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Madman's Paradise

2026-02-23T05:13:24Z

CicadaNation: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=78
|ep2=12
|prev2=Chaos (episode)
|next2=Surprise Party
|image=G1 Menonia.JPG
|caption="A black, black castle on a black, black rock, in a black, black world…"
|title="Madman's Paradise"
|season=3
|season ep=13
|production code=700-98
|airdate=[[October 13]], 1986
|written by=[[Craig Rand]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Nakamura Production]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th21FtuiSZI
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''A quick stroll through Cybertron leads Daniel Witwicky and Grimlock to someplace different.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Madman Paradise Grimlock drinks.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|If guest not give good tip, me Grimlock eat them.]]

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Autobot]]s are hosting a diplomatic event for a number of species, with [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]], and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] introducing the guests. One ambassador compliments Spike and Carly's "post-embryonic form", but [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] takes it the wrong way. Spike tells Daniel that he can go off and play, but to stay out of trouble (and keep the tuxedo clean and intact). Daniel thinks that there is nobody to play with and complains that there is nobody to get into trouble with anyway. [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], hearing that, decides to give some help on that matter and follows Daniel. (It sure beats serving drinks.)

However, Grimlock does not like the [[Planetary Corridor CB-311-B4|place]] where they are walking around. Daniel idly kicks a stray gear on the ground, and it hits a panel in the wall, revealing a secret passage in the floor. Grimlock leans forward to get a better view, but falls in, knocking Daniel in as well. Sliding down, Grimlock and Daniel are barely able to grab the ledge of a rail on the other side of a crevice. Jumping into the room, they find it covered in ancient symbols. Daniel notices a neat-looking monster, but Grimlock thinks that it's handsome, like him. However, his wagging tail hits the symbol, causing a red circle in the floor to glow, and he and Daniel sink through it. They soon find themselves somewhere other than Cybertron, and someone wearing a red cloak is aware of their arrival.

Back at the party, Carly is having trouble finding Daniel. She asks [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] or [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] if they have seen him, at which point the alien ambassador tells them she saw Daniel walking away with a [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]. The prospect of Grimlock and Daniel together and unsupervised naturally causes everyone to freak out, but Rodimus calls for calm. (The planet is still intact, after all.) The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends Blaster and Ultra Magnus to search for them, with Carly tagging along.

[[File:Madman's Paradise Grimlock treecentaurs.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Even Grimlock gets cold feet now and then.]]

Elsewhere, Grimlock and Daniel come across some strange tree-centaurs. They demand to know whom the two fight for, and Grimlock says nobody. The tree-centaurs decide to attack. Bad idea, as Grimlock proceeds to toss them around. However, one tree-centaur causes Grimlock's leg to freeze, making him fall down. The tree-centaurs then begin tying Grimlock to the ground. (Think ''{{w|Gulliver's Travels}}'', but with robots.) The man in red is impressed with Grimlock's power and sends a bolt of energy to attack the tree-centaurs with a wave of his ''tentacle''. He heads out, changing his tentacle into a hand, and welcomes Daniel and Grimlock to [[Menonia]], the realm they have entered. He offers an invitation from the Red Wizard, who is clearly the old man himself. Taking them to the castle, the Red Wizard claims that the world was once ruled by the [[Golden One]], a powerful sorcerer-king, but that the Golden One disappeared and the Red Wizard took his place. However, evil rebels fought against the Red Wizard. He asks for Grimlock's help, while Daniel, who is asleep, is taken to somewhere more comfortable—the dungeon.

On Cybertron, [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] has tracked down Grimlock and Daniel's scent and discovered the room they were in. [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] discovers that the writings on the wall are [[Quintesson]] inscriptions. The room was a banishment point for the Quintessons, where they would exile their own to various dimensions for various crimes. Rewind concludes that the wayward duo are in Menonia, where [[Mara-Al-Utha]] was banished for practicing sorcery. Perceptor activates the portal and stays behind to reopen it when they need help.

