doomed to be nothing but bulldozers or buffaloes. And he hates that.]]
*'''Bonecrusher''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID Number:'' '''MD-09'''

: Bonecrusher transforms into a [[wikipedia:Buffalo_(mine_protected_vehicle)|Buffalo mine-protected vehicle]], with an articulated "mine-fork" for removing mines or cars or robots or unsuspecting buildings from his path. The fork can change from its packaged "Grabber claw" configuration into a more fork/shovel like configuration, a fact not stated on the instructions. He has six rolling wheels in this mode, and two sculpted, non-functional spare wheels.

: In robot mode he has elements resembling both his 2005 design and the final design used in the movie, though a major deviation to both designs is that the entire front shell halves of the vehicle mode are mounted upon his arms. His arms have limited articulation due to this [[kibble]], but can extend out into '''really''' long arms. His legs fare better, with ball jointed hips, swivel knees and ankles, but his hips can often detach from the codpiece holding them together. The mine-fork splits to form a grabber-claw, which can snap onto victims with a geared slider [[Automorph Technology|Automorph]] mechanism.

: He is named "Bonescrusher" on the Canadian [[cross-sell]]. Guess how Bonecrusher feels about ''that'' little mispelling.
{{-}}
*'''Deluxe three-pack''' (Costco exclusive multi-pack, 2007)

:This Costco exclusive three-pack contains an unchanged Deluxe Class Bonecrusher together with equally unchanged Deluxe Class [[Brawl (Movie)|Decepticon Brawl]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Autobot Jazz]] toys. It also comes with a nifty poster depicting all three toys in a standoff scene. Not so nifty is that the box accidentally places Brawl and Bonecrusher's bios underneath each other.
{{-}}
[[Image:Movie JungleBonecrusher toy.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The living definition of a Mean Green Fighting Machine. Bonecrusher, oddly enough, likes cliches.]]
*'''Jungle Bonecrusher''' (Deluxe, 2008)

: Finally, the big guy gets a [[redeco]], in deep forest green and olive green, as part of the "All Spark Power" refresh line. It's not easy being green, and he hates that. He also hates redecos, slavish or not. He also hates quality control, and [[Fandom|fans]] who complain that the claw arm now has a habit of popping off with little force, while the original did not. Reviewer [[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]] pointed out that this interferes with the automorph trick, as the arm can now pop off while sliding that lever. It's obvious by now how he feels about Ben Yee, [[Swivel joint|swivel joints]], quality control, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|cars addicted to]] [[JaAm]], sore shoulders (& possibly his own shoulders as well), [[Ball joint|ball joints]], JaAm, etc...
:*{{external|http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/JungleBonecrusher/bonecrusher.htm|Jungle Bonecrusher}}
*'''Freeway Brawl (Two-Pack)''' ("Screen Battles" Deluxe, 2008)

: An unchanged Deluxe Class Bonecrusher packed with a [[Repaint|repainted]] Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] to reference their battle under a freeway overpass that ended with Bonecrusher's decapitation and Prime standing heroically bathed in the light of a sunset.
{{-}}

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Attacktix MovieTransformers Tournament Set.jpg|right|250px|thumb|So many people to crush, so little time. (Bonecrusher hates having little time to crush).]]
*'''Transformers Tournament Set'''

: Available exclusively in this set, this Attacktix playing piece of Bonecrusher is funnily enough one of the most accurate pieces of merchandise he has. The set also includes unique playing pieces of Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee. Bonecrusher hates the fact that everybody else has [[Cannon|guns]], and he has to use a claw.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
==Merchandise==
===Transformers (2007)===
====Transformers Movie Danglers====
[[Image:Movie Bonecrusher dangler.jpg|right|173px|thumb|Bonecrusher hates being cute and adorable and super deformed and not having a transformation-scheme. Wow he's really serious with this hate thing.]]
*'''Bonecrusher''' (2007)

:Released by [[Tomy Yujin]] in November 2007<ref name="TomyYujin">[http://www.gachausa.com/products/transformers.asp Tomy Yujin ''Transformers'' page]</ref> as part of the [[Danglers Collection]], this toy is a weird plastic [[super deformed]] version of Bonecrusher that pops out his vehicle mode when you squeeze him. This little figurine has a little strap on it so that it can be put on cell phones or portable gaming devices.
{{-}}

===Revenge of the Fallen===
====RPMs - Robot Powered Machines====
=====Battle Series=====
*'''Optimus Prime vs Bonecrusher''' (2009)
**''Number:'' ???

{{comingsoontoy}}

===Robot Heroes===
*'''Ironhide vs Bonecrusher''' (2007)

[[Image:Rhboneiron.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Bonecrusher is actually pretty glad that he doesn't come with sword-wielding RH Prime.]]
:Bonecrusher comes packaged with the impressively-armed [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. He is depicted lunging forward on his roller-skate feet, presumably to deliver an extremely enthusiastic hug. This figurine is notorious for not actually being able to stand up on its feet very well, usually requiring one of its hands to be used for balance.
{{-}}
==Trivia==
[[Image:PhotoshopedBuffalo.PNG|right|250px|thumb|*Giant fork and Decepticon insignia not included with the real Buffalo.* Bonecrusher hates those disclaimers.]]
* The real Buffalo mine-sweeping vehicle doesn't have such a huge fork. It is only 14 inches (35 cm) wide. The image that inspired Bonecrusher's design was actually a Photoshopped image put on the official Force Protection company's site to make it look more impressive[http://www.forceprotection.net/models/buffalo/]. A 10-foot-wide (3 m) appliance had to be fixed on Bonecrusher's arm for the movie.

* Force Protection really loves Bonecrusher and the fact that he has picked their Buffalo as its alt mode. They are actually quite proud of it.[http://www.forceprotection.net/news/transformers.html]

* Bonecrusher's toy was used as a prop for a CNN Headline News report demonstrating the real Buffalo vehicle's mine-sweeping arm.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAWP2uVd7M]

* According to a press kit sent out in conjunction with the movie, Bonecrusher is, "another [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]" who "forms [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl's]] left arm".[http://numberonestars.com/transformers/production/decepticons.htm] Thus far, there have been no reports of people using Bonecrusher as one of Brawl's arms, left or otherwise.

* At various points during his fight with Optimus Prime, Bonecrusher emits some garbled roars that ''might'' be English. However, there is little agreement among viewers as to what he might be saying, and indeed, whether he even said anything at all. The subtitles and closed captions for the film do not identify any dialogue, just labelling it as "roaring". Maybe he just hates speaking? Someone should really ask Jimmie Wood.

* Bonecrusher is [[Michael Bay]]'s favorite character from the film, despite his limited screentime —so much so that Bay named [[Bonecrusher (ROTF)|his new dog]] after him. Bonecrusher still hates Bay for the small screen time he gets though.

* Bonecrusher is never discussed or mentioned in ''[[Transformers: The Movie Guide]]''.

* In one of [[Hasbro Q&A|Hasbro's bimonthly Q & As]], it was revealed that in retrospect, Hasbro thinks a Voyager-class figure would have been a better fit for the figure than the Deluxe.

* According to the DVD commentary, Bonecrusher's sequences were particularly difficult for [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] to do at first. The solution came from videotaping employees rollerblading in the parking lot, and a pair of fighting experts going through the motions wanted for Bonecrusher and Prime, then using that footage as references.

* Bonecrusher's movements seem to be heavily inspired by several types of sports including hockey (his running movements) and American football (his tackling on Optimus Prime).

*During the Egypt battle in ''[[Revenge of the Fallen]]'', a [[Buffalo MPV Decepticon|nameless Decepticon]] is seen among the protoform army which possesses Boncrusher's alternate mode. Bonecrusher hates clones.

* Last but not least, Bonecrusher hates ''you''. Yeah, you. You know who you are. Don't try to pretend you don't know, either. Bonecrusher hates ignorance.

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Decepticon/Bonecrusher/bonecrusher.htm Bonecrusher at TFU.info]

[[Category:3D Battle-Cards]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Movie characters]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]

Vorath

2009-09-05T05:16:32Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''Vorath is a [[Decepticon]]-allied [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] in the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Vorath.jpg|right|183px|thumb|The [[Wikipedia:Barry_Jones_(Australian_politician)|Barry Jones]] of eeevil.]]

'''Vorath''' was the former Minister of Science of the planet [[Nebulos]]. A [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Zarak]] loyalist, Vorath was expelled from his office when [[Galen]] uncovered his involvement in illegal medical experiments on live subjects. Seeking revenge, Vorath gained the chance to do so and continue his experiments with the arrival of [[Transformer|Transformers]] and the creation of the Headmasters, when he agreed to [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] to [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]].

While enjoying the excitement of his new life as a Headmaster, Vorath is a scientist to the core, and the more secular-minded Nebulan's outlook often causes conflict with his more mystical-minded partner.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
Serving as Lord Zarak's technical advisor, a role he continued even while acting as Mindwipe's head, Vorath reverse-enginered the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] and [[Targetmaster]] technologies for the Decepticon forces on Nebulos and assisted in the creation of [[Pretenders]] on Earth.

===Cartoon continuity===
[[Image:VorathStretch.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He's such a dork, a perfect match for Mindwipe.]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler]] (English)

Vorath was among several [[Hive (G1)|Hive]] members who were rebuilt as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in order to match the firepower of the Hive's rivals and their new [[Autobot]] allies. Vorath complained about being required to merge with Mindwipe, feeling that as a prestigious scientist, he deserved better than being partnered with a night-stalking bat. But Mindwipe hypnotized Vorath, who was then powerless to resist the binary-bonding process and called Mindwipe "Master" afterwards. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

{{note|The bonding of Mindwipe and Vorath is depicted during an [[AKOM|error-filled]] sequence of events. First, Mindwipe hypnotizes his reluctant partner Vorath, who is mistakenly drawn as [[Monzo]] when this occurs. Then Mindwipe and Vorath bond together, alongside [[Skullcruncher]] silently bonding with [[Grax]]. Then the voice of Grax, emanating from a character drawn as Vorath but colored like Monzo, declares "I am to be bonded to that creature? This project was a bad investment!" while the "creature" he is looking at is Skullcruncher, colored like [[Weirdwolf]]. This is immediately followed by the bonding of Weirdwolf and Monzo. Oh, Rebirth, you so [[AKOM|crazy!]]}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Mindwipe with Vorath''' (Headmaster, 1987)

: Vorath transforms from an armored humanoid into a robot head. Though he only came with his partner, Mindwipe, in head mode, he is compatible with any other Headmaster body. On the larger Headmasters, he gives three of Mindwipe's [[Tech Spec]] stats in their display window, but the smaller ones still display their normal heads' stats due to their construction.

{{-}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Mindwipe/mindwipe.htm Mindwipe at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Mindwipe Mindwipe's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Hive]]
[[Category:Nebulans]]

Vorath

2009-09-05T05:15:42Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''Vorath is a [[Decepticon]]-allied [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] in the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Vorath.jpg|right|183px|thumb|The [[Wikipedia:Barry_Jones_(Australian_politician)|Barry Jones]] of eeevil.
'''Vorath''' was the former Minister of Science of the planet [[Nebulos]]. A [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Zarak]] loyalist, Vorath was expelled from his office when [[Galen]] uncovered his involvement in illegal medical experiments on live subjects. Seeking revenge, Vorath gained the chance to do so and continue his experiments with the arrival of [[Transformer|Transformers]] and the creation of the Headmasters, when he agreed to [[Binary bonding|binary bond]] to [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]].

While enjoying the excitement of his new life as a Headmaster, Vorath is a scientist to the core, and the more secular-minded Nebulan's outlook often causes conflict with his more mystical-minded partner.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
Serving as Lord Zarak's technical advisor, a role he continued even while acting as Mindwipe's head, Vorath reverse-enginered the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] and [[Targetmaster]] technologies for the Decepticon forces on Nebulos and assisted in the creation of [[Pretenders]] on Earth.

===Cartoon continuity===
[[Image:VorathStretch.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He's such a dork, a perfect match for Mindwipe.]]
:''Voice actor:'' [[Charlie Adler]] (English)

Vorath was among several [[Hive (G1)|Hive]] members who were rebuilt as [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in order to match the firepower of the Hive's rivals and their new [[Autobot]] allies. Vorath complained about being required to merge with Mindwipe, feeling that as a prestigious scientist, he deserved better than being partnered with a night-stalking bat. But Mindwipe hypnotized Vorath, who was then powerless to resist the binary-bonding process and called Mindwipe "Master" afterwards. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}

{{note|The bonding of Mindwipe and Vorath is depicted during an [[AKOM|error-filled]] sequence of events. First, Mindwipe hypnotizes his reluctant partner Vorath, who is mistakenly drawn as [[Monzo]] when this occurs. Then Mindwipe and Vorath bond together, alongside [[Skullcruncher]] silently bonding with [[Grax]]. Then the voice of Grax, emanating from a character drawn as Vorath but colored like Monzo, declares "I am to be bonded to that creature? This project was a bad investment!" while the "creature" he is looking at is Skullcruncher, colored like [[Weirdwolf]]. This is immediately followed by the bonding of Weirdwolf and Monzo. Oh, Rebirth, you so [[AKOM|crazy!]]}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Mindwipe with Vorath''' (Headmaster, 1987)

: Vorath transforms from an armored humanoid into a robot head. Though he only came with his partner, Mindwipe, in head mode, he is compatible with any other Headmaster body. On the larger Headmasters, he gives three of Mindwipe's [[Tech Spec]] stats in their display window, but the smaller ones still display their normal heads' stats due to their construction.

{{-}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1987/Decepticon/Mindwipe/mindwipe.htm Mindwipe at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Mindwipe Mindwipe's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Hive]]
[[Category:Nebulans]]

Code of Hero

2009-08-31T05:53:35Z

Black Mage:

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=35
|image=CodeofHero titlepic.jpg
|caption=The rest is silence...
|title="Code of Hero"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[March 9]], 1998
|packaged with=[[Dinobot (BW)#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Dinobot]]
|written by=[[Ian Weir]]
|directed by=[[Bob Forward]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Dinobot makes the ultimate sacrifice to save those who are still to come.'''

:''Japanese title:'' あばよッ! (''Abayo!'', "Farewell!")

==Synopsis==
In a wild valley, a group of [[Protohuman|primitive hominids]] forage for food. A gargantuan snake attacks two of their number, and the protohumans are helpless to stop it...

[[Image:Dinobot meditate.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"I have no other choice, I have dishonored my comrades."]]
At the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', a haunted Dinobot meditates on his sword... and holds its blade ominously over his chest. But after a long moment of tension and hesitation, he casts it aside with a growl of frustration.

Rhinox has been calculating the path of the [[Transwarp wavefront|Transwarp Wave]] from the [[Planet Buster]]'s destruction—it's traveling through time at an accelerated rate, and will reach [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the "present", thus alerting Cybertron to their location. Optimus fears Megatron has made similar calculations, and the group realizes they need to increase their defenses.

Dinobot, still somber, runs into Rattrap, who nearly goads him into a fight over his turning the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Disk]] over to Megatron. Rattrap stalks off, concluding that he'd thought Dinobot was at least forthright. Dinobot is left to reflect that his past actions cannot be undone... but they "may yet be mitigated". He arms himself and heads off into the wastes.

On aerial recon, Cheetor observes Megatron and Rampage out for a stroll. They drive him off with some damage, but Cheetor calls in the sighting to Dinobot, who promises to follow up.

At [[Tarantulas's lair|his lair]], Tarantulas has captured a tasty antelope for his dinner. But as he creeps up to the struggling beast, Dinobot bursts out of the ground, holding him at gunpoint and demanding to know what information is on the Golden Disk. Tarantulas doesn't know—there are no more copies remaining, and Megatron is keeping the Disk on his person at all times. Still holding him at gunpoint, Dinobot uses Tarantulas as his unwilling ride.

[[Image:Megatron GoldenDisk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The hills are alive, with The Sounds of Earth!]]
The protohumans scatter and panic as Megatron flies overhead and lands. Rampage sneers that the Maximals will soon arrive from Cybertron, and that he anticipates Megatron's imminent demise. Megatron admits that's very likely... but only if history remains as it is.

Megatron explains that the Golden Disk contains images recorded in the future, including one of a nearby mountain. Megatron has Rampage destroy the mountaintop. After a moment, the image on the disk changes to suit the altered reality, to Megatron's delight. Dinobot observes all this with dawning dread: Megatron has the power to change the future.

The valley they are standing above, Megatron explains, spawned the human race. Their interference helped the Autobots win the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], thereby allowing the Maximals to rule over the Predacons today. But Megatron has a different history in mind. Summoning the rest of his troops, he orders them to annihilate the valley and its inhabitants. With the protohumans destroyed, the human race will never have existed!

[[Image:BWDinobot decision.jpg|left|170px|thumb|A picturesque image is required before a dramatic death.]]
While Dinobot's back is turned, Tarantulas blasts him; Dinobot reciprocates by squashing him under a rock. Dinobot contacts Optimus, who orders him to maintain position, but Dinobot knows there is no time to wait. With his questions answered, Dinobot is ready to face his destiny.

Dinobot moves in to attack the entire Predacon force single-handed. He blasts, punches and stomps his way past Megatron's minions, but loses his weapons, suffers considerable damage, and drains most of his energy supply. His computer warns him that he must enter [[stasis lock]] to survive... a command which Dinobot overrides.

Megatron confronts the damaged warrior, gloating over his near-total victory; when Dinobot starts to attack, Megatron reveals a human captive. The hostage is enough to make Dinobot halt; Megatron rebukes him for weakness. But Dinobot is a warrior still. Forging a makeshift hammer from a rock and stick, he knocks the Disk out of Megatron's hand. With the last of his energy, he summons one final optic blast, shattering the Disk.

Furiously lamenting his failure, Megatron flees as the [[Maximal]]s arrive. Cheetor douses the flames of the burning valley. The Maximals gather around the fallen Dinobot, but it is too late to help him. Optimus assures him that he has saved untold lives yet to come. Dinobot exchanges a final round of barbs with Rattrap; he asks them all to tell his story truthfully, both the good and the bad, and allow him to be judged accordingly. With that, the proud warrior dies. Rattrap leads the others in a salute as Dinobot's [[spark]] leaves his body, with Primal wishing it on to the Matrix, there to join Cybertron's finest.

[[Image:Dinbot funeral.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Old soldiers don't die, they just fade away...]]
The next morning, the Maximals hold a funeral for Dinobot. The fliers soar through the air in a [[wikipedia:missing man formation|salute]], as Rattrap and Rhinox dissolve Dinobot's remains.

At the valley, a curious protohuman finds Dinobot's hammer. He soon figures out how to use it to help gather food... and to fend off predators, such as the giant snake. The protohuman's yell of triumph echoes through the valley.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (1)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (2)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (3)
* [[Rattrap]] (4)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)
* [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (13)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Tarantulas]] (6)
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (7)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (8)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (9)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (10)
* [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (11)
* [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (12)

}}

==Quotes==
"Remember that transwarp cell explosion?" 
[''Primal just glares''] 
"Okay, stupid question..."
:—'''Rhinox''' has a once-in-a-lifetime lapse in intelligence.

"Well, if it ain't the irascible raptor." 
"The base remains infested with vermin I see." 
"Yeah? Funny, y'know not much changes around here… except maybe the occasional allegiance. Find any Golden Disks lately, hmm? Pass them on to any Predacons?" 
"I don't need to explain my actions to you, mouse!" 
"Yeah, that's right, ya don't cause they pretty much speak for themselves." 
"Go ahead, rodent. Push one more inch." 
[''pushes Dinobot back''] "You know, I used to figure I had you pegged. 'Oh, yeah, he's a slag-spoutin' saurian, but at least you know where he stands.' Guess we live and learn."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Dinobot'''

"The rodent's words give off the stench of truth. Destiny is one great test in store for us all. Has mine already come and have I failed it? A deed once done cannot be undone, but perhaps, it may yet be mitigated."
:—'''Dinobot''' embarking on his destiny

"Shouldn't take your eyes off a spider. They tend to be venomous." ''[chuckles]'' 
"But they still squash."
:—'''Tarantulas''' and '''Dinobot'''

"Destroy this valley and everything in it! The human race will never have existed!"
:—'''Megatron''', announcing the impending genocide of the proto-humans

"The question that once haunted my being has been answered. The future is not fixed, and my choices are my own. And yet, how ironic... for I now find that I have no choice at all! I am a warrior... let the battle be joined."
:—'''Dinobot''', realizing his destiny

"Oh man. No matter how soon we get there, it's gonna be way too late." 
"Do you always have to see the bright side?" 
"Dino-butt against six Preds. There won't be enough of him to make a toaster."
:—'''Rattrap''' and a sarcastic '''Rhinox'''

"One lonely turncoat, battling on against impossible odds." ''[Wipes fake tear]'' "I'm almost touched! ...Fortunately, such moments pass quickly. Quickstrike, scrap him!"
:—'''Megatron''', observing Dinobot's solo fight to save the valley

"What's a warrior without weapons, eh?" 
"A warrior ''still!''"
:—'''Quickstrike''' totally underestimates '''Dinobot'''

"Hmm, my ears are burning! Yesss! Why, Dinobot, what a delightful surprise! Let's see, where are we now? I have the Golden Disk, I have the power to change the future, and the only obstacle in my path to ''unimaginable'' glory... is yourself. Exhausted. Damaged beyond recovery. ''Defeated''." 
"Not just yet!" 
"Ah-ah-ah!" ''[Megatron reveals a bound proto-human]'' "One more step, and it's raining bits of early anthropoid, yesss." ''[Dinobot hesitates]'' "Oh dear, how positively ''Maximal'' of you. You were weakened before you started, Dinobot. Weakened by ''compassion''."
:—'''Megatron''' confronts the severely damaged '''Dinobot'''.

'''Megatron:''' "Oh-ho-ho-ho, really, Dinobot, a ''stick''—against a ''Transmetal''? I think ''not''." 
'''Computer:''' "Final Warning: Power failing. Jeopardy extreme. Repeat: Extreme." 
'''Megatron:''' "Please. Face it, Dinobot. You're old technology. ''Obsolete''. What could ''you'' possibly do?" 
'''Dinobot:''' "Improvise."
:—Dinobot's down but not out yet.

"Well fought, my friend. You saved the valley. You saved the lives of those who live here... and of those who are still to come."
:—'''Optimus Primal'''

"Like I said, you're just a blasted, slag-spouting saurian, but... it's nice to know where you stand." 
"Upwind of you, for preference, vermin."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Dinobot''' sharing one last round of banter.

"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds along with the good, and let me be judged accordingly. The rest... is silence."
:—'''Dinobot''''s last words

"He lived a warrior... and died a hero. Let his spark join the Matrix, the greatest of Cybertron."
:—'''Optimus Primal''''s eulogy for Dinobot

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
* The interior of the ''Axalon'', and thus the doors to Dinobot's quarters, were made at a different scale to his character model, so he could not actually fit through the doorway. Bob Forward explained that it had to be faked by a cut.
* When Rattrap is working at the wall panel, his right forearm is backwards and remains thus until he is grandly gesturing.
* When Megatron is flying over the proto-human valley, his legs are missing and his body has very little detail.
* As Quickstrike approaches Dinobot, his left shin is backwards.
* At Dinobot's funeral, Rattrap is in his pre-Transmetal body. On the [[Madman]] DVD commentary for this episode, Bob Forward could not believe how the production team (who had viewed this scene at least a hundred times trying to get everything right) did not notice the fact they used the wrong Rattrap, and yet every fan did.

===Other Errors===
* The strategy of the Maximal cavalry seems a bit odd. Granted, arriving in ones and twos would make them more vunerable to attack but surely there would be some advantage in sending at least Cheetor on ahead? Or are we suppossed to assume that every single Maximal, from jet-powered cheetah to bog-standard rhino, has the same top speed? (It's especially odd for Rhinox, considering that vehicle-mode Rattrap has given someone a lift [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|before]], and Primal will give Rhinox a lift [[The Agenda (Part III)|later]]).
* When Dinobot laments about Megatron's power being limitless, Megatron and Rampage can be seen on the cliff right behind him. This and the previous shot also indicate that Dinobot is ''right out in the open'', possibly exposing himself in full view of both Predacons. So...exactly ''why'' didn't Megatron or Rampage notice Dinobot, now?
* Megatron left the field of battle in Maximal hands with all of his troops incapacitated. Yet next episode, the Predacons are back under his command. The Maximals must have simply left and allowed Megatron to collect their injured chassis at his leisure instead of taking them prisoner.
* Towards the end of the episode, listen closely when the caveman hits an oncoming snake with Dinobot's hammer. A mechanical thud can be heard when the snake hits the ground, making it sound as if the snake is made of metal.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron orders the destruction of the prehumans to prevent the development of mankind. Humans assisted the Autobots to win the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. Most of these were probably [[Witwicky|Witwickys]].

===Real-world references===
* As the Predacons jump into the valley to destroy the hominids, Rampage crushes a butterfly. This evokes the famous Ray Bradbury short story "[[wikipedia:A Sound of Thunder|A Sound of Thunder]]", in which a time traveler in the past steps on a butterfly, thus dramatically altering the future of humanity. It is also reminiscent of the [[wikipedia:Butterfly Effect|Butterfly Effect]], a principle of chaos theory which holds that a small change (a flap of a butterfly's wings, killing a few dozen hominids) can eventually lead to vast changes (changes in storm systems a world away, the dominion of Predacons over Maximals). Of course, the writers may have merely intended Rampage's act to symbolize how killing the hominids would be no more difficult for the Predacons than crushing a butterfly . . .
* Dinobot's final words, "The rest is silence", are taken directly from Shakespeare's ''Hamlet''.
* In a bit of foreshadowing, while Dinobot is contemplating suicide, three ravens fly past his window in the [[wikipedia:Missing man formation|missing man formation]], which the Maximal fliers use in their salute to him at his funeral.
* Right after Dinobot crash-lands on [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (for the umpteenth time, Waspinator gets no respect) Rampage points his cannon at Dinobot with the aim view similar to the gun barrel views from numerous James Bond movies. Of course, most Bond villains do not give the opponent time to stuff a trashed Waspinator into the barrel (for the umpteenth and 1 time, Waspinator gets no respect) but still...

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* ''Beast Wars'' co-story editor [[Bob Forward]] drew storyboards for this episode. Not only is it the only ''Beast Wars'' episode to be directed by the series' writers, but it's also the only episode to be done up in storyboards, traditionally, rather than being directed on-the-fly. Bob Forward worked in person with the [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] animators for this episode.
* The original storyboards were auctioned for charity at a [[BotCon]].
* According to Bob Forward, Megatron's transformation sequence had to be reconstructed to be able to show his transformation from underneath for one shot. Previously, the animation only "worked" when seen from eye-level or above.
* For someone with an endurance level of '4', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] makes a great shield. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s guns have no serious effect on him.
* This episode marks the very last appearance of [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] in beast mode.
* During the recording of this episode, [[Scott McNeil]] was attempting to deliver Dinobot's last words, but was continually interrupted by the recording crew's laughter. He is reputed to have said while still in character, "Do you mind?!! I'm trying to die here!!!"
* According to McNeil, Dinobot knew he was going to die five episodes before he did, as right up until the last second, he believed Dinobot to only be "cartoon dead" as opposed to "''dead'' dead."
* When originally broadcast in the [[United Kingdom]], this episode was absolutely cut to shreds, with Dinobot's contemplated suicide completely excised, and his hallway altercation with Rattrap cut down to only a fraction of its actual length. In the latter case, this seem to serve no other purpose than the elimination of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]", and Dinobot's dying exchange with Rattrap was likewise altered to purge the word.
* It's no surprise that a DVD containing this episode was packaged with Dinobot for ''[[Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]''. This is the only post-Season 1 episode included with any ''10th Anniversary'' figures.
* Bob Forward considers this to be his favourite Beast Wars episode, as well as the ''The Agenda'' three-parter. <ref>http://www.infinitefrontiers.0catch.com/AutoAssembly/BobForward.htm Interview with Bob Forward</ref> The episode is one of the most acclaimed in Transformers history.

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Code of Hero

2009-08-31T05:52:46Z

Black Mage:

{{episode|
|series=BWtoon
|ep=35
|image=CodeofHero titlepic.jpg
|caption=The rest is silence...
|title="Code of Hero"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[March 9]], 1998
|packaged with=[[Dinobot (BW)#Beast_Wars_10th_Anniversary|Dinobot]]
|written by=[[Ian Weir]]
|directed by=[[Bob Forward]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity= [[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Dinobot makes the ultimate sacrifice to save those who are still to come.'''

:''Japanese title:'' あばよッ! (''Abayo!'', "Farewell!")

==Synopsis==
In a wild valley, a group of [[Protohuman|primitive hominids]] forage for food. A gargantuan snake attacks two of their number, and the protohumans are helpless to stop it...

[[Image:Dinobot meditate.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"I have no other choice, I have dishonored my comrades."]]
At the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'', a haunted Dinobot meditates on his sword... and holds its blade ominously over his chest. But after a long moment of tension and hesitation, he casts it aside with a growl of frustration.

Rhinox has been calculating the path of the [[Transwarp wavefront|Transwarp Wave]] from the [[Planet Buster]]'s destruction—it's traveling through time at an accelerated rate, and will reach [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in the "present", thus alerting Cybertron to their location. Optimus fears Megatron has made similar calculations, and the group realizes they need to increase their defenses.

Dinobot, still somber, runs into Rattrap, who nearly goads him into a fight over his turning the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Disk]] over to Megatron. Rattrap stalks off, concluding that he'd thought Dinobot was at least forthright. Dinobot is left to reflect that his past actions cannot be undone... but they "may yet be mitigated". He arms himself and heads off into the wastes.

On aerial recon, Cheetor observes Megatron and Rampage out for a stroll. They drive him off with some damage, but Cheetor calls in the sighting to Dinobot, who promises to follow up.

At [[Tarantulas's lair|his lair]], Tarantulas has captured a tasty antelope for his dinner. But as he creeps up to the struggling beast, Dinobot bursts out of the ground, holding him at gunpoint and demanding to know what information is on the Golden Disk. Tarantulas doesn't know—there are no more copies remaining, and Megatron is keeping the Disk on his person at all times. Still holding him at gunpoint, Dinobot uses Tarantulas as his unwilling ride.

[[Image:Megatron GoldenDisk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The hills are alive, with The Sounds of Earth!]]
The protohumans scatter and panic as Megatron flies overhead and lands. Rampage sneers that the Maximals will soon arrive from Cybertron, and that he anticipates Megatron's imminent demise. Megatron admits that's very likely... but only if history remains as it is.

Megatron explains that the Golden Disk contains images recorded in the future, including one of a nearby mountain. Megatron has Rampage destroy the mountaintop. After a moment, the image on the disk changes to suit the altered reality, to Megatron's delight. Dinobot observes all this with dawning dread: Megatron has the power to change the future.

The valley they are standing above, Megatron explains, spawned the human race. Their interference helped the Autobots win the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], thereby allowing the Maximals to rule over the Predacons today. But Megatron has a different history in mind. Summoning the rest of his troops, he orders them to annihilate the valley and its inhabitants. With the protohumans destroyed, the human race will never have existed!

[[Image:BWDinobot decision.jpg|left|170px|thumb|A picturesque image is required before a dramatic death.]]
While Dinobot's back is turned, Tarantulas blasts him; Dinobot reciprocates by squashing him under a rock. Dinobot contacts Optimus, who orders him to maintain position, but Dinobot knows there is no time to wait. With his questions answered, Dinobot is ready to face his destiny.

Dinobot moves in to attack the entire Predacon force single-handed. He blasts, punches and stomps his way past Megatron's minions, but loses his weapons, suffers considerable damage, and drains most of his energy supply. His computer warns him that he must enter [[stasis lock]] to survive... a command which Dinobot overrides.

Megatron confronts the damaged warrior, gloating over his near-total victory; when Dinobot starts to attack, Megatron reveals a human captive. The hostage is enough to make Dinobot halt; Megatron rebukes him for weakness. But Dinobot is a warrior still. Forging a makeshift hammer from a rock and stick, he knocks the Disk out of Megatron's hand. With the last of his energy, he summons one final optic blast, shattering the Disk.

Furiously lamenting his failure, Megatron flees as the [[Maximal]]s arrive. Cheetor douses the flames of the burning valley. The Maximals gather around the fallen Dinobot, but it is too late to help him. Optimus assures him that he has saved untold lives yet to come. Dinobot exchanges a final round of barbs with Rattrap; he asks them all to tell his story truthfully, both the good and the bad, and allow him to be judged accordingly. With that, the proud warrior dies. Rattrap leads the others in a salute as Dinobot's [[spark]] leaves his body, with Primal wishing it on to the Matrix, there to join Cybertron's finest.

[[Image:Dinbot funeral.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Old soldiers don't die, they just fade away...]]
The next morning, the Maximals hold a funeral for Dinobot. The fliers soar through the air in a [[wikipedia:missing man formation|salute]], as Rattrap and Rhinox dissolve Dinobot's remains.

At the valley, a curious protohuman finds Dinobot's hammer. He soon figures out how to use it to help gather food... and to fend off predators, such as the giant snake. The protohuman's yell of triumph echoes through the valley.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (1)
* [[Optimus Primal]] (2)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (3)
* [[Rattrap]] (4)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)
* [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (13)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
* [[Tarantulas]] (6)
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (7)
* [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (8)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (9)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (10)
* [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (11)
* [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (12)

}}

==Quotes==
"Remember that transwarp cell explosion?" 
[''Primal just glares''] 
"Okay, stupid question..."
:—'''Rhinox''' has a once-in-a-lifetime lapse in intelligence.

"Well, if it ain't the irascible raptor." 
"The base remains infested with vermin I see." 
"Yeah? Funny, y'know not much changes around here… except maybe the occasional allegiance. Find any Golden Disks lately, hmm? Pass them on to any Predacons?" 
"I don't need to explain my actions to you, mouse!" 
"Yeah, that's right, ya don't cause they pretty much speak for themselves." 
"Go ahead, rodent. Push one more inch." 
[''pushes Dinobot back''] "You know, I used to figure I had you pegged. 'Oh, yeah, he's a slag-spoutin' saurian, but at least you know where he stands.' Guess we live and learn."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Dinobot'''

"The rodent's words give off the stench of truth. Destiny is one great test in store for us all. Has mine already come and have I failed it? A deed once done cannot be undone, but perhaps, it may yet be mitigated."
:—'''Dinobot''' embarking on his destiny

"Shouldn't take your eyes off a spider. They tend to be venomous." ''[chuckles]'' 
"But they still squash."
:—'''Tarantulas''' and '''Dinobot'''

"Destroy this valley and everything in it! The human race will never have existed!"
:—'''Megatron''', announcing the impending genocide of the proto-humans

"The question that once haunted my being has been answered. The future is not fixed, and my choices are my own. And yet, how ironic... for I now find that I have no choice at all! I am a warrior... let the battle be joined."
:—'''Dinobot''', realizing his destiny

"Oh man. No matter how soon we get there, it's gonna be way too late." 
"Do you always have to see the bright side?" 
"Dino-butt against six Preds. There won't be enough of him to make a toaster."
:—'''Rattrap''' and a sarcastic '''Rhinox'''

"One lonely turncoat, battling on against impossible odds." ''[Wipes fake tear]'' "I'm almost touched! ...Fortunately, such moments pass quickly. Quickstrike, scrap him!"
:—'''Megatron''', observing Dinobot's solo fight to save the valley

"What's a warrior without weapons, eh?" 
"A warrior ''still!''"
:—'''Quickstrike''' totally underestimates '''Dinobot'''

"Hmm, my ears are burning! Yesss! Why, Dinobot, what a delightful surprise! Let's see, where are we now? I have the Golden Disk, I have the power to change the future, and the only obstacle in my path to ''unimaginable'' glory... is yourself. Exhausted. Damaged beyond recovery. ''Defeated''." 
"Not just yet!" 
"Ah-ah-ah!" ''[Megatron reveals a bound proto-human]'' "One more step, and it's raining bits of early anthropoid, yesss." ''[Dinobot hesitates]'' "Oh dear, how positively ''Maximal'' of you. You were weakened before you started, Dinobot. Weakened by ''compassion''."
:—'''Megatron''' confronts the severely damaged '''Dinobot'''.

'''Megatron:''' "Oh-ho-ho-ho, really, Dinobot, a ''stick''—against a ''Transmetal''? I think ''not''." 
'''Computer:''' "Final Warning: Power failing. Jeopardy extreme. Repeat: Extreme." 
'''Megatron:''' "Please. Face it, Dinobot. You're old technology. ''Obsolete''. What could ''you'' possibly do?" 
'''Dinobot:''' "Improvise."
:—Dinobot's down but not out yet.

"Well fought, my friend. You saved the valley. You saved the lives of those who live here... and of those who are still to come."
:—'''Optimus Primal'''

"Like I said, you're just a blasted, slag-spouting saurian, but... it's nice to know where you stand." 
"Upwind of you, for preference, vermin."
:—'''Rattrap''' and '''Dinobot''' sharing one last round of banter.

"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds along with the good, and let me be judged accordingly. The rest... is silence."
:—'''Dinobot''''s last words

"He lived a warrior... and died a hero. Let his spark join the Matrix, the greatest of Cybertron."
:—'''Optimus Primal''''s eulogy for Dinobot

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
* The interior of the ''Axalon'', and thus the doors to Dinobot's quarters, were made at a different scale to his character model, so he could not actually fit through the doorway. Bob Forward explained that it had to be faked by a cut.
* When Rattrap is working at the wall panel, his right forearm is backwards and remains thus until he is grandly gesturing.
* When Megatron is flying over the proto-human valley, his legs are missing and his body has very little detail.
* As Quickstrike approaches Dinobot, his left shin is backwards.
* At Dinobot's funeral, Rattrap is in his pre-Transmetal body. On the [[Madman]] DVD commentary for this episode, Bob Forward could not believe how the production team (who had viewed this scene at least a hundred times trying to get everything right) did not notice the fact they used the wrong Rattrap, and yet every fan did.

===Other Errors===
* The strategy of the Maximal cavalry seems a bit odd. Granted, arriving in ones and twos would make them more vunerable to attack but surely there would be some advantage in sending at least Cheetor on ahead? Or are we suppossed to assume that every single Maximal, from jet-powered cheetah to bog-standard rhino, has the same top speed? (It's especially odd for Rhinox, considering that vehicle-mode Rattrap has given someone a lift [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|before]], and Primal will give Rhinox a lift [[The Agenda (Part III)|later]]).
* When Dinobot laments about Megatron's power being limitless, Megatron and Rampage can be seen on the cliff right behind him. This and the previous shot also indicate that Dinobot is ''right out in the open'', possibly exposing himself in full view of both Predacons. So...exactly ''why'' didn't Megatron or Rampage notice Dinobot, now?
* Megatron left the field of battle in Maximal hands with all of his troops incapacitated. Yet next episode, the Predacons are back under his command. The Maximals must have simply left and allowed Megatron to collect their injured chassis at his leisure instead of taking them prisoner.
* Towards the end of the episode, listen closely when the caveman hits an oncoming snake with Dinobot's hammer. A mechanical thud can be heard when the snake hits the ground, making it sound as if the snake is made of metal.

===Transformers references===
*Megatron orders the destruction of the prehumans to prevent the development of mankind. Humans assisted the Autobots to win the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. Most of these were probably [[Witwicky|Witwickys]].

===Real-world references===
* As the Predacons jump into the valley to destroy the hominids, Rampage crushes a butterfly. This evokes the famous Ray Bradbury short story "[[wikipedia:A Sound of Thunder|A Sound of Thunder]]", in which a time traveler in the past steps on a butterfly, thus dramatically altering the future of humanity. It is also reminiscent of the [[wikipedia:Butterfly Effect|Butterfly Effect]], a principle of chaos theory which holds that a small change (a flap of a butterfly's wings, killing a few dozen hominids) can eventually lead to vast changes (changes in storm systems a world away, the dominion of Predacons over Maximals). Of course, the writers may have merely intended Rampage's act to symbolize how killing the hominids would be no more difficult for the Predacons than crushing a butterfly . . .
* Dinobot's final words, "The rest is silence", are taken directly from Shakespeare's ''Hamlet''.
* In a bit of foreshadowing, while Dinobot is contemplating suicide, three ravens fly past his window in the [[wikipedia:Missing man formation|missing man formation]], which the Maximal fliers use in their salute to him at his funeral.
* Right after Dinobot crash-lands on [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (for the umpteenth time, Waspinator gets no respect) Rampage points his cannon at Dinobot with the aim view similar to the gun barrel views from numerous James Bond movies. Of course, most Bond villains do not give the opponent time to stuff a trashed Waspinator into the barrel (for the umpteenth and 1 time, Waspinator gets no respect) but still...

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* ''Beast Wars'' co-story editor [[Bob Forward]] drew storyboards for this episode. Not only is it the only ''Beast Wars'' episode to be directed by the series' writers, but it's also the only episode to be done up in storyboards, traditionally, rather than being directed on-the-fly. Bob Forward worked in person with the [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] animators for this episode.
* The original storyboards were auctioned for charity at a [[BotCon]].
* According to Bob Forward, Megatron's transformation sequence had to be reconstructed to be able to show his transformation from underneath for one shot. Previously, the animation only "worked" when seen from eye-level or above.
* For someone with an endurance level of '4', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] makes a great shield. [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s guns have no serious effect on him.
* This episode marks the very last appearance of [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] in beast mode.
* During the recording of this episode, [[Scott McNeil]] was attempting to deliver Dinobot's last words, but was continually interrupted by the recording crew's laughter. He is reputed to have said while still in character, "Do you mind?!! I'm trying to die here!!!"
* According to McNeil, Dinobot knew he was going to die five episodes before he did, as right up until the last second, he believed Dinobot to only be "cartoon dead" as opposed to "''dead'' dead."
* When originally broadcast in the [[United Kingdom]], this episode was absolutely cut to shreds, with Dinobot's contemplated suicide completely excised, and his hallway altercation with Rattrap cut down to only a fraction of its actual length. In the latter case, this seem to serve no other purpose than the elimination of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]", and Dinobot's dying exchange with Rattrap was likewise altered to purge the word.
* It's no surprise that a DVD containing this episode was packaged with Dinobot for ''[[Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]''. This is the only post-Season 1 episode included with any ''10th Anniversary'' figures.
* Bob Forward considers this to be his favourite Beast Wars episode, as well as the [[The Agenda]] three-parter. <ref>http://www.infinitefrontiers.0catch.com/AutoAssembly/BobForward.htm Interview with Bob Forward</ref> The episode is one of the most acclaimed in Transformers history.

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

User talk:Repowers

2009-08-29T01:25:23Z

Black Mage:

==Commercials==
Hey, had a few questions/thoughts regarding the [[Commercial]] page and wanted to see what you thought about them.

1. The narrator for most of the RID commercials sounds like Neil Kaplan. Would you agree? I think we could email him about that through his website, but would an unpublished e-mail be good enough for confirmation?

2. Along the same vein, I'm really starting to think Even Keel is none other than David Kaye. Again, do you think it's him? We could probably get someone to ask him at BotCon this year (I'd do it myself but I'm not able to attend).

3. Found some interesting info here: http://www.kwcc.com/house/credits/lead.html
But I'm not sure just how to integrate it into the wiki, or if there's enough there to justify it.

4. Thinking about the non-network cartoon promos, what would constitute enough evidence to show it was a nationally used promo. Would clips of the same promo on two different stations be sufficient, or do we need more?

5. Came up with one more, regarding the Energon Optimus/Scorponok commercial. The static, "Each sold separately", shot of the toys doesn't just have the two featured toys. It also has Energon Unicron! I can't find any reference to a longer version of this commercial anywhere online. Is it possible a longer version of such a recent commercial could completely escape the fandom's notice? Or was it left on the cutting room floor and the end shot is all that made it to air?

6. On the subject of movie trailers, I'm not finding any evidence to support what you have listed for #2 and #3. #2 appears to be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbF4mv891Nk which is a fan-made trailer. As for #3, I can't find any example of it. The description seems to be the same as that of "Hidden". What were you basing those entries on? On a related note, the menu on disc 2 of the DVD special edition as well as the file name for the same content on the HD-DVD version refers to the teaser trailer as Teaser Trailer #1. So I think that's why the first full length trailer is listed as #2. What #3 is or was, I've no idea.

--[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 22:19, 4 May 2009 (EDT)

:Sorry I haven't addressed any of these... just haven't had time. I don't know much about the post-G1 commercials, only what I've been able to dig up online, and it's been a long time since I put some of this together. I'll try and put in some time on this next week. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 12:17, 31 May 2009 (EDT)

::Not a problem. I'm sorry about going overkill with my messages. The lack of response for so long gave me the impression you didn't know the list was here. I'll be more patient in the future.