[[File:Madman's Paradise Daniel knife.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hand over the wallet, old man."]]
Meanwhile, Daniel wakes up and sees the old man chained to the dungeon wall. Using a handy-dandy <s>[[lightsaber]]</s> energy blade, Daniel frees the old man, who explains that the Red Wizard was the one who imprisoned the Golden One in a cave. The Golden One loyalists begin an attack on the castle, which frees the two. Grimlock, still duped, begins fighting off the invaders. Daniel and the old man head for the cave in which the Golden One was imprisoned, while the Autobots and Carly, having arrived in Menonia, head to assist Grimlock. However, a piece of Daniel's tuxedo gets cut off, which Carly finds, and Steeljaw sniffs him out. Reaching the young man, Daniel explains to Carly and the cassettes that the Red Wizard is evil, but the Golden One's loyalists are already in retreat. Since they cannot move the stone and free the Golden One, the old man despairs of all hope.

[[File:Madman's Paradise Golden One Blaster.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Blaster's attempts to establish a regular karaoke hour never caught on.]]
At this point, [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] charges the rock, causing it to shatter. The Golden One, exposed to sunlight, is free and reenergized. The old man explains the situation, and the Golden One attacks the Red Wizard's castle. The Golden One's arrival causes the Red Wizard to reveal his true form—as the Quintesson Mara-Al-Utha! The Red Wizard attacks, and the Golden One is too weak to defend. He knows of counter-spells that will stop Mara-Al-Utha, but he needs them to be heard. Blaster [[Transformation|transforms]] into cassette player mode and gives the Golden One a microphone. The Golden One speaks his counter-spells, and Mara-Al-Utha is banished somewhere else.

When the battle is over, the Golden One sends the Autobots and the humans back to Cybertron. However, when they get back, Spike wants to have a talk with Daniel. The boy insists it was an accident, and Grimlock backs him up, saying that Daniel didn't mean to ruin his tux. Everyone but Grimlock begins laughing.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (7)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (10)
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (11)
*[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] (12)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (13)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (15)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (5)
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (6)

|c4=
*[[Ynara]] (2)
*[[Groyle]] (8)
*The Red Wizard ([[Mara-Al-Utha]]) (9)
*The [[Golden One's pupil]] (16)
*The [[Golden One]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Ohhh, Grimlock ... what did you do now?" 
"Uh ... make mistake?"
:—When '''Grimlock''' accidentally starts sending the two of them to another dimension, after tapping a picture in admiration.

"Where are we?" 
"Not Cybertron. California maybe?"
:—'''Daniel''' and '''Grimlock''' trying to determine their whereabouts.

"Don't panic yet. Stay calm until we know what's going on. Then we'll panic."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' on Daniel's and Grimlock's disappearance.

'''Red Wizard:''' "And who is your mighty friend?" 
'''Grimlock:''' "Mighty friend is me, Grimlock!" 
'''Daniel:''' "Don't overdo it, okay?"

"I dunno, my mom says never to go off with strangers." 
"Everybody here stranger! Us not go with stranger, us not go!"
:—'''Daniel''' is hesitant but quickly swayed by '''Grimlock''''s advanced use of logic.

"Me Grimlock mixed up. If wizard so strong, why he need me, Grimlock?" 
"Because!! His enemies are many! Like insects they swarm, and attack, and attack, and attack! With raw force -- primitive magic -- driven by hate, by envy! THEY WILL NOT STOP!!" 
"Me Grimlock just wanted to know..."
:—'''Grimlock''' and the '''Red Wizard'''

"The attack will begin when the golden sun is --" 
''[bzzzzap!!]'' 
"They starting early!"
:— the '''Red Wizard''' and '''Grimlock'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The establishing shot of Cybertron is recycled from ''The Transformers: The Movie''. In a season where Cybertron's appearance is different in almost every single episode, it's a rare note of consistency.
*Spike's last name gets mentioned, a relatively rarity for the cartoon.
*Spike is said to be Earth's ambassador to Cybertron.
*The dimensional teleportation chamber is located at "[[Planetary Corridor CB-311-B4]]".
*Daniel carries an energy blade around with him. Apparently, he had this on him for the whole episode, including the diplomatic meeting at the beginning! Spike really ''does'' need to have a talk with him.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Grimlock blows concentrated air from his dinosaur mouth like a leafblower.
**Grimlock actually uses a sword in this episode! It is ridiculously thin to the point of looking like a cocktail skewer, but he uses it to swat some of the boulders launched at him. Just as with Snarl's, the sword is silver like his package art.
*Like "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[Only Human]]", this is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons.
*Grimlock's tray-carrying moments were the inspiration for ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]]'s posture and accessories. Apparently a key moment for him!
*[[Al-badur]], one of the Quintesson exiles mentioned, would be featured in [[3H Productions|3H]]'s [[Transformers: The Wreckers|''Wreckers'' comics]], where he was used to try to retcon the Quintesson creation story with the more popular [[Primus]] creation story — but then 3H lost the license before it was concluded. Bummer. Back to the fanwanking, people!

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**Snowspeeder laser as a warrior fires a stray shot that hits the prison cell window.
**Sparking and clashing [[lightsaber]]s as a warrior generates a shield to protect himself from Magnus's missile.

===Animation and technical errors===
*Similar to the later aired "[[Webworld]]" and Money is Everything”, there is a distinct lack of two-tone shading in this episode outside of a few shots. There is also a distinct anime influence in several shots, most notably Daniel’s giant sparkly eyes as he says, “We gotta get outta here!”
[[File:MadmansParadise Mara-Al-Utha red wizard form.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Coloring errors:
**After Daniel embarrasses the ambassador, the side of Rodimus' head is white, but two shots later, it's purple; his helmet is also two shades of red instead of one, an odd coloration he'll have for the rest of the episode.
**When Ynara blushes, her clothes, jewelery, hair and headpiece blush with her!
**Also, in the opening shots Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow, but when we switch to the opposite angle, it's orange in the middle.
**When the tree-centaurs first question Grimlock, the back of his neck is grey instead of gold.
**The Red Wizard first comes up to Grimlock and Daniel as a brown-skinned guy, but when he removes his hood, he's in the guise of the Golden One's pupil and has a much lighter shade of skin.
**As Rewind gives details of the corridor, Blaster's forearms are white instead of black.
**As he listens to Magnus's orders, Perceptor's face is the same dark grey as his helmet instead of light grey (and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white).
**When Magnus' team enters the portal, Blaster's head is all-white.
**Daniel's energy blade changes colour from blue to red between shots.
**As the Autobots rush to check on the fallen Golden One, Blaster's chest is yellow with no details (or Autobot logo) on it.
**In the last shot of the episode, the back of Grimlock's neck is grey instead of gold.
*Daniel is supposed to be grabbing the edge of a ledge after he plummets into the secret tunnel, but he actually grabs several inches ''below'' the lip.
*Ventriloquist Dinobot:
**Grimlock's mouth isn't moving as he and Daniel fall into the portal and he asks, "Make Mistake?".
**And again as he comments on the "ugly bird".
**And again when the tree-centaurs ask who he and Daniel fight for and he asks "Who you?" It moves again during his next line.
**And again as he calls out for the Red Wizard during the attack.
**His faceplate doesn't move after he transforms and starts shooting during the battle
**Mara-Al-Utha's mouth doesn't move as he yells at the Golden One.
**"Help us to free you!" - the Pupil's mouth does not move.
*As Grimlock and Daniel watch the "ugly bird" fly off, Grimlock's back is missing all its colorful details. And again, his mouth doesn't move as he speaks.
*When Mara-Al-Utha uses a magic mirror to see Grimlock and Daniel have arrived, the mirror's frame disappears.
*As Daniel and Grimlock are walking before getting attacked by the tree-centaurs, Grimlock's walk cycle unnaturally jumps back to its first animation frame after each loop.
*When Ynara walks up to Carly and Magnus, she's only half Rodimus's height; previously they were the same height.
*One of the tree-centaurs disappears for a couple of frames during the fight with Grimlock.
*As Mara-Al-Utha (in his disguise as the Red Wizard's assistant) greets Daniel and Grimlock to Menonia, Grimlock's left leg is drawn too thick and his right leg vanishes completely. The error pops up again when the shot gets reused for Daniel's "Don't overdo it" line.
*When Grimlock offers up his services to aid in defending the castle, his logo lacks outlines.
*When Blaster ejects Rewind, there's no cavity behind his tape drawer.
*When the Red Wizard yells at Grimlock about the Golden One's armies and their ruthlessness, his neck disappears for a few seconds, exposing the background behind him.
*After the Red Wizard attacks the rebels, Grimlock transforms, but there are frames missing during the transition, so he sort of "pops" into [[robot mode]]. He also gets the wrong transformation sound; going beast-to-robot, he should get the ascending pitch version.
*As Grimlock swings his sword around, his chest is missing most of its detailing (and its Autobot logo, which reappears later when he notices the other Autobots).
*The Golden One is freed and stands in front of the cave opening, but when he flies up there are only trees behind him.
*The Golden One flies towards a perfectly still castle, but the next shot shows plumes of smoke rising up from it.
*Ultra Magnus' gun sounds like Prime's rifle.
*The plot calls for Mara-Al-Utha to surround the Golden One with smoke, cutting him off from the light, but the smoke as animated is almost completely transparent.
*When Magnus grabs the microphone from Blaster, Blaster has one long switch (instead of three smaller ones) on his front.
*Some clever sound effects guy inserted a comical little POP! sound as Blaster's head and hands emerge at the end of his transformation back to robot mode.