::As for the list, take all the time you need. I'd prefer the movie trailer entry to be looked at first, if possible. I have one minor addition in that I found a third Dinobot commercial: http://www.retrostatic.com/videos/p803_sectionid/999999/p803_js_on/1/p803_fileid/483
::I'm wondering if this one ever made it to air? Some of the aesthetics are so different from other G1 commercials that it seems like a test version or something. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 23:28, 31 May 2009 (EDT)

:::Looks like you were right about the two 2007 movie "trailers". I think those are all pretty well sorted out now... unless somebody wants to start a list of Japanese ads, which would open a huge can of worms since it would mean going back to G1 as well. (that'd probably need to be a separate page.)
:::I don't have enough grasp on Neil Kaplan or David Kaye's "natural" voices to figure out if they were narrating those ads, though I'll have a listen when I have time. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 11:20, 4 June 2009 (EDT)

::::Ok, cool. Since you've been going through the 2007 Movie tv spots I thought you might want to see this list: http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2007/STUVWXYZ/Transformers/trailer.php Several of the spots you have listed appear to have actual "names" (not just according to the list but Michael Bay's MySpace account and other seemingly official sources) instead of being the "Nickelodeon spot version A". I believe there's even some that aren't currently listed.
::::Funny you should mention the Japanese ads, as I had thought about that myself. But given the can of worms as you said, plus the need for translation help, I don't know if I'd try tackling it anytime soon.
::::On a almost unrelated note, why did you remove the Micromasters commercial entry? I don't think it was redundant and I did find a video of it (Just hadn't gotten around to updating the Wiki): http://www.retrostatic.com/videos/p803_sectionid/13/p803_fileid/675/p803_js_on/1 --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 22:49, 4 June 2009 (EDT)
:::::That's the same one listed as "Micromaster Patrols", far as I can tell. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 00:20, 5 June 2009 (EDT)
:::::Holy crap, that movie spot list is AMAZING. I'm not sure what to do with all those clips... I guess they should go in their own section? Or are they even worth full entries? Dunno. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 00:57, 5 June 2009 (EDT)
::::::Ah, you are correct about the Micromaster commercials. Nice catch sir.
::::::I think for the clips we should have a section saying something to the effect of "Preview clips of the movie were released to various TV shows and websites" followed by a list of the clips with brief descriptions. They're really just single scenes shown as is, so the only things to note about them are the when and where of the release and what scene. It probably goes without saying that only clips that were released as part of Paramount's/Hasbro's promotional strategy (or through a rogue Bay) should be included. I don't particularly trust that list in regards to the descriptions of the clips. Looking through the list, I found at least one of those is actually just the final trailer. Could be other issues where the site or TV show they link to isn't where the clip originated. The other sections look like they're accurate, but I would double check the clip descriptions to be safe. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 19:05, 7 June 2009 (EDT)

==Rob's Big To-Do List!==
An ever-changing list of stuff that needs taking care of. I'll get to it eventually, but if anyone else wants to pitch in, go for it!
===Fun things!===
* [[Scorponok (G1)]] - comic pics

===Six teams - main pics?===
* Sixbuilder:
**[[Digger]] the excavator.
**[[Gran Arm]] the front-end loader.
**[[Iron Lift]] the crane.
**[[Mixing]] the cement mixer.
**[[Treader]] the dump truck.

* Sixturbo:
**[[Circuit (OC)|Circuit]] the F-1 race car.
**[[Neo-Wheel]] the Lamborghini.
**[[Sireen]] the ambulance.

* Sixtrain:
**[[Convertor (OC)|Convertor]]
**[[San D-Go]]
**[[Windy]]

* Sixwing:
** [[Chain Gun]] the AH-64 Apache helicopter.
** [[Falcon (OC)|Falcon]] the F-16 Falcon jet.
** [[Flanker]] the Sukhoi Su-27 "Flanker" jet.
** [[Missile Run]] the B-1B Lancer bomber plane.
** [[Raker]] the Space Shuttle.
** [[Supersonic]] the Super-Sonic Transport plane.

===Subgroup pages===
Needs work:
* [[Micromaster]] - images and fiction (DW:MM, SL:Nightbeat, SL:Hardhead), subgroup pages

As done as I can make them:

* [[Auto Roller]] - needs pics and better writeup than I can provide.
* [[Stormtrooper (G2)]] - needs pics and toy writeup.
* [[Predator]] - needs pics and toy writeup
* [[Spy Changer]] - needs writeup for redecos

Mostly done:

* [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]
* [[Transmetal 2]]
* [[Transmetal]]
* [[Junkion]] - pic
* [[Dinobot (G1)]]
* [[Omnicon]]
* [[Predacon (G1)]]
* [[Terrorcon (Energon)]]
* [[Duocon]]
* [[Horrorcon]]
* [[Insecticon (G1)]]
* [[Triple Changer]] - **STILL NEEDS FICTION WRITEUP**
* [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]
* [[Laser Cycle]]
* [[Cyberjet]]
* [[Fuzor]]
* [[Rotor Force]]
* [[Powermaster]]
* [[Pretender]]

===Additions===

* Production info for Armada, Energon, Cybertron, Robots in Disguise.
* Pack-in flyer - cleanup? Split? additions? Find "Can One Boy, Alone..." and do page.
* Find a better front image for toy - something with a lot of toys from different franchises. Find a BotCon and/or eBay shot for the Secondary Market section. Find more prototype/test shot photos.
* Packaging needs a ton of work and lots of images. Keep an eye out for MISB toy photos.
* Coloring books - new pages, template box

===Cleanup===

* Universe (comic) issues are still a mess. They should all look like this page when all's said and done.
** Overview page looks awful.
** Most issue pages look awful.
* UK Annual text stories -- which ones fit with the mainline comic?
** Trigger-Happy - has Megatron and Scoop on Earth, so, no.
** The Quest! - one of those recap-the-storyline ones.
** The Return of the Transformers
** To a Power Unknown
** Headmasters retelling trio
** Plague of the Insecticons!
** Hunted!
** Missing in Action
** The Mission

Toyline pages: Most of these are just straight lists of toys. They need overview writeups: what common elements did the toys have, standard gimmicks, packaging notes, sub-lines, items of special note, reception by fans and general public, images of some sample toys.

* Movie (toyline) -- main line has writeup & images. Many sublines have nothing. Add cross-sells.
* Beast Machines (toyline) - needs images/cross-sells.
* Robots in Disguise (toyline) - needs images/cross-sells.
* Beast Wars (toyline) - cleanup, more pics/cross-sells
* Universe (toyline) - Needs more write-up, and images. Purple Silverbolt would be ideal. Or catalog.

Standard format:

* Armada (Panini comic)

==Questions to ask of official-type people==

* Furman: was "Tales of Earth" designed to work around Yanniger's slow production pace?
* Budiansky: was the US #5-12 written with the possibility of the series ending at #12 in mind?
* Hasbro team: can you talk a bit about "play patterns" and how they affect toy design? (word this so it doesn't sound so dumb)
* G1 crew: Were there any intentional efforts to reduce the use of certain toys in one particular media if they were heavily used in other media? Skids, for example, hardly shows up in the cartoon at all, but gets heavy promotion in the Marvel Comics. Shockwave also plays a much diminished role in the cartoon compared to his comics role.

==Comic series organization project==

MARVEL GENERATION ONE
Marvel Comics - publisher page. Short overview of the series, and links to:

Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) - Series overview page. Covers the US series and the UK series. Needs more images -- UK comic covers in particular.
Generation 2 (Marvel Comics) - Series overview page.
G.I. Joe and the Transformers
Headmasters (comic)
Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)

Marvel_Comics_continuity - page about the continuity. Still need to link more stuff back to this page.
http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Marvel_US_issues - not so critical now that everything's got nav boxes.

DREAMWAVE GENERATION ONE
Dreamwave - publisher. Lists issues but is mostly about the company.
Dreamwave timeline
Dreamwave continuity

IDW GENERATION ONE
IDW Publishing - publisher page. Intro to rebooted continuity and list of issues ordered by date of publication.
IDW timeline
IDW continuity

DEVIL'S DUE
Devil's Due - publisher page. Short history, list of miniseries.
Devil's Due timeline - No timeline page at present.
G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity - Continuity overview page. Also lists the four miniseries. They should all link back to it.

G1 CARTOON
Generation 1 (cartoon)
Generation 1 cartoon timeline
Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)
Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)/src
No continuity page at present.

BEAST ERA CARTOONS
Beast Era - short overview page, links to main franchise pages.
Beast Wars (cartoon)
Beast Machines (cartoon)
Beast Era timeline - page doesn't exist yet.
No continuity page at present.
==Something to help your Energon recaps==

I recommend referring to NTFA for the japanese episode names and airdates of both series:

* Superlink names and airdates
* Energon names and airdates

I've added the info into the pages you've already done, so to simply follow what's already been written I recommend placing the Japanese SL airdate before the US Energon airdate in the Stats section, given that SL aired first and Energon suffered horrible gaps in episodes aired ;) --FFN 15:54, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

Very late, but I just wanted to say how useful this info has been. -- Repowers 05:07, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

==Were you looking for this the other day?==

http://www.emopanda.com/tmp/Energon%20-%2017%20-%20Return%20of%20Demolisher.avi

Yeah, somebody found it for me, somewhere or other. I haven't gotten around to it yet; I've had to slow down on the Energon in general to preserve my brain cells. Thanks! -- Repowers 21:17, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I think that was me, and I linked you to the wrong episode marked as Return of Demolisher on Veoh. -Derik 22:04, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

==Sorry==

Sorry for overreacting. Thanks for fixing my userpage, much appreciated.--Detour 05:02, 19 September 2008 (UTC)
==Avast all-powerful Admin!==

Go port the contents of the MediaWiki:Recentchangestext talk page over to the page itself. I wants me logs back! -Derik 06:18, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

I'm not quite sure how to do this thing you speak of. You want me to move this page to this page? -- Repowers 06:27, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

So is it easier for an admin to clear out the contents of a category than to just go item-by-item? (I'm a bit unclear on how this works.) -Derik 08:10, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

If there's a way to delete multiple items, it's not showing up on my screen, and I did just spend a few minutes looking around for it. I'm just going one-by-one down the list. -- Repowers 08:11, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

The category list, or the file list? (I'm trying to figure out if there's any point to me flagging these images with a speedy deletion 'cat.) -Derik 08:19, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

Category list. I didn't know there was a file list. Maybe I need to look harder. (I have a bad habit of never going to the Special Pages list.) -- Repowers 08:22, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

Interrobang pointed it out, except you can't just delete blind, because a certain part of the way down it switches into real files. Is it any more convenient to have 'em in a category than this? -Derik 08:34, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

Arg, no, there's no mass-delete function there either. I dunno if Suki or Walky might have such an option, but I do not. Unfortunate, 'cause there's a ton of these things, and the click-click-click-back button method of deleting them is slow and painful. -- Repowers 08:38, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

Given my choices I'd just have Deceptitran do it direct-- (he's already got all the problem files scaped to his database) but he doesn't have deletion privileges. :p -Derik 08:52, 22 September 2008 (EDT)

==Sorry for that..==

Was not looking at where I was posting. Sorry again. --KyleMD03 19:01, 19 September 2008 (UTC)
==Thanks for the Transmutate finishing summary==

Thanks for finishing Transmutate. But now I'm curious...not all the episode headers are standardized or link to the next/previous ones. Should we fix that? Speedball 01:23, 25 September 2008 (EDT)

Yeah, i don't know what's up with that. Some kind of new template that they were fooling around with. -- Repowers 01:40, 25 September 2008 (EDT)

==That Nightbeat GO! box==

Those white edges are pretty raw and ugly there. I put up a PSD template [1] here for all to use, much cleaner. Give it a retry. --M Sipher 10:13, 26 September 2008 (EDT)
==Micromaster base articles, especially the Gas station==

You are the wind beneath my wings. --FFN 13:24, 26 September 2008 (EDT)

You have any idea how goddamn freezin' cold it is here in your shadow?! -- Repowers 14:49, 26 September 2008 (EDT)

Too bad. Take it up with Bette Midler. --FFN 16:10, 26 September 2008 (EDT)

==Golden One's pupil==

Identified in the dialogue script as "Old Man"; the Red Wizard in his form, meanwhile, is identified as "Monk". Kinda funny when you consider they identify the Red Wizard's PET with a name... --Monzo 13:46, 29 September 2008 (EDT)

Does the script actually call the winged thing "sweet pet", like a name and not just an abstract term of 'affection'? -- Repowers 14:34, 29 September 2008 (EDT)

==Can I get you anything?==

Cold flannel? Chicken soup? Stomach pump? You must be a physical and mental wreck after that horrifying effort. Summarizing the whole of Energon should be the dictionary definition of taking one (or fifty-one) for the team. - Chris McFeely 21:09, 1 November 2008 (EDT)

You can find someone to take on Armada in its entirety, thereby ensuring that any lingering notions I might have of taking it on myself are well and truly squashed. Oy! -- Repowers 21:20, 1 November 2008 (EDT)

==A heads up==

Particularly unobservant people on TFW2005.com are discussing creating articles on TFW Funnies or whatever the hell they are on this wiki. So yeah, just a heads up in case anybody decides it would be a good idea to create articles on TF webcomics and fan fiction. --FFN 13:57, 17 December 2008 (EST)
==Flyer scans==

Hey Rob, I've added some flyer pages and brought a bunch of others up to speed, so I hope your friggin' happy. One that I don't have, though, is "The battle is far from over!", and I was wondering if you can make more scans of it. I'd like to see... well, basically all of it, but I'm thinking the front, folded up (to match the others) and the S.T.A.R.S. recruitment blurb in particular. Basically, whatever content is different from Reinforcements from Cybertron!, since I think this would be the very first mention of S.T.A.R.S., and I'd like to know exactly how it was initially presented. Thanks! - Jackpot 22:47, 28 December 2008 (EST)

Well it's about damn time!! :P I'll try and scan that one this evening and post it up somewhere. -- Repowers 14:28, 29 December 2008 (EST)

* Outside fold
* Inside fold

Go nuts! -- Repowers 00:13, 30 December 2008 (EST)

Nuts gone! Thank you muchly, sir. - Jackpot 04:27, 30 December 2008 (EST)

==US/UK navboxes==

From this earlier revision of your talk page: "Looks like the proper way to do it, but seeing Headmasters chopped up like that hurts my head."

Yeah, the slicing and dicing of headmasters was kind of a headache for me too, but looking through the issues and usch, it seems that this crazy wrongheaded order is the best way to do it. I'll stop futzing with the nav link chains on my UK re-formatting efforts. -- G1MarvelBlaster 08:58, 30 December 2008 (EST)

It's definitely screwy, but then, so was the original publication format. I console myself by remembering that if someone wants to thumb through the full sequence of Headmasters issues, there's the US nav links right above the UK ones. -- Repowers 14:25, 30 December 2008 (EST)

Heaven forfend we should have an alternate set "reading order" links when publication order doesn't measure up. No, that would be just silly. What kind of drunken fool would propose such a thing when the navbox template was being developed? "If we have a reading order function it'll save a lot of angst and headaches over peopel who want the forward-and-back publication order links to represent a reading order." Utter poppycock! -Derik 18:16, 6 January 2009 (EST)

*wonders if this is a good time to mention that, while going through and reformatting lots and lots of comic pages, she has thought about how awesome it would be to set up reading order lists for the various series and have the infoboxes automatically call them somehow instead of futzing with manual prev/next links*
I even know a way to possibly auto-prev and next comic series that are "Name issue #" thanks to something I had to cook up for my own personal wiki... --Jeysie 18:47, 6 January 2009 (EST)

==CamelCase variants==

The search function doesn't care how many capital letters you put in your search term, it'll take you to "BotCon", even if the "Botcon" page does not exist. —Interrobang 18:09, 6 January 2009 (EST)

Fer real? I've had lots of case-based search problems in the past, thought that was with multiple search terms. -- Repowers 18:12, 6 January 2009 (EST)

Yeah. "CRACK", "crack", "CrAcK", and "cRaCk" all take you to "Crack" if you enter them into the search box. —Interrobang 18:21, 6 January 2009 (EST)

...And it turns out this doesn't work on articles with CamelCase titles. Urgh. —Interrobang 18:24, 6 January 2009 (EST)

==Er...?==

Not that I think they're needed, but is there a reason you're deleting all the redirects Siph and Monzo created over the past few days? It's just kind of weird seeing their creation clogging up the recent changes, and now they're all deleted again.--RosicrucianTalk 16:42, 17 January 2009 (EST)

cur) (last) 18:22, 2 July 2006 M Sipher (Talk | block) (24 bytes) (Shortround (UT) moved to Shortround)
2006 is "the last couple of days"? -- Repowers 16:48, 17 January 2009 (EST)

Maybe I'm misjudging. Was all the recent activity on those marking them for deletion, then?--RosicrucianTalk 16:51, 17 January 2009 (EST)

Yeah. We stopped using (UT) ages ago (almost none of them are linked from anything -- I've been checking and fixing as needed.) I'm kinda shocked that there are this many still hanging around. -- Repowers 16:52, 17 January 2009 (EST)

I could also be going crazy, because I can't find the edits in question. Of course, that's likely because you've just deleted them :P--RosicrucianTalk 17:01, 17 January 2009 (EST)

I think you're confusing Monzo and Sipher labelling them for deletion as them creating the redirects. Since they put the delete template below the redirect code, the edit summaries automatically come up as "Redirected to X". —Interrobang 17:04, 17 January 2009 (EST)

Ah, so THAT is why some of them automatically redirected and others didn't. Innnnnteresting.
And yeah, last night in IRC Siph is all "Monz why don't you just nuke that (UT) junk" and Monz is all like "OMG DUDE LOL I'm totally not an admin." -- Repowers 17:07, 17 January 2009 (EST)

==Quote purging?==

Just out of curiousity, what's with all the quote deletions on the Animated episode pages? I don't really see any reason to delete them. It seems to be a shame, really. --Nightshade83 15:41, 28 January 2009 (EST)

It's come up many times that these sections are longer than they need to be. Most of the ones I'm cutting aren't particularly noteworthy or interesting or good or even comprehensible out of context. If anything, I'm being extremely lenient in what I cut. -- Repowers 15:44, 28 January 2009 (EST)

The quote sections are growing out-of-control . . . pruning them is a valuable service, IMO. --Jimsorenson 15:45, 28 January 2009 (EST)

Ah okay. I was just wondering, that's all. --Nightshade83 15:49, 28 January 2009 (EST)

Also -- a lot of these aren't really even quotes in a functional sense. They're transcriptions of entire scenes (which, like the first quote on Megatron Rising I, may be fun or memorable scenes, but not feature especially noteworthy dialog), or descriptions of action which happen to have some words in the middle of them, or attempts to transcribe a moment of particularly memorable voice acting, or totally mundane quotes that are only there because someone thought of a cute commentary to put after it (or worse still, a really-stretching OMG G1 cross-reference.) But that's not what a quote is really supposed to be. A quote should be memorable or clever or character-defining even out of context, even without scene descriptions, even if a person's never seen the episode. It should be relatively short and succinct, require minimal description, and not rely on prior knowledge to make sense. -- Repowers 16:01, 28 January 2009 (EST)

==Categories in Preview mode==

They're still there. You just have to scroll waaaaay down to see 'em.--RosicrucianTalk 20:03, 3 February 2009 (EST)
==Other Books

* Bunch here

* More here

I'd never even heard of some these before, like the Decepticon Camp one. --Monzo 00:35, 12 February 2009 (EST)

EDIT: Actually, this looks like this is the full gallery for that first page. Oops. --Monzo 00:38, 12 February 2009 (EST)

Aw man, just when I thought I was starting to get a grip on all this stuff. I both love and hate you for this. :D -- Repowers 00:39, 12 February 2009 (EST)

==Rob's Big To-Do List!==
An ever-changing list of stuff that needs taking care of. I'll get to it eventually, but if anyone else wants to pitch in, go for it!

'''General cleanup:'''
* Production info for ''[[Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'', ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'', ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]''.
* [[Pack-in flyer]] - cleanup? Split? additions?
* Find a better front image for [[toy]].
* [[Universe (2003 comic)]] issues are still a mess. They should all look like [[G.I._Joe_vs._the_Transformers_II_issue_2|this page]] when all's said and done.
** Overview page looks awful.
** Most issue pages look awful.
** The caption "The universe is very large place." has not been used. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
* UK Annual text stories -- which ones fit with the mainline comic?
** [[Trigger-Happy!]] - has Megatron and Scoop on Earth, so, no.
** [[The Quest!]] - one of those recap-the-storyline ones.
** [[The Return of the Transformers]]
** [[To a Power Unknown!]]
** Headmasters retelling trio
** [[Plague of the Insecticons!]]
** [[Hunted!]]
** [[Missing in Action]]
** [[The Mission]]

* UK Future Autobot stories -- cross-link somehow?
** [[Ark Duty]]
** [[Prime's Rib!]]
** [[Ark Duty]]
** [[Target: 2006]]
** Death's Head / Legacy of Unicron / Space Pirates
** [[Time Wars]]
** Dystopic future saga
** [[Aspects of Evil!]]
** [[Peace]]

'''Toyline pages:''' Most of these are just straight lists of toys. They need overview writeups: what common elements did the toys have, standard gimmicks, packaging notes, sub-lines, items of special note, reception by fans and general public, images of some sample toys.
* [[Generation 1 (toyline)]] -- Just about perfect.
* [[Generation 2 (toyline)]] -- needs re-writing, and images.
* [[Movie (toyline)]] -- main line has writeup & images. Many sublines have nothing. Add cross-sells.
* [[Beast Machines (toyline)]] - needs images/cross-sells.
* [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)]] - needs images/cross-sells.
* [[Cybertron (toyline)]] - cleanup, images.
* [[Beast Wars (toyline)]] - cleanup.
* [[Machine Wars]] - needs a few images.
* [[Universe (2003 toyline)]] - Needs more write-up, and images. Purple Silverbolt would be ideal. Or catalog.

'''Standard format:'''
* [[Armada (Panini comic)]]

==Comic series organization project==
MARVEL GENERATION ONE
 [[Marvel Comics]] - publisher page. Short overview of the series, and links to:
::[[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)]] - Series overview page. Covers the US series and the UK series. Needs more images -- UK comic covers in particular.
::[[Generation 2 (Marvel Comics)]] - Series overview page.
::[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]
::[[Headmasters (comic)]]
::[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)]]
 [[Marvel_Comics_continuity]] - page about the continuity. Still need to link more stuff back to this page.
 http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Marvel_US_issues - not so critical now that everything's got nav boxes.

DREAMWAVE GENERATION ONE
 [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] - publisher. Lists issues but is mostly about the company.
 [[Dreamwave timeline]]
 [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]]

IDW GENERATION ONE
 [[IDW Publishing]] - publisher page. Intro to rebooted continuity and list of issues ordered by date of publication.
 [[IDW timeline]]
 [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]

DEVIL'S DUE
 [[Devil's Due Press]] - publisher page. Short history, list of miniseries.
 [[Devil's Due timeline]] - No timeline page at present.
 [[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity]] - Continuity overview page. Also lists the four miniseries. They should all link back to it.

G1 CARTOON
 [[Generation 1 (cartoon)]]
 [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline]]
 [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)]]
 [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)/src]]
 No continuity page at present.

BEAST ERA CARTOONS
 [[Beast Era]] - short overview page, links to main franchise pages.
 [[Beast Wars (cartoon)]]
 [[Beast Machines (cartoon)]]
 [[Beast Era timeline]] - page doesn't exist yet.
 No continuity page at present.



==Testing Comics nav template for mini-series==

'''''The Transformers: Infiltration''''' is the first in a line of miniseries by [[IDW Publishing]] set in a "re-boot" of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] continuity, bringing the presence on [[Earth]] of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s into the present day and placing the "robots in disguise" concept firmly in the forefront of its narrative. Infiltration is set in the same time period as ''[[Stormbringer (comics)|The Transformers: Stormbringer]]'' and both are followed by ''[[Escalation (IDW)|The Transformers: Escalation]]''.

{{comicnav | IDW continuity | Infiltration | seriesname=IDW continuity | prev= | next=Escalation (IDW)}}

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Infiltration'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Infiltration issue 0|#0]] | [[Infiltration issue 1|#1]] | [[Infiltration issue 2|#2]] | [[Infiltration issue 3|#3]] | [[Infiltration issue 4|#4]] | [[Infiltration issue 5|#5]] | [[Infiltration issue 6|#6]]
|}
{{-}}

...man, that doesn't really work, does it. What comes next -- ''Stormbringer''? ''Escalation''? One of the ''Spotlight''s?
:IDW's timeline is epochal, with each successive era marked by it's G1 miniseries. There may be other events that take place between the minis-- even (in the case of Stormbringer) major events but the G1 minis are the 'core' of the brand. We need a markup that recognizes this. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 11:08, 1 November 2007 (UTC)
::Yeah, that makes sense... so long as they all also link back to a continuity page so the complete picture is available as well. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 15:01, 1 November 2007 (UTC)
:::I know I'm really late, but the IDW TPBs are numbered. Volume 1 is Infiltration, 2 is Stormbringer, and 3 is Escalation. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 18:47, 2 March 2008 (UTC)
::::Ah, handy! Will adjust accordingly. I kinda gave up on the mini-series nav box idea anyway -- it seems a bit like overkill. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 19:12, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

==Images==
Hi, as the self-appointed pics guy (as I probably upload the most pics here), I'd suggest that you use Photoshop to edit out the backgrounds of the MTMTE scans you upload, so we're left with a nice, white background that matches the default colour of the wiki.

I'd also advise you to use copyright tags when uploading images such as:

<nowiki>{{hastak}}</nowiki> for Hasbro/Takara-owned images such as stock toy photos or screencaps.

<nowiki>{{comicinterior}}</nowiki> for comic page scans (which apply for the MTMTE series).

<nowiki>{{comiccover}}</nowiki> for comic covers.

<nowiki>{{fairuse}}</nowiki> for general pictures relating to Transformers but not exactly owned by Hasbro, or its a legal grey area. This can be used when you upload toy photos that you didn't take yourself.

A tip for recognising artists - [[Don Figueroa]] is VERY prolific in the MTMTE series, and you can tell which works are his by by their big hands with vents on the back of them, which are his trademark. Another trademark of his is cyclindrical piping on the edges of limbs, particularly the thighs. Also, most artists tended to be assigned all the art for a particular subgroup or team.

If in doubt, use <nowiki>{{artist?}}</nowiki> and it will be added to the category of art by undetermined artists.

Finally, I would advise caution in using so many pictures from a single source, as it would be hard to argue fair use. -[[User:FFN|FFN]] 19:12, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

:Thanks for the tips. I may not have time to follow up on 'em all today but I will soon. Ish.

:The toy photos, FYI, are all my own. Isn't there some "I hereby release into public domain blah blah blah" template for that sort of thing? -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 19:29, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

::I don't believe we do, at least to my knowledge. You can just say something like 'Photos by [[User:Repowers]], released to the public domain.'

::I've started adding tags to the pictures you've uploaded, but I'll leave the toy pics alone now. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 19:39, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

===Slog===
Can you scan a picture of Slog's MTMTE robot mode? I prefer to use some kind of uncluttered 'profile' pic if possible for the main article picture, and comic panels for the fiction section (since there isn't anything there in the Marvel section anyway). Assumign the scan of is good quality, I suggest using the magic wand tool in photoshop to cut out the background, leaving a nice, white crisp background behind the character.

I'm going to request the deletion of the beast mode picture because we can't fit it anywhere in the article, and we should only have one picture up at the start.

Formatting tip - when you don't want images to jut into other article sections or mess up the formatting, use <nowiki>{{-}}</nowiki> instead of a bunch of return key strokes :D --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 04:53, 9 October 2007 (UTC)

==US/UK Navboxes==
Following is the sequence that should be used for the remaining UK stories as their pages are created. See also:
[http://transformers.wikia.com/index.php?title=User_talk:Repowers&oldid=128717 older list] rationalizing the order of pages already created.

232-235: King Con, Small War, Prime's Rib, Deathbringer

236-239 Wrestling, Way/Savage/Survival

240-242 Back from Dead, Out to Lunch, RAge, Assault

243-245 Resurrection Gambit, Mind Games, Two MEgs, Underworld

246-248 All the Familiar, Demons, Dawn of Darkness, Fallen Star

249-251 Skin Deep, Whose LIfeforce, Greatest Gift, The Void.

252-255 Yesterday's Heroes, Edge of Impact, Shadow of Evil, White Fire

256-261 Perchance, Primal Scream, Starting Over

262-264 Bird of Prey, Two STeps BAck, Break away, Desert Island risks

282-285 Kings of the Wild Frontier, Shut Up, Maneuvers, Assassins, External Forces

286-289 Deadly Obsession ,Lesser Evil, Frontline, INside Story, End of the Road

==Older Discussion==
I'm bringing this up to you since you seem to be the main person integrating them. It seems unelegant, but at the same time the simplest solution. Could their simply be two navboxes on each (relevant) issue page? One for the US comic, and one for the UK?

It looks like the shared stories are summarized under their US issue numbers, using [[Deadly Obsession]] as a single example. It wouldn't be much to edit these pages to make their UK numberings a bit more prominent; a navbox would actually take care of that fine.

It would also require some minor edits to link seperate second-story-only pages to the stories which they share books with. Just something like "UK issue #254 also contained [[White Fire]]." I think that could be fit into the UK navbox, or worked in with the initial information block containing the reprint notice is.--[[User:Sntint|Sntint]] 02:36, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
:If possible, putting it in a single navbox would be best allowing for as many listings as needed for the various reprints, as well as a "printed with" below the next and previous links. I don't think anything has been reprinted more than three times in a comic series. --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 02:57, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
::Oh lordy lordy, the whole thing's such a headache I don't wanna think about it just now. But you're right, we do need to address it sooner or later, somehow. Someone who knows something about setting up nav boxes should probably decide how it's best done, though.
::There aren't any UK issues with *two* original stories in them, right? -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 06:16, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
:::I dunno about the Titan comics, but there was only one Marvel UK comic with more than two TF stories period (issue 232, which had a US story, the end of a UK reprint and the start of a new UK story. I've thought it over, and figured it would be best for one navbox per series instead od one with every comic series the story was printed in. That way, there would only be at most two sets of "next" and "previous" links, which could be done by adding some optional parameters to the current template.
The one problem is how to deal with stories printed in the same issue. Few of the B&W UK strips are multi parters, so some US reprints have three or four UK backup strips. Not to mention the ''Transformers Magazine'' of the current Titan comics. --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 17:06, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
:Got it made up. The real beauty is no change need to be made for issues not reprinted in the same series.

{{User:FortMax/Template:Comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) | Issues #s 13 - 17 | seriesname=Marvel UK | prev=Man of Iron! | next=Raiders of the Last Ark | issuenumber2=Issue #s 308 - 317 | prev2=In the National Interest | next2=The Big Shutdown! }}

{{User:FortMax/Template:Comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) | Issues #s 13 - 17 | seriesname=Marvel UK | prev=Man of Iron! | next=Raiders of the Last Ark }}

--[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 18:24, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

::Hrm. I'm not sure why we even need to worry about the reprinted stories -- they're just straight reprints of previous stories, right? The chain of links should just run straight through the set of stories once, in the order it was published. Why not just skip the reprints? If we want to record the info, it should just go as a note as on the story's page. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 21:03, 17 November 2007 (UTC)

:::I was thinking the same thing. The main Marvel Comic page lists everything as issue numbers, but the actual individual pages are made for stories, not issues. So we take Story X. In the UK, Story X is followed by Story Y. In the US, Story Y wasn't printed and story X is followed by Story W. A UK Navbox would, from X's page, link "Y" as "Next->", and the US would link W as "Next->".

:::Now, I'm not very familiar with the original printing format, so this may be all hypothetical. Given what I just pointed out about the organization of the pages... standalone backup strips can either be "pooled", set aside, and then inserted into the "navbox stream" after the main story they backed up. Or, they can (more simply) share story pages with their appropriate main story. My first solution would allow for shorter, more concise story pages, the second would better preserve the issue sequence of the "<-prev/next->" links.

:::I feel like I might not be communicating my ideas properly, so please tell me if I need to clarify! --[[User:Sntint|Sntint]] 21:39, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
::::I think I gotcha. It looks like we've already got a precedent, with (for example) "[[Perchance to Dream]]" having its own page. I don't know what else was in those 6 issues, but presumably it was something that's already covered in the US issues.
::::I suppose someone could come into the list link for, say, UK #259, looking for "[[Perchance to Dream]]", only to find "[[Primal Scream (issue)|Primal Scream]]". ("Perchance" ran #255-260; on our list, it's linked from #255-258.) But anyone with that specific a knowledge of the UK stories will probably be able to figure it out... especially if there's a handy nav box to lead them to the previous and next story.
::::The contents of each UK issue could maybe be summarized along with the "also printed in..." note for the UK, though that's maybe getting a bit unwieldy. Not having a big list of what's in which issue hurts. Does such a thing exist on the net anywhere? -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 21:58, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
:::::If one isn't found by late tonight I'll take a stab at compiling one. I didn't find much on a (very brief) Google search for "transformers uk issue list". The best possible chance I can think of for finding one would... be on Iggy's old links page, and I wasn't able to pull that up on Internet Archive immediately. Like I said, though I'll have more time later tonight. --[[User:Sntint|Sntint]] 22:19, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
::::::Heck, come to think of it? We should just have that list as a wiki page. Then the story pages can just be story pages, instead of trying to describe what parts of what are in which issue (ie, Perchance is spread across 6 issues. Are we gonna have 6 notes on the Perchance page? "#255 had Part 1 of Perchance and the second part of blah blah whichever story". Sounds messy and to be avoided.) Not sure how the issues would link back to it... maybe from the Marvel G1 page. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 22:47, 17 November 2007 (UTC)
Got your list [http://tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/index.php?s=storylist here] --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 00:05, 18 November 2007 (UTC)

==To-do-list==
Oh, I thought the to-do list was for yourself. You know, like a list of New Years Resolutions. ...you're not one of THOSE people, are you? --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 02:56, 20 November 2007 (UTC)
:It is, mostly, yeah. But if anybody wants to pitch in, that'd be nice too. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 03:41, 20 November 2007 (UTC), one of THOSE people.

== Good job ==

Hey nice edits man. You fix grammar too. Also I like the way you always edit things because what you did was impressive.([[User:76.195.186.73|76.195.186.73]] 00:12, 4 December 2007 (UTC))

You're doing a heckuva job, Powersy. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 20:33, 9 December 2007 (UTC)

I just went to fix the 1992 Annual entry after realising my mistake, and you've already done it! Quick work. --[[User:Specimen-17|Specimen-17]] 20:18, 9 December 2007 (UTC)

== Carnivac ==
The deletion of your paragraph wasn't intentional. This is the third time this has happened to me, twice today alone. I initiate an edit, go through all the text carefully to check for spelling, punctuation, etc., and by the time I'm done, someone else has already made another edit. However, when I submit my edit, I get no "out of date version" warning; it's simply processed as normal. As noted on [[User_talk:Apcog|my Talk page]] in a discussion with [[User:M Sipher|Sipher]], the wiki response was very sluggish for me this afternoon, which may or may not have had anything to do with it.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 00:20, 10 December 2007 (UTC)
:Ah, okay, fair enough. Sorry if I seemed like I was jumping down your throat. :] -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 03:11, 10 December 2007 (UTC)
::No need to apologize; you weren't harsh at all. I'm annoyed with the situation, not the people bringing it to my attention.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 06:33, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

== Package art ==

[http://www.botchthecrab.com/gallery.asp?gallery=7 This'll help] with the back-of-package art info! - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 20:53, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

==Template names==
Hey, Rob -- you might be done creating nav templates now anyway, but just in case you are planning to do more: I recommend using all lowercase letters in the name of any template you create. It looks like there was already a mixture of cases in the nav templates when you started making yours, but, if template names are always all-lowercase, that just makes it easier to remember. Like all wiki pages with initial capital letters, something like [[Template:Nav-armada]] can be called with <nowiki>{{nav-armada}}</nowiki>, ignoring the initial capital. But if there's a capital letter in the middle somewhere, you ''have'' to match it or the link doesn't work. I'll put it on my todo list to go through all the templates and remove extraneous capital letters... But for future reference, please stick to lowercase. :) --[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 05:19, 30 December 2007 (UTC)
:If it comes up again, I'll stick to lower case. I was just following what seemed to be the precedent, but what you say about linking makes a lot of sense. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 06:43, 30 December 2007 (UTC)

==Screencaps==
You've got some fantastic screencaps from the G1 cartoon on your blog. Any chance we could use some for episode/character pages? -- Repowers 19:23, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
:Why, thanks. The site is a little obsession of mine. I'd post more pictures on this wiki, but I haven't had the time. Do have some specific ones in mind you want? --[[User:Suzyprime|Suzyprime]] 19:37, 11 January 2008 (UTC)
::None in particular at the moment -- I was just skimming. Some of the group shots would be good for the main G1 cartoon page. Other than that, every episode page ought to have a couple of screencaps; likewise for character pages. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 19:54, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

== Protoform Toys ==

Awww...after all I went through to be sure the parallel versions were all accurate, too. Oh well, at least one of my captions survived, and the individual toy pages are fixed.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 15:47, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
:My sole purpose in life is to torment you thus! BWAAHAHAHA.
:Seriously... I almost purged the whole section before realizing it is a good idea to at least have some mention of toy incarnations. But IMO it's asking for trouble to have the same info repeated in two places like that. They'll inevitably drift apart. Anyways, what with this whole "World Wide Web" thing, we can just link from one location to the other and save ourselves the trouble! -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 16:03, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
::Ehn, I wasn't objecting to the deletion on principle or anything, just expressing disappointment that I'd expended some effort for nothing. As noted, the fixes still exist on Prime and Starscream's toy pages, so it's not like ''all'' the work was for naught.
::I kinda miss my revised Starscream caption, but I'll live.--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 16:34, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

==Show bible==
... came "much, much later"? What, exactly, the ''hell''? --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 19:32, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
:Who on ATT in 1994 had read the show bible? NOBODY, that's who! It was not a consideration until years later. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 19:37, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

== "error" in Prime spotlight ==

''Bristleback asks a question ("Which is?"), and Birdbrain starts to answer it ("SMASH our way in..."). However, in the following panel, Bristleback is shown finishing Birdbrain's sentence ("...and kill WHOEVER and WHATEVER we find inside!")''

: Not an error, here's why... In the panel before, one of them (not pictured) says "It it him?" [referring to Omega]. Then someone says "Only one way to find out." Then, as above, Bristleback says "Which is?" [referring to how they would find out]. Birdbrain says "Smash our way in" and Bristleback finishes the sentence, "...and kill WHOEVER and WHATEVER we find inside!" In other words, Birdbrain started to answer the question and Bristleback decided to add his 2 cents in.
:I really don't think it's an error, it makes sense to me. --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 17:49, 22 February 2008 (UTC)
::So Bristleback doesn't know what they're going to do, and asks, and after three words from Birdbrain he suddenly answers his own question? Given IDW's propensity for screwing up their speech balloons, combined with the obscurity of the individual Pretender Monsters, I think it's an honest error. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 18:13, 22 February 2008 (UTC)
:::No biggie. However, they didn't correct it in the TPB. --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 22:53, 22 February 2008 (UTC)
::::Y'know, I was thinking that'd be a good litmus test, actually. In light of that, I'm gonna re-write the note in a more neutral tone. I still think it ''could'' be an error, again owing to the obscurity of the characters, but the lack of a correction makes it a less solid case than I thought it was. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 01:40, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
:::::seems fair. cheers! --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 04:37, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

==Boxart copyright==
If the boxart belongs to either Hasbro or Takara (as boxart generally does), then we normally use the <nowiki>{{hastak}}</nowiki> tag, since it mentions the fair use provision of United States copyright law. But I guess the fair use tag is fine, too :) --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 02:53, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
:Ah, thanks for the heads-up. I wasn't aware of the difference. Will adjust accordingly! -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 02:57, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

==Something to help your Energon recaps==
I recommend referring to NTFA for the japanese episode names and airdates of both series: 
*[http://www.ntfa.net/ntfa/japan/SLeplist.php Superlink names and airdates]
*[http://www.ntfa.net/ntfa/energon/eplist.php Energon names and airdates]

I've added the info into the pages you've already done, so to simply follow what's already been written I recommend placing the Japanese SL airdate before the US Energon airdate in the Stats section, given that SL aired first and Energon suffered horrible gaps in episodes aired ;) --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 15:54, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

:Very late, but I just wanted to say how useful this info has been. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 05:07, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

== How does a plot NOT conclude successfully? ==

I of course feel that the platonic ideal of a plot not concluding successfully in any meaningful fashion whatsoever, a comic that just leaves you scratching your head and wondering why they even roused Rob Ruffolo out of whatever alcoholic haze he was in prior to drawing it, would have to be [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] [[Micromasters]].--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 23:17, 4 April 2008 (UTC)
:Hahahahaha. I was thinking nearly the same thing even as I wrote it. XD -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 23:19, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

=="Worthless piece of stupid trivia?"==
Buddy, I've seen a ''lot'' of "worthless pieces of stupid trivia" on here, of the irrelevant, personal canon, and/or just plain inaccurate kind. A while back, I had a huge debate with some editors on here over a trivia post I made on Blackarachnia's article stating how her telekinesis ''may'' have originated from her mind link with Tarantulas, with them saying that was wrong and had no basis in fact when it was "obvious" that she got it from the Transmetal driver, an opinion that was just as much speculation as they claimed the mind-link thing was. The editors here are mostly idiotic hypocrites that like to toss out anything that doesn't fit into their own "personal canon" as invalid for this wiki. I know for a fact that quite a few RiD fans joke about Scourge having Kelly's DNA in him makes him a transgender (as I said in Scourge's article's discussion, Ben Yee's TF forum made quite a few cracks about that), so it's valid. [[User:64.13.101.210|64.13.101.210]] 00:28, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
:It is valid to discuss Scourge having Kelly as part of his biosignature, since he actually does according to the show. Notice the great contrast between that and, say, Blackarachnia's telekinesis being caused by Tarantulas, which is something you just made up. --[[User:Thylacine 2000|Thylacine 2000]] 00:52, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
:You're not listening to me. Go do something useful. This isn't it. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 02:16, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

== Hosehead ==

Your caption fu is mighty. [[User:JW|JW]] 19:49, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

== Selling toys Sandbox ==

Good work. A few comments/suggestions, mainly on bits imported:

''The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:
* ''The comic issue [[Pretender to the Throne!]]''

This isn't clear for anyone unfamiliar with the comic and even if one is it's not really clear how this one jars too much, particularly as it does pick up on Goldbug and Fort Max getting new bodies and leads into the next battle with Ratbat's Decepticons. I'd say the disjointed narrative problems the comic story had in 1988 are more down to having two Autobot factions and two Decepticon factions all running around on or in orbit around Earth, requiring each to take a back seat from time to time (and the UK comic makes it worse by throwing in a third earthbound Decepticon faction, the Autobots on Cybertron, the Transformers in the future and various mavericks) and the need to tie up loose ends (and cartoon adaptations) than the requirement to sell toys.

* ''Mainframe planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy (and to save money as his cgi model was only a slight tweak of Cheetor's).''

That didn't really involve dumping any old characters. Scorponok taking a backseat to Inferno might be a better example but it's been a while since I've seen the first season of Beast Wars to be sure if that was the case.

* ''In the Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon|Stunticons]], and the introduction of the Pretenders, saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical gimmicks at the same time.''

True in the UK comic but I can't recall any talk at all in the US one about Megatron explicitly copying the Aerialbots' combining ability for the Stunticons. The Head, Target and Power masters may be better examples.

''Power levels''

If you need a comic example, Omega Supreme annihilates six Decepticons in his first appearance over just a few pages (and would have got two more if they hadn't flown away). But in a later issue he's shown losing the return battle with just Buzz Saw!

* ''Megatron is turned into Galvatron three times - at the end of each series, he's turned back into Megatron but with a different body. This is due to Hasbro wanting to keep the [[trademark]]s "Megatron" and "Galvatron" as well as to sell more toys.''

Which era does this refer to?

* ''Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga [[Time Wars]]. The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and Shockwave) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], for example.)''

Erm the Terrorcons in Time Wars were from the future and there were enough problems with future characters dying in the present day already. And their contemporary versions ''were'' killed off in the Underbase Saga.

Otherwise the piece looks a good rewrite/slim down so far.