===Continuity errors===
*In "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]", Ramhorn spoke normally (aside from a bit of a stutter.) Here he just growls and roars. He won't speak in any of his future appearances, either.

===Trivia===
*According to the [[dialogue script]] of the episode, the Red Wizard's magic incantations are spelled "Albidion... mexilarum... strombi.. BAST!" and "Thromilius".
**The Golden One's spell, meanwhile, is transcribed as "Repidot. Respondot. Rezendot. Zanitar! Zanarre! Zavasar! ALLAK...ARRAK... ARRAM!"
*Although nothing is said or implied of this in the episode, one could infer that the Red Wizard's [[Wood-bot|wooden robots]] are in fact, wooden counterparts of the early Transformers as built by the Quintessons, created by the red wizard to serve him much like the rest of the Quintessons.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''Le paradis des déments'''" ("Mad People's Paradise")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''Le paradis des fous'''" ("Mad People's Paradise")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Rodimus Prime introduces "Ynara, who comes straight from the planet ''Ynara''".
:::*Despite disguising his voice as a man to talk to Daniel, Mara-Al-Utha is dubbed by a woman.
:::*When Grimlock says "Me Grimlock feel surrounded!", the team took advantage of Daniel moving his mouth to add dialogue, so they both speak at the same time, Daniel saying "Do you have any idea who it could be?".
:::*Ynara says "Dinorobot", despite the dub of the series using "Dinobot". However, "Dinorobot" was used in ''The Movie''.
:::*When Carly and Ultra Magnus both say "Daniel?", only [[Francis Lax]] says it, despite not voicing either character.
:::*Name-dodging (and there's a lot in this one):
::::*Rodimus Prime's line "Ultra Magnus, take Blaster and the cassettes and find them!" is dubbed by "Ultra Magnus, take '''someone''' with you and find them!".
::::*Blaster's phrase "My man Steeljaw can sniff out any trail, if it's hot or if it's not!" is dubbed by "With my fine sleuths, no clue can escape us for long!".
::::*Blaster's line "Rewind, tell me what you got!" is dubbed by "What do we know about this passage?".
::::*Ultra Magnus' line "Call Perceptor, have him meet us below" is dubbed by "Tell '''the others''' that we're going to see what's going on down there".
::::*Ultra Magnus' line "Blaster, could Rewind decipher any of this ancient script?" and Blaster answer "He's on the case in his database!" are dubbed by "Is '''anyone''' able to understand this writing?" and Blaster answering "We need to call ''the specialist''!".
::::*Ultra Magnus' line "Stay here, Perceptor" is dubbed by "'''You''', stay here".
::::*Daniel's line "Steeljaw! Boy am I glad to see you!" is dubbed by "Oh gosh I can't believe it, oh I'm so glad to see you!".
::::*Ultra Magnus' line "It's the Quintesson! The exile!" is dubbed by "It's one of the criminals sentenced to exile!".
::::*Ultra Magnus' line "Blaster, amplification!" is dubbed by "Quick! '''You''' will amplify what he will say!".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der rote Zauberer'''" ("The Red Magician")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Il mago rosso'''" ("The Red Wizard")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*When Grimlock says "mighty friend", "friend" is really oddly translated as "friend-amico" (with the English word "friend" followed by the Italian translation "amico").
::*Daniel's line: «Don't overdo it, okay?» is changed to: «Don't be offended, okay?» and so Grimlock's: «Me Grimlock not overdo» becomes: «Me Grimlock not offended, no, no». Still, Daniel's line makes no sense in the scene.
:*''Title:'' "'''Il paradiso del folle'''" ("The Madman's Paradise")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 不思議の国のダニエル (''Fushigi no Kuni no Daniel'', "Daniel of Wonderland")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 6]], [[1987]]
::*The title references ''[[w:Alice's Adventures in Wonderland|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'', known in Japan as ''Fushigi no Kuni no Alice''.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jīn Dàwáng yǔ Hóngyī Fǎshī'''" (金大王与红衣法师, "The Golden King and The Red-Coat Magi")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Paraíso do Louco'''" ("Madman's Paradise")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Due to a glitch in the only known surviving audio track of this dub, the only part of the title that is actually audible is "Louco", but it's a safe bet that the full title is a direct translation from the original English.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rai dlya soomashedshegoh'''" (Рай для сумасшедшего, "The Paradise for the Madman")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 9: Grimlock the Hero ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 20 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Xod9_YWWCXc_3F9-3XzsaII0yL99CLL4 Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Jeff (ranger)