[[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 19:36, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
:Thanks for the feedback. Some of that's just stuff that I didn't quite finish writing out as well, or didn't give additional context after pulling it from its original fiction section. Ironically, I think the page is actually a little bit ''longer'' than the pre-revision version. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 23:41, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

== Were you looking for this the other day? ==

http://www.emopanda.com/tmp/Energon%20-%2017%20-%20Return%20of%20Demolisher.avi
:Yeah, somebody found it for me, somewhere or other. I haven't gotten around to it yet; I've had to slow down on the Energon in general to preserve my brain cells. Thanks! -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 21:17, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
::Yeah, I think that was me, and I linked you to the wrong episode marked as Return of Demolisher on Veoh. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 22:04, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

== MediaWiki Stuff That Exists and How to Find It ==

[[Special:AllMessages]]

...not the most user-friendly organized list out there, to be sure, but it is a full list. --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 15:03, 7 May 2009 (EDT)

== Magazine ==

According to my issue, the 3H club magazine was called "The Official Transformers Collectors' Club Magazine". The "the" is on the front outside cover but is not capitalized in the notes on the inside cover. --[[User:Bluestreak7|Bluestreak7]] 14:05, 24 May 2009 (EDT)

== Micromaster catalogues? ==

Hey Rob, seeing as wot you're uploading pics of the two teams that this question relates to - do you happen to have the instructions/catalogs for the MC reissues of the Train Team and the Turbo Team? Cause those are the only two that we need a picture from to complete the [[Micromaster Collection]] page's story section, all illustrated-like. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 10:59, 30 May 2009 (EDT)
:See if any of these are what you need: [http://www.builtstlouis.net/journal4/sixteams/ Core dump of my MM reissue scans] -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 13:16, 30 May 2009 (EDT)

== Amory's Page ==

Mrr. Sorry about that, I usually am instead writing out issue/episode synopses that use the present tense, and didn't even realize this time that I'd goofed. 
On that note, the likely reason it read similarly to the Cheap Shots synopsis is because I wrote that too, and you picked up on my writing style. --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 13:25, 15 June 2009 (EDT)
:Ah, gotcha. No problem - stuff happens! -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 13:26, 15 June 2009 (EDT)

== It should be noted that... ==

... Rob hates it when others tell him to take note things. Seriously. He will kill you. Probably to death. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 02:26, 16 June 2009 (EDT)

==Micromaster Squad prices==

For what it's worth, there's a list of G1 prices here: [http://web.archive.org/web/20021205162625/www.geocities.com/pdpool/1990.html] I can't really speak to the validity of the list, however.--[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 10:51, 24 June 2009 (EDT)
:Interesting... I'm little leery of it, though. I remember the Battle Patrol costing me $5 at ToysRUs, and subsequently thinking to myself, wow, each of these little guys is only $1.25! It seems unlikely that the Patrol price jumped to $7 in just one year. I wonder where they got those numbers? -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 11:08, 24 June 2009 (EDT)

::Heh, you'd probably be less confused had I linked you to the main page for that list like I'd intended. Sorry about that. On the [http://web.archive.org/web/20021205063120/www.geocities.com/pdpool/prices.html main page] it mentions that the prices were verified from catalogs and price tags. Catalog pricing could explain the why it seems high. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 02:09, 25 June 2009 (EDT)

== Jazz vs Frenzy ==

Optimus instructed Jazz to take on Frenzy two times in [[Ghosts of Yesterday]], leading Jazz to complain that he always fights the little ones. He only fought him once, though, but knocked him out cold in a matter of minutes. So they have encountered each other, just outside of the films and comics. -- [[User:SFH|SFH]] 17:02, 14 July 2009 (EDT)

== Bad version purging ==

By going to [[Special:Undelete/Nemesis_(SG)]], you could have selectively restored the history (i.e., including Blackout & McFeely, but not you-know-who). Just FTR - [[User:SanityOrMadness|SanityOrMadness]] 16:18, 25 August 2009 (EDT)

== You, sir, are a god. ==

I've read your near-total revision of the [[Death]] page, and it is GLORIOUS, sir. I'm deeply regretful that you don't receive some kinda recognition or payment for all the work you've done -- you've made a list of horrible slaughter and toy-based genocide fun and interesting to read, for which: KUDOS.

So, um, I can only hope that one day they name a toy after you. You deserve it.

Other Voices, Part 2

2009-08-15T02:53:31Z

Black Mage:

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=26
|image=Other_Voices_2_Optimus_pod.jpg
|caption=[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Here we go again...]]
|title="Other Voices" Part 2
|production=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[April 1]], 1997
|written by=[[Larry DiTillio]]
|directed by=[[Ezekiel Norton]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}

'''As the alien machine begins destroying the planet's energon, Optimus devises a desperate plan to destroy the device.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 平和を守るために・・・ (''Heiwa o Mamoru Tame ni...'' "To Protect the Peace...")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Other Voices 2 Tigatron Cheetor.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Beautiful things never turn out good.]]
Out on patrol, Cheetor and Tigatron stare in awe at "the light at the end of the world," as the alien machine continues powering up in space. Primal makes contact and orders them to return to base. Rattrap is pessimistic about their chances of survival, but Primal assures him that Rhinox will find a way for them to survive.

The alien bungalow finishes transferring power to the moon, and in a flash, the aliens depart: "Termination sequence engaged. Return to [[Nexus Zero]]."

Megatron and the Predacons observe this from their base. Confronted with a machine intended to destroy them, Megatron activates a special program and scans the Maximal base, locating the spiders and Inferno within.

Tarantulas is nearly finished converting a stored stasis pod into his escape ship. Blackarachnia observes that it's a little cramped for two...but, weapon drawn, she has no intention of sharing the ride. Inferno arrives just then, blasts her, and sets Tarantulas on fire, knocking him out. Back at the Predacon base, Megatron detects the aborted flow of data to the stasis pod ship and reacts with fury.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Blackarachnia Inferno.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A girl that can handle a gun, awesome!]]
Inferno starts to examine Tarantulas's work, but is attacked by Blackarachnia, who eludes him with a display of gymnastics before blasting him with his own gun. Picking up Tarantulas's cyber-link goggles, she forms a link with the unconscious Tarantulas to obtain the data needed to finish the pod ship—but finds that staring into the abyss of the spider's mind means that it also stares back...

The Maximals arrive at base, alarmed to find the shields down. Inside, they find Rhinox and Dinobot cyber-webbed to the ceiling. Primal sends Rattrap and Airazor to bring in their unwelcome visitors.

Megatron observes the data flow resuming, just as the altered moon opens fire on the planet with a broad, blinding power ray. Primal charges the Maximal base's shields as the external temperature begins climbing and deduces that the aliens intend to ignite the energon deposits. Megatron notes that this will obliterate the entire planet, an incredibly ruthless strategy that he rather admires. He assures his panicked troops that Tarantulas will save them, albeit inadvertently.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Optimus Blackarachnia.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Stasis pod or coffin? At episode's end no one's sure.]]
Blackarachnia finishes the pod ship, only to be discovered and held at gunpoint by Rattrap and Airazor. With Rhinox still out of commission, Primal is beginning to despair, when Rattrap summons him to the stasis hold. Primal is impressed by the ship and immediately orders Blackarachnia to change the command codes to respond to him. He intends to fly the ship up to the [[Planet Buster]] and detonate the transwarp cell to destroy it. With little alternative, Blackarachnia complies.

[[Image:Other Voices 2 Megatron Optimus.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Worst in-flight movie ever.]]
Soon all is ready, and Primal has poignant parting words with his worried crew before sealing the ship and launching it. Megatron scans the launch and notes with delight that Primal is flying the vessel. Primal soon reaches the Planet Buster, starts the ignition sequence, and gives the order to blow the hatch seals. But the hatch is sealed and locked! Megatron appears on his comm screen to gloat that he'd come up with the exact same plan—only in his version of events, the ship's pilot goes "up with the ship." As the timer counts down to zero, the Maximals frantically wait for Primal to make his escape. Primal pounds on the sealed hatch, to no avail. As the Maximals wonder what is going on, Blackarachnia tells them it's too late...in Tarantulas's voice.

The transwarp cell explodes, and high above the planet, the Planet Buster is annihilated...along with the pod ship and Optimus Primal.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal|Maximals]]
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Tigatron]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Rattrap]] (4)
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (5)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (cameo) (13)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (14)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (7)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (9)
*[[Tarantulas]] (10)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (11)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"Sufferin' circuits. What could it be?" 
"The light at the end of the world."
:—'''Cheetor''' and '''Tigatron''', watching the Planet Buster power up

'''Airazor''': "Cheetor and Tigatron are coming." 
'''Rattrap''': "Oh, terrific. Now, we can all get reduced to hot-burning slag together." 
'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Airazor''': "Shut up, Rattrap!"

"That'll teach you to back-shoot a widow."
:—'''Blackarachnia''', after shooting Inferno at point-blank range

'''Megatron''': Brilliant! They're causing a chain reaction which will rip this planet to atoms and destroy all traces of them—simply to deal with us! Such sheer ruthlessness. Such disregard for sentient life! ...I rather like these aliens. 
'''Terrorsaur''': Like them?! They're trying to ''destroy'' us! 
'''Waspinator''': Waspinator not want to be destroyed! Waspinator has ''plans''! 
'''Scorponok''': Megatron will save us! 
'''Megatron''': I think not. I've reserved ''that'' task for Tarantulas.
:—The Predacons react to the Planet Buster.

'''Blackarachnia''': We—I did it! 
'''Airazor''': ''Hooray'' for you. 
[''Blackarachnia finds herself held at gunpoint.''] 
'''Blackarachnia''': Did you know we have a truce?

'''Primal''': Every one of these alien structure has been designed for a specific purpose, Rattrap. This one is busy, and I'm betting I can fly close enough to take it out. 
'''Rattrap''': With what? One of your famous "We can do it" speeches? 
'''Primal''': A transwarp explosion. 
''[Dramatic Pause]'' 
'''Blackarachnia''': Hahaha! You'll blow yourself to atoms! 
'''Primal''': If it saves this planet, it'll be worth it. If not, I'm no worse off.
:—An ape's gotta do what an ape's gotta do.

''[After the other Maximals have volunteered to pilot the stasis pod in Primal's place.]'' 
"Well, what about you, Rattrap?" 
"Hey, suicide ain't in my job description."
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Rattrap'''

'''Primal:''' Cozy. 
'''Blackarachnia:''' Just like a coffin.
:—Encouraging words for anyone getting into a stasis pod.

'''Rattrap''': Just in case you don't come back...can I have your quarters? 
'''Primal''': No.
:—'''Rattrap''''s version of a final farewell.

"Do Maximals always talk such slop?" 
[''Airazor punches her out''] 
"My sentiments exactly."
:—'''Blackarachnia''' and '''Rattrap'''

"Oh, you Optimuses do love to sacrifice yourselves, don't you? Well, fortunately, this time your foolishness will destroy you and your Maximals. The Beast Wars are over, Optimus. You lose."
:—'''Megatron'''

'''Primal''': MEGATROOOOOON!
:—KHAAAAAAAAN!

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
* When Blackarachnia grabs Inferno's gun, she clips into Inferno for a spit second.
* During Airazor and Rattrap's search for Blackarachnia, Airazor's gun floats in her hand when they jump into a hallway, and then gets "stuck" in her armpit as they walk towards the camera. Meawhile, her hands are posed grasping at nothing.
* As Optimus Primal lies back into the stasis pod, his shoulder pads are much smaller than they usually are. This was done to avoid clipping with the sides of the cramped stasis post model.

===Continuity errors===
* How exactly did anything organic survive the heating of the entire planet?
* When Blackarachia and Tarantulas attacked Dinobot in the previous episode, they caused him to fall through the glass of the elevator on the right hand side of the ''Axalon'''s command center (from Dinobot's perspective). In this episode, the smashed elevator glass has been switched to the other elevator on the other side of the room.
* The piece of cyber-webbing Airazor steps on when she exits the elevator was not present during the close up of Rattrap as he complained about the missing Rhinox and Dinobot.

===Transformers references===
* When Optimus seals the pod hatch, he activates his mouthplate (never seen before or since) -- an obvious reference to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime).
*Megatron's line, "You Optimuses do enjoy sacrificing yourselves", is a reference to the [[Optimus Prime (G1)|original Optimus Prime]] and [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|his numerous deaths]].
*When Tigatron volunteers to pilot the stasis pod ship, he says, "I owe this world." This refers to his grief over what happened in "[[Law of the Jungle]]".

===Miscellaneous trivia===
* At the script stage, this episode had the subtitle "Termination Day".
* When Tarantulas angrily dismisses Blackarachnia while attempting to work on the stasis pod, he is voiced by [[Scott McNeil]] (doing an impression of [[Alec Willows]]'s Tarantulas) for two lines.
* A planned but never-produced Generation 1 cameo was planned for "Other Voices" Part 2. The intent was for Megatron to gloat to Primal while the latter was trapped in the stasis pod—by projecting an image of the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, on Primal's viewscreen as Primal raced for the false moon and met his demise.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&&q=%22Optimus+Prime%22 Bob Forward interview on alt.toys.transformers]</ref>
*When you see the little parts of Primal flying towards the camera near the end of the episode, you can see Optimus's head fly at the screen very quickly with a distressed look on his face.
* In [[Madman Entertainment]]'s ''Beast Wars Season 1'' DVD set, on a commentary track for this episode with fan consultant [[Ben Yee]] and story editor [[Larry DiTillio]], fellow story editor [[Bob Forward]] popped in to explain the significance of the slang term "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]". He explained that he looked up on refineries as he figured that robots would be made of steel, and one of the waste byproducts of creating steel was an unusable detritus called slag, which he thought would be an appropriate swear word for robots to use.
* Why couldn't Optimus just blast his way out instead of pounding the hatch? Firing his weapons might have damaged himself, but at that point it was better than the alternative.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]

Cramp

2009-08-02T11:27:53Z

Black Mage:

{{episode|
|series=Armada
|series2=Micron Legend
|ep=48
|prev=Portent
|next=Alliance (episode)
|title=Cramp
|japanese=決死 (しんねん) - cramp
|romaji=Kesshi [Shinnen]
|translation=Preparedness for death (Conviction)
|image=Cramp.JPG
|caption=
|production code=TF: A-48
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Osamu Kamijō]], [[Mitsuru Kawasaki]] (asst. dir.)
|animation studio=[[Actas]]
|airdate=[[September 29]], 2003 (UK) [[December 8]], 2003 (US) [[November 28|28 November]] 2003 (Japan)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Starscream prepares to do whatever it takes to convince Galvatron the threat of Unicron is real.'''

==Detailed Synopsis==
[[Image:Starsmack.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Galvatron blasts Starscream with his rarely seen armpit-laser.]]
Starscream pleads to Galvatron, hoping to convince his leader that the threat of Unicron is real (as Starscream has first hand experience in the beast's bowels) and that perhaps an [[Alliance (episode)|Alliance]] between the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] is the safest course to ensure the survival of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When Starscream refuses to stop pleading, Galvatron slaps his subordinate into a wall to silence him. The Decepticon leader is confident his military can overcome both the Autobots and Unicron. Starscream continues to stress the danger of Unicron, and Galvatron starts to swing his [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]].

[[Image:Cramp-Starscreamdies.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Code of Hero|The rest is... silence]]. Well, [[Energon (cartoon)|not really]], but don't you kinda wish it was?]]
The Autobots are still optimistic, believing there's a chance a diplomatic conference could lead to a truce between the two sides. Which means the Autobots can't take aggressive action against the Decepticons, only defensive. Megatron, armed with the Star Saber and Tidal Wave, flies into battle, ready to negotiate with Prime using firepower. Prime responds by combining with Jetfire and Overload and heading away from the thick of the battle.

By a [[Megatron statue (Armada)|monolithic statue of Megatron]], Starscream wonders who is he is and what he needs to do. Alexis' words of encouragement run through his head.

Away from the armies, Galvatron and Optimus send their men away, leaving the two leaders to battle one on one. Through the battle, Galvatron admits that he still considers Unicron to be an Autobot hoax, and with the Star Saber, he has the upper hand against Prime. As soon as Megatron breaks Prime's metal, an explosion disturbs the showdown. Starscream walks from the smoke.

The rest of the Autobots are struggling to hold their ground, unable to cause any real damage to the Decepticons. Alexis has faith that things will be okay. Thousands of miles away, Unicron's lunar shell peels off and the behemoth attacks the assembled Mini-Con cluster.

[[Image:Cramp-Swindleejects.jpg|left|175px|thumb]]
Starscream quits the Decepticons and challenges Galvatron to one-on-one combat. The two clash, quickly cutting into each other. Starscream displays a show of skill beyond the last time he battled Megatron. Lightning from Unicron carves into the landscape, but the two warriors ignore the weather and continue their struggle. But in an instant, the Star Saber plunges into Starscream's torso, and the impaled Decepticon falls.

Lying with the blade sticking out of him, Starscream speaks earnestly to Galvatron, pointing out that it was Megatron's own arrogance that drove the situation to be what it is. Despite his injury, Starscream stands up and reiterates his wishes for a truce between the two Cybertronian factions against Unicron. His final wish said, Starscream joins with his Mini-Con to fire his Proton-cannons upwards at Unicron. Unicron fires back, disintegrating Starscream.

[[Image:Cramp-AlexismournsStarscream.jpg|left|175px|thumb| I never got to tell Starscream that I love him!!!]]
Galvatron remembers all the experiences he had with Starscream, and finally decides to join forces with Optimus.... BUT from the crater Starscream died in, a dark cloud emerges and grabs the Star Saber! The cloud forms into Sideways, who escapes the two leaders and escapes through the underground portal, making sure to collapse them so he can't be followed.

Aboard the ''[[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]'', Alexis's [[Good Luck Necklace|luck charm]] breaks, and she runs outside to look out the window just to see Starscream's laser blast fade away. Hearing news of Starscream's death over the video screen, the kids become sad, most notably Alexis, who begins crying. She runs out of the room and slams her fist on the window that displays Unicron, in grief. When Rad appears behind her, she smacks his shoulders with her hands, asking why Starscream would do that. Rad does his best to try and console her.{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (8)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]] (10)
*[[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] (14)
*[[Smokescreen (Armada)|Hoist]] (15)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] (16)
*[[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] (17)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (18)
*[[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] (2)
*[[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] (3)
*[[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (4)
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]] (19)

|c3=
*[[Fred (Armada)|Fred]] (6)
*[[Billy (Armada)|Billy]] (7)
*[[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] (11)
*[[Alexis]] (12)
*[[Rad White|Rad]] (13)

|h4=[[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]|c4=
*[[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] (22)
*[[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] (23)
*[[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] (24)
*[[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] (22)

|h5=Other|c5=
*[[Unicron]] (21)
*[[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] (23)
}}

==Quotes==
"How long have we been adversaries, Optimus? It seems like since the beginning of time. And I suppose I do have a certain respect for you but I digress, you might have fooled Starscream with your little Truce ploy, but I am nobody's fool. Now let's end this charade, shall we?" 
:—'''Galvatron''' faces off against Optimus Prime in the 'negotiations'.

"May I suggest that you have lost your mind?!"
:—'''Galvatron''' to Starscream, who has just challenged him to a duel.

'''Cyclonus:''' "Am I nuts, or are they missing on purpose?" 
'''Demolishor:''' "The obvious answer, Cyclonus, is you're nuts!" 
'''Wheeljack:''' "Knock it off, you two!"

"Oh no, the horror! The horror!" 
:—'''Fred''', reacting to Unicron firing his lightning at the Mini-Cons

[[Image:Cramp-Galvatronregrets.jpg|right|250px|thumb|You'll miss me when I'm gone!]]
"I tried to gain favour from you. But nothing was ever good enough. No matter how many battles I fought, you always found fault. Then I saw how Optimus treated his men, and I realized he was a leader of integrity. Unlike you." 
"You were too weak to ever gain my respect." 
"None of that matters now. You must listen — do as Optimus says and join forces with the Autobots, or else every last one of us is doomed. Please sir... do it for me..."
:—'''Starscream''' pours his spark out to '''Galvatron''' after being impaled by the Star Saber

"It's time to finish this once and for all! Activate Proton Cannon! You're all mine, Unicron!"
:—'''Starscream's''' last words as he rips the Star Saber out of his chest and fires his cannons at Unicron
{{-}}
==Notes==
* Optimus calls Starscream's Mini-Con Swindle instead of Zapmaster. So logically this means that Swindle received a color-change like Starscream did (instead of Starscream exchanging his Mini-Con for a new one in different colors).
* Starscream's photon cannon blasts don't even make it all the way up to Unicron. You can see them dissipate before Alexis's eyes before they reach him. Most heart-wrenching suicide ever?

===Transformers references===
*Starscream's death by crumbling into a pile of debris is very similar to the death scene of ''Generation 1'' [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream's]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Real-world references===
* Fred's "The horror!" line is from ''[[Wikipedia:Heart of Darkness|Heart of Darkness]]'', the novel adapted into the film ''[[Wikipedia:Apocalypse Now|Apocalypse Now]]''.

* Megatron gives Starscream one last chance to not fight, and when Starscream declines, Megatron's "Is that your final answer?" line might be a reference to ''[[Wikipedia:Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''.

===Miscellaneous trivia===
*The english-language version of Cramp first aired in the United Kingdom on the SkyOne channel, at the time the network was running a 24-hour a day promotion of American magician/"endurance artist" [[Wikipedia:David Blaine|David Blaine]]'s controversial London stunt, complete with an obnoxious '''DAVID BLAINE''' on-screen overlay.

[[Category:Armada episodes]]

Blackarachnia (BW)

2009-07-31T22:28:06Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|maximal|predacon}}
{{disambig3|Blackarachnia}}
:''Blackarachnia is a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]], [[Maximal]], and a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Beast Era]] portion of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. She's a busy girl, huh?''

[[Image:Blackarachniabw.jpg|right|240px|thumb|Hot, poisonous, and deadly. Rawr!]]
A sultry femme fatale, '''Blackarachnia''' is smart, sexy, and dangerous. She's got eight legs, and she knows how to use them. Of the several rebellious Predacons under [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s command, she's one of the very few who can, on occasion, outguile him. Always looking out for Number One, Blackarachnia values her independence and freedom above all else. She would rather be deactivated than be a slave.

Blackarachnia's greatest weakness, other than her overconfidence, is her feelings for the Maximal [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]. Something about his heroic demeanor and the kindness he shows her makes her uneasy. She hasn't experienced unconditional love before, and it scares her, though she'll never admit it.

{{quote|Even when I'm good, I'm still bad.|—Blackarachnia, "[[Crossing the Rubicon]]"}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Blackwidow'''
:''French-Canadian name (original toy):'' '''Mygale'''
:''French-Canadian name (cartoon):'' '''La Veuve Noire''' (The Black Widow")<ref name=TM2BA>Whether Transmetal II Blackarachnia had different French and Spanish names is uncertain at this point.</ref>
:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Hēi Jr-jū''' (黑蜘蛛, "Black Spider") / '''Jr-jū''' (蜘蛛, "Spider", used in ''Beast Machines'' sometimes)
:''Cantonese name:'' '''Alaina''' (雅麗娜 ''Aa Lai Naa'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Arachna'''
:''Portuguese name:'' '''Aracniana'''
:''Brazilian name (Beast Wars only):'' '''Viúva Negra'''
:''Spanish name'': '''Araña Negra''' ("Black Spider")<ref name=TM2BA/>

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Fátima Noya]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:BAintroduction.jpg|left|250px|thumb|My face is up here!]]
Blackarachnia was born from one of the [[Maximal|Maximals']] fallen [[stasis pod]]s. [[Tarantulas]], watching a black widow fight and devour another spider, was inspired. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], observing the slim and attractive Blackarachnia transform and strike a few poses, suggested that he had "ulterior motives behind her beast form selection." But, she was a Predacon, and that was what was important. In the battle with the Maximals that followed, she easily defeated [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] with a few well-placed kicks. She was later reported as "missing," though the reasons why and how were never addressed. {{storylink|Double Jeopardy}}

Blackarachnia made herself renowned among the ranks of both the Maximals and Predacons as a severe headache to Megatron. When Tarantulas found out about the [[Vok]], he tried to craft a stasis pod escape ship for himself, and she was there to forge a partnership {{storylink|Spider's Game}}. When [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and Blackarachnia journeyed to a mysterious, floating island containing immense power, she was there to shove him out of the way and take control of the island herself, only to be defeated by [[Tigatron]] {{storylink|The Trigger, Part 1}}. When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] took control of [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s body, she was right next to him when he betrayed Megatron, betraying Starscream ''back'' {{storylink|Possession}}. When she aided Tarantulas in breaking into the ''Axalon'' to acquire a stasis pod for conversion into an escape ship, she took over after a following Inferno incapacitated Tarantulas, intending to take the ship for herself. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 1}} Unfortunately for her, this deception backfired on her in the form of a forced mind link between her and Tarantulas, which remained until she forced the spider into breaking it. {{storylink|Tangled Web}} When Tarantulas forced her to investigate Megatron's [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden]] [[Golden Disk (Vok)|Disk]] backups, she waited until Tarantulas was occupied to download and encrypt the recoverable information. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

[[Image:Blackarachnia A shame.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Hiya, hot stuff.]]
When the Vok were moments away from returning, Tarantulas and Blackarachnia both again teamed up in an attempt to flee the dying planet. Megatron, already aware of their next move, used their deceptive tendencies against them and acted unaware of their treachery. As they built their escape ship, he installed his own variant on the design, making it inescapable once sealed and in space. Though it did not destroy either of them, the result was even better: [[Optimus Primal]] wound up in the pod and was destroyed instead. {{storylink|Other Voices, Part 2}} Blackarachnia's wits saved her, as she convinced Megatron that he would need soldiers, which gave him reason to spare her life. She also, much to her disgust, ended up with a telepathic link to Tarantulas which allowed him control of her body. {{storylink|Aftermath}}

Forced by Tarantulas to hack into Megatron's private files and Golden Disk back-ups for him, she discovered that it contained the access codes for the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. Taking advantage of his temporary deactivation, she downloaded a copy, destroyed the files and told Megatron [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] destroyed them, while telling Tarantulas a different story, that Megatron had booby-trapped them. {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}} Neither of them (apparently) believed her, but neither showed this openly ''yet''... Meanwhile, Blackarachnia forced Tarantulas to end their psychic link by threatening to kill herself and take his mind with her. She also had Silverbolt refuse to fight her because she was female (to the annoyance of Rattrap). {{storylink|Tangled Web}}

[[Image:Blackarachnia fightback.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Spousal abuse!]]
When an energon blast sent her and Silverbolt into the middle of the dense jungles, they were forced to work together. Though attracted to the [[Fuzor]], Blackarachnia was endlessly frustrated by his seemingly idiotic chivalry and need to treat her specially. Megatron, listening in to their commlink chatter, was disgusted by the obvious romance going on. Blackarachnia rather liked the treatment and affection, though she held it under a firm charade of bitter irritation. {{storylink|Bad Spark}}

When the Predacons attacked the valley of proto-humans, Blackarachnia was teamed with Inferno. She did considerable damage to Dinobot before being blasted herself. {{storylink|Code of Hero}}

After confirming the location of the Ark, Megatron sent Waspinator to its location. Realizing what this meant, Blackarachnia abandoned her post and followed him. Silverbolt followed ''her'' and stubbornly refused to leave her alone. Exhausted and in a hurry, she conceded and told him to dig. The two broke through the mountainside and Blackarachnia had a good cackle over the Ark's power being "all mine!"... just as Megatron arrived. Having always intended for her to reach the Ark as he knew she had the access codes, he threatened to vape Silverbolt unless she did what he said. Bitterly, she agreed to his demands.

[[Image:BA Silverbolt Agenda3.jpg|right|180px|thumb|I can walk, you know.]]
Blackarachnia used the Ark's security system to cover Megatron's back, not sure of what he was planning. Once he fired upon [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], history began to change, wiping out all Maximals... {{storylink|The Agenda (Part III)}}which included herself. Not willing to die for Megatron, she activated [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I's]] security nets to force Megatron off the ship. With Silverbolt's help, she got the dying Autobot leader under life support and began the repairs. The Maximals, recognizing what she had done, reluctantly allowed her to join their ranks after an irate Megatron gave her the boot (in the form of nearly killing her). {{storylink|Optimal Situation}} (Quite what ''she'd'' intended to do with the Ark — since she couldn't have altered the timeline without risking erasing herself — was never explored.)

Blackarachnia quickly showed her usefulness to the Maximals, building a hand-powered [[subaquatic stealth vessel]] that could retrieve Sentinel from the ''Axalon'''s underwater resting place. Rattrap was less than thrilled about having to use the "Predacon beach ball". {{storylink|Changing of the Guard}}

She was even less thrilled when she ended up having to escort two human children back to their tribe along with Cheetor, who was exhibiting a boyish crush on her, much to Silverbolt's annoyance. Rattrap was also rather distrusting of her, as earlier he had spied Blackarachnia sneaking some parts from a classified area. But when Megatron's new [[cyber raptor]]s attacked, Blackarachnia showed her good side by defending the children, even taking a hit from Tarantulas for them, which she immediately denied to an impressed Silverbolt by saying she slipped. With the cyber raptors defeated, she informed Cheetor that he was a nice kid - which were two strikes against him, so don't go looking for strike three. {{storylink|Cutting Edge}}

However, tensions began to run high later. After Rhinox scanned her and found the shell program that made her a Predacon, Blackarachnia finally got fed up with Rattrap's attitude and Cheetor's crush, and would have choked/blasted them both if Optimus hadn't intervened. Weary that apparently she hadn't proven herself to the Maximals and thinking that Optimus and Rhinox were planning to force her to remove the shell, Blackarachnia decided to split... which turned out to be a bad decision, as [[Dinobot II]] had been waiting for this moment. Taking turns hunting each other, Blackarachnia got the upper hand but was caught off-guard by Dinobot's power and durability. Fleeing to a mesa, she was found by Silverbolt, who got in a fight with Dinobot and was about to be slagged. Blackarachnia shot him out of the way, then tried to make a deal with Dinobot to take over the Ark and the Predacons, which backfired and allowed Dinobot to stun her, but he was distracted by Silverbolt long enough for the two Maximals to finally defeat him. However, Silverbolt accused Blackarachnia of betraying the Maximals, which angered Blackarachnia who explained she shot him to get him out of Dinobot's grasp and distract him, and countered with Optimus' supposed forcing of her to become a Maximal. But they worked everything out at the end (after a headbutt to Silverbolt also dropped her. He ''does'' have a thick skull). {{storylink|Proving Grounds}}

[[Image:TM2 Blackarachnia.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Calendar Bot]]
Later, Blackarachnia took the [[Transmetal driver]] and attempted to use it on herself. Silverbolt, not realizing what she was planning, bailed her out of the contraption. Like every good girlfriend, she began to chew him out, but was cut off as an energy surge made her lose control of her circuits. A security system Tarantulas installed had been triggered by her tampering with her core, and the only way to fix it was to cut the Predacon [[shell program]] loose. Reluctantly, she agreed. An attack on the Maximal base disrupted the attempt, and she was deactivated.

Distraught, Silverbolt took off to avenge her death. He easily subdued Tarantulas and was moments away from executing him when [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] attacked him. Blackarachnia appeared in the nick of time with her new and improved Transmetal 2 body, easily fought off Rampage and rescued Silverbolt. {{storylink|Crossing the Rubicon}}

Later, during Megatron's final assault on the Ark, Blackarachnia "emasculated" Rattrap's tail in an effort to reactivate the Ark. Seriously. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}
====''Tales of the Beast Wars''====
Blackarachnia made a brief appearance in her Transmetal 2 form at [[Omega Point]], being eviscerated by [[Shokaract]]'s firepower. Clearly, she got better as space/time rebooted itself with the destruction of the [[Unicron|Dark Essence]]. {{storylink|Terminus}}

====IDW ''Beast Wars'' comics====
[[Image:TMblackarachnia.jpg|left|200px|thumb]]
While the Maximals attempted to remove her Predacon shell program, an alternate Transmetal "Vok" body was somehow automatically created (by someone, somehow) in [[subspace]] just in case it was needed. It wasn't, and so it was "sidelined". {{storylink|Beast Wars Sourcebook}}

{{note|This is [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] way of "sorta" working her [[McDonald's]] Happy Meal premium toy (see below) into continuity}}

====''Binaltech'' (unused)====
As the victorious Maximals travelled forward in time from prehistoric Earth to far-future Cybertron, their shuttle was suddenly struck by a powerful force of darkness. Hurled into the early 21st century, Blackarachnia was forced by Unicron to aid him in his efforts to destroy the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Her spark was placed inside the silver Beta Unit Honda S-2000 Aero Style body intended for the Autobot warrior [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and her mind was overwhelmed by an evil essence that forced her to do Unicron's bidding.

Still possessing her extrasensory Transmetal 2 powers including telekinesis, Blackarachnia gained several additional weapons courtesy of her new form: a long-range Venom Sniper Gun that fired system-disrupting energy bullets, a defensive riot shield that projected an electromagnetic field from its edge, and the ability to fire strong artificial webs from her grill, exhaust pipe and hands in robot mode.

Blackarachnia was partnered with the newly-created [[Decepticharge]] and dispatched to confront [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] forces on Earth. Finding them in the middle of a [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]-led uprising, the pair put down the rebellion and ordered the Decepticons to defeat [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and destroy the Matrix.

While forced to act as a Decepticon, Blackarachnia's true self remained intact but submerged, struggling to overcome Unicron's control and desperate to correct the warped [[Binaltech]] timeline.

[[Blackarachnia (BW)|''Maybe.'']]

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Venus Terzo]] (English), [[Ryōka Yuzuki]] (Japanese), [[Márcia Moreli]] (Portuguese)

[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|When they say she's all legs, they ain't kidding!]]
When the Autobot shuttle crashed on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the Maximal team was gassed, Blackarachnia's Transmetal 2 powers were stripped away from her, as were her memories. As such, the amnesiac Maximal decided to head underground, distraught and confused. Locked out of her robot mode, she awaited her imminent deactivation — until the other three survivors: an equally disoriented [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rattrap]] and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]—plunged into her web. Primal made the decision to head underground, and Blackarachnia complied, using her webs to grant them safe passage. However, in her weakened state her webbing was limited, and so the foursome plummeted most of the way down into the chamber of the [[Vector Sigma|Oracle]]. She watched as Optimus emerged in his [[technorganic]] form, and was the fourth and last Maximal to be [[reformat]]ted, emerging as a pink black widow spider with green markings. When attacked by a squadron of Cycle Drones, she put her technorganic mode to good use, trapping one of the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]] in a tangle of web. {{storylink|The Reformatting}}

[[Image:Blackarachniamasterofthehouse.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Nice forehead!]]
However, her loss of Silverbolt had hardened her, and she was now unable to count on her Maximal allies. Blackarachnia fell back upon her Predacon principles of 'survival of the fittest' and became more withdrawn and skeptical than at the end of the Beast Wars. Blackarachnia had a relatively easy time adapting to her new technorganic form, and was the third Maximal to master transformation, though it took her longer to apply her new robot mode in combat. In robot mode, she was able to fire electrical "stings" through the ground and hurl technorganic webs like discs. However, all of her new abilities and powers were useless as she tried to unravel the mysteries of where and why the population of Cybertron had gone, and why the [[Cybertron InfoCore]] was wiped. {{storylink|Master of the House}} Sometime after that, she received a vision of prehistoric [[Earth]] and her lover. She and Rattrap were then sent to extract data on the Shuttle that ferried them home to Cybertron, before having a run-in with Megatron's new, sentient [[Vehicon general]]s. As she desperately tried to access her missing memories, Megatron manipulated the data link, attempting to probe her mind, and by doing so, finding the Maximal's base. When she realized what was going on, she severed the link at the cost of the Shuttle and their memories. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

Blackarachnia and crew later discovered the bat-creature [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], who led them to a strange organic fruit tree. Upon eating the fruit, Blackarachnia began to revert to her instinctual "animal" mind, and it was only thanks to [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] that her feral mind returned to normal, and thanks to Primal that the bat's life was saved and reformatted into a technorganic body. With the debut of the newest Maximal, Blackarachnia took on a "big sister" role to the inexperienced youth, and as a result mellowed somewhat. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} Later, the group stumbled across one of Megatron's many Transformer junkyards, where the lifeless, [[Spark]]less bodies of the cities were disposed of. When [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] and Blackarachnia were split up from the battle, a unofficial truce was made between the two uneasy sides, but when, Thrust saved her life and her [[Spark]], having strange recollections of doing so before, her mind was set: He was Silverbolt, mutated and made evil by Megatron. {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}}

Blackarachnia made numerous peals for Thrust to realize his "true" Maximal nature, though Thrust seemed hesitant. This culminated in Thrust removing her Spark, as [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] egged him on. As the Spark rocketed into the darkness, Nightscream fought Jetstorm for it. At the same time, on another plane of existence, Blackarachnia encountered Primal, who calmed her astral spirit down, at the same time allowing Nightscream to restore it and bring her back. {{storylink|Revelations Part III: Apocalypse}}

When Tankor gained control of the Key to Vector Sigma and "infected" Nightscream and the new orchard with the Key, Blackarachnia eventually became infected, and temporarily lost her sanity as she was overwhelmed by the "technomatter". {{storylink|The Key}} When the rest of the gang managed to reverse the process, Blackarachnia was saved.

[[Image:Silverboltjetstorm.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Sorry, your boyfriend was behind door number 2!]]
However, not even Thrust's recent behavior would put off the persistent Maximal. Using some of the organic fluid from the Cybertronian core, and after a brief chase, she trapped Thrust in some of her webs and forced his inner personality out, begging for Silverbolt to answer. The reply was not quite what she was looking for.

[[Waspinator (BW)|"Doggie-bot not here!"]]

When Jetstorm attacked, another mishap with the organic goop occurred, and for a moment Silverbolt's true personality emerged, sweeping Blackarachnia in his arms. He returned, but just for a moment. Fighting a passionate [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], the goo vanished from the both of them, and the Vehicon's minds both returned.

Blackarachnia was involved in the battle in Megatron's Citadel, holding off the Vehicons as Primal confronted Megatron within, though she, along with the others, were all overwhelmed by the Key to Vector Sigma and became comatose. Upon awakening, the four headed to confront [[Optimus Primal|Primal]] in the Oracle, where they convinced him to return to real-space and continue his leadership.

[[Image:Blackarachniasilverboltdarkestknight.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Vamp meets goth.]]
After a brief run-in with the organic Transformer [[Noble|Savage/Noble]], his betrayal, and the introduction of the [[Grand Mal]], Blackarachnia managed to force Jetstorm into a large pool of the organic goo, and his body began to change. Scanning a nearby condor skeleton, he awoke in a new form, a purple technorganic bird of prey. Blackarachnia was startled by the change in him. Instead of the lovable, chivalrous knight in shining armor, he was a brittle, haunted bot, tormented by the images of the evil deeds he had done...done by choice. Though he gave up on himself, she never did, urging Silverbolt to forgive his past, prompting him to head to the Grand Mal to confront his old master and rescue Primal and Cheetor. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}}

[[Image:Silverboltblackarachniaseedsofthefuture.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Eeek! That smile! Go back to glowering!]]
Even after Silverbolt inadvertently spread a new, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]-enhanced version of the old [[Hate Plague]] causing dissension in the ranks, her love remained, unbroken and undying, though Silverbolt only felt more guilt on his part. However, Blackarachnia softened once more, and displayed traits similar to her pre-technoganic persona with the reintroduction of her lover. Together, the two battled an [[Botanica|alien plant monster]] only to have it join the Maximals, fought [[Obsidian (BM)|two]] [[Strika (BM)|new]] Vehicons, and went up against strange zombies created by Megatron's depolarized Spark.

By the time the final conflict rolled around, Blackarachnia, like the others, was empowered by the Sparks of Cybertron, depleting the Vehicon ranks. However, like the others, she finally fell and her Spark was extracted once again, as Primal and Megatron fought their final battle, resulting in the sacrifice of them both and the reformatting of Cybertron into a technorganic paradise. Swatting away an angry [[Waspinator (BW)|bug]], looking out over their new home, Silverbolt ruined the emotion with the corniest line possible—

{{quote|The menace has passed! At last, we can truly be together, dark venom of my heart!|—Silverbolt to Blackarachnia}}

{{-}}

====''Universe''====
Shortly after the planet underwent the Great Reformatting, the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]] seized the opportunity to attack, believing that the revolutionary change would have rendered the planets' inhabitants confused and docile. Suffice to say, the Transformers were greatly underestimated. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were successfully able to fend [[Cybertropolis]] from Quintesson invaders. {{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

[[Image:Blackarachniaabduction.jpg|left|300px|thumb|She stabbed my basketball, and the speakers to my stereo!]]
One year later, Silverbolt and Blackarachnia were chosen to greet a ship of returning Autobot heroes from the Great War. Their welcomes were ignored by the crew, which included [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]], and [[Shadow Striker]], when they realized that their home had been transformed into a strange technorganic paradise. Only [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] was unphased, choosing to talk up Blackarachnia and Silverbolt so that he could mug for [[Rook (Universe)|Rook's]] cameras.

[[Image:TFU Blackarachnia vs Rattrap.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Hey, guys, I turned evil again!]]
Their greeting was interrupted by a series of what appeared to be fireworks. Instead, they were beams of energy sent by [[Unicron]] to capture the returning crew, Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt, and bring them to him. When they arrived, a booming voice welcomed them to the [[Pit]], a dimension inside Unicron. Blackarachnia and her fellow captives were painfully smelted down and reformed; only Trailbreaker emerged unchanged. Since she arrived, Blackarachnia had begun to feel a growing anger that she couldn't control. And in this new Unicron-tainted form, she more than welcomed the swarm of creatures that began swarming her group. Overwhelmed, Blackarachnia and the others were herded into the [[Cauldron]] and filed into prison cells. As Blackarachnia protested, she was silenced by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], one of their hosts.

It was revealed to them by the master of ceremonies, [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]], that they would be forced to fight fellow abducted Transformers. The loser's [[spark]] would fuel and empower Unicron, whose form had fallen into disrepair. Blackarachnia's uncontrollable rage welcomed this bloodsport, as Silverbolt watched helplessly as she fell under Unicron's evil spell. {{storylink|Abduction}}

Optimus Primal, resurrected by [[Primus]], arrived to rescue the prisoners of the Cauldron, and with help from Silverbolt and Trailbreaker, its captives were set free. But Unicron's grip on Blackarachnia was too strong. She began lashing out madly, even at Silverbolt, and the Fuzor took tight hold of her so that he might swiftly remove her from Unicron's grip. But as the others began jumping through a portal that would lead them to their respective homes across the [[multiverse]], Blackarachnia had a moment of clarity. Sadly, she told Silverbolt that Unicron had awakened her ''true'' nature, then bid him farewell and threw him through the portal.

[[Image:Optimusprimaluniverseend.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Closure? Maybe?]]
Soon, she was escorted by Tankor and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] to the center of Unicron, where she was repulsed to meet a familiar face: Tarantulas! {{storylink|Escape (issue)|Escape}}

Blackarachnia was dispatched to Cybertron's [[Undercity]], where she observed Rattrap for a while. Finally, she made her presence known, stinging him with her cybervenom. She never had liked the vermin, after all. Suddenly, Rattrap was saved by [[Depth Charge]], back from the dead. Blackarachnia was knocked out, and Depth Charge left the weakened Rattrap to fend for himself. As Depth Charge departed, he found himself surrounded by Blackarachnia's [[Piranacon (Universe)|Piranacons]]. {{storylink|Homecoming}}

{{note|[[3H Productions]] lost the license, and so this story was never finished as intended. However, look into the end of ''Universe'' was shown in a comic published by the next licensee, [[Fun Publications]].}}
Much later, Optimus Primal waged one last desperate assault against Unicron, and his [[Children of Primus]] were able to defeat the [[Minions of Unicron]]. As Unicron himself seemed to dissolve below them, Silverbolt carried Blackarachnia with him, saving her from sharing the gruesome fate of her evil peers. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
[[Image:Blackarach24.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Keeping something OUT of her crotch, for once.]]
Following the [[Quantum surge]], Blackarachnia was one of the few Transformers ''not'' to be upgraded into a [[Transmetal]]. As [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and his armies laid seige to the weakened Maximal base, Blackarachnia waited in secret for an opening. When [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] was forced to shut [[Sentinel (BW)|Sentinel]] down to let an injured [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] in, Blackarachnia saw her chance and entered the base. Knocking out Airazor and ripping [[Rattrap]]'s arm off, Blackarachnia confronted Rhinox. Rhinox proceeded to pull out a "gun", but instead of shooting her with it, he blasted himself in the head (the "gun" actually being a machine allowing him to enter [[Transwarp space]]). Confused, but seeing no further use for the Maximals, Blackarachnia left the base. As the base collapsed behind her, she was approached by Quickstrike, who didn't like her "interfering" with his business. Not in the mood, she immediately kicked his head off. {{storylink|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!|Raise the Curtain for Beast Wars Metals!!}}

{{-}}
===''Beast Wars: Transmetals''===
[[Image:N64Blackarachnia.jpg|left|200px|thumb|I'm... sure she has a nice personality... wait, no. No, she doesn't.]]
:''Voice actor:'' ? (English), ? (Japanese)

Transmetal Blackarachnia joins her fellow Predacons in distributing various one-on-one beat downs to the Maximals. Eventually, Silverbolt convinces her to defect to the Maximals but she never truly reforms—once back on Cybertron, she works as a double-agent between the Maximal and [[Tripredacus Council]] with no loyalty to either side. {{storylink|Beast Wars: Transmetals}}

{{note|In the the N64 version of ''Beast Wars: Transmetals'', Blackarachnia was a stretched [[palette swap|palette-swap]] of [[Tarantulas|Transmetal Tarantulas]]. As you can see, this didn't work very well. But it was a nice thought.}}

{{-}}

===''Universe'' CD-ROM===
Blackarachnia followed [[Reptilion|Reptillion]]{{sic}} in battle against [[Optimus Primal]] and his Autobot forces. She teamed up with [[Razorclaw (Universe)|Razorclaw]] to fight [[Striker]] before being abducted by [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Universe CD-ROM}}

===Transformers Legends Anthology===
==Toys==
===Beast Wars===
{{anchor|Dx1}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabwtoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Post-op Tarantulas.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 1996/1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''D-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: Blackarachnia's original toy is a [[redeco]] of the [[Tarantulas]] mold, transforming into a rather generic-looking organic spider. It features a removable spring-loaded launcher hidden in its beast-mode abdomen. It nominally fires the "grappling hook" attached to its abdomen by a string, but its front four beast-mode legs can also be removed and used as ammunition. Like all first-year ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' Deluxes, the robot-mode head has both a "robot" face and a [[mutant head|"mutant" face]]; Blackarachnia is always depicted in fiction using the "robot" one (or a rough approximation thereof).