2025-01-08T00:51:46Z

CicadaNation: /* The Transformers cartoon */ process of elimination of the cast present for this episode made it likely to be Hal Rayle. Confirmed by going to YouTube and listening to his normal speaking voice. It’s him

{{disambig3|Jeff}}
:''Jeff is a [[human]] from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:InsecticonSyndrome Ranger Jeff.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"We take our horrible mutilations seriously up in these parts."]]
'''Jeff''' is a park ranger in a [[United States of America|United States]] forest. He has a workmate named [[Mike]].

{{quote|Gigantic robot insects that eat trees? You've gotta be kidding!|Jeff doesn't believe the giant talking robot|"[[The Insecticon Syndrome]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|Hal Rayle (English), [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japanese)|[[Patrick Préjean]] (European French)}}
Concerned by the mysterious appearance of giant chew marks on the trees in his forest, Jeff called the [[Autobot]]s, who sent [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] to investigate. Jeff led them to the chewed trees, and Beachcomber swiftly diagnosed the problem as a case of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s. Although Jeff was skeptical, a short time later, Mike radioed him to report that giant robotic insects were chewing on the redwoods.

The Autobots rolled out to investigate, only to encounter Mike coming the other way at speed, rambling about giant monsters. They were fired on by the Insecticons and tried to escape, only to have the Insecticons roll a felled tree at them. Fortunately, with the aid of one of Hound's holograms, they were able to escape. The Autobots left for the [[Nova Power Plant]], leaving Jeff and Mike to make their own way back. {{storylink|The Insecticon Syndrome}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Jeff''' (ジェフ ''Jefu'')

[[Category:Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon humans]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

Hoist (G1)/toys

2023-07-22T04:08:59Z

CicadaNation: /* Commemorative Series */

{{suite}}

[[File:G1 boxart Hoist.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb]]

Can you hoist all of '''Hoist'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s toys?

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}[[File:G1 Hoist toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Oh, I say old chaps, anyone in need of a lift?"]]
*'''Hoist''' (Autobot Car, [[1985]])
**''Takara ID number'': '''46'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right fists, left & right "Radar Panels", "Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor", 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles

: Released in the second year of [[Hasbro]]'s ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' toyline, Hoist is a [[retool]]ing of 1984's [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Trailbreaker]], transforming into a green Toyota Hi-Lux pickup, only instead of a camper attachment, he has a large orange towing apparatus on his truck bed which can be used to "tow" other toys. In robot mode, he features a new head, which can still use the same "Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor" attachment Trailbreaker has. His forearms are spring-loaded missile launchers (though the springs were severely weakened to comply with US [[for safety reasons|safety regulations]] for projectiles), meaning either arm can sport either a fist or one of his chromed missiles or "Twin Blasters".