[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTakara.jpg|right|250px|thumb|She might have an F-cup...or an E.]]

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] release of the toy has numerous color differences from the [[Hasbro]] version, but they are of dubious merit as far as making her more "show-accurate" go. The bright green of the Hasbro version's forearms is replaced with dull silver, while the brighter purple is replaced with a darker, more desaturated purple. Her dark copper paint is replaced with a brighter gold. Her robot-mode facemask is painted gold, which is closer to the show model... but her face beneath is black with gold eyes (instead of gold with black eyes), and she inexplicably gains a new painted-black forehead crest, where the show model has gold.

: This mold was later used to make the [[Tarantulas|"Beast Wars 10th Anniversary" version of Tarantulas]], and the ''[[#BW10J|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' version of Blackarachnia. It was intended to be used to make [[#UnUni|a second ''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], but that toy set was canceled.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Deluxe BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWJVs}}
[[Image:VS8-TigatronBlackarachnia.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Battle of the redecos.]]
*'''Deep Forest Showdown: Tigatron VS Blackwidow''' (VS set, 1997)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''VS-8'''
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: In Japan, "Blackwidow" was available both as an individual and in a "VS" pack with [[Tigatron]]. Both toys were identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|BWMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamctm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|She's got a great personality.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 1997)
**''McNumber'': ??

: Part of the second [[List of Transformers restaurant promotions|McDonald's]] ''Beast Wars'' Happy Meal pack-in, Blackarachnia's "[[Transmetal]]" form rather resembles some sort of dust mite more than a spider, and the robot mode appears to have fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. It has a ''very'' similar transformation to the earlier promotional figure [[Beetle]].

:Like the other two Transmetal Happy Meal figures, Blackarachnia has some metallic-sheened plastic intended to resemble the colored chromed finish of the retail ''Transmetals'' toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Predacon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BW Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TM2}}
[[Image:BW-toy BlackarachniaTM2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Covers her privates for great justice/children everywhere!]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Transmetal 2, 1999)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-48'''
**''Accessories'': Mandible grapnel-line

: The Transmetal 2 version of Blackarachnia transforms into a large, organic/mechanical, monstrous spider, featuring a grappling hook, switching [[faction symbols]] activated by [[#TriviaTM2spark|rotating her spark crystal around]], and a spring-loaded spin-kick action feature. She also has a half-assed "defense mode", bringing the chromed abdomen bits down to cover her chest. Like all larger Transmetal 2s, Blackarachnia has hints of an abandoned "transport" mode, mainly the free-spinning wheels and concealed rockets in the spider-mode abdomen.

: This toy was initially hard to find at retail, as one of the toy's features, a piece of removable chest armor (no, really), was altered slightly, delaying later shipments.

: This mold was used to make the [[BotCon 2000]] [[exclusive]] [[Arcee (G1)#Toys|Arcee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===Beast Machines===
[[Image:Beast Machines Blackarachnia Toy.JPG|right|300px|thumb|She's definitely going to need a big nail file.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2000)

: An early toy in the ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' line, Blackarachnia transforms into a [[technorganic]] spider. In spider mode, squeezing its pedipalps together raises its central fangs; they were spring-loaded to release and lower, respectively. In keeping with the early ''Beast Machines'' "articulated features" motif, her robot mode head has a multi-piece articulated brow, which can slide up to reveal two extra sets of eyes, as she does on the cartoon.

: This mold was later redecoed to make the [[#UniDx|''Universe'' version of Blackarachnia]], as well as [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Beast Machines Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BMMcD}}
[[Image:Blackarachniamcbm.jpg|right|300px|thumb|This is transformed correctly, right? Right?]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Happy Meal, 2000)
**''McNumber'': ??

: As one of ''ten'' toys in the third Transformers McDonald's Happy Meal promotion, Blackarachnia is a super-simplified version of her retail toy, with a coloration closer to the [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] CG model, though more shockingly pink rather than maroon. This toy is designed for the younger set, with softer plastic and no removable parts.

: She is the only [[Beast Era]] character to get two McDonald's Happy Meal toys.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/McBlackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on McDonald's BM Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BWR}}
[[Image:Blackarachniabeastwarsreturnstoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You will pay a lot of money to own this extra-pink girl <strike>doll</strike>action figure.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BR-04'''

: Part of the Japanese Toys "R" Us-[[exclusive]] ''[[Beast Machines (toyline)|Beast Wars Returns]]'' series, this toy is a redeco of the original ''Beast Machines'' Blackarachnia in a more show-like maroon coloration. Reportedly, this toy was limited to 3000 pieces, a full thousand ''less'' than the others in the original assortment. Since she was also the most changed from the US release in the initial batch of toys, this made her considerably harder to get.

{{-}}
===Universe (2003)===
{{anchor|UniDx}}
[[Image:Blackarachniauniversetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You can pick your faction, and you can pick your girlfriend, but you can't pick your girlfriend's faction.]]
*'''Blackarachnia''' (Deluxe, 2003)

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Deluxes, Blackarachnia returned as a [[Decepticon]] and as a redeco of [[#BMDx1|the original ''Beast Machines'' figure]]. However, her forearms were [[Misassembly|mistakenly swapped]], leaving her forearm "spikes" pointing up towards her biceps rather than down near her elbows. She received a Decepticon [[faction symbol]] over her [[spark crystal]] as well.

: This mold (with the same swapped-forearms error) was used to make [[Crystal Widow]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Decepticon/Blackarachnia/blackarachnia.htm More information on Universe Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|UnUni}}
[[Image:Blackarachnia unreleased.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Eyow.]]
*'''Leatherhide Vs. Blackarachnia''' (Halloween Horrorcon value pack, unreleased)
**''Accessories'': Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

:In 2004, a group of test-shots made their way onto eBay, among them a [[redeco]] of the original ''Beast Wars'' Tarantulas/Blackarachnia mold in black with silver spider-legs and salmon-colored robot parts. Later, Hasbro's official website checklist featured listings for two ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' "Halloween [[Horrorcon (Universe)|Horrorcon]] Value Packs" that were to be Wal-Mart [[exclusives]]... which also likely explains why they were canceled. (Wal*Mart had taken a good half-dozen exclusives and released them more-or-less simultaneously, leading to a huge glut. A lot of other ''Transformers'' exclusives were canceled during the ''Universe'' era.) One of the sets was "[[Leatherhide]] Vs. Blackarachnia"... and thus, the mystery spider was confirmed, as the other test-shots in that group lined up with the name listings given in the sets.

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}
===Beast Wars Telemocha Series===
[[Image:Blackarachniatelemocha.jpg|right|300px|thumb|It almost works!]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Deluxe, 2007)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TM-06'''
**''Accessories:'' Launcher, 4 leg-missiles

: As part of the ''[[Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Beast Wars Telemocha]]'' line, the [[#Dx1|original Blackarachnia toy]] was ''extensively'' redecoed with a ridiculous number of gold [[Paint operation|paint application]]s, making her closer to [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] in coloration than the other versions of the mold, but still not quite there. (Her biceps are silver in the show.) All of the [[gimmick]]s of the original toy were retained, though her alternate head didn't receive any paint that wasn't intended to make her nominal head look more show-accurate.

:She came with a DVD containing "The Assassin Virus", the Japanese dubbing of ''Beast Wars'' episode 10, "[[Gorilla Warfare]]".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2007/Destron/BlackWidow/blackwidow.htm More information on Telemocha Blackarachnia at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Binaltech===
[[Image:Blackwidowwildrider.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Honda wouldn't appreciate their car being hot, poisonous, and deadly.]]
*'''Blackwidow''' (Binaltech, unreleased)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''BT16'''
**''Accessories'': Engine-rifle, roof-shield

: In 2005, the mold used for ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Decepticharge]] was presented as an upcoming release for the Japanese ''Binaltech'' line. They decided to give the toy an entirely new deco, as the Hasbro toy's deco didn't appeal to their ideal of "real-life accuracy". In robot mode, the toy was given a color scheme based on Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia, with the toy's name being changed to "Blackwidow", Takara's name for the character. Though a [[bio]] and story chapter were written to accommodate it into the ''Binaltech'' fiction, and photoshopped images released through an online retailer revealed the intended color scheme, Takara ultimately decided to cancel the toy altogether, as they were fearing that another redeco (in addition to the upcoming ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toys) would be too repetitive. Plans to release this toy as part of a different line were never picked up again.

: This mold was ultimately released in Japan as part of an unexpected ''Binaltech'' continuation, this time as [[Arcee (G1)#Binaltech|Arcee]]. The original version of the mold was used to make ''Alternators'' [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and ''Binaltech'' [[Overdrive]].
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroescheetorblackarachnia.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Cute and poisonous.]]
* '''Cheetor vs. Blackarachnia''' (2-pack, 2008)

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]''-branded [[Robot Heroes]], Blackarachnia is a simple, yet well-detailed two-inch tall figurine with exaggerated, cartoony proportions. She was only available in a two-pack with [[Cheetor (BW) toys|Cheetor]].

{{-}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:BWBlackarachniaCardArt.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Dirty girls, make some noise. Move that ass for dirty boys.]]
* Blackarachnia's original Beast Wars card art has her wearing a spike-studded collar... while her chest seems to be leopard-spotted. Kinky.

* Reportedly, Blackarachnia's show model was created after some Mainframe folks had taken the design modeler to a strip club only a few days prior for, um... ''inspiration''.
{{anchor|TriviaTM2spark}}
* Even though Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia's toy has a unique faction-switching [[spark crystal]], the feature doesn't make sense in a fictional context. By that point in the ''Beast Wars'' television series, the Transmetal Driver had destroyed her Predacon [[shell program]], making her fully Maximal. (Though, to be fair, it ''had'' happened mere moments previously.)

* Blackarachnia exhibited what appears to be telekinesis not long after gaining her Transmetal 2 form, levitating a steel girder to stop Rampage in "[[Master Blaster]]". The ability only appeared once and was never explained, though it resembles the other strange, almost supernatural powers wielded by Transmetals 2 in the cartoon. Following her reformatting in ''Beast Machines'', Blackarachnia no longer possessed this ability.

* In the "jovial" Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'', Blackarachnia's character underwent a few small (depending on your point of view) changes. Firstly, she had a voice that can only be described as "bipolar". She would switch between her usual sultry, flirtatious voice to a screaming blood-thirsty maniac at the drop of a hat. Another notable change is that, while still a strong female character, she was made less independent and was occasionally prone to ''begging for mercy'' from her enemies, something she never did in the English version. However, this isn't the first time the Japanese have done their best to [[Arcee (G1)|"improve" upon a female character]].

* Blackarachnia has appeared in more episodes than any other female Transformer. She is also the first female Transformer to be featured as a villain in the American franchise, and the first female Transformer to be featured in the opening credits of any series. Take ''that'', [[wikipedia:Tripod_(band)|Tripod]]!

* Character and fiction information for the cancelled BT-16 "Blackwidow" toy finally emerged in late 2007 with the release of ''The Transformers Binaltech Stories: Profiles and Technical Specifications'', an unofficial publication by ''Binaltech'' story writer [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] that compiled all then-current ''Binaltech'' information as well as that of the unreleased Blackarachnia and [[Ginrai]] toys. As it was never officially released, this information can be considered [[Pseudocanon|pseudocanonical]] at best.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Beast Machines characters]]
[[Category:Beast Wars characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Fast food exclusives]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Maximals]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Predacons]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Transmetals]]
[[Category:Transmetals 2]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Universe characters]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Death/Archive

2009-07-10T12:27:03Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:Battleofautobotcity.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And the sounds of a million fanboys' cries were heard across the land.]]
Unusually for something that started as a children's toy and an '80s cartoon, '''death''' of important characters is a prominent feature in [[Transformer|Transformers]]. The reasons for it vary from plot development to the arrival of [[To sell toys|new toys]]. However, the fact that the majority of characters are machines means that death isn't automatically an absolute in the various Transformers universes—various characters that appear to have been killed have been known to pop up alive again at a later date, or go through some sort of revival. However, it's not unheard of for death to sometimes be permanent in Transformers.

{{quote|"How can you all be so cold and unfeeling? He died a hero!" 
"Don't you even have mechanical hearts?" 
"The humans don't understand! Our form of life is vastly different from theirs!"|[[Spider-Man]], [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Prisoner of War!]]"}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel comics continuity===
The first time the concept of death was addressed in Transformers was when [[Gears]] appeared to fall to his death while he and [[Spider-Man]] were rescuing [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. The Autobots coldly gathered up Gears's parts, which creeped out Spidey and Sparkplug, who were expecting some show of sadness for the Autobots' fallen comrade. Gears was rebuilt and back in tip-top shape without a problem. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}} This easy cheating of death would be seen again in the storyline that followed, where [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would viciously injure all Autobots bar [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], only for them to be up and running later on (bar [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]).

The first confirmed human death was in Marvel UK's #45, where [[Professor Morris]] used a brainwashed [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] to murder a security guard. {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} However, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] did run a car off the road causing it to explode with its driver screaming in UK# 14, whilst in the same issue [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] blew up several human jets in mid-air. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

Outright Transformer death would be seen in the first story set on Cybertron. The story opens with a Decepticon killing civilians only for [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to kill ''it''; [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], current commander of the Decepticons, was constantly throwing hordes of Transformers to their deaths in his [[smelting pool]]; and Blaster's ally [[Scrounge]] died a quite brutal death. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} Furman notably pre-empted this some time earlier with the deaths of [[Earthquake]] and [[Tornado]] in a flashback sequence, {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} whilst the [[Man of Iron]] and [[Navigator]] died even earlier. {{storylink|Man of Iron!}}

Soon death would be seen again and again, particularly in Furman's UK strips—generally these deaths would be of original characters who lacked toys, such as [[Impactor]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} This was a useful way of getting across a sense of genuine war and build reader tension, while simultaneously leaving the toy characters untouched.

[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Gears died as he lived—not being on-panel.]]
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] himself would end up outright dying to clear the way for new characters—following immediately on, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was killed in a [[Space Bridge]] accident. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} The following issue would have the Transformers holding a funeral for Optimus, {{storylink|Funeral For A Friend!}} while a crossover story unceremoniously bumped off [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} This kill-spree was slightly undermined by [[Bob Budiansky]] leaving himself a get-out clause, and showing the reader that a back-up copy of Optimus Prime's mind could exist. Megatron, meanwhile, would turn up alive in Marvel UK so they could sneak around the US stories without contradicting their plots (he'd later be retconned as a clone). {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}

Marvel UK stories set in the post-movie future got to be even more kill-happy—as they didn't have to bother meshing with the present day continuity, any character could be killed off. As well as minor ones such as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], this would also include major character Shockwave. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

Soon, Transformers was saddled with a large number of characters who no longer had toys—to thin the crowd, both [[Simon Furman]] and Budiansky began repeated cullings so the newer toys could get more "screen time". In Marvel UK, most of the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (and previously [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]), and a few little-seen Decepticons would all be slaughtered. {{storylink|Time Wars}} That paled before the most grandiose of slaughters, the [[Underbase Saga]], where a super powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] destroyed/deactivated dozens of Transformers, [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] alike. ''Conveniently'', only those with organic bits ([[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Pretender|Pretenders]] et al) could survive the [[Underbase]]. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}} Many of these characters would remain dead until the climax of the Unicron saga, when they were revived by [[Nucleon]]; at the same time, the Unicron battle would kill off scores of characters who'd survived the Underbase! {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

The experience of having been dead does not seem to bother most Transformers who were resurrected. One exception is Optimus Prime; due to his time spent as a computer-game character (no, really), he was separated emotionally from his past life and lost interest in Earth. This was soon cured. {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}} Another exception is if a Transformer has suffered a humiliating death or rebirth; their confidence will end up weakened. {{storylink|Fallen Star!}}

===American cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Who knew Autobots could be killed by shooting their [[shoulder]]s?]]

''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' is infamous for the slaughter of a large number of season 1 and 2 characters, especially the likes of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Starscream (G1)| Starscream]]. The reason for this was the upcoming season 3 toy line. Some would die without getting a chance to say anything or even being ''named''. 'Bots dying in the movie include [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], Optimus Prime, and Starscream.

In this continuity, dead Transformers can still exist as ghosts. These ghosts are capable of possessing the forms of living Transformers. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} Or at least Starscream can; there's no evidence of any other Transformers being able to do the same.

When [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] bearers die, their wisdom and spirits remain within the Matrix. A near-death experience allows the current Matrix bearer to make contact with these spirits. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
The Japanese continuity did not skimp on showing death as a part of war. Aside from numerous generic robots (for example, the prison guards from ''[[Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]''), notable characters were also killed. The most famous victim of this tendency was [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who died in battle against [[Sixshot]] in ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''. In ''[[Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', [[Sixknight]] was killed by [[Devil Z]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] perished in the finale along with the Decepticon Emperor.

However, Transformers that have been mortally wounded can be rebuilt into new forms, as happened with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave/Soundblaster]] and [[Ginrai]]/[[Victory Leo]]. Also, because of a different approach to censorship, human death was not unheard of. While not present in the first two seasons (which were simply translated from the American version) nor the following ''Headmasters'' cartoon, plenty of humans became unlucky collateral damage from ''Masterforce'' onwards. Besides victims such as [[Professor Gō]] early in the series, the Decepticons often slaughtered people in the course of their activities. [[Giga]], for example, destroyed a passing airliner (presumably killing all aboard) simply to test his new [[Deathball]] toys. In ''Victory'', Earth was spared much destruction until the latter half of the series, when [[Deathsaurus]]'s forces began attacking in earnest (killing countless human soldiers in the process). In addition, [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]]'s adopted son, [[Jean Minakaze]], was the sole survivor of a Decepticon attack.

At the same time, supernatural forces irrefutably exist in this universe and are capable of reversing the process of death. Optimus Prime died a second time {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} but was brought back by [[Zodiac]] energy as Star Convoy {{storylink|The Battlestars}}; the evil entity [[Dark Nova]] took Galvatron's remains and reformatted them as Super Megatron. The demonic being [[Violen Jygar]] was composed of the "angry souls" of dead Decepticons, and seemingly resurrected BlackZarak to serve as one of his Demon-Generals. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

The [[Kiss Player|Kiss Players]], infected by Galvatron's cells, are capable of resurrecting dead Transformers like Optimus by kissing him and channelling the cells into him; however, once the cells were taken out, Optimus died again. {{storylink|Kiss Players (manga)|Kiss Players}}

==Generation 2==
The ''Generation 2'' comic had less oversight from Hasbro, a whole lot of inherited characters that didn't have toys, and an existence in the ''extreeeeeme'' and violent 1990s US comic industry. The result was the Transformer equivalent of the Battle of the Somme—almost every issue would have a known Transformer or three being killed off. Even the crossover with [[G.I. Joe]], setting up Megatron's new toy, killed off four. {{storylink|Final Transformations|Final Transformations}}

[[Image:Blades1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Blades in Generation 2: a violent, gritty, pointlessly graphic nightmare… in Generation 2.]]
Even characters who had previously been major ones in the Marvel Comics would be killed, with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] all dying alongside lesser-seen characters like [[Skullgrin]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. Amusingly, some of these characters (such as Dirge, [[Joyride (Autobot)|Joyride]] and [[Quake (G1)|Quake]]) had died in earlier G1 issues and had returned from the dead without explanation ''solely to be bumped off''. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], a 1985 Autobot car, even made his ''very first'' clear appearance in the US comics in one issue, only to be immediately killed off after giving his first (and last) line of dialogue. {{storylink|Devices and Desires!|Devices and Desires!}}

In addition, the Transformers would slaughter large numbers of [[Cybertronian Empire]] soldiers, and many alien planets were shown being exterminated. [[Earth]] didn't escape unscathed either, with widespread devastation, open slaughter of humans and the obliteration of [[San Francisco]]. Oh, and Prime dies and comes back ''again''.
{{-}}
==Beast Wars==
[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Even having a new toy couldn't save Terrorsaur!]]
''[[Beast Wars]]'', being a CGI cartoon, could not afford to have too many characters in the show at any one time—once they reached seven-a-side by Season 1, any new character coming in would mean an old one going out. This led to some quite arbitrary deaths, such as [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] falling into lava and going unmourned, or [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] suddenly being dragged into space by the [[Vok]]. [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], by contrast, had an episode devoted to his heroic sacrifice and his death served as the end to his plot arc for that season, and has become one of the most popular episodes. {{storylink|Code of Hero|Code of Hero}}

One problem ''Beast Wars'' had with killing characters is that every character on the show would be blown up real good during the series, only to be put back together again—this would mean when they were actually being killed, they'd sometimes be suffering less damage than they had in battles where they lived. In addition, [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] both died and came back with brand new bodies, showing death to be a potential revolving door. At one point, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was clearly vaporised in an explosion—but, because it was decided not to kill him when Season 3 started, he was suddenly merely a bit singed. {{storylink|Optimal Situation|Optimal Situation}}

[[Image:Dinobot2beastmode.JPG|left|200px|thumb|We're not using the Z word!]]
The character of [[Dinobot II]] presents interesting questions about Transformer death. While cloned from the original Dinobot and possessing the same voice, same look (albeit an eerie skeletal version) and same skills, he had a different personality & memories and was clearly a different character, even carrying a different Spark (half of [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]'s). However, in the season finale, the destruction of Rampage caused him to gain an increasing number of Dinobot's memories that he could not have and start gaining Dinobot's personality. He also viewed his Spark as being "different… at last complete". {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2|Nemesis Part 2}} How all this occurred was not explained; based on the visual of him turning into the original Dinobot & back again when Rampage was destroyed, {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}} it could be assumed the original was influencing him.

The final three episodes would kill seven characters, including the majority of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] and two of the Maximals—-including [[Tigerhawk]], who only appeared two episodes before his death—-to pave the way for ''[[Beast Machines]]''. In order of their passing, the unlucky 'bots were [[Tarantulas]], [[Depth Charge]], [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], [[Tigerhawk]], [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], [[Quickstrike]], and [[Dinobot II]], but not, surprisingly, [[Waspinator]], who ended up becoming 'happy at last'.

===IDW comics continuity===
IDW's ''Beast Wars'' comics would introduce a large number of unused toys into the fiction—a large number of which were then massacred in the second miniseries. Many of them had hardly got a chance to show any characterization. The exception is [[Razorbeast]], who had been the main character in the previous story and had to be euthanised by one of his friends. {{storylink|The Ascending|The Ascending}}

==Beast Machines==
[[Image:Fallout title.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Primal's diet had gone horribly wrong.]]
The premise of ''[[Beast Machines]]'' was that [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had taken over Cybertron and removed the [[Spark|Sparks]] from everyone, leaving massive graveyards across the planet. However, this hadn't actually ''killed'' anyone—as long as the Sparks survived, they could be put in a new body and live again, and everyone was restored at the end of the series. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

The series would also introduce the concept of the [[Allspark]]—a dimension composed of Transformer Sparks, the home of every one that will or can ever be. When a Transformer dies, their Spark returns to it and all of their knowledge and life experience is added to the Allspark. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s spirit would be seen within in it, advising Optimus Primal to move on.

Optimus Primal was outright killed, but would come back to life again after deciding not to join with the Allspark but continue his mission {{storylink|Fallout|Fallout}}; this could be seen an in-universe explanation for why some Transformers return to life while others stay dead. Primal would die ''properly'' later on, taking Megatron with him.

The original [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] generals contained the Sparks of existing ''Beast Wars'' characters but possessed completely different personalities—most notably [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], the brooding, loyal and fearless general who had ''[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s'' Spark. Overriding the general's shell programs to bring back the original characters could be seen as killing the Vehicons.

===Singularity Ablyss===
Megatron would also have the opportunity to allow himself to pass on and rejoin the Allspark. However, his repeated returns to life (during "[[Spark of Darkness]]") convinced him he could still achieve godhood and so he rejected passing on. He also ''erased Rhinox's Spark'', showing that even the dead can be killed. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}<ref>However, due to an editorial caveat in the foreword, all the prose stories in ''[[Transformers Legends]]'' are "What If?" stories that are not to be considered as actually occurring in the continuities they are based on. As a result, the events depicted in "[[Singularity Ablyss]]" technically belong to a [[Micro-continuity]] and are therefore not canon for the mainstream ''Beast Machines'' continuity.</ref>

==Robots in Disguise==
The ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise is unique in that almost nobody dies. The exception is [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]—he was completely destroyed, but then reborn as Galvatron due to the [[Orb of Sigma]] and energy drained from Predacon [[sparks]]. {{storylink|Peril from the Past|Peril from the Past}} While possessing the same voice, personality and general form of Megatron, Galvatron declares himself to be a different person and his former self to be dead. {{storylink|Maximus Emerges|Maximus Emerges}}

==Universe==
[[Image:Wreckers Mutants.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The shocking death of the barely-seen guys with hardly any lines!]]
The [[BotCon]] comic ''The Wreckers'' would use death quite a lot in its second issue, for one very specific reason—they'd brought in too many bloody characters in the ''first'' issue. A few massacres later and the cast was down to a more manageable level. {{storylink|Betrayal|Betrayal}}

''Universe'''s multiverse-spanning story allows for a lot of death in character backstories—[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] is killed by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|another Smokescreen]], Unicron's generals all killed [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] in their home dimensions, and [[Megazarak]] has killed everyone on his Cybertron. {{storylink|Shell Game|Shell Game}} Conversely, it also allowed for a whole load of character ''resurrections''—[[Optimus Primal]], [[Depth Charge]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Tarantulas]] all returned from the dead. One of the Wreckers, meanwhile, is a revived [[Tigatron]].
{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Cartoon===
Optimus died holding back the [[Hydra Cannon]], the damage causing him to [[:Image:Sshot-arm-39-4.jpg|crumble to dust]]. {{storylink|Crisis|Crisis}} Through the power of the [[Matrix]], he was resurrected by the [[Mini-Cons]] shortly afterward. {{storylink|Miracle|Miracle}}

[[Image:Armada 52 - Prime hangon to Galvatron.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Galvatron died to save everyone and came back ''twice''—you lose, [[Jesus]]!]]

Both [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] {{storylink|Mortal Combat|Mortal Combat}} and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] {{storylink|Cramp|Cramp}} would make heroic sacrifices in ''Armada'' to stop Unicron—only to return from the dead for the ''Energon'' cartoon. And then sacrificed themselves again at the end of that one {{storylink|The Sun|The Sun}}—and came back again for the next cartoon!

Some characters would be severely injured and seemingly killed, but would survive by being rebuilt into a new character—[[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] became Hoist, [[Tidal Wave]] became Mirage, etc.

[[Alpha Quintesson]] and Unicron possessed the ability to create new Transformers—[[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] and [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]—out of the remains of the dead. Scorponok was an odd case: it was originally presented that he was a recreated version of an inhabitant of Alpha Q's homeworld, but later retconned that he was, in fact, merely created in that being's image, and actually animated by the Spark of a dead Decepticon. This retcon, however, did not make it into the ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', since the [[Return! Our Scorponok|episode]] featuring it was not dubbed. Scorponok was later killed, but in both the fan club comics and ''Cybertron'' toy tech specs, he became an undead monster.

In the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, resurrection often altered the basic personality of a Transformer. Tidal Wave became more intelligent as Mirage, as well as gaining a crush on Galvatron; [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] devolved in intelligence and became more ape-like; the morally conflicted Starscream, who sacrificed himself for the greater good, would became an ambitious power-hungry traitor like [[Starscream (G1)|those]] [[Starscream (Animated)|other]] Starscreams. This has not occurred in other canons, where death and rebirth rarely seems to cause any real problems for anyone.

===Comic===
While it can be safely assumed people ''did'' die in the Autobot-Decepticon war, it was only shown on panel when the [[Unicron]] plotline took over. {{storylink|Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}} In addition, Unicron was shown to be able to kill and rebuild Transformers into his loyal servants, doing it to [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]] and his [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|fellow]] [[Airazor (Armada)|Beast]] [[Cheetor (Armada)|Warriors]]. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn|This Evil Reborn}} While his body had died, Megatron's consciousness remained within Unicron's spark core, and from here was able to return to life with a new body.

==Live-action film series==
===Films===
The live-action movie would feature death galore in its climactic battle scenes, with almost every [[Decepticon]] being wiped out and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] being killed in battle. Not to mention the humans; [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] is wiped out by [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]; [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] just loves his stabbing; possible demises caused by [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] on [[Air Force One]]; [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] hatefully sweeping away traffic; and countless possible casualties in [[Mission City]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' (2007)}}

Thankfully, the second film does not kill off the primary six returning robots to make way for a new cast. Unfortunately, the only new Decepticon who seems to survive is [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] dies but comes back, while only [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and an [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] component die among the Autobot ranks. [[NEST]]'s casualties are emphasized in an early scene where coffins are displayed prominently in a single shot, and there are major civilian and military casualties during [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]'s rampage and [[The Fallen]]'s arrival (estimated at a toll of 7000), but the main humans get off scott free (even [[Sam Witwicky]] cheats death). ''{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''

===IDW Publishing===
[[Image:RoS2Salazarpopt.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Comic books can get away with this, while PG-13 movies can't]]
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] blew up an [[F-22 Raptor]] to obtain his alternate mode. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Prime Directive (IDW) issue 4}} He kills countless [[Sector 7]] soldiers when searching for [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s body in the [[Hoover Dam]], and takes a [[Salazar|human]] along while leaving Earth to see if he can survive the trip. He doesn't. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream issue 2}} When Starscream returns to [[Earth]], many die in his battle with [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], including [[Professor Vine]]. {{storylink|Alliance issue 3}} [[NEST]] naturally loses soldiers in their battles with the Decepticons, most prominently [[Salani]] during the battle with [[Jetstorm (Movie)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Alliance issue 4}}

On the Transformers side, a whole lot of toy-only characters die bloody in the runup to ''Revenge of the Fallen'', coincidentally after they'd been on the shelves for a while. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream}} {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance|Alliance}}

===Titan Magazines===
{{notetitantlg}}
From [[Transformers Comic issue 9|the ninth issue]] of ''Transformers Comic'', the movie-based comic strip took place in an alternate universe where the Decepticons won in the film. As a result, human casualties are quite high; thousands of [[NATO]] sailors are killed in battle, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] bombs humans to spread terror, and [[Sam Witwicky]] is established to have died.

Shockingly for a [[Rhythms of Darkness!|Furman-written alternate universe]], Transformer deaths have so far been few. No Autobots are yet confirmed as dead, while Decepticon casualties so far include [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] following the initial story. Many Decepticon drones, however, are wiped out by the heroes.

[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] actually came ''back'' from the dead, resurrection being a property of the All Spark. However, anything done to the All Spark will affect the resurrectee; corrupt the All Spark, as Megatron did, and you end up with a corrupt, amoral Transformer. {{storylink|Dark Spark|Dark Spark}}

Megatron also came back from the dead (of ''course'' he did) by having downloaded his consciousness into another vessel, showing that (ala ''Afterdeath!'' and ''Rock and Roll Out!'') Transformers can be backed up. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

==Animated==
[[Image:TFAnimated transformandrollout DEATH.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Death — the Optimus version of a power nap.]]
Severe physical damage does not kill Transformers in the ''Animated'' universe — [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] survived despite being reduced to a severed head, while [[Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] remained conscious despite being in bits {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} and [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] continued to function after its brutal dismemberment. {{storylink|Sound and Fury|Sound and Fury}}

Transformer death is, however, possible — a combination of physical damage and AllSpark energy outright killed [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. He was resurrected immediately afterward by the [[Key]], which, uniquely, channelled the energy of the AllSpark directly (as opposed to the energy stored inside it) for the purpose. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out|Transform and Roll Out}}

Starscream also was killed {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}} only to be brought back to life by AllSpark energy. In his case, despite his Spark being extinguished, an AllSpark shard has embedded in his head and makes him immortal — kill him, and he'll just come back two minutes later. This has possibly made him the most tenacious (and annoying) Starscream to date. To [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], anyway. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished|Mission Accomplished}}

[[Image:Afterburn_GOOOOOMPH.JPG|right|200px|thumb|But how can Bumblebee ''see it''?]]

Similarly, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] had died long ago saving Cybertron in the Great War, but with AllSpark energy he was able to be revived. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}} To prevent him dying, he was placed into modified stasis in his spaceship mode in order to stave off ''total'' death until a cure could be found. In an interesting look at [[Transformer funerary practices]], the Autobots then used him ''as'' a spaceship with seemingly no qualms. {{storylink|Transwarped}}

It is possible to be a living Transformer ''without'' a Spark. Two [[Starscream clone|of the Starscream clones]] lacked Sparks, as did [[Afterburn]] in spin-off material. When they ''die'', however, their being Spark-less means nobody cares. Nobody even commented on the demise of the clones {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon|A Fistful of Energon}} and both Megatron ''and'' Optimus outright stated that Afterburn wasn't a ''real'' person because he'd lacked a Spark {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Megatron's Revenge}}.

It is possible to avert death by transferring a spark into a [[blank]] [[protoform]]. A number of robots, however, view this as appalling as it sacrifices everything that protoform could have been. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] has a habit of scavenging parts of his victims to use as "upgrades", a habit that sickens other Transformers.

''Animated'' featured relatively few deaths; however, a [[Blurr (Animated)|popular recurring character]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|popular ''main'' character]] both bought it within the course of the series.

==Footnotes==
<references />

==See also==

* [[Endspark]]

* [[Transformer funerary practices]]

* Those who die a lot
** [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime]]
** [[Dirge (G1)]] — the unlucky guy who gets [[:Image:Dirge DeathSerpentor.jpg|killed]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathSwarm.jpg|off]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathTimelines.jpg|in]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathUnicron.jpg|many]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathArmada.jpg|continuities]] (but less than [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Prime]]).
** [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] — the unlucky guy who gets killed over and over in the same continuity, but doesn't seem to mind.
** [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] — the unlucky guy from ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' who gets sliced, diced, and fricasseed every other episode only to be fully functional in time to get [[Slag (slang)|slagged]] ''again''.
** [[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)|Cy-Kill]], a Go-Bots character transferred to many Transformers comics just to be killed off violently. For no other reason than the lolz of ending his toyline, his universe, and finally his life...repeatedly.
** [[Sentinel Prime (G1)]] — the unlucky [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|who]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime dw.jpg|must]] [[Megatron Origin issue 4|die]].

* [[To sell toys]]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Death/Archive

2009-07-07T12:15:43Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:Battleofautobotcity.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And the sounds of a million fanboys' cries were heard across the land.]]
Unusually for something that started as a children's toy and an '80s cartoon, '''death''' of important characters is a prominent feature in [[Transformer|Transformers]]. The reasons for it vary from plot development to the arrival of [[To sell toys|new toys]]. However, the fact that the majority of characters are machines means that death isn't automatically an absolute in the various Transformers universes—various characters that appear to have been killed have been known to pop up alive again at a later date, or go through some sort of revival. However, it's not unheard of for death to sometimes be permanent in Transformers.

{{quote|"How can you all be so cold and unfeeling? He died a hero!" 
"Don't you even have mechanical hearts?" 
"The humans don't understand! Our form of life is vastly different from theirs!"|[[Spider-Man]], [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Prisoner of War!]]"}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel comics continuity===
The first time the concept of death was addressed in Transformers was when [[Gears]] appeared to fall to his death while he and [[Spider-Man]] were rescuing [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. The Autobots coldly gathered up Gears's parts, which creeped out Spidey and Sparkplug, who were expecting some show of sadness for the Autobots' fallen comrade. Gears was rebuilt and back in tip-top shape without a problem. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}} This easy cheating of death would be seen again in the storyline that followed, where [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would viciously injure all Autobots bar [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], only for them to be up and running later on (bar [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]).

The first confirmed human death was in Marvel UK's #45, where [[Professor Morris]] used a brainwashed [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] to murder a security guard. {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} However, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] did run a car off the road causing it to explode with its driver screaming in UK# 14, whilst in the same issue [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] blew up several human jets in mid-air. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

Outright Transformer death would be seen in the first story set on Cybertron. The story opens with a Decepticon killing civilians only for [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to kill ''it''; [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], current commander of the Decepticons, was constantly throwing hordes of Transformers to their deaths in his [[smelting pool]]; and Blaster's ally [[Scrounge]] died a quite brutal death. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} Furman notably pre-empted this some time earlier with the deaths of [[Earthquake]] and [[Tornado]] in a flashback sequence, {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} whilst the [[Man of Iron]] and [[Navigator]] died even earlier. {{storylink|Man of Iron!}}

Soon death would be seen again and again, particularly in Furman's UK strips—generally these deaths would be of original characters who lacked toys, such as [[Impactor]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} This was a useful way of getting across a sense of genuine war and build reader tension, while simultaneously leaving the toy characters untouched.

[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Gears died as he lived—not being on-panel.]]
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] himself would end up outright dying to clear the way for new characters—following immediately on, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was killed in a [[Space Bridge]] accident. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} The following issue would have the Transformers holding a funeral for Optimus, {{storylink|Funeral For A Friend!}} while a crossover story unceremoniously bumped off [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} This kill-spree was slightly undermined by [[Bob Budiansky]] leaving himself a get-out clause, and showing the reader that a back-up copy of Optimus Prime's mind could exist. Megatron, meanwhile, would turn up alive in Marvel UK so they could sneak around the US stories without contradicting their plots (he'd later be retconned as a clone). {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}

Marvel UK stories set in the post-movie future got to be even more kill-happy—as they didn't have to bother meshing with the present day continuity, any character could be killed off. As well as minor ones such as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], this would also include major character Shockwave. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

Soon, Transformers was saddled with a large number of characters who no longer had toys—to thin the crowd, both [[Simon Furman]] and Budiansky began repeated cullings so the newer toys could get more "screen time". In Marvel UK, most of the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (and previously [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]), and a few little-seen Decepticons would all be slaughtered. {{storylink|Time Wars}} That paled before the most grandiose of slaughters, the [[Underbase Saga]], where a super powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] destroyed/deactivated dozens of Transformers, [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] alike. ''Conveniently'', only those with organic bits ([[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Pretender|Pretenders]] et al) could survive the [[Underbase]]. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}} Many of these characters would remain dead until the climax of the Unicron saga, when they were revived by [[Nucleon]]; at the same time, the Unicron battle would kill off scores of characters who'd survived the Underbase! {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

The experience of having been dead does not seem to bother most Transformers who were resurrected. One exception is Optimus Prime; due to his time spent as a computer-game character (no, really), he was separated emotionally from his past life and lost interest in Earth. This was soon cured. {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}} Another exception is if a Transformer has suffered a humiliating death or rebirth; their confidence will end up weakened. {{storylink|Fallen Star!}}

===American cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Who knew Autobots could be killed by shooting their [[shoulder]]s?]]

''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' is infamous for the slaughter of a large number of season 1 and 2 characters, especially the likes of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Starscream (G1)| Starscream]]. The reason for this was the upcoming season 3 toy line. Some would die without getting a chance to say anything or even being ''named''.

In this continuity, dead Transformers can still exist as ghosts. These ghosts are capable of possessing the forms of living Transformers. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} Or at least Starscream can; there's no evidence of any other Transformers being able to do the same.

When [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] bearers die, their wisdom and spirits remain within the Matrix. A near-death experience allows the current Matrix bearer to make contact with these spirits. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
The Japanese continuity did not skimp on showing death as a part of war. Aside from numerous generic robots (for example, the prison guards from ''[[Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]''), notable characters were also killed. The most famous victim of this tendency was [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who died in battle against [[Sixshot]] in ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''. In ''[[Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', [[Sixknight]] was killed by [[Devil Z]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] perished in the finale along with the Decepticon Emperor.

However, Transformers that have been mortally wounded can be rebuilt into new forms, as happened with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave/Soundblaster]] and [[Ginrai]]/[[Victory Leo]]. Also, because of a different approach to censorship, human death was not unheard of. While not present in the first two seasons (which were simply translated from the American version) nor the following ''Headmasters'' cartoon, plenty of humans became unlucky collateral damage from ''Masterforce'' onwards. Besides victims such as [[Professor Gō]] early in the series, the Decepticons often slaughtered people in the course of their activities. [[Giga]], for example, destroyed a passing airliner (presumably killing all aboard) simply to test his new [[Deathball]] toys. In ''Victory'', Earth was spared much destruction until the latter half of the series, when [[Deathsaurus]]'s forces began attacking in earnest (killing countless human soldiers in the process). In addition, [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]]'s adopted son, [[Jean Minakaze]], was the sole survivor of a Decepticon attack.

At the same time, supernatural forces irrefutably exist in this universe and are capable of reversing the process of death. Optimus Prime died a second time {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} but was brought back by [[Zodiac]] energy as Star Convoy {{storylink|The Battlestars}}; the evil entity [[Dark Nova]] took Galvatron's remains and reformatted them as Super Megatron. The demonic being [[Violen Jygar]] was composed of the "angry souls" of dead Decepticons, and seemingly resurrected BlackZarak to serve as one of his Demon-Generals. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

The [[Kiss Player|Kiss Players]], infected by Galvatron's cells, are capable of resurrecting dead Transformers like Optimus by kissing him and channelling the cells into him; however, once the cells were taken out, Optimus died again. {{storylink|Kiss Players (manga)|Kiss Players}}

==Generation 2==
The ''Generation 2'' comic had less oversight from Hasbro, a whole lot of inherited characters that didn't have toys, and an existence in the ''extreeeeeme'' and violent 1990s US comic industry. The result was the Transformer equivalent of the Battle of the Somme—almost every issue would have a known Transformer or three being killed off. Even the crossover with [[G.I. Joe]], setting up Megatron's new toy, killed off four. {{storylink|Final Transformations|Final Transformations}}

[[Image:Blades1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Blades in Generation 2: a violent, gritty, pointlessly graphic nightmare… in Generation 2.]]
Even characters who had previously been major ones in the Marvel Comics would be killed, with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] all dying alongside lesser-seen characters like [[Skullgrin]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. Amusingly, some of these characters (such as Dirge, [[Joyride (Autobot)|Joyride]] and [[Quake (G1)|Quake]]) had died in earlier G1 issues and had returned from the dead without explanation ''solely to be bumped off''. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], a 1985 Autobot car, even made his ''very first'' clear appearance in the US comics in one issue, only to be immediately killed off after giving his first (and last) line of dialogue. {{storylink|Devices and Desires!|Devices and Desires!}}

In addition, the Transformers would slaughter large numbers of [[Cybertronian Empire]] soldiers, and many alien planets were shown being exterminated. [[Earth]] didn't escape unscathed either, with widespread devastation, open slaughter of humans and the obliteration of [[San Francisco]]. Oh, and Prime dies and comes back ''again''.
{{-}}
==Beast Wars==
[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Even having a new toy couldn't save Terrorsaur!]]
''[[Beast Wars]]'', being a CGI cartoon, could not afford to have too many characters in the show at any one time—once they reached seven-a-side by Season 1, any new character coming in would mean an old one going out. This led to some quite arbitrary deaths, such as [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] falling into lava and going unmourned, or [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] suddenly being dragged into space by the [[Vok]]. [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], by contrast, had an episode devoted to his heroic sacrifice and his death served as the end to his plot arc for that season, and has become one of the most popular episodes. {{storylink|Code of Hero|Code of Hero}}

One problem ''Beast Wars'' had with killing characters is that every character on the show would be blown up real good during the series, only to be put back together again—this would mean when they were actually being killed, they'd sometimes be suffering less damage than they had in battles where they lived. In addition, [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] both died and came back with brand new bodies, showing death to be a potential revolving door. At one point, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was clearly vaporised in an explosion—but, because it was decided not to kill him when Season 3 started, he was suddenly merely a bit singed. {{storylink|Optimal Situation|Optimal Situation}}

[[Image:Dinobot2beastmode.JPG|left|200px|thumb|We're not using the Z word!]]
The character of [[Dinobot II]] presents interesting questions about Transformer death. While cloned from the original Dinobot and possessing the same voice, same look (albeit an eerie skeletal version) and same skills, he had a different personality & memories and was clearly a different character, even carrying a different Spark (half of [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]'s). However, in the season finale, the destruction of Rampage caused him to gain an increasing number of Dinobot's memories that he could not have and start gaining Dinobot's personality. He also viewed his Spark as being "different… at last complete". {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2|Nemesis Part 2}} How all this occurred was not explained; based on the visual of him turning into the original Dinobot & back again when Rampage was destroyed, {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}} it could be assumed the original was influencing him.