: His 1985 [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' release is nearly identical to the Hasbro version, only his missile launchers remain fully functional.

: The Mexican [[IGA]] release of Hoist retained the original Trailbreaker head, but cast in green plastic. Weird. The Mexican version has no white outlines on the caution stripes on the sides. While many IGA ''Transformers'' used lead-based paint (''yikes!''), since this was primarily limited to the yellow paint often used for "eyes", the Trailbreaker-head's red visor likely kept IGA Hoist free from this safety hazard.

: While the mold used to make Hoist was originally released in 1982 in Takara's ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline (thus the hatch on his roof for a Diaclone driver Hoist did not come with), the green-and-orange coloration was made specifically for ''Transformers''. The ''Diaclone'' "4WD Hi-Lux Wrecker Type" only came in [[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)|red-yellow]] and blue-yellow (the latter only in a box set with the toy that would eventually become [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]]), plus had "WRECKER" text on the side-panel hazard-stripe stickers that Hoist lacks.

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-autobot-cars-hoist/444/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Hoist at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Hoist/hoist.htm More information on Generation 1 Hoist at TFU.info]''
{{G1TrailbreakerHoistMold}}
{{-}}

===''Machine Wars''===
[[File:MW-toy Hoist.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Really now, chaps. Black, this is simply too much."]]
*'''Hoist''' (Basic, [[1997]])
**''Accessories'': Grill/rifle
{{toydesigner|[[Takio Ejima]] (TakaraTomy)}}

:A mold originally designed for — but never released in — ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' Hoist shares a mold with ''Machine Wars'' [[Hubcap (MW)#Toys|Hubcap]], transforming into a Kenworth W900 wrecker truck. He is a "flipchanger", meaning most of his transformation sequence is an [[autotransformation|autotransform]], springing into robot mode by lifting a catch (in his case, his towing hook). His front grill/bumper assembly detaches to form a hand-held blaster.

: The "Wilk and Sons Towing" sticker is most likely a reference to Hasbro employee [[Brian Wilk]].<ref>https://twitter.com/BFSAndrew/status/1393598140687785990 [[Andrew Franks]] on Twitter.</ref>

: This toy is [[gang-molding|gang-molded]] with the other three Basic molds in the line. Specifically, his inner robot parts and tow-arm share plastic with [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Thundercracker]]'s inner robot parts, his truck parts share plastic with Thundercracker's head and [[Mirage (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|Mirage]]'s seat, plus he shares the pearlescent-gray windows/visor plastic with, well, everyone.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1997/Autobot/Hoist/hoist.htm More information on ''Machine Wars'' Hoist at TFU.info]''
{{MWHoistMold}}
{{-}}

===''Collector's Edition''===
*'''Hoist''' (2001)
**''ID number'': '''46'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right fists, left & right "Radar Panels", "Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor", 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles

: Hoist was given a ''[[The Transformers: Collector's Edition|Collector's Edition]]'' reissue in Japan in August 2001 as a single-day C3 convention exclusive. Near as can be told, it has no noteworthy changes from the original Takara release of the toy.
{{G1TrailbreakerHoistMold}}
{{--}}

===''Commemorative Series''===
*'''Hoist''' (Autobot Car, [[2003]])
**''Accessories'': Left & right fists, left & right "Radar Panels", "Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor", 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles

: Hoist was later re-re-issued in 2003 by [[Hasbro]] in the fifth assortment of the [[Toys"R"Us]]-[[exclusive]] ''[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Commemorative Series]]'' line. The most notable differences from prior versions of the toy are the [[rubsign]] has been relocated to the underside of the trapdoor on his roof, and the lack of any springs in his forearms, completely neutralizing the launching gimmick; the fists an other attachments are simply held in place with friction.
{{G1TrailbreakerHoistMold}}
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:Hoist-Uni03SC1.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Now armed with a vacuum cleaner!]]
*'''Hoist''' (Spy Changer, 2003)

:''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Hoist is a redeco of the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Spychanger]] version of [[X-Brawn#Spychanger|X-Brawn]], transforming into a [[Mercedes-Benz]] ML320 SUV. He features through-axle wheels to allow for super-fast rolling on smooth surfaces. Like the other toys in his assortment, Hoist uses factory-applied decals for a lot of his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] deco, a rarity for toys released since the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' toyline.