The final three episodes would kill seven characters, including the majority of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] and two of the Maximals—-including [[Tigerhawk]], who only appeared two episodes before his death—-to pave the way for ''[[Beast Machines]]''. In order of their passing, the unlucky 'bots were [[Tarantulas]], [[Depth Charge]], [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], [[Tigerhawk]], [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], [[Quickstrike]], and [[Dinobot II]], but not, surprisingly, [[Waspinator]], who ended up becoming 'happy at last'.

===IDW comics continuity===
IDW's ''Beast Wars'' comics would introduce a large number of unused toys into the fiction—a large number of which were then massacred in the second miniseries. Many of them had hardly got a chance to show any characterization. The exception is [[Razorbeast]], who had been the main character in the previous story and had to be euthanised by one of his friends. {{storylink|The Ascending|The Ascending}}

==Beast Machines==
[[Image:Fallout title.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Primal's diet had gone horribly wrong.]]
The premise of ''[[Beast Machines]]'' was that [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had taken over Cybertron and removed the [[Spark|Sparks]] from everyone, leaving massive graveyards across the planet. However, this hadn't actually ''killed'' anyone—as long as the Sparks survived, they could be put in a new body and live again, and everyone was restored at the end of the series. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

The series would also introduce the concept of the [[Allspark]]—a dimension composed of Transformer Sparks, the home of every one that will or can ever be. When a Transformer dies, their Spark returns to it and all of their knowledge and life experience is added to the Allspark. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s spirit would be seen within in it, advising Optimus Primal to move on.

Optimus Primal was outright killed, but would come back to life again after deciding not to join with the Allspark but continue his mission {{storylink|Fallout|Fallout}}; this could be seen an in-universe explanation for why some Transformers return to life while others stay dead. Primal would die ''properly'' later on, taking Megatron with him.

The original [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] generals contained the Sparks of existing ''Beast Wars'' characters but possessed completely different personalities—most notably [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], the brooding, loyal and fearless general who had ''[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s'' Spark. Overriding the general's shell programs to bring back the original characters could be seen as killing the Vehicons.

===Singularity Ablyss===
Megatron would also have the opportunity to allow himself to pass on and rejoin the Allspark. However, his repeated returns to life (during "[[Spark of Darkness]]") convinced him he could still achieve godhood and so he rejected passing on. He also ''erased Rhinox's Spark'', showing that even the dead can be killed. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}<ref>However, due to an editorial caveat in the foreword, all the prose stories in ''[[Transformers Legends]]'' are "What If?" stories that are not to be considered as actually occurring in the continuities they are based on. As a result, the events depicted in "[[Singularity Ablyss]]" technically belong to a [[Micro-continuity]] and are therefore not canon for the mainstream ''Beast Machines'' continuity.</ref>

==Robots in Disguise==
The ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise is unique in that almost nobody dies. The exception is [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]—he was completely destroyed, but then reborn as Galvatron due to the [[Orb of Sigma]] and energy drained from Predacon [[sparks]]. {{storylink|Peril from the Past|Peril from the Past}} While possessing the same voice, personality and general form of Megatron, Galvatron declares himself to be a different person and his former self to be dead. {{storylink|Maximus Emerges|Maximus Emerges}}

==Universe==
[[Image:Wreckers Mutants.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The shocking death of the barely-seen guys with hardly any lines!]]
The [[BotCon]] comic ''The Wreckers'' would use death quite a lot in its second issue, for one very specific reason—they'd brought in too many bloody characters in the ''first'' issue. A few massacres later and the cast was down to a more manageable level. {{storylink|Betrayal|Betrayal}}

''Universe'''s multiverse-spanning story allows for a lot of death in character backstories—[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] is killed by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|another Smokescreen]], Unicron's generals all killed [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] in their home dimensions, and [[Megazarak]] has killed everyone on his Cybertron. {{storylink|Shell Game|Shell Game}} Conversely, it also allowed for a whole load of character ''resurrections''—[[Optimus Primal]], [[Depth Charge]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Tarantulas]] all returned from the dead. One of the Wreckers, meanwhile, is a revived [[Tigatron]].
{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Cartoon===
Optimus died holding back the [[Hydra Cannon]], the damage causing him to [[:Image:Sshot-arm-39-4.jpg|crumble to dust]]. {{storylink|Crisis|Crisis}} Through the power of the [[Matrix]], he was resurrected by the [[Mini-Cons]] shortly afterward. {{storylink|Miracle|Miracle}}

[[Image:ArmadaGalvatron Prime hangon.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Galvatron died to save everyone and came back ''twice''—you lose, [[Jesus]]!]]

Both [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] {{storylink|Mortal Combat|Mortal Combat}} and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] {{storylink|Cramp|Cramp}} would make heroic sacrifices in ''Armada'' to stop Unicron—only to return from the dead for the ''Energon'' cartoon. And then sacrificed themselves again at the end of that one {{storylink|The Sun|The Sun}}—and came back again for the next cartoon!

Some characters would be severely injured and seemingly killed, but would survive by being rebuilt into a new character—[[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] became Hoist, [[Tidal Wave]] became Mirage, etc.

[[Alpha Quintesson]] and Unicron possessed the ability to create new Transformers—[[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] and [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]—out of the remains of the dead. Scorponok was an odd case: it was originally presented that he was a recreated version of an inhabitant of Alpha Q's homeworld, but later retconned that he was, in fact, merely created in that being's image, and actually animated by the Spark of a dead Decepticon. This retcon, however, did not make it into the ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', since the [[Return! Our Scorponok|episode]] featuring it was not dubbed. Scorponok was later killed, but in both the fan club comics and ''Cybertron'' toy tech specs, he became an undead monster.

In the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, resurrection often altered the basic personality of a Transformer. Tidal Wave became more intelligent as Mirage, as well as gaining a crush on Galvatron; [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] devolved in intelligence and became more ape-like; the morally conflicted Starscream, who sacrificed himself for the greater good, would became an ambitious power-hungry traitor like [[Starscream (G1)|those]] [[Starscream (Animated)|other]] Starscreams. This has not occurred in other canons, where death and rebirth rarely seems to cause any real problems for anyone.

===Comic===
While it can be safely assumed people ''did'' die in the Autobot-Decepticon war, it was only shown on panel when the [[Unicron]] plotline took over. {{storylink|Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}} In addition, Unicron was shown to be able to kill and rebuild Transformers into his loyal servants, doing it to [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]] and his [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|fellow]] [[Airazor (Armada)|Beast]] [[Cheetor (Armada)|Warriors]]. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn|This Evil Reborn}} While his body had died, Megatron's consciousness remained within Unicron's spark core, and from here was able to return to life with a new body.

==Live-action film series==
===Films===
The live-action movie would feature death galore in its climactic battle scenes, with almost every [[Decepticon]] being wiped out and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] being killed in battle. Not to mention the humans; [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] is wiped out by [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]; [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] just loves his stabbing; possible demises caused by [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] on [[Air Force One]]; [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] hatefully sweeping away traffic; and countless possible casualties in [[Mission City]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' (2007)}}

Thankfully, the second film does not kill off the primary six returning robots to make way for a new cast. Unfortunately, the only new Decepticon who seems to survive is [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] dies but comes back, while only [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and an [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] component die among the Autobot ranks. [[NEST]]'s casualties are emphasized in an early scene where coffins are displayed prominently in a single shot, and there are major civilian and military casualties during [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]'s rampage and [[The Fallen]]'s arrival (estimated at a toll of 7000), but the main humans get off scott free (even [[Sam Witwicky]] cheats death). ''{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''

===IDW Publishing===
[[Image:RoS2Salazarpopt.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Comic books can get away with this, while PG-13 movies can't]]
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] blew up an [[F-22 Raptor]] to obtain his alternate mode. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Prime Directive (IDW) issue 4}} He kills countless [[Sector 7]] soldiers when searching for [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s body in the [[Hoover Dam]], and takes a [[Salazar|human]] along while leaving Earth to see if he can survive the trip. He doesn't. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream issue 2}} When Starscream returns to [[Earth]], many die in his battle with [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], including [[Professor Vine]]. {{storylink|Alliance issue 3}} [[NEST]] naturally loses soldiers in their battles with the Decepticons, most prominently [[Salani]] during the battle with [[Jetstorm (Movie)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Alliance issue 4}}

On the Transformers side, a whole lot of toy-only characters die bloody in the runup to ''Revenge of the Fallen'', coincidentally after they'd been on the shelves for a while. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream}} {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance|Alliance}}

===Titan Magazines===
{{notetitantlg}}
From [[Transformers Comic issue 9|the ninth issue]] of ''Transformers Comic'', the movie-based comic strip took place in an alternate universe where the Decepticons won in the film. As a result, human casualties are quite high; thousands of [[NATO]] sailors are killed in battle, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] bombs humans to spread terror, and [[Sam Witwicky]] is established to have died.

Shockingly for a [[Rhythms of Darkness!|Furman-written alternate universe]], Transformer deaths have so far been few. No Autobots are yet confirmed as dead, while Decepticon casualties so far include [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] following the initial story. Many Decepticon drones, however, are wiped out by the heroes.

[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] actually came ''back'' from the dead, resurrection being a property of the All Spark. However, anything done to the All Spark will affect the resurrectee; corrupt the All Spark, as Megatron did, and you end up with a corrupt, amoral Transformer. {{storylink|Dark Spark|Dark Spark}}

Megatron also came back from the dead (of ''course'' he did) by having downloaded his consciousness into another vessel, showing that (ala ''Afterdeath!'' and ''Rock and Roll Out!'') Transformers can be backed up. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

==Animated==
[[Image:TFAnimated transformandrollout DEATH.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Death — the Optimus version of a power nap.]]
Severe physical damage does not kill Transformers in the ''Animated'' universe — [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] survived despite being reduced to a severed head, while [[Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] remained conscious despite being in bits {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} and [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] continued to function after its brutal dismemberment. {{storylink|Sound and Fury|Sound and Fury}}

Transformer death is, however, possible — a combination of physical damage and AllSpark energy outright killed [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. He was resurrected immediately afterward by the [[Key]], which, uniquely, channelled the energy of the AllSpark directly (as opposed to the energy stored inside it) for the purpose. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out|Transform and Roll Out}}

Starscream also was killed {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}} only to be brought back to life by AllSpark energy. In his case, despite his Spark being extinguished, an AllSpark shard has embedded in his head and makes him immortal — kill him, and he'll just come back two minutes later. This has possibly made him the most tenacious (and annoying) Starscream to date. To [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], anyway. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished|Mission Accomplished}}

[[Image:Afterburn_GOOOOOMPH.JPG|right|200px|thumb|But how can Bumblebee ''see it''?]]

Similarly, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] had died long ago saving Cybertron in the Great War, but with AllSpark energy he was able to be revived. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}} To prevent him dying, he was placed into modified stasis in his spaceship mode in order to stave off ''total'' death until a cure could be found. In an interesting look at [[Transformer funerary practices]], the Autobots then used him ''as'' a spaceship with seemingly no qualms. {{storylink|Transwarped}}

It is possible to be a living Transformer ''without'' a Spark. Two [[Starscream clone|of the Starscream clones]] lacked Sparks, as did [[Afterburn]] in spin-off material. When they ''die'', however, their being Spark-less means nobody cares. Nobody even commented on the demise of the clones {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon|A Fistful of Energon}} and both Megatron ''and'' Optimus outright stated that Afterburn wasn't a ''real'' person because he'd lacked a Spark {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Megatron's Revenge}}.

It is possible to avert death by transferring a spark into a [[blank]] [[protoform]]. A number of robots, however, view this as appalling as it sacrifices everything that protoform could have been. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] has a habit of scavenging parts of his victims to use as "upgrades", a habit that sickens other Transformers.

''Animated'' featured relatively few deaths; however, a [[Blurr (Animated)|popular recurring character]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|popular ''main'' character]] both bought it within the course of the series.

==Footnotes==
<references />

==See also==

* [[Endspark]]

* [[Transformer funerary practices]]

* Those who die a lot
** [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime]]
** [[Dirge (G1)]] — the unlucky guy who gets [[:Image:Dirge DeathSerpentor.jpg|killed]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathSwarm.jpg|off]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathTimelines.jpg|in]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathUnicron.jpg|many]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathArmada.jpg|continuities]] (but less than [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Prime]]).
** [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] — the unlucky guy who gets killed over and over in the same continuity, but doesn't seem to mind.
** [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] — the unlucky guy from ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' who gets sliced, diced, and fricasseed every other episode only to be fully functional in time to get [[Slag (slang)|slagged]] ''again''.
** [[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)|Cy-Kill]], a Go-Bots character transferred to many Transformers comics just to be killed off violently. For no other reason than the lolz of ending his toyline, his universe, and finally his life...repeatedly.
** [[Sentinel Prime (G1)]] — the unlucky [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|who]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime dw.jpg|must]] [[Megatron Origin issue 4|die]].

* [[To sell toys]]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Prowl (Animated)

2009-07-07T12:12:35Z

Black Mage:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hearing of Professor Sumdac's sketchy explanation of Sari's origins, Prowl infiltrated Sumdac's lab, scanned the professor and accessed his computer data. He later revealed his conclusions: Sari had begun her existence as a Cybertronian protoform. How or why that protoform had shown up in Sumdac's lab was still a mystery, however. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

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

{{charstubfiction}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{{-}}{{anchor|RescueRatchet}}
*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Animated 3-pack, 2008)

: A ''Universe'' Legends-class Prowl came packaged with this version of [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], as well as a Legends [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]. It is different from the ''Universe'' release in that it has a silver [[faction symbol]] instead of the individual release's red-and-white.

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

: This Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] two-pack features an unchanged Deluxe Prowl and an unchanged Battle Damaged Deluxe [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] from the ''Battle Begins'' two-pack.

{{-}}{{anchor|Samurai}}
[[Image:Samuraiprowldeluxe.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Bludgeon redeco in 5...4...3...]]
[[Image:Samuraiprowlsplitwheels.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Yours won't do this.]]
*'''Samurai Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Accessories'': Sidecar/battle armor, wheel/"sword", 2 bladed mecha stars

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

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

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

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

{{-}}

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

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

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

{{-}}

==Trivia==
* Prowl's eyes are a reference to [[wikipedia:2000_AD_(comic)|2000 AD]]'s [[wikipedia:ABC_Warriors|ABC Warriors]].<ref>[https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=8564559979841180115 Comment section for "Back from Botcon" entry in Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref>
* Prowl's general robot mode design, down to his khaki legs, tall boots, and helmet-shaped head, is meant to evoke a California Highway Police motorcycle cop, circa ''[[wikipedia:CHiPs|CHiPs]]''. Eat your heart out, [[wikipedia:Erik_Estrada|Erik Estrada]].<ref name="Hey">[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Derrick Wyatt explains Prowl's design in his personal blog]</ref>
* Despite his alternate mode being the smallest among the core cast, [[Size changing|Prowl's robot mode is about the same height as Ratchet's, and much taller than Bumblebee's]].
* Amazingly, Hasbro hadn't originally intended to make a Samurai Prowl toy until one of their team saw the episode.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html Derrick J. Wyatt Q&A... answers!]</ref>
* Prowl's retractable [[mouthplate]] was inspired by [[Snake-Eyes]] from [[G.I. Joe]]<ref>[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Response to comments in "Hey Everybody, It's Prowl!" article on Derrick Wyatt's blog]]</ref>

==References==
<references />

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

[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Spies]]

The Sun

2009-07-07T12:06:45Z

Black Mage:

{{disambig2|the Energon episode|the bright thing in the sky|Sun}}
{{episode|
|series=Energon
|ep=51
|prev=Spark (episode)
|title="The Sun"
|japanese=エネルゴン、それは太陽
|romaji=Energon, Sore ha Taiyō
|translation=Energon, It Is the Sun
|image=E51 titlecard.jpg
|caption=[[Sun|The sun]] is a mass of incandescent... energon?
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Takashi Sano]]
|animation studio=[[Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[December 24|24 December]] 2004 (Japanese) [[March 19]], 2005 (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''Primus plans to use the essence of Unicron to light Alpha Q's planets. Can the Autobots stop Galvatron from destroying Unicron long enough for it to happen? (God, we hope so.)'''

==Synopsis==
Lying inert and unconscious on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after their final battle, [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] and [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] talk about the strange power of [[Unicron]] within them, and why [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] serves [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]]. Scorponok says that Galvatron created him, and for that he is grateful.

Out in space, it turns out that [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] didn't chop Unicron in half; he lowers his raised [[Energon Saber]]. He contemplates crushing the Unicron orb, but [[Primus]]'s voice speaks to him: Primus has been waiting for Kicker to find Unicron, and says that Unicron is in fact the light of hope for them. Primus reminds the disbelieving Kicker that Unicron has both the power to destroy ''and'' to create, a good face and a black face. Kicker realizes what Primus is planning.

On [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]'s burning surface, the [[Autobot]]s gather around their fallen leader. [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] explains that [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] has absorbed Unicron's energy using his [[Spark of Combination|Combination Spark]]; the troops want to heal him, but Rodimus says there's nothing they can do to help him. Prime knew the cost of taking on Galvatron alone, and they must respect his wishes.

The exhausted [[Decepticon]]s continue to slog through space, following their very angry leader. Galvatron arrives at the Unicron orb's location and confronts Kicker, ordering him out of the way. Kicker prepares to defend Unicron.

Within Cybertron, Primus's energy level begins spiking. [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] notifies [[Brian Jones|Dr. Jones]] that he's leaving for Jungle Planet; Dr. Jones notices that Bulkhead's chest is glowing strangely, and Bulkhead explains that he's being called by his teammates. Primus suddenly dissolves just then... and rematerializes above the [[Super Energon]] pool, saying it's time to use his power.

[[Misha Miramond|Misha]] is trying to make contact with anyone... when [[Inferno (Energon)|Roadblock]], his chest aglow, says he too must go to Jungle Planet. The troops also find their Combination Sparks glowing, and realizes Optimus is calling them. Roadblock and Bulkhead arrive as well. The Autobots' combination sparks enter Optimus.

Inspired by the images of his friends, Kicker takes on Galvatron. [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] arrives to make an assist, preventing Galvatron from destroying Unicron. Omega explains that Unicron can't simply be destroyed, as he exists within all Transformers, and is the force that drives the cosmos. Galvatron isn't convinced, and bashes him aside after a short battle, but instead of destroying Unicron's essence, he is infiltrated by it.

Scorponok awakens, and sees the glowing Combination Spark of Ironhide. Optimus's eyes flare to life. Omega Supreme stares. The Decepticons arrive. All present behold that Unicron has awoken...

On Cybertron, Primus forms the Super Energon into a huge red plasma ball. The weakened [[Superion Maximus]] stirs, wondering if all his labors were worth it all. (Remember that painting? The one in the [[Super Energon Temple|Super Energon chamber]]? Guess what! It still exists!) He turns just in time to see ''something'' leaving through a warp point, then passes out.

The rescaled Galvatron, now Unicron, begins moving. Kicker, aware that the Super Energon is coming, follows.

From Cybertron, a weary and battered Ironhide arrives on Jungle Planet... with Scorponok supporting him. Scorponok asks for Ironhide's help in defending Galvatron from Unicron. But the sight of Ironhide's red-glowing Combination Spark stirs a memory of the [[Energon Sun]]. Ironhide tells him he doesn't have to go, but Scorponok falls over anyway. Ironhide cries out his name.

The humans on Cybertron watch as the Super Energon orb leaves Cybertron.

Omega Supreme launches a single-handed attack on Unicron, over Kicker's protests. Suddenly a glowing light attacks Unicron. It's Optimus, empowered by the Combination Sparks of all his soldiers. Big and glowing, they combine and attack. Kicker alerts him that the Super Energon is coming and advises him to get out of the way, but Prime says he's seeing it through to the end. The voices of the other Autobots chime in their support, as Kicker grows more and more frantic.

As the plasma sphere approaches, Optimus vows that he's not letting go... and then a familiar voice curses him. Galvatron's eyes glow red once more; in control of himself again, he hurls Optimus aside. Galvatron tells him that ''he'' has to do this, then tells Unicron that though he may be inside him, he will ''never'' possess him. Starscream appears at his side, but Galvatron orders him to stay out of the way. With a cry of glory, Galvatron plunges himself into the plasma sphere.

The sphere erupts, glowing red and growing in size. And daylight spreads across the worlds —- from Cybertron, to [[Plains Planet]], Jungle Planet, [[Ocean Planet]], and all the rest. [[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]]'s voices rejoice. Superion Maximus stirs. On Ocean Planet, Misha and [[Sally Jones|Sally]] laugh; Kicker and [[Rad White|Rad]] smile.

The three Decepticon goons note that Starscream is missing. [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] prepares to follow Galvatron, over [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snowcat]] and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]'s warnings.

Alpha Q's voices tell Kicker that it is time for him to enjoy the new sun, and asks to be remembered on occasion. In space, Optimus releases the Combination Sparks of his troops, and they are all reconstituted. Rodimus observes that it's all over... but Optimus tells him that they're looking at [[Alpha Q's universe|a brand new universe]], and this is just the beginning.

Back at [[Ocean City]], Kicker and Ironhide enjoy the breeze and the sun. Ironhide tells him that even with as great a bunch of teammates as he has, Kicker will always be special to him. They gaze at the glowing sun... their future.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c2=
|c3=
|c4=
}}

==Quotes==
"Using the Combination Spark of all my soldiers, you will be no match for me!"
:—while challenging Unicron, '''Optimus Prime''' inadvertently insults his own troops.

"Well, it's been a slice, hasn't it. ...Oh, and Unicron, just for your information... even though you're within me, you will ''never'' possess me. For I am... THE MIGHTY GALVATRON! ...Behold! My new world awaits me! Glory to Decepticons!"
:—'''Galvatron''' gives a rousing final speech.

==Notes==
===Lost in Translation===
* The dub gets the gist of Ironhide and Scorponok's conversation right, more or less. But it omits the voice echo that indicates they're somehow conversing while unconscious. It also has them continuing to argue angrily and aggressively as if preparing for a fight; in ''Super Link'', the conversation is very subdued in tone.
* The dub version features the rather inappropriate "catastrophe" background music as the Autobots prepare to give their Combination Sparks. ''Super Link'' has no music.
* The dub omits a rather critical line of dialog about how the Combination Sparks are fused with the Autobots' own Sparks, replacing it with the unexplained line "without our Combination Sparks we're toast!"
* An observation by Omega Supreme that Galvatron is trying to leave this solar system gets turned into "This could get... interesting", making Kicker's follow-up line, "He's not going anywhere!" rather random.
* Scorponk's final scene is several levels of screwed up by the dub:
* Although the intention of the scene is the same in both version (that Scorponok has only brought Ironhide to Jungle Planet in the name of saving Galvatron), the dub makes it very wonky by having Scorponok ask for Ironhide's help, as if Scorponok is about to take some form of action himself. In ''Super Link'', he merely saying that he has brought Ironhide here for Galvatron's sake (so that he may merge with Optimus, and Optimus can then save Galvatron from Unicron).
* Right after Scorponok asks for Ironhide's help, he abruptly says "Never mind, your comrades are calling", as if he's given up on getting the help he just asked for. The line is supposed to be "Now go", not "never mind".
* After that, Scorponok says "Our planet..." It should be a plural ''planets'', in keeping with Alpha Q's oft-repeated mantra.
* What follows this wistful little line from Scorponok is a rather small error on a technical level, but which effectively ruins Ironhide and Scorponok's plotline. In ''Super Link'', Ironhide responds to Scorponok's whispered "Our planets..." with "So... you ''do'' remember", punctuating for the audience that Scorponok remembers his past and realizing that what he has striven for over the second half of the series has come to pass. ''Energon'' replaces this with an utterly pointless "You don't have to go!", neutering the whole point of the scene, and the character's final moments together.
* As Omega Supreme attacks Galvatron, Snowcat says "Whoah, check out those moves!" Demolishor replies, "Yeah, not too bright." It seems the wires got crossed; in ''Super Link'' the lines are essentially "The idiot rammed Galvatron!" and "Yeah, but it slowed him down", as if a new dub line was written in response to a ''Super Link'' line that didn't get translated!
* The dub omits a line from Starscream saying that he will stay by his leader's side, and Mirage's later confirmation that he flew into the energon sun with Megatron, thus making it unclear what happened to him.

===Pain Count===
* "Uh?": 13
* Stock footage: 1
* It's time to: 1
* We've gotta: 1
* We're a team: 1
* You've gotta be kidding: 1
* Aw man: 2
* It looks like: 2

===Animation or technical errors===
* Much of the animation of this episode makes the goings-on rather unclear:
* It's not clear at all that the Autobots actually lose their physical forms when giving up their Combination Sparks; it only becomes evident when they re-form after the battle is over.
* It's likewise totally unclear that Ironhide and Scorponok travel together to Jungle Planet, thanks to the burning nightime forest lighting and the strange editorial decision to not show them leaving Cybertron.
* After absorbing Unicron's energy, Galvatron stands up and walks off, complete with stomping foot sound effects... ''in space''.
* Once again, the ''red'' Energon sun shines ''yellow-white'' light onto the planets.

===Continuity errors===
* ''Super Link'' identifies Misha and Sally as being in [[Ocean City]]. Problem is, that's on Earth. The dub correctly locates them on [[Ocean Planet|Ocean ''Planet'']].

===Transformers references===
* The preposterously under-utilized plot point of Unicron's essence existing within all Transformers, previously touched upon in "[[Formidable]]" and "[[Spark (episode)|Spark]]", is brought up again in this episode, when Scorponok says he feels the power of Unicron within him. It leads up to absolutely nothing, however, serving only as a thematic lead-in to Omega Supreme's speech about how Unicron is in each of them.

===Trivia===
* ''Super Link'' begins rolling credits over the final scenes, even as the characters are winding down the action. A unique set of closing credits follows, featuring clips from all through the series, and after the credits come to an end, a coda featuring Ironhide and Kicker at Ocean City, looking up at the energon sun, plays. This is restructured for the ''Energon'' dub, which removes the text credits from the final scenes, and moves the Ocean City scene up to before the standard American credits play.
*Sneaky editing makes it unclear if Superion Maximus kept his borrowed Constructicon Maximus limbs, or if he's just sitting around as a limbless torso.
*The Decepticons' fates are not especially clear:
* Mirage flies into the sun, and presumably dies.
* Snowcat and Demolishor are last seen floating in space with no plans. ''Super Link'' implies a bit more strongly that they're considering following Mirage into the sun, but it's not shown or made explicit.
* Starscream just vanishes after Galvatron plunges into the plasma sphere. In ''Super Link'', he vows to follow Galvatron wherever he goes, and Mirage notes that he followed Galvatron into the sun, but the lines are missing from the dub.
* Scorponok... falls down, apparently dead of battle damage from Ironhide.
*And so the series ends: the bad guys are mostly dead, the good guys live happily ever after, and Alpha Q's planets are finally restored to life... until Primus's great plan completely fails, the sun collapses into a [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]], and all the planets are horribly annihilated off-screen as part of [[Balancing Act (issue)|the backstory]] for the [[Cybertron (cartoon)|next cartoon series.]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sun}}
[[Category:Energon episodes]]

Death/Archive

2009-07-07T11:48:15Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:Battleofautobotcity.jpg|right|300px|thumb|And the sounds of a million fanboys' cries were heard across the land.]]
Unusually for something that started as a children's toy and an '80s cartoon, '''death''' of important characters is a prominent feature in [[Transformer|Transformers]]. The reasons for it vary from plot development to the arrival of [[To sell toys|new toys]]. However, the fact that the majority of characters are machines means that death isn't automatically an absolute in the various Transformers universes—various characters that appear to have been killed have been known to pop up alive again at a later date, or go through some sort of revival. However, it's not unheard of for death to sometimes be permanent in Transformers.

{{quote|"How can you all be so cold and unfeeling? He died a hero!" 
"Don't you even have mechanical hearts?" 
"The humans don't understand! Our form of life is vastly different from theirs!"|[[Spider-Man]], [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]|"[[Prisoner of War!]]"}}

==Generation 1==
===Marvel comics continuity===
The first time the concept of death was addressed in Transformers was when [[Gears]] appeared to fall to his death while he and [[Spider-Man]] were rescuing [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. The Autobots coldly gathered up Gears's parts, which creeped out Spidey and Sparkplug, who were expecting some show of sadness for the Autobots' fallen comrade. Gears was rebuilt and back in tip-top shape without a problem. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}} This easy cheating of death would be seen again in the storyline that followed, where [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] would viciously injure all Autobots bar [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], only for them to be up and running later on (bar [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]).

The first confirmed human death was in Marvel UK's #45, where [[Professor Morris]] used a brainwashed [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] to murder a security guard. {{storylink|The Icarus Theory}} However, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] did run a car off the road causing it to explode with its driver screaming in UK# 14, whilst in the same issue [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] blew up several human jets in mid-air. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}}

Outright Transformer death would be seen in the first story set on Cybertron. The story opens with a Decepticon killing civilians only for [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to kill ''it''; [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], current commander of the Decepticons, was constantly throwing hordes of Transformers to their deaths in his [[smelting pool]]; and Blaster's ally [[Scrounge]] died a quite brutal death. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} Furman notably pre-empted this some time earlier with the deaths of [[Earthquake]] and [[Tornado]] in a flashback sequence, {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} whilst the [[Man of Iron]] and [[Navigator]] died even earlier. {{storylink|Man of Iron!}}

Soon death would be seen again and again, particularly in Furman's UK strips—generally these deaths would be of original characters who lacked toys, such as [[Impactor]]. {{storylink|Target: 2006}} This was a useful way of getting across a sense of genuine war and build reader tension, while simultaneously leaving the toy characters untouched.

[[Image:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|left|175px|thumb|Gears died as he lived—not being on-panel.]]
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] himself would end up outright dying to clear the way for new characters—following immediately on, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] was killed in a [[Space Bridge]] accident. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}} The following issue would have the Transformers holding a funeral for Optimus, {{storylink|Funeral For A Friend!}} while a crossover story unceremoniously bumped off [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} This kill-spree was slightly undermined by [[Bob Budiansky]] leaving himself a get-out clause, and showing the reader that a back-up copy of Optimus Prime's mind could exist. Megatron, meanwhile, would turn up alive in Marvel UK so they could sneak around the US stories without contradicting their plots (he'd later be retconned as a clone). {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}

Marvel UK stories set in the post-movie future got to be even more kill-happy—as they didn't have to bother meshing with the present day continuity, any character could be killed off. As well as minor ones such as [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], this would also include major character Shockwave. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

Soon, Transformers was saddled with a large number of characters who no longer had toys—to thin the crowd, both [[Simon Furman]] and Budiansky began repeated cullings so the newer toys could get more "screen time". In Marvel UK, most of the [[Wrecker|Wreckers]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (and previously [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]), and a few little-seen Decepticons would all be slaughtered. {{storylink|Time Wars}} That paled before the most grandiose of slaughters, the [[Underbase Saga]], where a super powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] destroyed/deactivated dozens of Transformers, [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] alike. ''Conveniently'', only those with organic bits ([[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Pretender|Pretenders]] et al) could survive the [[Underbase]]. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}} Many of these characters would remain dead until the climax of the Unicron saga, when they were revived by [[Nucleon]]; at the same time, the Unicron battle would kill off scores of characters who'd survived the Underbase! {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}}

The experience of having been dead does not seem to bother most Transformers who were resurrected. One exception is Optimus Prime; due to his time spent as a computer-game character (no, really), he was separated emotionally from his past life and lost interest in Earth. This was soon cured. {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}} Another exception is if a Transformer has suffered a humiliating death or rebirth; their confidence will end up weakened. {{storylink|Fallen Star!}}

===American cartoon continuity===
[[Image:Tftm1986a.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Who knew Autobots could be killed by shooting their [[shoulder]]s?]]

''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' is infamous for the slaughter of a large number of season 1 and 2 characters, especially the likes of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Starscream (G1)| Starscream]]. The reason for this was the upcoming season 3 toy line. Some would die without getting a chance to say anything or even being ''named''.

In this continuity, dead Transformers can still exist as ghosts. These ghosts are capable of possessing the forms of living Transformers. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} Or at least Starscream can; there's no evidence of any other Transformers being able to do the same.

When [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] bearers die, their wisdom and spirits remain within the Matrix. A near-death experience allows the current Matrix bearer to make contact with these spirits. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

===Japanese cartoon continuity===
The Japanese continuity did not skimp on showing death as a part of war. Aside from numerous generic robots (for example, the prison guards from ''[[Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]''), notable characters were also killed. The most famous victim of this tendency was [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who died in battle against [[Sixshot]] in ''[[The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]''. In ''[[Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', [[Sixknight]] was killed by [[Devil Z]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] perished in the finale along with the Decepticon Emperor.

However, Transformers that have been mortally wounded can be rebuilt into new forms, as happened with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave/Soundblaster]] and [[Ginrai]]/[[Victory Leo]]. Also, because of a different approach to censorship, human death was not unheard of. While not present in the first two seasons (which were simply translated from the American version) nor the following ''Headmasters'' cartoon, plenty of humans became unlucky collateral damage from ''Masterforce'' onwards. Besides victims such as [[Professor Gō]] early in the series, the Decepticons often slaughtered people in the course of their activities. [[Giga]], for example, destroyed a passing airliner (presumably killing all aboard) simply to test his new [[Deathball]] toys. In ''Victory'', Earth was spared much destruction until the latter half of the series, when [[Deathsaurus]]'s forces began attacking in earnest (killing countless human soldiers in the process). In addition, [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]]'s adopted son, [[Jean Minakaze]], was the sole survivor of a Decepticon attack.

At the same time, supernatural forces irrefutably exist in this universe and are capable of reversing the process of death. Optimus Prime died a second time {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} but was brought back by [[Zodiac]] energy as Star Convoy {{storylink|The Battlestars}}; the evil entity [[Dark Nova]] took Galvatron's remains and reformatted them as Super Megatron. The demonic being [[Violen Jygar]] was composed of the "angry souls" of dead Decepticons, and seemingly resurrected BlackZarak to serve as one of his Demon-Generals. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

The [[Kiss Player|Kiss Players]], infected by Galvatron's cells, are capable of resurrecting dead Transformers like Optimus by kissing him and channelling the cells into him; however, once the cells were taken out, Optimus died again. {{storylink|Kiss Players (manga)|Kiss Players}}

==Generation 2==
The ''Generation 2'' comic had less oversight from Hasbro, a whole lot of inherited characters that didn't have toys, and an existence in the ''extreeeeeme'' and violent 1990s US comic industry. The result was the Transformer equivalent of the Battle of the Somme—almost every issue would have a known Transformer or three being killed off. Even the crossover with [[G.I. Joe]], setting up Megatron's new toy, killed off four. {{storylink|Final Transformations|Final Transformations}}

[[Image:Blades1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Blades in Generation 2: a violent, gritty, pointlessly graphic nightmare… in Generation 2.]]
Even characters who had previously been major ones in the Marvel Comics would be killed, with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] all dying alongside lesser-seen characters like [[Skullgrin]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]. Amusingly, some of these characters (such as Dirge, [[Joyride (Autobot)|Joyride]] and [[Quake (G1)|Quake]]) had died in earlier G1 issues and had returned from the dead without explanation ''solely to be bumped off''. [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], a 1985 Autobot car, even made his ''very first'' clear appearance in the US comics in one issue, only to be immediately killed off after giving his first (and last) line of dialogue. {{storylink|Devices and Desires!|Devices and Desires!}}

In addition, the Transformers would slaughter large numbers of [[Cybertronian Empire]] soldiers, and many alien planets were shown being exterminated. [[Earth]] didn't escape unscathed either, with widespread devastation, open slaughter of humans and the obliteration of [[San Francisco]]. Oh, and Prime dies and comes back ''again''.
{{-}}
==Beast Wars==
[[Image:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Even having a new toy couldn't save Terrorsaur!]]
''[[Beast Wars]]'', being a CGI cartoon, could not afford to have too many characters in the show at any one time—once they reached seven-a-side by Season 1, any new character coming in would mean an old one going out. This led to some quite arbitrary deaths, such as [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] falling into lava and going unmourned, or [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] suddenly being dragged into space by the [[Vok]]. [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], by contrast, had an episode devoted to his heroic sacrifice and his death served as the end to his plot arc for that season, and has become one of the most popular episodes. {{storylink|Code of Hero|Code of Hero}}

One problem ''Beast Wars'' had with killing characters is that every character on the show would be blown up real good during the series, only to be put back together again—this would mean when they were actually being killed, they'd sometimes be suffering less damage than they had in battles where they lived. In addition, [[Optimus Primal]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] both died and came back with brand new bodies, showing death to be a potential revolving door. At one point, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was clearly vaporised in an explosion—but, because it was decided not to kill him when Season 3 started, he was suddenly merely a bit singed. {{storylink|Optimal Situation|Optimal Situation}}

[[Image:Dinobot2beastmode.JPG|left|200px|thumb|We're not using the Z word!]]
The character of [[Dinobot II]] presents interesting questions about Transformer death. While cloned from the original Dinobot and possessing the same voice, same look (albeit an eerie skeletal version) and same skills, he had a different personality & memories and was clearly a different character, even carrying a different Spark (half of [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]'s). However, in the season finale, the destruction of Rampage caused him to gain an increasing number of Dinobot's memories that he could not have and start gaining Dinobot's personality. He also viewed his Spark as being "different… at last complete". {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2|Nemesis Part 2}} How all this occurred was not explained; based on the visual of him turning into the original Dinobot & back again when Rampage was destroyed, {{storylink|Nemesis Part 1|Nemesis Part 1}} it could be assumed the original was influencing him.

The final three episodes would kill seven characters, including the majority of the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] and two of the Maximals—including [[Tigerhawk]], who only appeared two episodes before his death—to pave the way for ''[[Beast Machines]]''.

===IDW comics continuity===
IDW's ''Beast Wars'' comics would introduce a large number of unused toys into the fiction—a large number of which were then massacred in the second miniseries. Many of them had hardly got a chance to show any characterization. The exception is [[Razorbeast]], who had been the main character in the previous story and had to be euthanised by one of his friends. {{storylink|The Ascending|The Ascending}}

==Beast Machines==
[[Image:Fallout title.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Primal's diet had gone horribly wrong.]]
The premise of ''[[Beast Machines]]'' was that [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had taken over Cybertron and removed the [[Spark|Sparks]] from everyone, leaving massive graveyards across the planet. However, this hadn't actually ''killed'' anyone—as long as the Sparks survived, they could be put in a new body and live again, and everyone was restored at the end of the series. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

The series would also introduce the concept of the [[Allspark]]—a dimension composed of Transformer Sparks, the home of every one that will or can ever be. When a Transformer dies, their Spark returns to it and all of their knowledge and life experience is added to the Allspark. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]'s spirit would be seen within in it, advising Optimus Primal to move on.

Optimus Primal was outright killed, but would come back to life again after deciding not to join with the Allspark but continue his mission {{storylink|Fallout|Fallout}}; this could be seen an in-universe explanation for why some Transformers return to life while others stay dead. Primal would die ''properly'' later on, taking Megatron with him.

The original [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]] generals contained the Sparks of existing ''Beast Wars'' characters but possessed completely different personalities—most notably [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]], the brooding, loyal and fearless general who had ''[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]]'s'' Spark. Overriding the general's shell programs to bring back the original characters could be seen as killing the Vehicons.

===Singularity Ablyss===
Megatron would also have the opportunity to allow himself to pass on and rejoin the Allspark. However, his repeated returns to life (during "[[Spark of Darkness]]") convinced him he could still achieve godhood and so he rejected passing on. He also ''erased Rhinox's Spark'', showing that even the dead can be killed. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}<ref>However, due to an editorial caveat in the foreword, all the prose stories in ''[[Transformers Legends]]'' are "What If?" stories that are not to be considered as actually occurring in the continuities they are based on. As a result, the events depicted in "[[Singularity Ablyss]]" technically belong to a [[Micro-continuity]] and are therefore not canon for the mainstream ''Beast Machines'' continuity.</ref>

==Robots in Disguise==
The ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise is unique in that almost nobody dies. The exception is [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]—he was completely destroyed, but then reborn as Galvatron due to the [[Orb of Sigma]] and energy drained from Predacon [[sparks]]. {{storylink|Peril from the Past|Peril from the Past}} While possessing the same voice, personality and general form of Megatron, Galvatron declares himself to be a different person and his former self to be dead. {{storylink|Maximus Emerges|Maximus Emerges}}

==Universe==
[[Image:Wreckers Mutants.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The shocking death of the barely-seen guys with hardly any lines!]]
The [[BotCon]] comic ''The Wreckers'' would use death quite a lot in its second issue, for one very specific reason—they'd brought in too many bloody characters in the ''first'' issue. A few massacres later and the cast was down to a more manageable level. {{storylink|Betrayal|Betrayal}}

''Universe'''s multiverse-spanning story allows for a lot of death in character backstories—[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] is killed by [[Smokescreen (Armada)|another Smokescreen]], Unicron's generals all killed [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] in their home dimensions, and [[Megazarak]] has killed everyone on his Cybertron. {{storylink|Shell Game|Shell Game}} Conversely, it also allowed for a whole load of character ''resurrections''—[[Optimus Primal]], [[Depth Charge]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Tarantulas]] all returned from the dead. One of the Wreckers, meanwhile, is a revived [[Tigatron]].
{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
===Cartoon===
Optimus died holding back the [[Hydra Cannon]], the damage causing him to [[:Image:Sshot-arm-39-4.jpg|crumble to dust]]. {{storylink|Crisis|Crisis}} Through the power of the [[Matrix]], he was resurrected by the [[Mini-Cons]] shortly afterward. {{storylink|Miracle|Miracle}}

[[Image:ArmadaGalvatron Prime hangon.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Galvatron died to save everyone and came back ''twice''—you lose, [[Jesus]]!]]

Both [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] {{storylink|Mortal Combat|Mortal Combat}} and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] {{storylink|Cramp|Cramp}} would make heroic sacrifices in ''Armada'' to stop Unicron—only to return from the dead for the ''Energon'' cartoon. And then sacrificed themselves again at the end of that one {{storylink|The Sun|The Sun}}—and came back again for the next cartoon!

Some characters would be severely injured and seemingly killed, but would survive by being rebuilt into a new character—[[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] became Hoist, [[Tidal Wave]] became Mirage, etc.

[[Alpha Quintesson]] and Unicron possessed the ability to create new Transformers—[[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]] and [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]]—out of the remains of the dead. Scorponok was an odd case: it was originally presented that he was a recreated version of an inhabitant of Alpha Q's homeworld, but later retconned that he was, in fact, merely created in that being's image, and actually animated by the Spark of a dead Decepticon. This retcon, however, did not make it into the ''[[Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', since the [[Return! Our Scorponok|episode]] featuring it was not dubbed. Scorponok was later killed, but in both the fan club comics and ''Cybertron'' toy tech specs, he became an undead monster.

In the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, resurrection often altered the basic personality of a Transformer. Tidal Wave became more intelligent as Mirage, as well as gaining a crush on Galvatron; [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] devolved in intelligence and became more ape-like; the morally conflicted Starscream, who sacrificed himself for the greater good, would became an ambitious power-hungry traitor like [[Starscream (G1)|those]] [[Starscream (Animated)|other]] Starscreams. This has not occurred in other canons, where death and rebirth rarely seems to cause any real problems for anyone.

===Comic===
While it can be safely assumed people ''did'' die in the Autobot-Decepticon war, it was only shown on panel when the [[Unicron]] plotline took over. {{storylink|Worlds Collide|Worlds Collide}} In addition, Unicron was shown to be able to kill and rebuild Transformers into his loyal servants, doing it to [[Rhinox (Armada)|Rhinox]] and his [[Terrorsaur (Armada)|fellow]] [[Airazor (Armada)|Beast]] [[Cheetor (Armada)|Warriors]]. {{storylink|This Evil Reborn|This Evil Reborn}} While his body had died, Megatron's consciousness remained within Unicron's spark core, and from here was able to return to life with a new body.

==Live-action film series==
===Films===
The live-action movie would feature death galore in its climactic battle scenes, with almost every [[Decepticon]] being wiped out and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] being killed in battle. Not to mention the humans; [[SOCCENT Forward Operations Base]] is wiped out by [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]; [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] just loves his stabbing; possible demises caused by [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] on [[Air Force One]]; [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] hatefully sweeping away traffic; and countless possible casualties in [[Mission City]]. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' (2007)}}

Thankfully, the second film does not kill off the primary six returning robots to make way for a new cast. Unfortunately, the only new Decepticon who seems to survive is [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]]. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] dies but comes back, while only [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] and an [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] component die among the Autobot ranks. [[NEST]]'s casualties are emphasized in an early scene where coffins are displayed prominently in a single shot, and there are major civilian and military casualties during [[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]'s rampage and [[The Fallen]]'s arrival (estimated at a toll of 7000), but the main humans get off scott free (even [[Sam Witwicky]] cheats death). ''{{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}''

===IDW Publishing===
[[Image:RoS2Salazarpopt.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Comic books can get away with this, while PG-13 movies can't]]
[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] blew up an [[F-22 Raptor]] to obtain his alternate mode. {{storylink|Movie Prequel issue 4|Prime Directive (IDW) issue 4}} He kills countless [[Sector 7]] soldiers when searching for [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s body in the [[Hoover Dam]], and takes a [[Salazar|human]] along while leaving Earth to see if he can survive the trip. He doesn't. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 2|The Reign of Starscream issue 2}} When Starscream returns to [[Earth]], many die in his battle with [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], including [[Professor Vine]]. {{storylink|Alliance issue 3}} [[NEST]] naturally loses soldiers in their battles with the Decepticons, most prominently [[Salani]] during the battle with [[Jetstorm (Movie)|Jetstorm]]. {{storylink|Alliance issue 4}}

On the Transformers side, a whole lot of toy-only characters die bloody in the runup to ''Revenge of the Fallen'', coincidentally after they'd been on the shelves for a while. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream}} {{storylink|Transformers: Alliance|Alliance}}

===Titan Magazines===
{{notetitantlg}}
From [[Transformers Comic issue 9|the ninth issue]] of ''Transformers Comic'', the movie-based comic strip took place in an alternate universe where the Decepticons won in the film. As a result, human casualties are quite high; thousands of [[NATO]] sailors are killed in battle, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] bombs humans to spread terror, and [[Sam Witwicky]] is established to have died.

Shockingly for a [[Rhythms of Darkness!|Furman-written alternate universe]], Transformer deaths have so far been few. No Autobots are yet confirmed as dead, while Decepticon casualties so far include [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] following the initial story. Many Decepticon drones, however, are wiped out by the heroes.

[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] actually came ''back'' from the dead, resurrection being a property of the All Spark. However, anything done to the All Spark will affect the resurrectee; corrupt the All Spark, as Megatron did, and you end up with a corrupt, amoral Transformer. {{storylink|Dark Spark|Dark Spark}}

Megatron also came back from the dead (of ''course'' he did) by having downloaded his consciousness into another vessel, showing that (ala ''Afterdeath!'' and ''Rock and Roll Out!'') Transformers can be backed up. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|The Decepticon Who Haunted Himself}}

==Animated==
[[Image:TFAnimated transformandrollout DEATH.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Death — the Optimus version of a power nap.]]
Severe physical damage does not kill Transformers in the ''Animated'' universe — [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] survived despite being reduced to a severed head, while [[Lugnut]] and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] remained conscious despite being in bits {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} and [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] continued to function after its brutal dismemberment. {{storylink|Sound and Fury|Sound and Fury}}

Transformer death is, however, possible — a combination of physical damage and AllSpark energy outright killed [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. He was resurrected immediately afterward by the [[Key]], which, uniquely, channelled the energy of the AllSpark directly (as opposed to the energy stored inside it) for the purpose. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out|Transform and Roll Out}}

Starscream also was killed {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}} only to be brought back to life by AllSpark energy. In his case, despite his Spark being extinguished, an AllSpark shard has embedded in his head and makes him immortal — kill him, and he'll just come back two minutes later. This has possibly made him the most tenacious (and annoying) Starscream to date. To [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], anyway. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished|Mission Accomplished}}

[[Image:Afterburn_GOOOOOMPH.JPG|right|200px|thumb|But how can Bumblebee ''see it''?]]

Similarly, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] had died long ago saving Cybertron in the Great War, but with AllSpark energy he was able to be revived. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}} To prevent him dying, he was placed into modified stasis in his spaceship mode in order to stave off ''total'' death until a cure could be found. In an interesting look at [[Transformer funerary practices]], the Autobots then used him ''as'' a spaceship with seemingly no qualms. {{storylink|Transwarped}}

It is possible to be a living Transformer ''without'' a Spark. Two [[Starscream clone|of the Starscream clones]] lacked Sparks, as did [[Afterburn]] in spin-off material. When they ''die'', however, their being Spark-less means nobody cares. Nobody even commented on the demise of the clones {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon|A Fistful of Energon}} and both Megatron ''and'' Optimus outright stated that Afterburn wasn't a ''real'' person because he'd lacked a Spark {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Megatron's Revenge}}.

It is possible to avert death by transferring a spark into a [[blank]] [[protoform]]. A number of robots, however, view this as appalling as it sacrifices everything that protoform could have been. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] has a habit of scavenging parts of his victims to use as "upgrades", a habit that sickens other Transformers.

''Animated'' featured relatively few deaths; however, a [[Blurr (Animated)|popular recurring character]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|popular ''main'' character]] both bought it within the course of the series.

==Footnotes==
<references />

==See also==

* [[Endspark]]

* [[Transformer funerary practices]]

* Those who die a lot
** [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime]]
** [[Dirge (G1)]] — the unlucky guy who gets [[:Image:Dirge DeathSerpentor.jpg|killed]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathSwarm.jpg|off]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathTimelines.jpg|in]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathUnicron.jpg|many]] [[:Image:Dirge DeathArmada.jpg|continuities]] (but less than [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Prime]]).
** [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] — the unlucky guy who gets killed over and over in the same continuity, but doesn't seem to mind.
** [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] — the unlucky guy from ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' who gets sliced, diced, and fricasseed every other episode only to be fully functional in time to get [[Slag (slang)|slagged]] ''again''.
** [[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)|Cy-Kill]], a Go-Bots character transferred to many Transformers comics just to be killed off violently. For no other reason than the lolz of ending his toyline, his universe, and finally his life...repeatedly.
** [[Sentinel Prime (G1)]] — the unlucky [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|who]] [[:Image:Sentinel prime dw.jpg|must]] [[Megatron Origin issue 4|die]].

* [[To sell toys]]

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

The Weak Component

2009-06-24T07:46:25Z

Black Mage:

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=6
|image=Weak component pretty.jpg
|caption=<div style="text-align:right;padding-right:2em;">''Am I my enemy's hero?''</div>
|title="The Weak Component"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 23]], 1999
|written by=[[Rodney Gibbs]]
|directed by=[[Andrew Currie]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Frustrated by his inability to transform and ashamed of his uselessness, Rattrap makes a deal with the devil.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 約束の夜明け (''Yakusoku no Yoake'', "The Promised Dawn")

==Synopsis==
Optimus Primal, still exhausted after Nightscream's recent reformatting, awakens from a dream and is informed by Blackarachnia that Rattrap is on a recon mission with Cheetor and Nightscream.

[[Image:Weak Component Rattrap computer.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Wonder if there's anything new at Transformers Wiki. What the- Who wrote that about me! CHOPPERFACE!!"]]
At a manufacturing facility, Rattrap, Nightscream and Cheetor are being attacked by Aero Drones and Tank Drones. Since Rattrap still is unable to transform, Cheetor orders him to go and download the data from the computers. As Megatron observes this, a Diagnostic Drone warns him that the DNA purging process is still in its experimental stage. But Megatron, eager to be rid of his hated beast mode, wishes to proceed before the Maximals can discover any more “mongrel beasts”.

During the fight, Nightscream uses his sonic powers and discovers that if they attack the generals, the drones stop operating. Cheetor and Nightscream plan to ambush Tankor to test the theory.

Unfortunately, Rattrap observes the ensuing entrapment setup from his computer, unaware of the plan. He finally transforms successfully, and being eager to help, swings into action as Nightscream and Cheetor are attempting to disable Tankor and Jetstorm. His interference ends up spoiling the ambush, however, and causes the factory's machinery to start operating and building more Tank Drones at a faster and faster rate. Rattrap realises his robot form is unarmed, so he is unable to help in the battle.

[[Image:Weak Component Cheetor carrying Rattrap.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Every time we go to the bar, stuff blows up and I end up carrying you home!"]]
As the new tank drones run wild, Megatron takes control. Rattrap attempts to stop the manufacture of the drones by linking himself into the main computer, only to become a sitting target for Megatron's Aero Drones. The resulting feedback travels along the power cables and causes a system failure, the total destruction of the manufacturing plant, and a power cut for the whole sector.

On their way back to their base, Cheetor and Nightscream harshly reprimand Rattrap for not following orders. Rattrap later complains to a sleeping Optimus Primal about his robot mode, when the others appear. Cheetor knocks Rattrap to the ground, ordering him to transform to beast mode; this jolt to Rattrap's system causes him to realise Megatron is weak as he replays vital stats he downloaded earlier. However, Cheetor brushes off his suggestions of an attack on their weakened enemy.

Rattrap overhears Blackarachnia, Cheetor and Nightscream discussing what to do with him and how he is such a burden with his useless robot mode. Infuriated, he leaves the base alone.

[[Image:Weak Component Rattrap mech.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rattrap prepares to face the Queen Alien.]]
Megatron is being told the extent of the damage caused by the feedback earlier, when Rattrap saunters into his citadel, saying he wants “noisemakers”. After a bit of back and forth, Megatron and Rattrap work out a deal wherein Rattrap will defend Megatron for one night when he is at his weakest. If anything happens to Megatron, Rattrap forfeits his new weaponry.

[[Image:Rattrap-bm-withmegatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|My shoulder angel!]]
Unexpectedly, Cheetor, Nightscream and Blackarachnia arrive to rescue Rattrap, forcing Rattrap to honour his word with Megatron—and he does so, firing on his friends as they advance. While this is happening, Megatron returns to full strength and begins rebooting his control of Cybertron. The Maximals and Rattrap are at an impasse when Optimus Primal arrives, still exhausted, and asks Rattrap to look inside himself and re-evaluate what he's doing. Primal tells him that Rattrap is stronger than any of them realize.

Megatron orders Rattrap to attack Optimus Primal, but Rattrap reiterates the terms of the deal: The sun is rising, the solar cycle is over, and Rattrap has kept his end of the bargain. Impressed with Rattrap's handling of the situation, Megatron upholds his word and lets the Maximals walk away. Megatron vows to his Diagnostic Drone that they shall liberate the Maximals' sparks another day.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (8)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (9)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Sonic Attack Jet|Sonic Attack Jets]] (1)
*[[Tank Drone|Tank Drones]] (4)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] (7)
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] (10)
*[[Motorcycle Drone|Motorcycle Drones]] (11)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (12)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (13)

}}
==Quotes==
"Ah, did somebody forget to load this robot mode with weapons?"
:—'''Rattrap''' discovers someone forgot to give him a gun.

"Piece of advice: Never trust a rat."
:—'''Rattrap''' turns Megatron's own weapons on him.

"Short 'em out now! Sort 'em out later!"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' shoots first.

'''Megatron''': "See how quickly your friends turn on you? They promised you great power, but only I delivered it. They abandoned you, Rattrap. They did worse than hate you. They pitied you." 
'''Rattrap''': "Ya still think ya gotta cover for me?" [''fires on Cheetor, Blackarachnia and Nightscream''] "Ya still wanna cut me loose?! You never believed in me ever." 
'''Optimus Primal''': [''enters''] "I believed in you. What do you mean by firing at your friends?" 
'''Megatron''': "He's right. Optimus is the one you want. He's the one who lied to you; who kept making promises he never intended to keep. He made you weak; defenseless." 
'''Optimus Primal''': "Look inside yourself, Rattrap. You don't need his weapons. You're stronger than you know – stronger than ''any'' of you know."

"You have the makings of a fine Vehicon, yes." 
"Not from where I'm standing. The monkey's right; I am stronger than you know."
:—'''Megatron''' seems keen for '''Rattrap''' to join his side.

==Notes==
===Perceived characterization inconsistencies===
* This episode was the source of some controversy, as Rattrap was arguably depicted as being a "traitor" to the Maximals, something many fans claimed was completely against the grain of his character (which ''never'' happens in ''Beast Machines'').
* Fans also complained about Megatron's behavior at the end. Whereas [[Nemesis Part 2|before]], he would have crushed a [[Dinobot II|subordinate]] for merely mentioning "the h-word," here he makes a huge point of displaying honor when he keeps his word to Rattrap at the end of the episode, with no ulterior motive.
* In fact, either side could have potentially won the war right there, but the two characters with the least scruples suddenly became interested in fair play for no reason (other than to keep the series from ending, obviously).
* Other fans counter the points above by mentioning how Megatron implies Rattrap deserves to win because of his gambling skills, which refers back to Megatron's repeated use of gambling and card-playing idioms throughout the Beast Wars.
* It is suggested in return that "he played a fair hand" doesn't align with how Megatron used gambling lingo before, since he previously emphasized cheating (e.g., "stacking the deck") rather than fair play.
* And in Rattrap's defense, he was never subjected to this kind of situation in ''Beast Wars''. Losing one's memories and Transmetal body, being unable to transform for several episodes because of one's personality, and finding out that once you ''can'' transform your body is as useful as a solar-powered flashlight can have an effect on someone -- especially someone as previously tough and trigger-happy as Rattrap. (Remember: the guy was ''obsessed'' with weapons.) Also, stretching it further, he could be said to want the weapons entirely to DEFEND his friends, justifying it in terms of his loyalty rather than in spite of it.

===Technical/animation glitches===
* When Rattrap says, "Gangway! Rat crossing!" and the Vehicons turn towards the camera, Jetstorm's mouth angles upwards, over his nose.

===Real-world references===
* When the weakened Megatron sees Rattrap in his chamber, he remarks: "Ah, so this is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a simpering...rodent." This is a paraphrased quote from the poem "[[wikipedia:The_Hollow_Men|The Hollow Men]]" by T.S. Eliot.

===Trivia===
* Blackarachnia calling Rattrap a traitor is, quite frankly, the [[Optimal Situation|pot]] calling the kettle [[Escape (issue)|BLACK.]]
* During Rattrap's "Not from where I'm standing" line, it seems that Scott McNeil halfway slips into his Silverbolt voice. But when someone [[Waspinator|voices]] [[Silverbolt (BW)|so]] [[Dinobot (BW)|many]] [[Rattrap|characters]], these things happen occasionally.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weak Component}}
[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)

2009-06-24T07:36:05Z

Black Mage:

{{disambigr|Battle for the Spark|the online game in the [[Live-action film series|live action film]] continuity|Battle for the Allspark}}

{{nav-BM}}

'''''Beast Machines''''' is a 26-episode cartoon that aired in the US from 1999 to 2000, in support of the [[Beast Machines (toyline)|toyline]] of the same name. It is a direct follow-up to ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', set in the same G1 continuity and featuring many of the same characters. Like ''Beast Wars'', its [[CGI|computer animation]] was created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]].

:''Japanese name:'' '''Beast Wars Returns'''

==Overview==
[[Image:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|300px|thumb|The Maximals, in a rare moment of Not Running Away.]]
The show follows the adventures of the core ''Beast Wars'' cast upon their return home to Cybertron; there, Optimus Primal and his crew find that the whole planet is abandoned, and the streets are patrolled by mindless [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] serving [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who somehow escaped his captivity.

Worse still, they learn that they are infected with a deadly [[Transformation virus|virus]] that will kill them in a matter of hours. Salvation comes from the mysterious supercomputer known as the Oracle, who sees them fit to complete its mission of a planetwide "reformatting", and turns them into [[technorganic]] warriors, a perfect blend of organic and technological matter.

As the show progresses, Primal and his fellow Maximals learn to balance their technological side with their newly introduced organic aspects, mastery coming in slow stages. Unlike the previous [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|conflict]], where sides had been roughly equal, the four original Maximals were quite outnumbered by their Vehicon enemies, and the battles took on a "guerilla warfare" feel, with the Maximals using sewers and underground levels to their advantage and avoiding surface levels unless for combat purposes. As the show progresses, two brand-new Maximals and a returning face boost their numbers and together, the Maximals eventually turn Cybertron into an [[technorganic]] paradise, though at the cost of their [[Optimus Primal|leader]]'s life.

===Reception===
Controversial even by the standards of other Transformers [[Unicron Trilogy|reinventions]] (!), ''Beast Machines'' is remembered by some as a series which tried to tackle heavy philosophical concepts with mixed results, discussing such issues like what it meant to live in an increasingly technological society and the dichotomy between the desires of the individual and the needs of society and the paradox of a living technological world. Story editor [[Bob Skir]] describes the series as a "religious epic novel for television." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAkRF4QBKew]

The series' detractors complained about the show's alleged "hippie" agenda, claiming it would [[Ruined FOREVER|ruin Transformers]]; a few went so far as to send Skir death threats, causing him to cancel a convention appearance in 2000. Even more sympathetic fans have commented that the show lacks the campy, lighthearted humor of ''Beast Wars''. The show also featured seemingly endless scenes of the good guys running away, and that the requirements of the overall plot structure leave it treading water story-wise at times. Many characters had radically different personalities and goals than in Beast Wars ([[Rattrap|Rattrap's]] being the strongest example). The show was and remains the darkest and most thought-provoking Transformers animation to date, and the final animated entry into the Generation 1 story canon, bringing the events in that universe to a rather conclusive ending. If nothing else, the creators had ambitions to do more than [[to sell toys|sell toys]].

Despite all the criticisms, the show continued the high production values of ''Beast Wars'', with solid scripting, excellent voice acting, and CGI that was a considerable step up in quality even from ''Beast Wars''. Mainframe's animators showed their considerable talents in giving highly emotive expression to such alien characters as the [[Vehicon general]]s and even the [[Diagnostic Drone]], which ''didn't have a face at all''. As with ''Beast Wars'', [[Robert Buckley]] provided the series background music, this time creating a stylized electronic music in keeping with the mechanical environment of Cybertron.

With ''Beast Machines'' perhaps not quite living up to Hasbro's hopes, the [[Transtech|followup line]] to Beast Machines was subsequently scrapped. Hasbro's next foray into animation would be to bring over a [[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|year-old Japanese show]] for consumption in the US, until a [[Unicron Trilogy|new story]] could be concocted. In [[Armada (cartoon)|light]] [[Energon (cartoon)|of the]] [[Cybertron (cartoon)|results]], some fans have found themselves re-evaluating ''Beast Machines'' more favorably, though the newfound positive reception is still not universal by any means.

==Episodes==
{{note|For a detailed list including airdates and production stats, see [[List of Beast Machines episodes]].}}
===Season 1===
[[Image:Tankor flames.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Tankor, YOU'RE FIRED!]]
Season 1 largely centers on the Maximals' efforts to find out what has happened to them, as they arrive on Cybertron with no memories. In addition to Megatron and the core Maximal cast, three new Vehicon generals are introduced, as well as the new Maximal Nightscream. By the end of the season, Optimus Primal has been driven down a road of extremism, and an apocalyptic confrontation marks the season finale...

#[[The Reformatting]]
#[[Master of the House]]
#[[Fires of the Past]]
#[[Mercenary Pursuits]]
#[[Forbidden Fruit]]
#[[The Weak Component]]
#[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]
#[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
#[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]
#[[Survivor]]
#[[The Key]]
#[[The Catalyst]]
#[[End of the Line]]

===Season 2: Battle for the Spark===
[[Image:Botanica5.jpg|right|200px|thumb|This freakish, tentacled, multi-limbed creature is one of the kid-friendly good guys!]]
The ultimate face-off at the end of Season 1 is resolved in a most unusual and cerebral manner, setting the tone for Season 2 as Primal realizes his mission is one of balance, not extremism. Silverbolt rejoins the Maximal ranks, a new Maximal arrives from off-world, and two dangerous new generals join Megatron's side as the Maximals search for the lost Sparks of their brethren and battle to regain control of Cybertron.

#[[Fallout]]
#[[Savage Noble]]
#[[Prometheus Unbound]]
#[[In Darkest Knight]]
#[[A Wolf in the Fold]]
#[[Home Soil]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]
#[[Spark of Darkness]]
#[[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral]]
#[[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall]]
#[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]

==Characters==
[[Image:Rattrap bm robotmode.jpg|right|200px|thumb|There's a caption under me?!]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of named on-screen characters in ''Beast Machines'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (Most drones are not listed, and neither are incidental flashback characters.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged Beast Machines characters, having appeared in other media.

===[[Maximal]]s===
*[[Optimus Primal]]
*[[Rattrap]]
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]
*[[Noble|Savage/Noble]]
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Botanica]]

===[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]===
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] ([[Spark|sparkless]], hence not a Transformer, but had a speaking role and a personality)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]]
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (nominally the same character as Tankor)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (nominally the same character as Thrust)
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]]

===Other===
*[[Vector Sigma|The Oracle]] (not much of a personality, but definitely a major speaking role)

==Japanese release==

The ''Beast Machines'' franchise was not initially released in Japan. As such, the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon did not reach Japan's shores until 2004, where it was retitled '''''Beast Wars Returns'''''. The series was initially broadcast on the satellite-only network TAKARAND. In 2005, it was reaired on [[Cartoon Network|Cartoon Network Japan]] and Gifu Terebi.

The ''Beast Wars Returns'' cartoon was not reworked to the same extent as the previous ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' series had been in Japan. While the character quirks exclusive to the Japanese version of the series were retained, and a complete cast reunion from ''Beast Wars'' was achieved, the dub did not strive to be an overblown comedy series as before. Instead, ''Beast Wars Returns'' featured a tone more closely resembling the original English version. This less jovial attitude is reflected in the episode titles, which are no longer goofy and full of self-referential gags, but are almost awkwardly ''serious''.

Given the low-key release of the series, a new theme song was not recorded. Instead, "[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]] was retained.

==Trivia==
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] executive [[Dan DiDio]] explicitly told Bob Skir and [[Marty Isenberg]] to ignore all previous Transformers cartoons when writing ''Beast Machines'', because "''Beast Wars'' was too continuity-heavy". It clearly did not work out that way.
*In the May 2008 "DC Nation" editorial appearing in [[wikipedia:DC Comics|DC Comics]] publications, Dan DiDio recounted that writer [[Steve Gerber]] had once pitched a "wildly original take on ''Transformers''" as part of the development of ''Beast Machines''.
*The theme tune for the show was Leftfield's "Phat Planet". This was also used for a famous Guinness advert. The latter proved a more popular TV slot.
*Inexplicably, Season 2, Volume 1 of the R2 DVD release of the series has screen captures from ''Beast Wars'' on the back of the case.
*Apart from flashbacks, visions and such, ''Beast Machines'' takes place entirely on (or in orbit of) Cybertron, thus making it the only television series ''not'' to feature any [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|annoying]] [[Kicker Jones|human]] [[Bud Hansen|companions]].
*While the show was never aired on European French televisions, a DVDs pack for each season has actually been published in French, respectively in 2007 and 2009, under the name "Transformers beast machines" by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
*[[Simon Furman]] thinks Beast Machines was too dark and serious for being a cartoon show for kids.

[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]
[[Category:Mainframe]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Transformers Comic issue 8

2009-06-19T23:28:51Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:Tf mag 08 2008.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Ironhide carefully explains why he feels G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers is not an equal match.]]
{{Template:Comicnav | Transformers (Titan Magazine) | 8 | seriesname=Titan Transformers Comic | prev=Transformers Comic issue 7 | next=Transformers Comic issue 9 }}
'''That'll do, scorpion. That'll do.'''

''Transformers #8 was published by [[Titan Books|Titan Magazines]] on 31 January 2008.''

==Magazine Credits==
'''Editor:''' [[Steve White]] 
'''Designer:''' [[Danny Preston]] 
'''Deputy Editors:''' [[Den Patrick]] 
'''Publishing Manager:''' [[Darryl Curtis]] 

==Contents==
===Scorpion Sting===
*'''Script:''' [[Simon Furman]]
*'''Art:''' [[Staz]]
*'''Colors:''' [[Kris Carter]]
*'''Lettering:''' [[Jimmy Betancourt]]/[[Comicraft]]
*'''Continuity:''' Main (''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]'' sequel)

In [[Qatar]], [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] tears apart an army vehicle, screaming at the soldiers to run and hide before he kills them, as he is now a slave to the will of [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]!

Earlier, at a local US air base, Ironhide discovers [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] has been reassigned. Captain [[Cartwright]]'s team of [[United States Army|Army Rangers]] will instead be assisting him in hunting for Scorponok. Ironhide is slightly perturbed by the change of plan, and when asked to "show us some credentials" merely transforms as a display of force. Cartwright admits that'll do. As they head out, Ironhide grills Cartwright on what he knows about the quarry and questions if they're ready for the [[Decepticon]] to fight. The soldiers reply in the affirmative, but nobody realizes the Decepticon is tracking ''them''.

[[Image:Movie TitanTransformers8 ScorpieIronhide1.jpg|left|300px|thumb|XXXX-TREME! chiropractors.]]
Picking up multiple weak contacts, Ironhide transforms to get a better view. Cartwright barely has time to realize these are "ghost" contacts to confuse them before Scorponok emerges. Ironhide is hit before he can respond, and the Decepticon drills into his head and takes over his motor functions. As the Decepticon forces him to attack and he screams at the Rangers to run, Cartwright orders a barrage of shoot-to-disable sabot rounds. But [[Transformers (2007)|in contrast to previous results with Decepticons]], the rounds have no effect...

The Autobot grabs one tank and uses it to smash another, injuring two of the Rangers. Cartwright swiftly regroups his team and orders Weapons Sergeant [[Darius Gale]] to sever Scorponok's connection with Ironhide. The other Rangers distract the enemy, who forces Ironhide to fire on them, allowing Gale to reach an XM8 Carbine with armour-piercing rounds and draw a bead on Scorponok. He severs the Decepticon's connection, allowing an enraged Ironhide to grab Scorponok and viciously kill him.

Watching the fiery wreckage, the Rangers "figure we can tell Lennox...''job done''!".

===Articles & features===
* Character Profile: [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]]
* Top Gear: Promotion of and a chance to win ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]] Series 1'' DVD (the second time this has been promoted), Transformers caps, and ''[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers]] Omnibus'' by [[Devil's Due Press|Devil's Due]].
* How to Draw [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] feature: "You love him. You admire him. He makes you laugh because he wees on the bad guys. Now's your chance to draw him!"
* Poster of the cover image.
* Star Screams: Letters and art from readers, answered by Starscream.

===Free Gift===
* "''Awesome'' Tattoos & Sweat Band!" - Temporary Autobot or Decepticon related tattoos/stickers and a sweatband with an Autobot or Decepticon [[insignia]]. Whether you get an Autobot or Decepticon set depends on which issue you bought, with both being printed in equal numbers. The labels ask "Who's [sic] Side Are You On?".

===Reprints===
''Reprinted stories are only a portion of their respective issues.''
* [[Movie Prequel (2007)|''Transformers: Movie Prequel'', part 3b]] (7 pages)
* [[The Gathering issue 3|''Beast Wars: The Gathering'', part 3b]] (8 pages)

==Quotes==
===Strip===

"We're not stalking him... ''he's stalking us!''"
:—'''Cartwright'''

===Star Screams===

"It grieves me that you humans as so fascinated with Optimus. No one ever sends pictures of me. ... Do I not possess a mechanical beauty of my own?"

Reader: "I feel that having Ratchet host the [letters] page as RatChat would be a fantastic idea." 
"Ratchet? Ratchat? Do you have any idea how long you have just sentenced yourself to a Cybertronian gulag, you disgusting human?"

==Items of note==
* This is the first issue to have a comic-art cover instead of a stock photo image.
* As with last issue, the story is set between the movie's final battle and the dumping of the Decepticon corpses into the ocean.
* Scorponok can hijack an enemy's motor functions and can fool enemy radar.
* Whereas sabot rounds were effective against Decepticons, Ironhide can shrug them off. The Rangers' dialogue suggests this is a unique feature of Ironhide's structural materials.
* Ironhide smashes a tank that two of the soldiers still occupy. Cartwright says it's a "tough little tank and Oates and Holt are tough guys." While the final panel shows six of the Rangers in silhouette form, the two tank soldiers are not shown being retrieved, nor is their current state depicted. This also occurs mere moments after Ironhide has finished killing Scorponok. It's thus not clear if Oates and Holt have actually survived (with the six silhouettes being an error) or whether they are injured.
* With this issue, the magazine runs out of profiles from ''[[Transformers: The Movie Guide]]'' to repurpose, hence Bonecrusher's profile is entirely new. And entirely devoid of a nice big CGI promotional pose image of him. He hates that.
* Starscream wishes more people would send in fan art of him rather than of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]. He also dislikes the film because "all my best scenes were cut, some of my best lines never made it into the final film, and I never got a chance to pulverize any of the Autobots. How dull!" He seems a little forgetful though, since he got to beat the living [[Slag (slang)|slag]] out of [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and Ironhide and is responsible for [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] losing his legs.
* Starscream also states that Movie Optimus carries the [[Matrix of Leadership]].

==Errors==
* The free gift labels misspell "Whose" as "Who's".
* ''Top Gear'' shows the ''Beast Machines Series 2'' cover while promoting Series 1.
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage's]] arrival in ''Beast Wars'' is described as "[[Magmatron]]'s minions come face-to-muzzle with a terrifying new 'creature'!" even though in the reprint they're reviving him as an ally.
* According to the latest trailer for ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', Scorponok is still alive. Which wouldn't be so bad, we can't expect Titan to have known about this in advance, except ''according to later installments of Star Screams'' Scorponok is still alive! Small kiddies must be confused as hell.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers Comic issue 07}}
[[Category:Transformers Magazine issues]]
[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Movie]]

Cybernet Space Cube

2009-06-19T23:17:22Z

Black Mage:

[[Image:Cybernet Spacecube.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Not a Rubik's Cube, nor an All Spark.]]
The '''Cybernet Space Cube''' is a device featured during the [[Generation 2]] television series. Consisting of multiple sliding panels and monitors, the Cybernet Space Cube provided a visually striking means for [[Scene transition|scene changes]] during programming broadcasts. What function the Cybernet Space Cube actually served, aside from its unique form of visual stimulation, is unknown.

==Fiction==
{{storylink|Wreckers: Finale Part II|Wreckers: Finale Part II}}

{{stub}}

==Trivia==
*According to the ''Transformers Generation 2'' series credits, the Cybernet Space Cube CGI was animated by '''Doros Motion''', specifically animator '''Carl Edwards''' and animation director '''Doros Evangelides'''.

[[Category:Stub]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Technology]]

Bulkhead (Animated)

2009-05-24T22:32:11Z

Black Mage:

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

[[Image:AniBulkheadPromoModel.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]] called; he wants his head back.]]
The biggest and strongest of [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s crew, '''Bulkhead''' appears to be little more than a big, dumb lummox at first glance. The second and third glances don't do much to improve that impression. Raised on a backwater [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] farm, he joined the Autobot academy to achieve the lofty goal of becoming a lowly [[space bridge]] technician rather than a warrior. He also has an unfortunate tendency to break stuff by accident due to his sheer strength and natural clumsiness. He's wrecked major thoroughfares and toppled skyscrapers in his zeal to be ''helpful''; when he gets angry, he's capable of berserker charges that even the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] have learned to respect and fear. His penchant for being a little too eager to please others and getting a little too emotional at times further leads him to act without thinking. Add in a seeming lack of skills beyond "destruction", and it does not paint a pretty picture.

But despite all these shortcomings, one is hard-pressed to find a bot with a bigger heart, and he has astounding (if sometimes well-hidden) depths. He hates being thought of as the clumsy brute of the team, which has bred a certain amount of careful forethought and cautiousness. He's endlessly loyal to and protective of his friends, especially his best buddy [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and the [[human]] girl [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]], even if their impulsive behavior is sometimes annoying. Since coming to [[Earth]], he has discovered a love of art and the urge to express his true feelings through it. He's not very good at it, but he keeps trying anyways. Perhaps most surprising of all is that he is [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s foremost expert in space bridge technology, even though he may not be able to build one himself without accidentally breaking at least half the components.

{{quote|You guys got it easy. All people want me to do is break stuff. I've got a sensitive side too, you know... but breaking stuff '''is''' kinda fun.|Bulkhead meditates on his lot in life|"[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Bill Fagerbakke]] (English), [[Tilo Schmitz]] (German), [[Ireneusz Załóg]] (Polish)

[[Image:Autobot Cadets.jpg|thumb|left|250px-Autobot Cadets.jpg|Auditions for the new Transformers series are now closed...]]
Bulkhead was originally an energon farmer and attended [[Autobot boot camp]] in order to qualify as a space bridge engineer. It was there that he first met Bumblebee and their trainer, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Minor]]. To begin with, Bumblebee had no interest in being friends with the gentle giant, insulting him with the nickname "mudflap". A friendship blossomed after Bulkhead saved Bumblebee from some "malfunctioning" turrets, dropping a building on Sentinel in the process. In order to prevent Bulkhead from being expelled, 'Bee took the blame, and they both ended up on space bridge detail. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|250px|thumb|right|ROAD TRIP!!!]]
Eventually, they were placed under [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime's]] command. While repairing a space bridge, the team discovered the long-lost [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]]. However, the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] soon arrived, prompting Bulkhead to mention that he had never seen a Decepticon ship up close. (No one had and lived, as [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] pointed out.) Bulkhead did his best to hang on while the Autobots drove their ship through the space bridge. Coming out of warp, they went headlong toward [[Earth]], and he joined his fellow 'bots in heading into stasis to avoid the impact shock of an unpleasant landing.

After emerging from stasis and his [[reformatting]] into a terrestrial six-wheeled APC, Bulkhead accompanied the other Autobots to investigate a large, cybernetic creature that was menacing the local lifeforms (which they assumed were robots like themselves). Bulkhead requested help from a group of local drones, then noticed [[Sari Sumdac]] trying to take her keycard away from her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. Assuming Sari was the pet, Bulkhead greeted her—which promptly sent her running and screaming. Way to make first contact there, big guy.

[[Image:Bulkh alt.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Let's see [[wikipedia:Grave Digger (truck)|Grave Digger]] beat this!]]
After [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] arrived to take the AllSpark, the Autobots engaged him in a fierce game of "Keep-away". At one point, Bulkhead tried to catch the AllSpark, shouting "I got it." Starscream snagged the AllSpark instead, but Bulkhead knocked the [[Seeker|Decepticon flier]] out of the air with his wrecking ball, causing him to drop the AllSpark. It's not nice to contradict Bulkhead. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}}

Later, in Autobot HQ, he said he had some problems, because all humans want from him is to break stuff. After all, he had his sensitive side as well (even if breaking stuff was fun). When [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] attacked the Autobots' base, Bulkhead got in touch with his inner breaker, confirming that smashing stuff IS fun! Megatron had different plans for him, though, and Bulkhead discovered it's not as much fun to BE smashed. After Bulkhead was saved, he tried to catch a [[Pocketbot|tiny machine]] that looked like it might be the culprit. Prime hoped to study it and find out where it came from, but Bulkhead smashed the little critter to pieces when he grabbed it. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

[[Image:TFA Blast Past Bulkhead Tutor Bot.JPG|250px|thumb|right|The Pizza's ready!]]
After that [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] tried to train Bulkhead to be more subtle in his actions, to assess a situation, choose the right move, then execute it with grace and precision. This didn't meet with any real success, as Bulkhead's antics damaged the base and caused him to fall on Prowl. Moving to an island in Lake Erie, Bulkhead tried again. He knocked down some trees which fell on Prowl. Things actually got worse when Bulkhead tried to use Prowl's methods against the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]], a trio of animatronics run amok. Prowl wisely advised Bulkhead to stop doing what Prowl would do and instead do what Bulkhead himself would do. Bulkhead quickly discovered that his blunt, powerhouse approach had its place and time for proper use, charging and knocking down [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]], hitting [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] out of the air, and throwing [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] into a pit of molten tar. Afterward, the Dinobots were due to be melted down. However, Prowl suspected the Dinobots were actually alive, not mere machines, so he enlisted Bulkhead's help in secretly transporting them from their prison to the deserted island on Lake Erie. There they could live undisturbed and perhaps get themselves under control. Prowl had realized that just because something was big and lumbering and destructive was no reason to give up on it, and Bulkhead knew just what he meant. {{storylink|Blast from the Past}}

When Bumblebee had his bout with [[Colossus Rhodes]] that escalated into a parking lot brawl, Bulkhead arrived with the others to stop the mad giant and tease Bumblebee about his size. Bulkhead's size proved a liability when he got caught in an opening in [[Sumdac Tower]]'s defense shield, making him a sitting (but not defenseless) duck for an upgraded Rhodes, using his wrecking ball to send the brute flying. When the shield was deactivated he was the first into the tower, scooping up [[Meltdown (Animated)|Meltdown]] in his fist... a very bad mistake, since the villain was made of acid. His action gave the other Autobots time to defeat Meltdown, so it turned out okay. {{storylink|Total Meltdown}}

On a shopping trip for Sari's birthday present, Bulkhead worked with Sari to rein in the pesky [[Professor Princess]]. The next day, Sari's birthday party began poorly, as the guests were all children of Sumdac Industries employees, who found Sari too weird for their tastes. The Autobots' arrival made things a little more interesting, but klutzy Bulkhead soon found himself ignored, alongside Sari, as the kids went for rides with the other Autobots (even Ratchet). Bulkhead wanted to give Sari her gift, a xylophone, but was too embarrassed to do so when he saw Dr. Sumdac's gift, a musical robot named [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]]. For the next several days, Sari's attention was drawn away from her friend as she spent her free time plugging her key into the toy to upgrade it. Bulkhead realized that there was something off about Soundwave, but his attempts to prove it just forced a wedge between Sari and himself. Megatron's machinations to increase the split between them didn't help. It turned out the big guy was right on the money, however, as Soundwave was a creation of Megatron's that gained sentience through the key. Soundwave took control of the machines of Detroit and captured Sari. When Bulkhead came to her rescue, Soundwave attempted to convince Bulkhead of the inferiority of humans. For a few minutes, it seemed Bulkhead was on his side, but with a wink to Sari, he punched Soundwave so hard that the Decepticon shattered into his component parts. Sari apologized, and the pair played with Bulkhead's gift, albeit after Sari nearly broke her hand punching Bulkhead's fist. {{storylink|Sound and Fury}}

Soon afterwards, trouble arrived in the form of [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut]]. Answering their challenge, the Autobots confronted the pair in a construction yard. Bulkhead charged Lugnut and the two engaged in a grapple, but even Bulkhead's power wasn't enough against the massive Decepticon, who threw him aside. The second round didn't go too well either, as Lugnut never had a chance to fight before the Decepticons were defeated by the Autobot ship's main cannon. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}}

After Sari was abducted by the Dinobots, Prowl and Bulkhead went to [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] to investigate. What they found was Meltdown, who damaged Bulkhead to the point of unconsciousness and trapped Prowl and Fanzone (who had been tailing them) underground. Bulkhead spent the rest of the episode out cold until Sari was able to restore him. On the boat ride home, Sari showed she could take care of herself by kicking Bulkhead, who pretended to be hurt and accidentally fell into the ship's hold. {{storylink|Survival of the Fittest}}

[[Image:Caged bulkhead.jpg|200px|thumb|left|And now we know how the caged Bulkhead sings...]]
After destroying a good portion of a city block trying to stop a missile impact, Sari suggested to Bulkhead that he explore his more creative talents to show the citizens of Detroit that he wasn't [[Sixshot|an engine of destruction]]. Bulkhead had difficulty making his creations (his paint brushes kept snapping between his fingers) and panicked when he learned that Sari had arranged an art show for him. (Girl has connections.) While lamenting his lot in life, he was knocked out cold by a sudden electrical surge. When he came back online, he found that his body had been stolen. As Bumblebee attempted to help him finish his art pieces in time for the show, the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] used Bulkhead's body to take control of a solar fusion plant, intending to detonate it unless he was paid a hefty ransom. Optimus used the ransom delivery to sneak the Autobots into the plant, where they defeated the Headmaster and reattached Bulkhead to his body...backwards. As the reactor reached critical, Bulkhead came up with a drone that would set the rods back, but the drone melted in the process. Not to be daunted, Bulkhead added it to his art collection, showing the citizens of Detroit his [[Slog|warzone art]] without them even knowing it. {{storylink|Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster}}

When Decepticon energy signals were detected, the Autobots quickly realized that they were outnumbered. Bulkhead mentioned that the Dinobots might be able to help, not aware that Prowl hadn't told Optimus they had moved them to Dinobot Island. Prime was furious and ordered the two to take him there at once. After searching the island, the Autobots found the Dinobots. They were unwilling to help, so the Autobots left, unsure of their next move. When Bumblebee contacted Prime, saying that Starscream was at Sumdac Tower, he ordered him to stand down. When they arrived at the tower, they saw Bumblebee fighting Starscream. Prime dryly noted that disobeying orders was becoming a habit, but Bulkhead wasn't too insulted.
He was too busy being shocked by [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] bursting through Sumdac Tower. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

Quickly regain their composure, Bulkhead charged Megatron, only to have his wrecking ball severed and be thrown into a building. After the short battle, Sumdac told them how he had rebuilt Megatron. Bulkhead sounded as if he was about to crush the professor, but Prime told him that it was unimportant. Using excess key energy in Sumdac's equipment, the Autobots repaired themselves, and Prime apologized for his harsh words. Ratchet and Sari came by in the ship, picking up the Autobots, but they were shot down over Dinobot Island. During the subsequent battle, Bulkhead brought down [[Lugnut]]. The zealous Decepticon was stronger than Bulkhead, but as he activated [[Punch of Kill Everything|his punch]], Bulkhead used his wrecking ball to detonate it, sending Lugnut flying. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

While repairing a damaged overpass, Bulkhead became stuck in some cement, but hid it to avoid being embarrassed. He was nearly destroyed when he used outdated, unstable fixative, but was saved by two newly sentient machines named [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] and [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]. Once they helped him finish the repair work he'd been doing, Bulkhead reluctantly went with them for an oil break, though he wasn't sure it was okay to take it straight from a tanker ship. He WAS sure the rest of the Autobots would like his new friends. The crass construction workers did not impress the other Autobots, however, and things only got worse when a game of flattened-oil-can frisbee severed Sari's pigtails, leading Prime to evict the two. The next day, Bulkhead went looking for his friends, discovering that they had stolen parts for something Megatron was building. When Bulkhead told them that the Decepticons were [[wikipedia:Men in Black (film)|the scum of the universe]], the two went to challenge the Decepticons, without telling Bulkhead where to find them. The other Autobots were concerned that Scrapper and Mixmaster would sell them out, but Bulkhead still defended them. Unfortunately, the newly dubbed [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] ''did'' side with the Decepticons, taking Bumblebee hostage and demanding the AllSpark fragments the Autobots had. Bulkhead gave them the fragments and a cup of oil for the road, but he had spiked the oil with the outdated fixative from the other day. The subsequent explosion scrambled their memory circuits, and Bulkhead drove the amnesiac Transformers away, admitting that he had been wrong to trust them. {{storylink|Rise of the Constructicons}}

After [[Wasp]] escaped, Bulkhead tagged along with Bumblebee in an attempt to track a leaked signal, but 'Bee's attitude became unbearable, and Bulkhead stormed off. The kindhearted bot couldn't stay away, however, and helped Bumblebee out of a minor scrape. Bumblebee apologised, but Bulkhead shook it off; their friendship had rock-solid foundations. Reconciled, the two headed back to base, having missed a rather conspicuous mine shaft entrance. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

Bulkhead later made an abstract painting of Sari in the style of Picasso, but the other Autobots' suggestions ended up ruining the painting. He and Sari took a walk to clear his head, and Bumblebee came and genuinely tried to apologize. This went rather poorly, and got even worse when Megatron arrived. He kidnapped Bulkhead and took him to his base. Megatron revealed that [[Shockwave (Animated)|his double agent]] had learned that Bulkhead was Cybertron's top space bridge technician, and forced Bulkhead to help the Decepticons repair a space bridge they had reverse engineered. If Bulkhead refused, Megatron would use a Headmaster unit to steal his body and kill all of Bulkhead's friends, starting with Professor Sumdac. Bulkhead agreed to help, but Professor Sumdac believed that Bulkhead was trying to sabotage the device, and told Bulkhead to let him give the instructions to avoid sounding preposterous. Furious at everyone doubting his skill, Bulkhead actually ''fixed'' the space bridge, allowing Megatron to teleport the Decepticons to an underdefended Cybertron. See Bulkhead, this is why people don't take you seriously. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

During a three-way battle between the Autobots, the Decepticons, and Starscream's [[Starscream clone|clones]], Bulkhead tried to shut down the space bridge, but was locked with [[stasis cuffs]] by a [[Female Starscream|female clone]]. After Megatron explained his plans and how Bulkhead had helped. the other Autobots expressed confusion at his skills, and Bulkhead explained that he had read all the space bridge schematics on the energon farm. Unfortunately, power problems arose, which Megatron tried to fix with by adding Starscream's AllSpark powered head into the power core. Unfortunately, this caused an overload which Bulkhead theorized would suck up all of Michigan. Fortunately, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] arrived and allowed himself to be sucked into the portal. When the Autobots escaped, Bulkhead theorized that Omega was merely transported to another section of space, and had hope that he was still alive.
Unfortunately, any effort to locate Omega was put on hold when Sari noticed that the skin of her arm had been torn...revealing robotic circuitry underneath! {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

{{storylink|TransWarped}}

{{storylink|Three's a Crowd}}

{{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}

{{charstubfiction}}

===Titan Magazines===
[[Hasbro|Toy companies]] have made an action figure of him! {{storylink|Crossroads!}}

The Dinobots saved him and the others from [[Starscream clone]]s, which was good. They then didn't leave and Bulkhead's sleeping space was taken up by Grimlock, which was not good. {{storylink|Dino-MIGHT!}}

Later, the Autobots were buried by the villain [[Quake-Maker]]. Bulkhead's great strength freed them from the ground, and then he ''vanished completely'' from the battle. {{storylink|Burnout}}

On his day off, Bulkhead was dragged to a basketball game by Sari, Prowl and [[Afterburn]]. Bulkhead didn't see the point of the game and was being mistaken for a litter bin by the humans. Luckily a demented supervillain attacked Detroit and they had to leave the game - but as a diversionary tactic, the evil [[Crossroads]] blackmailed Detroit into trying to destroy the Autobots! The Autobots saw through this and intercepted the villain at [[Sumdac Tower]], with Bulkhead taking down reprogrammed security drones. After beating the villain, Bulkhead now enjoyed basketball and happily watched the game ''for no reason''. {{storylink|Crossroads!}}

When the Decepticons raided the Autobot base, Bulkhead joined the gang in successfully driving them back out. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 24|Megatron's Revenge}}

When Prowl and Bumblebee decided to have a race to see who was fastest, Bulkhead was eager to join in, much to Bumblebee's mockery. Nevertheless, off Bulkhead went... and, thanks to the other two being distracted by Decepticons, he ''won'' and was officially King of Speed. Optimus and Ratchet lifted him up in a display of victory (their shoulders hurt!). {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|The Race}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
[[Image:TFAnimated Voyager Bulkhead toy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|And the world wants his kibble to turn into a chair.]]
* '''Bulkhead''' (Voyager, 2008)

:Bulkhead transforms from an armored, six-wheeled military-type van into a robot mode that is a bit on the short side for a Voyager, due to the stout, stocky nature of the character. The toy features two "[[automorph]]"-style gimmicks in its transformation: after flipping down the back doors, pulling down on them retracts a pair of black tabs holding his arms into pace, allowing them to spring forward into position; and moving his chest into place automatically causes a panel to flip over, exposing his head.

:The figure's left arm contains the character's signature gimmick, his wrecking ball. A concealed lever activates a pressure-launch system that fires the ball, which is attached to Bulkhead's arm by a sturdy string. Bulkhead's right arm, meanwhile, features a rather strange gimmick: after straightening the arm at the elbow, pressing the black lever on the upper arm causes Bulkhead's forearm to flip upwards. It ''might'' be an uppercut or some other sort of punch attack, but whatever this feature is supposed to be, it is not mentioned in either the toy's instructions, or on its packaging.

:No, his kibble can't transform into a chair. ''Aww''.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Bulkhead/bulkhead.htm More information on Voyager Bulkhead at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|Activator}}
[[Image:TFAnimated Activators Bulkhead.jpg|300px|thumb|right|"Whoa, I thought I was super-deformed ''before''..."]]
* '''Bulkhead''' (Activator, 2008)

: [[Activators]] Bulkhead can autotransform from a compressed version of a SWAT military van into his robot form when the middle siren bar is pressed. The vehicle mode lacks the back section's doors and bumper to better accommodate the gimmick, which leaves his robot mode's hands sticking out.

: His kibble is unable to become a chair as well. '''''Awww'''''. Unless you take the back-piece and switch it round and have him sit on it in a kind of... warped way.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/ActBulkhead/bulkhead.htm More information on Activators Bulkhead at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|Leader}}
[[Image:TFAnimated Leader Bulkhead toy.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Tired of being known as "the big guy with a gentle heart", Bulkhead became more trigger happy than [[Triggerhappy]].]]
* '''Bulkhead''' (Leader, 2008)
**''Accessories'': 4 "air torpedoes"

: This version of Bulkhead is decidedly more heavily armed than others, with the most distinctive additions to his arsenal coming in the form of a double-barreled turret for his vehicle mode, two missile racks (one per arm, each holding two removable "air torpedoes"), and a buzzsaw in his right hand, which spins when a black tab on his forearm is pressed. He ''doesn't'' have a wrecking ball, but his other hand does feature a "grabby" action, allowing you to clench and open his fingers by sliding a tab in his arm.

:Bulkhead is outfitted with a significant array of electronic light and sound gimmicks. Pressing the Autobot insignia on his chest in robot mode causes his head to turn, his mouth to open , as he speaks one of three sound clips—"Sorry, my bad," "You can do it, buddy!", and "Time for the big guns!"—accompanied by flashing yellow lights in his chest, shoulders and eyes. During transformation, when the vehicle mode turret is snapped into or out of place, the classic transformation sound effect plays as his lights flash. In vehicle mode, pressing the Autobot insignia activates a siren noise, which lasts as long as the button is held down and is accompanied by flashing red LEDs that illuminate his vehicle's light bar. Bulkhead also comes packaged with the [[Headmaster (Animated)|Headmaster]] unit, which can fit over the figure's head, altering his sound and changing his yellow lights to red. Once in place, the Headmaster will scream "Ownage! Total ownage!", and all of Bulkhead's lights flash, illuminating the villain's translucent horns. This is the Headmaster's only phrase; pressing Bulkhead's insignia repeats the effects. The Headmaster accessory fits over all other Leader class figures.

: The packaging photography and lineart indicate that Bulkhead's electronic lights shine a more [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] blue (well, accurate for his eyes, anyway). The final produced toy has yellow lights instead, because blue LEDs are apparently really expensive.

: ''This'' version of Bulkhead ''can'' [http://kyq.kuiki.net/randompics/tfa/chairhead.jpg transform his kibble into a chair]! Hooray!

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/LeaderBulkhead/bulkhead.htm More information on Leader Bulkhead at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BumperBattler}}
[[Image:BumperBattlers Bulkhead toy.JPG|250px|thumb|right|Bulkhead now knows how [[Han Solo]] feels.]]

* '''Bulkhead''' (Bumper Battler, 2008)

: Bulkhead is part of the second wave of [[Bumper Battlers]]. Pressing on the vehicle mode's front bumper activates electronic noises and pops up the roof, revealing a relief of Bulkhead's robot form. Pressing on the Autobot [[faction symbol]] on the hood activates a randomly-assembled collection of sound effects and voice samples.

==Notes==
* Out of the five main Autobot characters, Bulkhead is the only one who doesn't have a Generation 1 counterpart. However, his color and star symbols make him visually somewhat reminiscent of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]].
[[Image:RedBulkhead.jpg|thumb|right|Bulkred. Redhead? [[Big Red]]! Wyatt totally got paid for this.]]
* Bulkhead's design and demeanor likely owe themselves to Crunch from ''[[wikipedia:Mighty Orbots|Mighty Orbots]]'', a series [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] has admitted as being an inspiration.
* [[wikipedia:Patrick Star|Another]] big lug with a [[Bill Fagerbakke|similar]] voice, Bulkhead is best friends with a [[wikipedia:SpongeBob SquarePants (character)|little]] [[Bumblebee (Animated)|yellow guy]]. Obviously this analogy [[Tom Kenny|only goes]] [[Starscream (Animated)|so far]].
* Upon seeing a red [[Prototype|test shot]] of Bulkhead's ''Voyager''-class toy, Derrick J. Wyatt recolored a Bulkhead character model in the test shot's colors—on company time! [http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2007/09/bulkhead-toy.html]
* According to Wyatt, the additional weaponry the Leader-class toy possesses is supposed to represent the alterations the Headmaster would have made if he had possessed the body longer.
* While Bulkhead's Earth form features no continuous tracks, he still has them on his feet, like in his Cybertron form. This is probably an animation error that stayed in the show. The toy's legs are more developed, as the front wheels form the backs of the feet. The leader class toy, though, is show accurate in the sense that flipping out his feet will reveal the tracks.
* After his reformatting into his APC mode, Bulkhead's robot mode [[kibble]] changes from the ''front'' of his vehicle mode (where it forms the scoop of the bulldozer) to the ''back'', where it forms the doors of the truck.
[[Image:Bulkheadchair.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The next step in Transformers evolution is here!]]
* Bulkhead can form his [[kibble]] into a chair. This is awesome.
* Bulkhead has a storage place in his chest which opens in at least two ways, like a drawer and/or like a door.
* Bulkhead's eyes can extend from his face and act as a microscope, as shown in "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]". This is slightly strange, but also awesome.
* For a clumsy "repair bot" with little or no fighting experience, Bulkhead is surprisingly effective on the battlefield. He was almost singlehandedly responsible for defeating the Dinobots in "[[Blast from the Past]]", he proved highly effective against them once again in a rematch in "[[Survival of the Fittest]]", and he defeated the more powerful Lugnut in a one-on-one confrontation in "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]". He was also the only character to suspect Soundwave of being evil until it was too late, at which point Bulkhead once again saved the day by defeating him in "[[Sound and Fury]]". He also managed to defeat [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] in [[Endgame, Part 2]] -- quite a feat, given that Shockwave had handily dispatched ''[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]]'' in the past.
* In spite of the visual differences, it would appear that rather than simply swapping out his hands for his signature wrecking balls, Bulkhead's hands actually transform to ''become'' the wrecking balls. Although most episodes show his hand simply retract and then be replaced by the ball, a few instances show it actually stay in place, blur and change into the ball. Furthermore, in cases where Bulkhead has had the tether-line of his wrecking ball severed, he remains conspicuously handless until the ball is re-attached, such as in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]" and "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]".
* Bulkhead's vehicle mode design was used as the basis for [[Blurr (G1)|Generation 1 Blurr]]'s personal transport in [[Spotlight: Blurr]].
* Bulkhead comes from an [[Energon (franchise)|Energon]] farm? [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Hmmm...]]

[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Engineers]]

Shockwave (Animated)

2009-05-23T06:05:11Z

Black Mage:

{{factions|decepticon|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Shockwave}}
:''Shockwave is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:TFA Shockwave.jpg|thumb|right|250px|My awesomeness is logical.]]

'''Shockwave''' is a covert agent in service to [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. This size-changing master of disguise has infiltrated the Autobot security apparatus at the highest level: his cover persona is '''Longarm Prime''', head of [[Cybertron Intelligence]], reporting directly to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] himself. The undercover Decepticon is the perfect agent to pull this off, as he's able to change his voice, his appearance, and even his energy signature. This puts Shockwave in the perfect position to undermine and mislead the Autobots while feeding strategic information to his true master. To establish his credibility, "Longarm" attended the [[Autobot boot camp]] alongside Bumblebee and Bulkhead. Over the years, he worked his way up the Autobot hierarchy—first through [[Autobot Academy]], then through the ranks of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] until finally he was promoted to be the very head of the Intelligence Division itself!

Befitting a double agent, Shockwave is highly secretive and fearful of detection. Befitting a cartoon villain, he can confidently give those secrets away if he thinks he's winning. If he suspects his cover may be compromised, he's given to acts of desperation.

{{quote|Rise, Shockwave: my most loyal servant!|Megatron|"[[This Is Why I Hate Machines]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{note|Events from IDW Publishing comic books are in italics.}}
:''Voice actor'': [[Corey Burton]] (English), [[Helmut Gauß]] (German)

[[Image:TFA Longarm.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Why am I wearing a scuba mask?]]

[[Image:TFA Shockwave DoubleAgent.jpg|thumb|right|150px|So does that mean he's Shockwave Prime?]]

Shockwave was recruited by Megatron because his mass-shifting abilities allowed him to impersonate effectively a wide variety of shapes and sizes, making it difficult for Autobots to accurately track him during missions of infiltration and sabotage. It was these traits which led to Megatron sending him to enlist in the Autobot armed services as a means of climbing the ranks and eventually taking the organization down from within.

Disguising himself as "Longarm", Shockwave enrolled in [[Autobot boot camp]], but slipped up in the early days of training and was overheard reporting to Megatron by the black sheep recruit [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. Although Shockwave managed to avoid detection right away, Bumblebee was tipped off to the presence of a traitor in the camp and suspected fellow recruit [[Wasp]], whom he spotted leaving the building shortly afterward. Seeing his fellow recruit [[Wasp]] (probably Shockwave) leaving the building shortly afterwards, Bumblebee was aware there was a traitor in their midst, and suspected Wasp. Bumblebee turned to the espionage-savvy Longarm for advice, and Shockwave used the opportunity to divert attention away from himself by suggesting that the young Autobot refrain from telling their commander, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Minor]], so that 'Bee could take all the credit when he exposed the traitor himself as a means to ensuring his career in the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]]. Unfortunately, all of Bumblebee's efforts only got him in worse trouble, and his fellow recruits began to bully him, with Longarm being the only one to stick up for him. After several failures on Bumblebee's part, Shockwave took matters into his own hands during a training exercise and switched the training equipment to live ammo in an attempt to offline the Autobot and keep the whole matter of a traitor a secret. Luckily for Bumblebee, this plan was foiled by [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]].

Eventually, Shockwave found out that Sentinel Minor intended to conduct a surprise inspection, and he contrived to set up Wasp to take the fall himself. After planting a Decepticon communicator in Wasp's locker, Shockwave, as Longarm, informed Bumblebee of the upcoming inspection, telling him that it was his last chance to find the evidence he needed. Using one of his extensible limbs to trip up Wasp, Shockwave allowed Bumblebee to palm Wasp's locker key as 'Bee helped him up, allowing him to find the communicator and show it to Sentinel. In the end, Wasp was dragged off to prison, and Longarm commended Bumblebee for his deductive work.

Subsequently, Shockwave graduated boot camp and became a member of the Cybertron Elite Guard. Now "Longarm [[Prime (rank)#Transformers Animated|'''Prime''']]", he became head of [[Cybertron Intelligence]] and remained in this position, hiding in plain sight, for the fifty stellar cycles that Megatron was lost on [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}} He may have murdered [[Highbrow (Animated)|Intel director Highbrow]] to get the job. <ref>''[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club]]''</ref>

''After [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s ship was lost, Longarm pressed Sentinel to continue the search for the ship's crew, the AllSpark and [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. His pleas fell on deaf ears. {{storylink|The Arrival issue 1}}''

After Megatron succeeded in restoring himself and the Decepticons were assembled on Earth, he re-established contact with Shockwave on Cybertron and initiated a plan to construct a [[space bridge]] that would allow the Decepticons to conquer the planet from within. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}} Wasp, now criminally insane, escaped from prison, and Megatron started receiving transmissions from his double agent on Cybertron. When Megatron's captive, [[Isaac Sumdac]], attempted to alert the Autobots to the existence of the double agent by bouncing a transmission to their base, Bumblebee again suspected Wasp. He reported the news to Longarm Prime on Cybertron, but of course, that accomplished nothing. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

[[Image:Anim shockwave pinchy.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Pinchy pinchy!]]

When the completed space bridge failed to function, Megatron contacted Shockwave and instructed him to locate the top space bridge specialist on Cybertron to help correct the problem. Shockwave was surprised to discover that the specialist was already on Earth; it was Bulkhead! Bulkhead was subsequently captured by Megatron and forced to perfect the space bridge. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}} The other Autobots arrived too late to stop him, and they were defeated by the Decepticons and strung up to watch as the bridge was activated. Shockwave revealed his alter ego of Longarm Prime to the Autobots, disclosing that he had already given Megatron an appropriate access code and forcing Bumblebee to feel the shame of sending an innocent Wasp to prison. When Megatron tried to test the space bridge by sending Optimus Prime through it, Shockwave assured his master that he awaited the "test subject" on the other side. Unfortunately, an attempt by Megatron to boost power caused the space bridge to overload, deleting the access code and setting the space bridge to random coordinates. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

Megacycles later, Shockwave, as Longarm once more, assured Ultra Magnus that the Decepticons would not be able to reach the Cybertron Space Bridge nexus. Shockwave then contacted [[Team Chaar]], who had successfully taken over a space bridge and were ready to use it in order to gate to Cybertron. [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] asked for permission to begin the assault, only to have Shockwave deny her request. She was to stay put with her team and wait for Megatron to arrive, even if he was megacycles overdue.

[[Image:TransWarpedBlurrLongarm.jpg|left|thumb|250px|"Whoops—there's a bug on your head, Blurr. Holllld stilll..."]]

Not long afterward, the entire Space Bridge Nexus powered down. Confused, Longarm questioned Cybertron Command, and [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] informed him that Ultra Magnus had ordered the shutdown in order to prevent the Decepticons from accessing Cybertron. Just then, Agent [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] arrived and (very) quickly informed Longarm that while on Earth, he had intercepted a transmission between Megatron and and his double agent on Cybertron, Shockwave. Further, Blurr noted that Shockwave's voice didn't match that of the suspected Wasp, but quick search of the Cybertron Intel Database would allow them to find the true identity of the traitor. Shocked, Longarm asked if Blurr had shared this information with anyone else. When Blurr replied that he had not, Shockwave decided it would be wise to quiet him down—permanently. Blurr eluded his initial attempts and escaped into the corridors around the nexus control center. Rather than give chase, Shockwave simply had the corridors' security hatches slam shut and close in on Blurr, trapping and crushing him to death.

At the Elite Guard Headquarters, Longarm handed over a small cube of "sensitive materials" to Cliffjumper to dispose, then went to his office, where he received an incoming transmission from Lord Megatron himself. They traded information on their respective setbacks, but Megatron assured Shockwave that he had [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a method]] of preventing the Earth Autobots from blowing Shockwave's cover.

Shortly, Longarm Prime attended an Elite Guard meeting, where Ultra Magnus declared that the Decepticons' attacks were too organized to be random acts of sabotage. Rather, evidence pointed to a double agent in the Autobots' midst. Longarm nervously pointed out that the Decepticon uprisings had started after Wasp's escape, making the cause plain. Ultra Magnus agreed and ordered [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] and Sentinel Prime to organize an Elite Guard Unit to find the escapee. He then requested that the Earth-bound Autobots be contacted. Increasingly distraught, Longarm declared that all communications should be first filtered through him, without exceptions—for the sake of security and the protection of Cybertron, naturally. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

Unfortunately, Longarm's insistence on diverting blame toward Wasp was his undoing. When Wasp headed to Earth, Ultra Magnus didn't inform him about Wasp's destination until the Elite Guard's ship was in sight of the planet. Knowing he was on the verge of being exposed, Shockwave tried to contact Megatron, but still received no response. With no other orders on how to proceed, Shockwave took matters into his own hands: In an effort to inflict one last blow to the Autobots, Shockwave attacked and seriously damaged Ultra Magnus, stealing his Magnus hammer in the process. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

When the Autobots became trapped in [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave's]] virtual reality, Shockwave appeared to invade and attack Earth. However, he didn't seem to do much besides set an apartment on fire. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

[[Image:TFAni ThisisWhyIHateMachines Shockwave TrueColors.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Wish you'd bought that repaint now, don't you?]]
After escaping, Shockwave hid in an underground tunnel, concealed from detection, waiting for Megatron to call. The Decepticon leader, trapped inside of [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] along with [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and [[Lugnut]], contacted Shockwave, who revealed a way to gain the access codes for Omega Supreme. However, Shockwave was soon discovered by [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and [[Captain Fanzone]]. He easily defeated them and went to find the female intelligence agent [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]. To do this, he "asked" an informant-bot named [[Rattletrap]] for the directions. However, he apparently got lost, and so merely hid and waited for Fanzone and Ratchet to find her. He battled Ratchet and severely wounded the elderly Autobot. During the battle, he then found Ultra Magnus, still wounded. He was about to kill him for good when Ratchet used his EMP generator on both Shockwave ''and'' Ultra Magnus's hammer. Ratchet was then distracted by the arrival of temporary Magnus Sentinel Prime. After getting back online, Shockwave took Arcee and escaped to Omega Supreme, using the access codes to transwarp to Earth's orbit. He then celebrated his freedom to serve Megatron openly by [[electronic paint job|changing]] into more...[[Shockwave (G1)|suitable colors]], while [[Lugnut]] silently fumed at Megatron's description of him as his "most loyal servant". {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}}

{{spoiler|Endgame, Part I|May 23}}
[[Image:TFA-Endgame-ShockwavePointsAndLaughs.jpg|thumb|left|240px|It is only logical that you're an idiot.]]
Shockwave worked on the captured Arcee, initially hitting an early datatrax from her time as a teacher before the Great War. Megatron assured his "ever-loyal Shockwave" that if any bot could access the right datatrax, it was him. Combined with some taunting by Starscream, this sent Lugnut into a frenzy of jealousy, and he knocked Shockwave across the room as he begged for Megatron's favour. Shockwave in turn pointed out that while Lugnut was "fawning at Megatron's feet", he'd risked "spark and servo" as a double agent. This didn't go over well, and soon the two purple 'Cons were fighting one another. Later, with both sent to convert material from the wrecked [[Nemesis (Animated)|Decepticon flagship]] into [[Lugnut Supreme|clones of Omega Supreme]], Shockwave could be seen pointing and laughing at a misfortune on his rival's part.

After dropping a bit of stripped material from the wrecked ship, unwittingly nearly crushing a spying Bumblebee, Shockwave returned to working on Arcee and successfully restored her to the [[The Thrill of the Hunt|point at which her memory was wiped]]. Briefly returning to his grey "Longarm" mode, he confirmed that she had the activation codes, so he ripped the wires which artificially sustained her from her head, knocking her back into stasis. Outside, with the clones ready for activation, he rebooted Arcee. Despite "Longarm's" prompting, she refused to give the activation codes to Megatron voluntarily. Instead, Shockwave knocked her back into stasis and extracted the codes manually, making no comment when they ended up in Lugnut and Megatron proclaimed Lugnut his "most loyal lieutenant". As it turned out, however, the codes which Shockwave had torn from Arcee were missing a crucial "security upgrade patch", and he was forced to rig up an inelegant bypass—involving Lugnut directly puppeteering the clones—until he could retrieve the rest of the code from Arcee. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Animated===
[[Image:Longarmanimatedvoyager.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Punch.]]
[[Image:Shockwaveanimatedvoyager.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Counterpunch.]]
* '''Shockwave''' (Voyager, 2008)

:Representing his double nature in the cartoon, ''Animated'' Shockwave becomes both the Autobot Longarm and Decepticon Shockwave, featuring four distinct modes. In "Infiltration Mode," the shorter, stockier Autobot Longarm transforms into a four-legged crane platform. If one fancies, one can stretch out his Shockwave-mode elbows to emulate his limb-stretching ability in Longarm mode (abeit not very well). In "Spy Mode," he stretches and converts into the taller, lankier Decepticon Shockwave, as the crane portion of Longarm's body converts into a hand-held cannon. The center panel on his chest flips between Autobot and Decepticon symbols. Both chest symbols are vacuum metalized, with very shiny silver and gold. Curiously, while the rotating faction symbols on his chest use the usual "classic" designs, the tampographed Decepticon symbol on his cannon/crane is in the movie style, and is visible in his Autobot modes.

:All the differences between Shockwave and Longarm can be difficult to remember. In the "tank mode" picture at right, the secondary guns are incorrectly folded back. On the back of this toy's box, there are several small transformation errors, the most obvious being that only ''one'' of Shockwave's shoulders has been correctly rotated up. Also, the toy [[instruction booklet|instructions]] do not show Shockwave's neck as correctly extended (his chin is touching his chestplate in the instructions, just as for Longarm). They also fail to mention that you can push his upper torso forward as Shockwave to better replicate the slouch that he has in the cartoon.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/Shockwave/shockwave.htm More information on Shockwave at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Target}}
[[Image:Shockwavepurplebumblebeetoys.jpg|thumb|right|250px|His Longarm alter ego probably won't be as convincing.]]
* '''Shockwave VS Bumblebee''' (Multi-pack, 2009)

:A predominantly purple [[redeco]] of the Voyager toy, this version of Shockwave is packaged with an apparently unaltered [[Activators]]-class [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] figure. Shockwave retains his four modes and gimmickry within each. A Target stores [[exclusive]], this set was available simultaneously with the [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]]/[[Ratchet (Animated)#Activators|Ratchet]] multi-pack.

: The official Hasbro picture at right contains several transformation errors: In robot mode, Shockwave's shoulders are not rotated up. In tank mode, the secondary guns are not deployed, the red panels which are on the robot mode's shoulders have not been flipped to show the tank's treads, and the middle panel on the side of the tank is oriented wrong (the circle should be down, not back). In addition, his head is not fully retracted. Someone at Hasbro is dozing.
{{-}}

==Notes==
* Actor Corey Burton reprises the role of Shockwave from Generation 1, reusing precisely the same British-accented, [[Wikipedia:Sark (Tron)|David-Warner-inspired]] voice for the character (while employing an American accented variation for Longarm). In a [http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=41857&p=742393#p742393 recent interview], Burton revealed that Shockwave's inclusion in Season 2 arose from a between-scenes conversation he had with the production team, regarding how little the original Shockwave actually had to do.

[[Image:Shockwave_goodside.jpg|thumb|right|180px|I hear this is my good side...]]

* While Shockwave possesses the single, round optic and window-chest of his Generation 1 counterpart, much of the rest of his body appears to be largely patterned after ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]; he transforms into an "H-tank", the front treads end up on his shoulders, plus he has the large, spiky "antlers" on his head. Additionally, Shockwave's vehicle mode appears to be loosely based on one of the [[Transtech]] sketch designs for Megatron, with the high angled treads and turret.

* Shockwave's on-package bio states that, as Longarm, he rose through the ranks of the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] to reach his current position; this meshes with Longarm's cover story in "Autoboot Camp" that he wishes to become an Elite Guard intelligence officer. [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] has informed this wiki that Longarm is not a member of that group in the cartoon. Shockwave's status as a nonmember of the Elite Guard is supported by Longarm's lack of the Elite Guard's winged Autobot symbol in the cartoon. However, he is drawn with an Elite Guard symbol in [[The Arrival issue 1|''The Arrival'' #1]].

* Despite not having a face, Shockwave still manages to have a [[chin]].

*Both "Shockwave and "Longarm" have official alternate capitalizations. The credits of "[[TransWarped]]" give "LongArm Prime", and the credits for "[[This Is Why I Hate Machines]]" have "ShockWave".

*In just a few appearances on ''Animated'', Shockwave has managed to destroy Wasp's life, kill a popular recurring character, bring down Cybertron's entire interplanetary transport and communications system, brutally assault the Magnus (and steal his hammer!), and give Megatron control of the Autobots' most feared and powerful weapon.

Shockwave is ''awesome''.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Double agents]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Spies]]

Along Came a Spider

2009-05-17T02:33:47Z

Black Mage:

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|image=TFA Along Spider Blackarachnia introduction.JPG
|caption=[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee, you seem to have lubricated yourself]].
|ep=9
|title="Along Came a Spider"
|airdate=[[February 16]], 2008
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]] [[Irineo Maramba]] [[Yutaka Kagawa]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
}}

'''Bumblebee and Bulkhead's first Halloween turns even spookier when they encounter a giant spider that turns out to be the deadly Decepticon Blackarachnia.'''

:''German Title:'' "'''Im Netz der Spinne'''" ("In the Spider's Web")

==Synopsis==
[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] introduces [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] to the concept of [[Halloween]], starting with selecting pumpkins. As she explains the idea of choosing just the right costume, Optimus's attention is distracted by a large black widow spider decoration. He remembers back to his academy days….

[[Image:Alongcameaspiderthreefriends.jpg|left|210px|thumb|"So once again, we find that evil of the past seeps into the present like salad dressing through cheap wax paper, mixing memory and desire."]]

''On [[Spider planet|an organic world]], Optimus and his friend Elita-1 admire the strange webbing stretching across the high rocks, not knowing what it is, until [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] calls to them to hurry up. Optimus cautions that such worlds are normally considered off-limits to Autobots, but there's supposedly a real Decepticon ship somewhere in the area. Elita's there for the historical value, but Sentinel just wants to get his hands on the [[Energon (G1)|energon]] cache that must be in it. Optimus is still wary of potential punishment should they get caught, but figures he has to keep the other two from getting in over their heads. Sentinel insists that never happens—right before the ground crumbles under their feet, sending all three plunging into a deep cavern. Strange, skittering noises echo from its dark reaches. Optimus activates his shoulder-light to see….''

Bulkhead snaps Optimus's attention back to the present by donning a bedsheet (which just covers his head) and going "Boo," startling his leader. Optimus claims a ghost from his past just has him jumpy, then stalks off.

[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume bots.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee's decision to dress up as Count Blackula didn't go down well.]]

Back at the Autobot base, Sari critiques Bumblebee and Bulkhead's costumes, but says her own costume is only one surprise planned for the night. Noticing Optimus lost in thought, she uses the [[Key]] to activate one of the car plant's cranes, swinging another spider decoration in his face. The unexpected sight of it gives Optimus a bad flashback, and he quickly hacks the fake spider to bits. He admonishes Sari for making frivolous use of the Key, and she counters about him needlessly using his axe. Optimus stares down at the remains of the decoration, and his thoughts travel back again….

''As Optimus, Elita, and Sentinel walk through the cavern, Sentinel enthuses about the rich hoard of energon he's sure they'll find soon. Optimus shushes him as he hears something, and soon all three are casting their lights about, trying to pinpoint the skittering. The source reveals itself as an enormous, alien spider, which quickly traps Elita with some webbing. As Optimus fights it off, Sentinel frees her with his charged shield, but the spider abruptly takes him down. Elita starts using her special power-download ability, but Optimus, holding back the spider, tells her it won't work on organics. She instead borrows the unconscious Sentinel's shield power and shield itself, using them to defend herself, then to bring down a huge stalactite to impale the spider. As Sentinel wakes up and Elita returns his shield, Optimus says that it's not worth staying around, be it for history or energon. Sentinel still insists on one good reason to leave, and he gets three when another trio of giant spiders drop down to confront them. Sentinel quickly puts up his shield's energy barrier, covering Optimus and Elita's retreat. Optimus rolls out, and Elita follows, calling his name….''

[[Image:Saricostume.jpg|left|130px|thumb|Arise, Sarimus Prime.]]

Optimus suddenly becomes aware of Sari calling his name to show off her costume—a costume of him. He doesn't appreciate her vocal impersonation of him, and declines to join the trio on their trick-or-treat outing.

As Sari and the two Autobots progress though a local neighborhood, Bumblebee is a bit spooked by the atmosphere. Sari reminds him it's all pretend—unaware they're being tracked by an enormous spider traveling over the rooftops. As she coaches them through their first actual "trick or treat," Bumblebee spots the spider watching them and freaks out, but it's gone before anyone else sees it. Sari teases him for being more timid than Optimus, but 'Bee protests he knows the difference between a fake decoration and a real giant spider. Listening in from headquarters, Optimus has Bumblebee clarify what he saw, then heads out to meet them, advising them to stay put. As Optimus [[rolls out]], his thoughts roll back….

''Racing through the caverns, Optimus reaches the wreckage of a [[Decepticon]] warship. Separated from the other two, he heads inside, hoping to find them there. Instead, he finds an impressive stash of energon cubes, just as Sentinel predicted. He also finds an impressive stash of giant spider eggs. As the spiderlings hatch and start attacking, Optimus gets stuck on some webbing, but Elita shows up in time to help. As they fight to escape from more full-grown spiders, Optimus has Elita borrow his grappler ability. They bring down a huge stalactite through the ship's ruined overhead, grappling their way out as the energon detonates below them. However, Elita's download ability times out just then, and she goes plunging back too fast for Optimus to catch her. Sentinel arrives on top of the ship as she plummets into the hold, but knowing the energon is going to blow any second, Optimus grapples himself and Sentinel to safety rather than risk going after Elita just then. Once they break the surface, Optimus scans for Elita's energy signature, but doesn't find it. A furious Sentinel blames everything on Optimus.''

[[Image:Blackarach anim beast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|All those eyes, and she still can't see why those kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.]]

In the present, still en route to Sari and company's location, Optimus swears he won't let it happen again. Meanwhile, Bumblebee stresses that they have to stay vigilant until Optimus arrives—even as Sari is yanked out from under them by the giant spider. Bumblebee quickly cuts Sari free, but as he and Bulkhead surround the spider, it transforms into a female robot who calls herself [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]. Sari's not too surprised or impressed by her femininity, but it makes a much bigger impression on Bulkhead—right up to the point Blackarachnia stabs him with two of her spider legs, knocking him out. She quickly gives Bumblebee the same treatment, then tells Sari they should go, now that Sari's safe. Sari protests the two Autobots are her friends, and Blackarachnia apologizes, pretending she can't tell which robots are good or bad on Earth. As Sari futilely tries to revive Bulkhead with her Key, Blackarachnia notes that the organic nature of her venom precludes that solution, since the All Spark doesn't affect organics. She offers to try helping the Autobots if Sari will just hand her the Key, but her ruse is interrupted when Optimus lassos her legs out from under her. Blackarachnia appears shocked to see him, but quickly frees herself and starts fighting back—using Bumblebee's stingers and Bulkhead's strength. Instead of borrowing any of Optimus's powers, though, she judo-throws him across the street, then kidnaps Sari.

Optimus desperately pursues the pair across the rooftops. He catches up, stuns Blackarachnia with a faceful of foam, then grapples Sari free. Despite this respite and Sari's warning, Blackarachnia still catches Optimus half-unaware. He fights back, but she dodges him constantly, claiming to know all his textbook Autobot Academy moves. Optimus wonders if he knows her, and she berates him for forgetting his friends—even if he remembered Sentinel. Optimus is horrified to realize he's facing Elita-1. She finally relates what really happened that day:

[[Image:TFA Elite-1 mutation.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Even Female Transformers have to worry about bloating.]]

''Trapped in the ship and surrounded by the spiders, Elita tries desperately to download their abilities. Instead, she is infected with their venom, and it mutates her into a freak, a half-organic, half-robotic being.''

Optimus realizes that her half-organic nature is what masked her energy signature from his scans. Blackarachnia sneers that if he'd known and saved her, she'd just have been dismantled and examined on some lab table on Cybertron. Optimus reproves her for joining the Decepticons, but she counters that at least she knows where she stands with them. She webs up Optimus and snatches the Key, certain that if anything can purge her organic half, it can. She plugs it into herself, but the unleashed energies begin causing all organic life in range, including Sari, to wither and sicken. Optimus breaks free, but before he can stop Blackarachnia, she grabs up Sari and throws her off the roof. Sari snags a flagpole long enough for Bumblebee and Bulkhead to save her, leaving Optimus free to deal with Blackarachnia.

[[Image:TFA ep9 Optimus and Blackarachnia rooftop.jpg|right|205px|thumb|Never liked the [[Silverbolt (BW)|Bird-dog]] anyway.]]

However, Blackarachnia collapses on her own, though. Optimus surmises her spark can't survive without her organic half, but she's too weak to pull out the Key and stop the reaction. Optimus forces through the energy barrier around her and removes it for her, restoring the organic life in the area to normal. As he helps her up, Blackarachnia asks him to go, not wanting to be seen like that. Still calling her Elita, Optimus asks her to come with them, promising his group will find a cure, and allow him to earn back her trust. She seems to respond positively, but it's another sham. Blackarachnia stabs him unconscious and leaves, vowing it will be a long time before she trusts another Autobot, especially him.

Later, Optimus returns Sari the Key. She thanks him and admits he was right—maybe it's time she gave the Key a rest. Bumblebee trundles in painfully, still damaged from his fall after catching Sari, and asks if she could use it once more. Bulkhead asks who the bug-bot lady was, and Optimus responds it was someone he should never have left behind. Elsewhere, Blackarachnia stands on a rooftop, gazing at the moon and sobbing over her fate.
{{--}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead ]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] (6) (Flashback)

|c2=
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1/Blackarachnia]] (5)

|c3=
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Bumblebee''': ''[Bad Slavic accent]'' Velcome. I am Count Dracubot. I vant to drink your motor oil. 
'''Bulkhead''': Hey, guys! I finally found something big enough for my ghost costume. 
''[Fumes surround his feet, causing Sari to cough]'' 
'''Sari''': Bulkhead, where did you get that sheet? 
'''Bulkhead''': It was just draped over some house. Weird place for a bed sheet, huh? 
'''Sari''': Oh, that's not a bedsheet. That's a fumigation tent. 
'''Bulkhead''': Really…? What's a fumigation tent? 
''[As well as the fumes, Bulkhead's feet are now covered in dead cockroaches.]''
:—Sari sees the Autobots' costumes.

"I've got a good feeling about this. Any cycle now, we're gonna be overflowing with rich, All Spark-infused, energon-y goodness!" 
"Did you really just say 'energon-y goodness'?"
:—'''Sentinel''''s speech <strike>tick</strike>—er, tic bemuses '''Elita-1'''.

'''Sari''': Optimus! Check out my costume! 
''[Camera reveals that Sari is Optimus Prime]'' 
'''Sari''': ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Oh, look at me. I'm Optimus Prime. I'm scared of spiders. 
''[Bumblebee and Bulkhead chuckle]'' 
'''Optimus''': That's ''not'' what I sound like—is it? 
'''Bumblebee''': Last chance to join us, Boss Bot. 
'''Optimus''': Thanks, but I'll pass. Just be careful out there, all right? 
'''Sari''': Don't worry. I'll keep these two out of trouble. ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Transform and roll out! 
''[Optimus gives Sari a look]'' 
'''Sari''': Couldn't resist.
:—Sari and the Autobots roast Optimus Prime.

'''Bumblebee''': Who are you? 
'''Bulkhead''': What are you? 
'''Sari''': Duh. She's a girl.
:—The gang meets Blackarachnia.

"So, who ''was'' that bug-bot lady?" 
"Someone I never should have left behind."
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Optimus Prime''' talk some heavy stuff.

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Bulkhead jaw drop.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of jaw droppers before but this is ridiculous.]]
* Shortly after Sentinel says that he and Optimus should go back for Elita when the Decepticon ship explodes, his nose and forehead are painted silver, like Optimus.
* As Blackarachnia is stroking Bulkhead, his jaw falls off, then is seen re-attached to him the next cut--an obviously intentional, throw-away [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop animation joke.]
* Sentinel's light blue markings can be seen several times during flashbacks.

===Transformers references===
* In the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]], [[Elita One]] was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime's]] paramour. The ''Animated'' incarnation of the character refrains from attempting to visually homage the original pink-and-white Elita, instead creating a blue-and-yellow pony-tailed character who bears a resemblance to Elita's earlier (pony-tailed) form, [[Ariel]]. Her relationship with Optimus is less distinct (it almost appears as if she's ''Sentinel's'' girlfriend at one point), with this episode's flashbacks not suggesting any romantic connection between the two, but the present-day scenes suggesting ''some'' kind of personal tension (though that could be guilt on Optimus's part and anger on Elita's).
* Sentinel is depicted here as Optimus's friend and peer, whereas in all other series he's either been Optimus's mentor, a superior officer, or a predecessor. In this way it seems the roles of Sentinel and [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] have been reversed from past continuities.
* With this episode, [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] make their first appearance in Transformers cartoons since ''Beast Wars''. They look ''exactly'' like they did in the Generation 1 cartoon, which even ''Beast Wars'' didn't pull off.
* Speaking of which, Sari's Optimus costume resembles the original [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from ''Generation One'' more than it does the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|one in the timeline she's in]].

===Real-world references===
* Bulkhead's "ghost" costume, with its constant cloud of pesticides at the bottom, coincidentally resembles "Pig-Pen's" costume from ''[[wikipedia:It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"|It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown]]''.
* Judging how Blackarachnia [[Spider-Man|can swing from a thread]], the Autobots had best take a look overhead.
* "Little help for the vertically challenged?". Bulkhead throwing Bumblebee is bettter known to X-Men fans as the Fastball Special, usually performed by [[wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] and [[Wolverine]].

===Trivia===
* In a flashback, prior to Blackarachnia's transformation, a helmet can be seen sitting in a corner of the Decepticon ship. In the season 3 episode "[[Predacons Rising]]", it is confirmed that she starts wearing the helmet to conceal the extent of her transformation.
* This episode makes a point of how Sari has been overusing the Key previously, and that it can't be used to cure every Transformer injury. The writers evidently anticipated that reaction from the audience.
* Referring to himself as "vertically challenged," Bumblebee seems to be over his height complex, which was such a major point in "[[Total Meltdown]]".
* This is the first time Sentinel has been fully on screen. When he appeared in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]", all that was seen of him was his big jerk head.
* In the flashbacks, neither Sentinel nor Optimus is addressed as "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]". It's possible they hadn't attained that rank yet. (Sentinel is actually credited as just "Sentinel", not Sentinel Prime or Sentinel Minor, like he is in "[[Autoboot Camp]]", making it much more likely that the non-mention of their ranks was intentional.)
* On a related note, in the flashbacks, Sentinel's Autobot insignia (unsurprisingly) does not have the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] "[[:Image:Cyb Elite Guard Badge.png|wings]]" we see when he's introduced [[The Elite Guard|in the present]].
* Blackarachnia claims that she's been waiting to be cured for "a thousand [[Units of time|stellar cycles]]", which gives us a rough time frame for when the flashbacks in this episode took place. Whether they occur before or after "[[Autoboot Camp]]" is unclear, but it's probably before if we assume that our favorite jerk was only going by "Sentinel", and not "Sentinel Minor" at that point.
* This episode gives us at least one reason why Sentinel hates Optimus. The incident is also later established as the cause of Optimus' expulsion from the Autobot Academy in [[Endgame, Part I]].
* The hand motions Bulkhead makes at the end of the episode when he says "So who was that Bug-Bot-Lady?" are… interesting, to say the least.
* While dressed up as Count Dracubot, Bumblebee states that he "wants to drink your motor oil." As we learn [[Rise of the Constructicons|later]], this is roughly the equivalent of a vampire saying he wants to bum a few beers off you. Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on this whole Halloween thing.
* When we see Sari, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee together in the city, one of the kids in the bottom left of the screen is wearing a Bumblebee costume.

[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Marvel Comics

2009-05-15T11:06:00Z

Black Mage:

{{disambig2|the comic company|the television and motion picture studio|Marvel Productions}}
:''Marvel Comics is a comic book company in the [[Generation 1]] and real world [[Continuity family|continuity families]].''

[[Image:Mavlogo.jpg|right|150px|]]
Face front, True Believers! The merry mirthmakers at '''Marvel Comics''' brought you seven scintillating years (1984-1991) of fabulous funnybooks starring the ever-lovin' Transformers! A mere two years later, those argumentative appliances struck back (and struck out, natch!) in "Transformers: Generation 2". Eons later, in the far-flung future of 2007, Marvel published New Avengers/Transformers, teaming Cybertron's Mightiest Robots with Earth's Mightiest Heroes!

Most of these Marvel mags were penned by one of two brilliant Bullpenners:

*"Blazing" [[Bob Budiansky]], who ably edited the original 4-issue limited series before becoming the first permanent writer of the ongoing series, and is credited with creating most of the backstory to the Transformers mythos, as well as writing most of the terrific [[Bio|bios]] that came with the Hasbro toys.
*"Senses-Shattering" [[Simon Furman]], who had been the main writer for the Marvel UK series before being asked by Budiansky to write for the US comic, as well. Furman wrote the last 25 issues of the original series, then battled back to pen all 12 issues of Generation 2. For if he could not write them, what chance, then, did anyone else have?

Marvel published the following Transformers series, so hit those back-issue-bins and Make Yours Marvel!

*[[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) US]]
*[[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) UK]]
*[[Generation 2 (Marvel Comics)]]
*[[Headmasters (comic)]]
*[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]
*[[Transformers: The Movie (comic)|Transformers: The Movie comic adaptation]]
*[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)]]
*[[New Avengers/Transformers]]

Excelsior!

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
Marvel Comics published the ridiculously terrible ''[[Robot-Master (comic)|Robot-Master]]'' comic book series. It did not, however, publish a Potato Salad Man graphic novel entitled ''This Man, This Mayonnaise.'' {{storylink|I, Robot-Master!|I, Robot-Master!}}

''The real Marvel never published a Robot-Master series, presumably due to the nonexistence of its creator, [[Donny Finkleberg]].''

==Toys==
Marvel characters are incorporated as part of the ''[[Crossovers]]'' franchise. Marvel Transformers? That certainly [[wikipedia:Mega_Morphs|sounds]] [http://www.superherotimes.com/newsarchive/000581.php familiar].

==Books==
[[Marvel Books]] published children's coloring and activity books in the 1980s, based on licensed properties retained by Marvel Comics, including ''Transformers''.

==Further information==
*[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
*[[Marvel Comics timeline]]

[[Category:Businesses]]
[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics]]

Rattletrap

2009-05-13T11:55:40Z

Black Mage:

{{Factions|autobot}}
{{disambig2|the Autobot informant|the Maximal energon miner/warrior|Rattrap}}
:''Rattletrap is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:ThisIsWhyIHateMachines-RattletrapFanzone.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Oh no, not an organic!]]

'''Rattletrap''' is that one 'bot who will tell you anything if you "persuade" him enough. He's kind of a [[Rattrap|dirty rat]] when you think about it.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
:''Voice actor:'' [[Tom Kenny]] (English)

Rattletrap was among the crowd welcoming home [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel "Magnus"]] and cheering on the capture of several [[Decepticon]] prisoners. {{storylink|Decepticon Air}}

{{spoilers|This Is Why I Hate Machines|05/16/09}}
Rattletrap apparently gave info on [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]'s activation codes to [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]]. He was later interrogated by [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] and [[Captain Fanzone]], who threatened to slime him if he didn't give them access to a high-security infirmary on Cybertron. This threat proved effective, but the access key card Rattletrap provided turned out not to work. Ultimately it didn't matter, as [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] had been tailing them the whole time, and let them in. {{storylink|This Is Why I Hate Machines}}

==Notes==
* Rattletrap is an homage to [[Rattrap]] from ''Beast Wars'', specifically his "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]" Cybertronian form. However, he's much more willing to work with the enemy than the original was...well, [[The Weak Component|most of the time.]]
* Rattletrap's name comes off as a portemanteau of both his American name and his Japanese name (Rattle), but as "rattletrap" is actually a ''word'', that's probably more of a coincidence than anything intentional.
* Rattletrap's face was given to ''Transformers'' fan [http://twitter.com/Peaugh Peaugh] in the form of a Twitter avatar as a gift from [[Derrick J. Wyatt|Derrick Wyatt]]. Little did he know it was a spoiler in disguise!
* Rattletrap's voice owes a little more to [[wikipedia:Lou Costello|Lou Costello]] than usual.

[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]

Spark

2009-05-11T05:38:41Z

Black Mage:

{{disambig3|Spark}}
{{featured}}

[[Image:Sparks.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Botanica is a Bellarian.]]
A '''spark''' is the lifeforce, or soul, of a [[Transformer]]. Each spark is part of the essence of [[Primus]] himself.

The spark is a physical entity which is safeguarded inside a Transformer body. If something harms the spark beyond repair, it is "extinguished" and returns to the [[Allspark]] (or sometimes the [[Well of All Sparks]]). The Transformer is then considered dead. A Transformer is able to survive an enormous amount of physical damage. As long as the spark is intact, it is possible to repair or rebuild the body and restore the spark to it.

{{quote|When a Spark goes online, there is great joy. When one is extinguished, the universe weeps.|[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] being all mystical|"[[The Spark]]"}}

==Establishment in fiction==
[[Image:Spark.gif|left|180px|thumb|Animation of a typical spark. Shiny!]]
The concept of the spark as currently understood was introduced to the Transformers mythos in the ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[The Spark]]". In this episode, little is explained except that each spark is unique and that every "Cybertron" (here meaning, essentially, "Cybertronian") has one.

The later episode "[[Possession]]" dealt with the idea of sparks, but the spark in question—that of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]—is established as being aberrant, and thus the properties it displays are not necessarily characteristic of sparks in general. However, "Possession" was the first time it was claimed that characters from the Generation 1 series also had sparks, rather than sparks existing in ''Beast Wars'' only. Sparks remained prominent throughout ''Beast Wars'', and events in seasons two and three further established the [[retcon]] that Generation 1 Transformers all possessed sparks.

In ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'', sparks became central to the story, as [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] had abducted the sparks from every Transformer on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Megatron's own spark displayed unusual behaviors in this series, and again, it is probable these behaviors do not apply to all sparks. Still, ''Beast Machines'' contributed more information about sparks to the [[canon]] than any other series.

The [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] occasionally referenced a device called a [[laser core]], which seemingly has a similar function to a spark. The tech spec bio for the [[Beast Rider]] [[Mechatron]] says that he is "outfitted with an upgraded spark-capture claw that can tear out the entire laser core of any Transformer defender." This implies, as some fans had speculated prior to Mechatron's release, that the laser core may be some sort of housing for the spark.

Since the introduction of the spark concept in ''Beast Wars'', sparks have become an integral part of many Transformers fictions. They have been featured in new [[Generation 1]]-based series and in later alternate-dimension tales such as the [[Unicron Trilogy]]'s ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' and ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''.

Although the word "spark" does appear offhandedly in some [[The Transformers (Marvel Comics)|''Generation 1'' comic]] stories (a "spark of life", a "life spark", and the phrase [[Pretender to the Throne!|"For as long as a spark exists within a single Mechabot..."]]), these were clearly simply metaphorical statements. They may be retroactively seen as referring to the contemporary concept of a Transformer's spark, but did not establish anything of the sort on their own.

==Properties of sparks==
[[Image:Spark colors.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The sparks of the reformatted Maximals took on unusual colors. Before their final battle with Megatron, the sparks became visible within their bodies. They also lift and separate.]]
As seen in the image at the top of this article, sparks normally appear as semitransparent blue balls of energy with a pulsating center composed of smaller, blue spheres. The center spheres are engulfed in a reddish glow. An ever-changing pattern of "electricity"-like lines travels around the surface and through the interior. However, in ''Beast Machines'', the sparks of the Maximal heroes who had been [[Reformatting|reformatted]] took on different colors (for example, [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s was green). This was first visible in "[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]". At the end of that series, after being infused with extra power from the Matrix (cf. [[Allspark]]), their sparks became visible, as if parts of their torsos were translucent.

[[Beast Era]] Transformers seem to have permanent "spark chambers" within their chassis where the spark can be seen simply by opening the chamber. Older Transformers within the same G1/Beast [[continuity family]], such as those who lived before the [[Great Upgrade]], do not seem to have this feature in most continuities. The G1 ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' guidebook from [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] specifically states that a spark is normally "suffused" throughout a Transformer's body rather than residing in any particular place. It may be that this is also true after the Great Upgrade, and that the spark chamber is merely a protected location for the spark to coalesce when needed. Meanwhile, making things more confusing, the cutaway diagrams of G1 Optimus Prime and Megatron in ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'' include spark chambers.

In the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, there were two cases of Beast-era Transformers temporarily housing the sparks of G1-era Transformers in their own bodies while still housing their own sparks. In both cases, this resulted in the Beastie undergoing a mutation of sorts into a more powerful body: [[Optimus Primal]], upon taking the spark of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], grew into his Optimal Optimus body; and Megatron, upon taking the spark of the [[Megatron (G1)|original Megatron]] obtained his dragon form. However, based on the information from the series, there is no basis for determining whether this phenomenon is a result of a single body housing two sparks, a Beast-era body housing a G1-era spark, a body being implanted with an especially "powerful" spark (like those of Optimus Prime and Megatron could conceivably be), or some combination of these. When the disembodied spark of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] had earlier possessed [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], the only physical change was the body's allegiance emblems shifting from Predacon to Decepticon. (The later ''Beast Wars'' comic miniseries ''[[The Gathering]]'' implies that G1 sparks may be intrinsically more powerful than Beast-era sparks.)

Although Transformer memories and personalities are generally treated as if they are stored within the Transformers' computer brains, repeated canonical instances have established that a spark will (or can) hold all of an individual's memories, along with their "essence" or personality. Further, there is some evidence that sparks may even retain records of the Transformer's previous bodies (such as when Optimal Optimus, whose body originated with a blank [[protoform]], regressed into a copy of the gorilla body Primal wore at the beginning of the Beast Wars). A Transformer's behavior can be modified through programming of their mechanical body (referred to as a [[shell program]]), but this is always a struggle between the programming and the "true" nature of the spark within. It may be that over long periods of time, a spark may begin to internalize some aspects of a programmed personality.

Many Transformers, such as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|G1 Sky Lynx]], [[Omega Supreme (G1)|G1 Omega Supreme]] and the [[Duocon|Duocons]], simultaneously inhabit multiple mechanical bodies or components. The character bio for [[Magmatron]] mentions this ability of his, and categorizes his spark as a "mitotic spark" which is able of splitting and sharing itself between his three beast modes. It is unknown whether other multiple-bodied Transformers also possess mitotic sparks or if they are examples of something more mundane such as simple remote control.

Some Transformers are able to sense and communicate with the sparks of other Transformers through a process that appears analogous to telepathy. According to dialog from "[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]", this ability is related to the sparks' mutual connection to the Allspark. Disembodied sparks are sometimes able to communicate through this same method. (See [[#Disembodied_sparks|below]].)

The radiation emitted by [[Energon (G1)|energon]] crystals is harmful to sparks, even when protected within a Transformer's body. Certain body types are better able to shield the spark from energon radiation. For example, the flesh-like beast modes adopted by the crews of the [[Axalon (BW)|''Axalon'']] and ''[[Darksyde]]'' provided essentially 100% protection, allowing activity in environments that were practically forests of energon crystal, so long as those involved remained in beast mode. Direct contact between crystalline energon and a spark is highly dangerous.

In the ''Beast Machines'' episode "[[Spark of Darkness]]", [[Rattrap]] describes Megatron's disembodied spark as a ball of [[Electron|electrons]]. He goes on to say that normal sparks contain a large number of [[Positron|positrons]]. Based on his dialogue, it is possible, but not certain, that sparks are composed ''entirely'' of positrons. Rattrap also indicates, in "Revelations Part I", that when a spark is extinguished, carbon scoring is typically left on or within the Transformer's chassis.

[[Image:Revelations3 Nightscream spark.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Nightscream's hands don't seem to touch the spark itself while pushing on it. Mind you, wouldn't you recoil from the guy too?]]
Regardless of their composition, sparks are not insubstantial energy, but have some sort of physical aspect. This is clearly demonstrated in, again, "Revelations Part III", when [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] is seen attempting to push Blackarachnia's spark back into her body. His hands press against some sort of surface (or perhaps merely a force field, in which case the spark could be entirely energy) which is above the visible surface of her spark. Later in the series, in "Spark of Darkness", Megatron's spark is also shown to have physicality. Further back, in ''Beast Wars'', the spark of Rampage/Protoform X would respond to being "crushed" by Megatron by flattening slightly inside its energon-lined carrying case. And even the spark of G1 Megatron was "grabbed" physically by a tentacle-like appendage of BW Megatron's. While some of these examples may be special cases, as they deal with sparks that have unusual properties, those properties are unique to each spark. The weight of evidence, then, is in favor of sparks being at least partially substantial.

In the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]], sparks were shown to have the ability to be somehow augmented by Primus to become a [[Combination Spark]]. This allowed two Autobots to [[powerlinx]] together into a new form, allowing one Autobot to take command of the fused body while the "pants" remained dormant. Without the Combination Spark, a powerlinx between two normal Transformers could not be completed. It is not stated whether the combiner teams [[Constructicon Maximus]] and [[Bruticus Maximus]] also possessed Combination Sparks or if their ability to combine has some other origin.

==Disembodied sparks==
Sparks are able to exist outside of a Transformer body, but the parameters of this phenomenon are largely unclear. In is unknown for how long a spark can survive under such conditions, although they are vulnerable to damage in this state. It is also unknown whether a disembodied spark is "conscious" and aware of its surroundings, or whether it is capable of moving under its own power. (There are unusual cases, as described under [[#Aberrant_sparks|Aberrant sparks]].)

It is hard to imagine how a spark could be aware of its surroundings when stripped of all sensory mechanisms. Indeed, in "Revelations Part III: Apocalypse", while Blackarachnia's spark was outside of her body, her consciousness did not remain in the "real world". Instead, she experienced a conversation with [[Optimus Primal]]—not a hallucination—which took place on an abstract "higher plane of existence," perhaps within the Allspark itself.

Most of the disembodied sparks in ''Beast Machines'' drift slowly and largely directionlessly. In many other cases, sparks seem to move with some sort of intent. However, aside from attempts of sparks to re-enter their "home" bodies, these are conceivably all "special cases" and may not be generalizable. In one example, the sparks of [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] are seen following [[Tigerhawk]] to Earth in "[[Other Victories]]". While their sparks appear normal when this occurs, they later merge into a single white spark and then inhabit the (then-empty) Tigerhawk body. This is not normal spark behavior and may be related to the time they spent seemingly in stasis with the [[Vok]]. Also, in "Revalations Part III", when Blackarachnia becomes panicked during her telepathic conversation with Primal, her spark begins moving erratically and has to be chased down by Nightscream. However, it is unclear whether the spark was moving ''with intent''—especially since Blackarachnia's consciousness was portrayed as still being on a higher plane—or simply zigzagging randomly. And, again, a reformatted spark may be different from a normal spark anyway.

==IDW's sparks==
[[Image:KupsSpark.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Save the Spark. Save the World.]]
In [[Spotlight: Kup]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]'s sparkhousing is unstable due to age and radiation poisoning. He finally experiences sparkcore stabilizer failure, which threatens to blow him up. [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] saves him by extending a forcefield around the crashing spark. Later, Kup is shown in a C/R chamber, fitted with a placeholder powercore to maintain his spark.

Later, [[Spotlight: Arcee]] would explain that the Autobots kept Decepticon prisoners in spark stasis, which apparently entails actually removing the sparks from their casings, separating the spark from the body.

[[Image:SpotlightArcee Garrus-9 inmates.jpg|left|400px|thumb|Reminds me of the reptile cages at the zoo...except less stinky .]]
Not all prisoners underwent this process. For Monstructor, it was noted that the Autobots couldn't break through the destructive programming far enough to rehabilitate/reform the sparks (as per Optimus Prime's orders), and as such, haven't pulled the sparks from the frames.

Arcee found this limbo peaceful, but was later reunited with her body. To control her behavior, a "g-force crush" device was installed on or in her spark casing and could be operated via remote control.

==Absence of spark==

Strangely, it is possible for both Transformers and related mechanical entities to remain online and sentient despite the ''lack'' of a spark.

The first example would be the original [[Diagnostic Drone]] in ''Beast Machines''. While simply being a robotic aid and having no spark, it showed a full range of emotions, the ability to reason, and could be consulted by Megatron. In ''Animated'', the first two [[Starscream clone|Starscream clones]] lacked sparks, while still showing thought and emotions. They didn't, however, seem that bothered that they were suicide bombers. Titan's tie-in comics, meanwhile, would reveal that comic-original character [[Afterburn]] was really a sparkless drone, even though he'd shown emotion, initiative and thought beforehand.

These instances raise questions about how needed a spark ''really'' is, and what properties it bestows that are genuinely unique.

It should also be noted that when Afterburn was revealed to have had no spark, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] ''immediately'' wrote him off as not having been a "real" bot and viewed it as pointless to mark Afterburn's death. Similarly, nobody seemed bothered by the Starscream clones dying or found it notable that Starscream had created beings whose sole purpose was to die. Cybertronian orthodoxy, it would seem, views the presence of a spark as the true indicator of life, with emotion and sentience being seen as irrelevant.

{{-}}

==Aberrant sparks==
Some sparks have exhibited properties or behaviors that do not seem to be generalizable to other sparks.

===Starscream===
As established in the ''Beast Wars'' episodes "[[Possession]]" and "[[Bad Spark]]", Starscream possesses a "mutant" immortal spark. Even when his body is destroyed, his spark is not extinguished. This explanation retcons the appearance of Starscream's ghost in some season three episodes from the G1 cartoon; the "ghost" was in fact Starscream's disembodied spark.

Starscream's spark was able to move under its own power and seemingly travelled not just across space from Cybertron to [[Earth]], but backwards through time from 2006 to human prehistory. It may be that the time travel was accomplished by "falling" through the [[transwarp]] hole left by the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' when they arrived on prehistoric Earth—[[Depth Charge]]'s ship arrived there by that method later in the series—but this is uncertain.

Additionally, Starscream's spark was able to take possession of other Transformers simply by entering their bodies. While in another body, Starscream's will completely dominates that of his host. When Starscream possessed [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]], Waspinator's voice even changed to sound like Starscream's, and the [[Insignia|Predacon insignias]] on his body changed to Decepticon insignias. Starscream either did not have, or did not seem to know that he had, this possession ability until he died during the events of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Rampage/Protoform X===
The creation of Protoform X was an experiment conducted by the [[Maximal Elder|Maximal Elders]] to attempt to replicate Starscream's indestructible spark. Although they succeeded in creating such a spark, dubbed [[Rampage (BW)|Protoform X]] (and later taking on the name [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]]), it was, unfortunately, psychotic.

Like Starscream's spark, Rampage's could not be extinguished through simple destruction of his body. In fact, Rampage's body—at least, the body he wore during the Beast Wars—had uncannily rapid self-repair functions. In one instance, Depth Charge pierced Rampage's body from front to back with a spear, and the damage disappeared in a matter of seconds once the spear was removed.

Megatron devised a way to split Rampage's spark by carving it with a blade of [[energon crystal]]. Amazingly, this did not destroy the spark, nor did it seem to weaken Rampage appreciably. Megatron kept part of the spark in a case lined with energon crystals. By squeezing the case, the crystals would pinch the spark fragment, and Megatron used this to torture Rampage into obedience.

Megatron later placed this piece of Rampage's spark inside his [[Transmetal|Transmetal II]] clone of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], who is usually referred to as [[Dinobot II]]. Dinobot II appeared to have a personality wholly independent of Rampage's, although he was similarly brutal. Dinobot II's personality, however, may have been imposed upon him through programming. Dinobot II could torture Rampage by compressing the spark fragment that he held, much as Megatron had previously done. This did not seem to affect Dinobot himself.

Rampage's spark turned out to not be completely indestructible. Seemingly as an extension of Megatron's splitting of the spark with an energon blade, Depth Charge eventually destroyed Rampage by piercing his spark with "pure" crystalline energon. Normally sparks "extinguish" somewhat peacefully, but when Rampage's was pierced, a powerful explosion destroyed the bodies of both Rampage and Depth Charge. It may be that Starscream's spark would be similarly vulnerable to being cut/destroyed by energon, but this is mere extrapolation.

When Rampage's spark was destroyed, the fragment within Dinobot II did not explode. It may have simply disappeared, or it may have remained there. However, through a process which is not clearly established, Dinobot II at that instant "reverted" to the personality of the original Dinobot, and even had a vision of Dinobot's last moments. It may be that this reversion was related to events scripted for an episode which was never produced, titled "[[Dark Glass]]".

Rampage's spark never displayed the ability to move under its own power.

===Megatron===
In season two of ''Beast Machines'', Megatron's spark does a number of unusual things.

As part of the battle between him and [[Optimus Primal]] at the end of season one, during which the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] and the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] were pitted against each other, Megatron somehow was able to "split" his Beast body into two separate bodies, one entirely robotic and the other entirely "biological". (Whether the Beast bodies of the ''Beast Wars'' characters had any true biological components or whether they were faux-flesh composed of nanites is not consistently established in either series.) Contrary to his intentions, Megatron's spark ended up trapped within the biological body, which came to be known as [[Noble|Noble/Savage]].

It is unclear how a biological body was able to sustain a Transformers' spark. Indeed, even the Maximals were surprised when they realized what had happened. It could be argued, based on statements made by [[Vector Sigma|the Oracle]] in the first episode ("[[The Reformatting]]") that all lifeforms in the universe have sparks, not just Transformers. However, this is never alluded to by any other canonical source, so most fans have seemingly dismissed it.

As shown in "[[Prometheus Unbound]]", using the biological Noble/Savage body, Megatron was unable to exercise mental control over devices in his citadel or interface with his [[control harness]]. Upon using a [[spark extractor]] on himself, however, his spark was freed and immediately flew to the harness, which it activated before "flowing" up to the ceiling through the harness's cables. His spark then took over the [[Grand Mal]], an enormous, floating replica of his own head, as its new body and stayed there for part of season two. The Noble/Savage body appeared to be dead, but recovered. After Megatron's spark had left it, it seemed to be a perfectly "normal" animal which had the ability to change between a wolf-like form and a dragon form, possessing little if any sentience.

As soon as his spark had been removed from Noble, it took on an unusual appearance, having turned entirely red or orange in color (perhaps a change similar to that of the reformatted Maximals). Megatron's disembodied spark also seemed to be able to speak even though it had no physical body. It may be that this speech was telepathic, but the spark itself pulsated in perfect rhythm with the words.

While inhabiting the Grand Mal, Megatron's spark was sometimes seen floating freely and under its own power through the construct's interior, particularly in a large space that appeared to serve as his control room. (It was here that he addressed his [[Vehicon general|Vehicon generals]], usually manifesting as a holographic projection of one kind or another.)

[[Image:Spark consumption.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Megatron's spark ensnares and consumes other sparks from his collection.]]
[[Image:Giant megatron spark.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Now enormous, Megatron's spark looms over Cybertron in the vicinity of his Big Floating Head.]]
Eventually, in the three-part "[[Sparkwar]]" story, Megatron's spark began consuming/fusing with the captured sparks of Cybertron's inhabitants. He claimed to have learned how to accomplish this after communicating with the Oracle.

To consume other sparks, Megatron's spark extended tendrils which ensnared victim sparks. These tendrils also had the ability extract sparks from occupied shells, much like a [[spark extractor]]. As each spark was absorbed, Megatron's spark grew larger in size.

Megatron was temporarily beaten when [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] attacked him with a sonic scream. The scream, according to Primal, depolarized Megatron's spark. This caused him to lose control temporarily and allowed the Maximals to escape. In the following episode, "[[Spark of Darkness]]", Megatron's spark exhibited additional strange behaviors which may or may not have been dependent on its depolarized state:

*It travelled very quickly and with great agility.
*It was able to "crash" physically into things to push them around. In particular, it repeatedly knocked the Maximals out of its way.
*It seemed to be able to cause large explosions simply by flying through other objects.
*It could inhabit and leave any sparkless body at will. This ability evidently differs from Starscream's, in that Starscream never animated a vacant body, and Megatron never dominated an occupied one. These re-animated bodies were able to remain functional even after suffering extreme physical damage.
*His spark was not detectable by his Vehicon generals' sensors, and Primal was unable to "sense" his spark through the Oracle.
*The spark did not speak at all while depolarized, neither when in a body nor when floating freely.

Rattrap was able to capture Megatron using a hand-held [[spark extractor]], and using a control panel on the extractor, repolarized and thus stabilized his spark. Afterwards, Megatron's spark remained red and just as fast and agile as before, but became detectable by his generals' scanners again and became "trapped" in the next body it inhabited (that of a [[Diagnostic Drone]]). Upon entering this body, Megatron declared, "I live!" This was the first time he had spoken since being hit by the sonic scream. This implies that something about his prior "destabilized" state may have prevented him from fully utilizing the bodies he had visited. The only other clue we have is that when Optimus tried to contact Megatron's spark inside the Grand Mal, he discovered that it "was not a sentient mind." Whether this is a result of trying to find a spark that was not in the expected location or because of its depolarized state is ambiguous.

===Embers===
One particular [[Shattered Glass|alternate universe]] seems to be much more of a departure from the "regular" realities in the [[multiverse]]. In it, the semi-mystical ball of energy that gives the resident Transformers their lifeforce is an electron-charged "Ember". Aside from the polarity, there's no other difference noted from the [[positron]]-charged Spark that [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] brings into that universe.

==Trivia==
*It is possible there is some quantitative difference between the sparks of Generation 1 Transformers and [[Protoform]] ''Beast Wars''-era Transformers' sparks. G1 Transformers' sparks are generally glossed as small fragments of [[Primus]]'s lifeforce. ''Beast Wars''-era Transformers' sparks are generally considered to be the same, but writer [[Larry Ditillio]] has stated that he envisioned ''Beast Wars'' Transformers' sparks as small fragments split from the [[Vok Nebula]]. When a spark is split from Vok Nebula, a "good" one travels to the [[Matrix (facility)|Matrix]] and an "evil" one to the [[Pit]].<ref>[[Beast Wars Universe]]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Allspark]]
*[[Laser core]]
*[[Personality component]]
*[[Shell program]]
*[[Spark of Combination]]
*[[Mitotic spark]]
*[[Binary spark]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Machines]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Primus]]

The Weak Component

2009-05-11T01:28:22Z

Black Mage:

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=6
|image=Weak component pretty.jpg
|caption=<div style="text-align:right;padding-right:2em;">''Am I my enemy's hero?''</div>
|title="The Weak Component"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[October 23]], 1999
|written by=[[Rodney Gibbs]]
|directed by=[[Andrew Currie]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Frustrated by his inability to transform and ashamed of his uselessness, Rattrap makes a deal with the devil.'''

:''Japanese title:'' 約束の夜明け (''Yakusoku no Yoake'', "The Promised Dawn")

==Synopsis==
Optimus Primal, still exhausted after Nightscream's recent reformatting, awakens from a dream and is informed by Blackarachnia that Rattrap is on a recon mission with Cheetor and Nightscream.

[[Image:Weak Component Rattrap computer.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Wonder if there's anything new at Transformers Wiki. What the- Who wrote that about me! CHOPPERFACE!!"]]
At a manufacturing facility, Rattrap, Nightscream and Cheetor are being attacked by Aero Drones and Tank Drones. Since Rattrap still is unable to transform, Cheetor orders him to go and download the data from the computers. As Megatron observes this, a Diagnostic Drone warns him that the DNA purging process is still in its experimental stage. But Megatron, eager to be rid of his hated beast mode, wishes to proceed before the Maximals can discover any more “mongrel beasts”.

During the fight, Nightscream uses his sonic powers and discovers that if they attack the generals, the drones stop operating. Cheetor and Nightscream plan to ambush Tankor to test the theory.

Unfortunately, Rattrap observes the ensuing entrapment setup from his computer, unaware of the plan. He finally transforms successfully, and being eager to help, swings into action as Nightscream and Cheetor are attempting to disable Tankor and Jetstorm. His interference ends up spoiling the ambush, however, and causes the factory's machinery to start operating and building more Tank Drones at a faster and faster rate. Rattrap realises his robot form is unarmed, so he is unable to help in the battle.

[[Image:Weak Component Cheetor carrying Rattrap.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"Every time we go to the bar, stuff blows up and I end up carrying you home!"]]
As the new tank drones run wild, Megatron takes control. Rattrap attempts to stop the manufacture of the drones by linking himself into the main computer, only to become a sitting target for Megatron's Aero Drones. The resulting feedback travels along the power cables and causes a system failure, the total destruction of the manufacturing plant, and a power cut for the whole sector.

On their way back to their base, Cheetor and Nightscream harshly reprimand Rattrap for not following orders. Rattrap later complains to a sleeping Optimus Primal about his robot mode, when the others appear. Cheetor knocks Rattrap to the ground, ordering him to transform to beast mode; this jolt to Rattrap's system causes him to realise Megatron is weak as he replays vital stats he downloaded earlier. However, Cheetor brushes off his suggestions of an attack on their weakened enemy.

Rattrap overhears Blackarachnia, Cheetor and Nightscream discussing what to do with him and how he is such a burden with his useless robot mode. Infuriated, he leaves the base alone.

[[Image:Weak Component Rattrap mech.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rattrap prepares to face the Queen Alien.]]
Megatron is being told the extent of the damage caused by the feedback earlier, when Rattrap saunters into his citadel, saying he wants “noisemakers”. After a bit of back and forth, Megatron and Rattrap work out a deal wherein Rattrap will defend Megatron for one night when he is at his weakest. If anything happens to Megatron, Rattrap forfeits his new weaponry.

[[Image:Rattrap-bm-withmegatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|My shoulder angel!]]
Unexpectedly, Cheetor, Nightscream and Blackarachnia arrive to rescue Rattrap, forcing Rattrap to honour his word with Megatron—and he does so, firing on his friends as they advance. While this is happening, Megatron returns to full strength and begins rebooting his control of Cybertron. The Maximals and Rattrap are at an impasse when Optimus Primal arrives, still exhausted, and asks Rattrap to look inside himself and re-evaluate what he's doing. Primal tells him that Rattrap is stronger than any of them realize.

Megatron orders Rattrap to attack Optimus Primal, but Rattrap reiterates the terms of the deal: The sun is rising, the solar cycle is over, and Rattrap has kept his end of the bargain. Impressed with Rattrap's handling of the situation, Megatron upholds his word and lets the Maximals walk away. Megatron vows to his Diagnostic Drone that they shall liberate the Maximals' sparks another day.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] (8)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (9)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon]]s
|c2=
*[[Sonic Attack Jet|Sonic Attack Jets]] (1)
*[[Tank Drone|Tank Drones]] (4)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] (7)
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] (10)
*[[Motorcycle Drone|Motorcycle Drones]] (11)
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] (12)
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] (13)

}}
==Quotes==
"Ah, did somebody forget to load this robot mode with weapons?"
:—'''Rattrap''' discovers someone forgot to give him a gun.

"Piece of advice: Never trust a rat."
:—'''Rattrap''' turns Megatron's own weapons on him.

"Short 'em out now! Sort 'em out later!"
:—'''Blackarachnia''' shoots first.

'''Megatron''': "See how quickly your friends turn on you? They promised you great power, but only I delivered it. They abandoned you, Rattrap. They did worse than hate you. They pitied you." 
'''Rattrap''': "Ya still think ya gotta cover for me?" [''fires on Cheetor, Blackarachnia and Nightscream''] "Ya still wanna cut me loose?! You never believed in me ever." 
'''Optimus Primal''': [''enters''] "I believed in you. What do you mean by firing at your friends?" 
'''Megatron''': "He's right. Optimus is the one you want. He's the one who lied to you; who kept making promises he never intended to keep. He made you weak; defenseless." 
'''Optimus Primal''': "Look inside yourself, Rattrap. You don't need his weapons. You're stronger than you know – stronger than ''any'' of you know."

"You have the makings of a fine Vehicon, yes." 
"Not from where I'm standing. The monkey's right; I am stronger than you know."
:—'''Megatron''' seems keen for '''Rattrap''' to join his side.

==Notes==
===Perceived characterization inconsistencies===
* This episode was the source of some controversy, as Rattrap was arguably depicted as being a "traitor" to the Maximals, something many fans claimed was completely against the grain of his character (which ''never'' happens in ''Beast Machines'').
* Fans also complained about Megatron's behavior at the end. Whereas [[Nemesis Part 2|before]], he would have crushed a [[Dinobot II|subordinate]] for merely mentioning "the h-word," here he makes a huge point of displaying honor when he keeps his word to Rattrap at the end of the episode, with no ulterior motive.
* In fact, either side could have potentially won the war right there, but the two characters with the least scruples suddenly became interested in fair play for no reason (other than to keep the series from ending, obviously).
* Other fans counter the points above by mentioning how Megatron implies Rattrap deserves to win because of his gambling skills, which refers back to Megatron's repeated use of gambling and card-playing idioms throughout the Beast Wars.
* It is suggested in return that "he played a fair hand" doesn't align with how Megatron used gambling lingo before, since he previously emphasized cheating (e.g., "stacking the deck") rather than fair play.
* And in Rattrap's defense, he was never subjected to this kind of situation in ''Beast Wars''. Losing one's memories and Transmetal body, being unable to transform for several episodes because of one's personality, and finding out that once you ''can'' transform your body is as useful as a solar-powered flashlight can have an effect on someone -- especially someone as previously tough and trigger-happy as Rattrap.

===Technical/animation glitches===
* When Rattrap says, "Gangway! Rat crossing!" and the Vehicons turn towards the camera, Jetstorm's mouth angles upwards, over his nose.

===Real-world references===
* When the weakened Megatron sees Rattrap in his chamber, he remarks: "Ah, so this is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a simpering...rodent." This is a paraphrased quote from the poem "[[wikipedia:The_Hollow_Men|The Hollow Men]]" by T.S. Eliot.

===Trivia===
* Blackarachnia calling Rattrap a traitor is, quite frankly, the [[Optimal Situation|pot]] calling the kettle [[Escape (Universe comic)|BLACK.]]
* During Rattrap's "Not from where I'm standing" line, it seems that Scott McNeil halfway slips into his Silverbolt voice. But when someone [[Waspinator|voices]] [[Silverbolt (BW)|so]] [[Dinobot (BW)|many]] [[Rattrap|characters]], these things happen occasionally.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weak Component}}
[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Ravage (ROTF)

2009-05-06T09:05:26Z

Black Mage:

{{disambig3|Ravage}}
:''Ravage is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Ravagerotfteaser.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Mew.]]
'''Ravage''' is ... a kitty? Maybe! Well, he seems to be okay with water. That's not very catlike! Well, maybe this is Seaspray.

==Fiction==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' film===
{{comingsoon}}

==Toys==
===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
====Deluxe Class Toys====
[[Image:ROTF_Deluxe_Ravage_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|Admit it: between the spiky spine and those dead, red eyes, you just want to cuddle the guy.]]
*'''Ravage''' (2009)
**''Japanese ID number''

:Ravage transforms into a [[transition form|"reentry mode"]].
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Robot Heroes''===
[[Image:robotheroesrotfravage.jpg|right|thumb|250px|This is why ''Robot Heroes'' exists!]]
*Who cares vs '''Ravage''' (2009)
: Dawwwwww.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
* Ravage and [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] were part of an early draft for [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'']]. However, when Soundwave was changed to [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and the initial jungle setting was replaced with a desert, Ravage was changed to [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]

[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]

Talk:Transformers: Energon (cartoon)

2009-05-04T07:47:50Z

Black Mage:

Just because the person adding the entry feels the show was "suffering" for American viewers does not make it fact. That entry will be deleted and should be, as it's entirely and only a matter of opinion and doesn't relate to the Energon storyline or toyline. -Bodycount

"Many fans found Energon an improvement over Armada in story and writing" at first, but the later part is debatible X-BoB58

==Wait...==

Why did "Maintenance script" delete everything on the page? The previous edit seemed like it restored the page from the virus crash, and then Maintenance script just erases it all. Was that a mistake? [[User:Fiction Alchemist|C.V. Reynolds]] 06:52, 20 March 2009 (EDT)

==Episode list==

I've pasted in the episode lists from the templates that were here before we started working on the wiki. However, I'm not sure on what basis the list is split into two seasons. I've left it split for now, but, does anybody have a justification for this split?

--[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 22:16, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

Why is there no entry or potential entry for "Distribution", aka "Special Dream Match" aka "The writers took a day off"?--Squidhead

----

Just wondering if these pages are going to get general Series Summaries/Overviews at some point? Fact is for a variety of reasons I havn't watched a TF toon regularly since the middle of Armada so I'd really love detailed summaries of Energon and Cybertron (and the end of Arm. to make it up here.

Well, yes, eventually. I think the problem is, though, MOST of us were utterly lost or disinterested with the Energon cartoon, so, well, even summarising is going to be tricky. Persoanlly, I can't even remember which epsiode is which... at least with Armada and cybertron there are "guides" available (Micron Legend Yearbook and the CN site)... Energon? eeg. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 20:50, 21 May 2006 (UTC)
:Add to that that there are quite a few episodes where it literally seemed like nothing happened. Such was the pacing of Energon.--[[User:MCRG|MCRG]] 04:31, 30 April 2007 (UTC)

Hey we know that there are no DVDs nor Videos of Transformers Energon so lets all watch it on Youtube. Its smarter, cost free and its faster to know things.([[User:Anti-Spammer|Anti-Spammer]] 20:48, 31 October 2007 (UTC))

==Negatives==
Man, I have a list a mile wide of things that were wrong about the show in general. I've been resisting adding a sentence about how all vehicle modes were immune to gravity-- nay, all physics, allowing even Hot Shot to float through the air at his whim, negating any reason for differing vehicle modes. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 21:33, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
:It's incredibly tempting to say "toss it in there". I mean, as it stands, the article makes it sound like the dub was the only thing wrong with the show, which is, not to put to fine a point on it, a phenomenal pile of steaming bullshit. Hell, the pacing apparently didn't even appeal to JAPAN, what with ''Galaxy Force'' at first pretending the previous shows didn't exist. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 21:39, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
::Yeah, I just watched a later ep on YouTube ("Improsoned Inferno" [''sic!'']). Snowcat and Demolishor just transform and drive off into the air. Everyone's animated ''exactly'' like their toy. I counted six instances of characters going "Uh?" or some variant thereof. Alpha-Q doesn't move his mouths at all when speaking. A red sun casts ordinary yellow-sun light. Dramatic battles begin and then suddenly cut away. It goes on and on! -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 22:09, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
:::Hey, remember when I said I was going to [[Talk: Cybertron City (episode)|do Energon episode summaries]]? Yeah, I'm totally not now. It's certainly more ''watchable'' in Japanese - I'm generally not left staring at the screen going "What the fuck was that?", and I'm appreciating moments of character interaction now that they ''make sense'' - but 31 episodes in, I'm totally deprived of any desire to write about it. Well, I might do the undubbed episode, which I'm about to come up to... - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 23:33, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

*pant* *huff* I think... my hate reserviors... have been emptied... it will take time before they refill... - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 00:33, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

== Reference sources ==

Okay, I usually don't' do this, but since Paramount as as much as said- "Man, Energon is so bad we're gonna skip it and just put out Cybertron on DVD...", here's a couple of the sources good for quick reference.

[http://www.veoh.com/search.html?type=v&searchId=38148982242797083&search=transformers+energon ~2/3 of Energon is on Veoh for streaming] 
[http://tvnihon.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=166 Most of Super Link (subbed) is ready for direct download]

Buy the DVD's people. I do even though the gather dust on my shelf while I watch the much-more-convenient encodes. -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 03:29, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

==Featured Characters Classifications==
Question regarding featured characters: What are opinions on how Terrorcons and Mini-Cons should be handled?
* For instance, Scorponok, while briefly conscipted into the Decepticon forces, was pretty explicitely not a Decepticon, neither at the beginning of the series, nor after Megatron tied him up and sent him into the energon grid as bait. Therefore, I've had him listed as a Terrorcon (or, "Other") at the beginning, a Decepticon after Megatron beat him and branded him, and then as a Terrorcon again after pretty clearly defecting.
* The Mini-Cons, while working for the Autobots, are still a separate faction.--[[User:Shellspark|Shellspark]] 17:59, 26 March 2009 (EDT)

==Do Energon fans exist?==

Surely there must be some, statistically. There are THOUSANDS of Transfans: some must have enough tolerance for bad dubbing, poor animation, and incoherent scripting to find some kinda jewels beneath.

So should the article be made more balanced to reflect their concerns? If they exist? I say so only because at the moment the entire thing is a merciless leap at the series' jugular...

Tangled Web

2009-05-03T11:09:45Z

Black Mage:

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=30
|image=Tangled Web Tarantulas furious.jpg
|title="Tangled Web"
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[November 16]], 1997
|written by=[[Len Wein]]
|directed by=[[Craig McEwen]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''Megatron sends Tarantulas to build a new energon processing station, but the spider has other plans.'''

:''Japanese title:'' かっとびタランス (''Kattobi Tarans'', "Grand-Slam Tarans")

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Tangled Web Megatron.jpg|left|200px|thumb|It is days like this I wish I were a Maximal.]]
As the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] busy themselves around their [[Darksyde|base]], Megatron summons [[Tarantulas]] and assigns him to work with [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] to develop a refueling station at a newly detected store of [[Energon (G1)|energon]] cubes. Megatron also assigns [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] to develop a jamming tower to disrupt [[Maximal]] communications.

As the Predacons gather supplies and equipment for their assigned tasks, Tarantulas throws a transmitter into Quickstrike's collection of equipment with the hope of summoning the Maximals to undermine Megatron's plans.

Meanwhile at the [[Axalon (BW)|Maximal base]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] is conducting experiments on [[Optimus Primal]]'s new [[transmetal]] form to see if they can learn its limits. Their experiment is interrupted by a short-circuit and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s report of a strange Predacon signal on a Maximal channel. [[Rattrap]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] are near the signal and sent to investigate.

[[Image:Tangled Web Tarantulas thoughtful.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hmm, I can put the throw-pillows over there...]]
Quickstrike, Blackarachnia, and Tarantulas arrive at their assigned destination, and Tarantulas decides that the site is a perfect location for his new lair. (His last one had been destroyed [[Aftermath|previously]]) He destroys the transmitter that he had been using to signal the Maximals. Blackarachnia too realizes that this site would be an optimal fortress and mentions it to Tarantulas. He then tells her about his plan to commandeer the site for himself to overthrow Megatron and destroy the Maximals, then says that she must join him in his scheme because of their psychic link. He soon recruits Quickstrike to his cause.

Losing the Predacon signal, Rattrap and Silverbolt are forced to follow the Predacons' scent and soon come across their trail.

As he relaxes in his CR tank hot tub, Megatron learns that Waspinator and Inferno have finished their assignment. When Megatron attempts to contact the other Predacons, though (failing to notice the jamming tower falling on Waspinator), he only gets static and soon realizes that the arachnids are up to something.

[[Image:Tangled Web Mental link.jpg|left|200px|thumb|A headache shared is still a headache.]]
Back at Tarantulas's would-be lair, Blackarachnia is determined to end the psychic link that Tarantulas has been using to control her and threatens to blow up all of the energon there. While he initially is willing to let her do it, Tarantulas soon learns that their link goes both ways and that he shares her pain, so he agrees to break the link.

[[Image:Tangled Web Silverbolt.jpg|right|200px|thumb|En garde!]]
Outside the cavern, Rattrap and Silverbolt finally find the Predacons and engage in a battle with them. The fight begins to go the Maximals' way, but Silverbolt refuses to strike down Blackarachnia because she is [[Female Transformers|female]].

Soon the Maximals realize that the Predacons are guarding the cave and attempt to get in. Their plans are foiled when the entrance blows up. Rattrap congratulates Silverbolt on the blast, but Silverbolt says that he didn't do it. The Predacons are forced to retreat back to Megatron, who chastises them for their incompetence.

Later, though, it becomes clear that Tarantulas blew up the entrance so that he could return and have the cave for himself.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] (7)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (8)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (9)
*[[Rattrap]] (10)
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] (11)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (1)
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] (2)
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] (3)
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Tarantulas]] (5)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (6)

}}
==Quotes==
"While spider-bots argue, Waspinator and Inferno finish job. Megatron will be pleased!"
:—'''Waspinator''' has such optimism.

"Well then, pardner, let's head 'em up and move 'em out."
:—Even '''Tarantulas'''' cow-poke impression is creepy.

"Any progress, Rhinox?" 
"Despite my tests, we still don't know what limits these new Transmetal states may have. Perhaps this new bio-gen scan will—" ''[shocks himself and Optimus]'' "Or perhaps not." ''[falls over]''
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Rhinox'''

"Well, just ain't no figurin' a female." 
''[chuckles]'' "A fact of life, Fuzor."
:—'''Quickstrike''' and '''Tarantulas'''

"Well, considering the honkers we got, it's worth a shot."
:—'''Rattrap''' on using their noses.

"''De''struction's better'n ''con''struction, ya get my drift?"
:—'''Quickstrike''' knows what he likes.

"Maximals." 
"Finally! Somethin' I can sink my teeth inta!"
:—'''Tarantulas''' and '''Quickstrike''', as Rattrap and Silverbolt approach

"That widow's about as female as a piston."
:—'''Rattrap''' on Blackarachnia.

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." ''[laughs]''
:—'''Tarantulas''', settled in to his new lair

==Notes==
===Technical/animation glitches===
* When Tarantulas says "...and we do live to please Megatron", the green 'eyes' on his chestplate are missing.
* Every time Silverbolt growls in this episode, he sounds like [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]. (Of course, when the dude who does your voice does [[Waspinator|three]] [[Dinobot (BW)|other]] [[Rattrap|voices]], you're gonna get mixed up every now and then.)
* Right after the their mental link is broken, before Quickstrike tells them the Maximals are coming, Tarantulas' gold abdomen is facing the wrong way.

===Transformers references===
*Tarantulas is researching the new transmetal forms gained in "[[Aftermath]]".

===Real-world references===
*"Grid Arrakis" is a reference to the planet from Frank Herbert's novel ''[[wikipedia:Dune|Dune]]''.
*Tarantulas says, "Of course, you realize this means war", at one point, a phrase commonly used by Bugs Bunny.
*Tarantulas says, "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home", a reference to the traditional song "[[wikipedia:Home!_Sweet_Home!|Home! Sweet Home!]]"

===Other notes===
* It is very unusual that Tarantulas is capable of tossing a probe on the building supplies without anyone noticing (especially since the probe collides with the load with a heavy clang).

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]