:Originally a Kay-Bee stores exclusive, the first release of this toy (and the others in the assortment) did not have any sub-line designation at all, but later releases for other chains, most notably "budget" chains like Family Dollar, marked them as ''Universe'' product.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/SpyHoist/hoist.htm More information on Spy Changer Hoist #1 at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Uni2}}
[[File:RIDIronhideKB2-UniHoist2.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And yet he's still too big to fit inside Huffer.]]
*'''Hoist''' (Spy Changer, [[2006]])
**''Accessories'': Rifle

:This version of Hoist is identical to the last [[KB Toys]] [[exclusive]] redeco of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] [[Ironhide (RID)#KB2|Ironhide]], transforming into a translucent blue Ford F150 Flareside pickup truck. Being at roughly 1:64 scale and featuring through-axle construction, he is largely compatible with "Hot Wheels" and "Matchbox" brand race tracks and playsets. He was available only on an individual card from discount chains like The Dollar Store.

:This mold was also used to make [[Motormouth]], the [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]] version of [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Generation 2|Ironhide]] and the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' version of ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Ironhide (RID)#Universe (2003)|Ironhide]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Ironhide/ironhide.htm More information on Spy Changer Hoist #2 (well, Ironhide) at TFU.info]''{{G2MotormouthMold}}
{{-}}

===''Encore''===
[[File:G1EncoreHoist.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Ol' Blue Eyes.]]
*'''Hoist''' (Autobot, [[2008]])
**''ID number'': '''14'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right fists, left & right "Radar Panels", "Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor", 2 "Twin Blasters", 2 missiles

: Hoist was re-issued again in Japan in 2008 as part of [[TakaraTomy]]'s ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' line, as the only new item in the tenth wave of product.

: While largely identical to past Takara releases, the Autobot sigil on his hood is now a [[tampograph]] rather than a sticker, his eyes were changed to cartoon-like blue, and similar to the Mexican version, he has no white outlines on the caution stripes on the sides.

::*''[http://www.transformers-universe.com/include.php?path=content/content.php&contentid=1779 More information on Encore Hoist at Transformers-Universe.com]''
{{G1TrailbreakerHoistMold}}
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
====GDO====
[[File:GenerationsGDOHoisttoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Donut?"]]
*'''Hoist''' (Legends Class, [[2012]])
**''Accessories'': Rifle

:''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] Hoist is a [[redeco]] and minor retool of ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Reveal the Shield]]'' Legends Class [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Transformers (2010)|Trailcutter]], and converts into a green SUV of made-up model. He features retooled hands and a hole on the back of his head/roof, making them compatible with [[C joint|3 mm posts]]. He comes with a gun (sculpted after the larger missiles that came with the original Trailbreaker/Hoist toys) with three posts and a hole, allowing the weapon to be held and mounted in different ways.

: Originally developed by Hasbro Asia for release in their territories, Hoist was later released together with various other formerly "Asian market exclusive" toys as a [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive in the United States for the 2012 holiday season.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/GDOHoist/hoist.htm More information on ''Generations'' Hoist at TFU.info]''

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

: Two [[Slug figure|small, non-transforming figurines]] of Hoist, one in robot mode and the other in vehicle mode, based on his ''Generations: [[Thrilling 30]]'' Deluxe Class toy (see below), were packed in with the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2013 [[exclusive]] version of Titan Class [[Metroplex (G1)#SDCC2013|Metroplex]].

: This set also came with tiny figurines of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#SDCC2013|Orion Pax]], [[Megatron (G1)/toys#SDCC2013|Megatron]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#SDCC2013|Bumblebee]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Thrilling 30|Thundercracker]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#SDCC2013|Trailcutter]], each in both modes, for a total of twelve figurines, each based on their larger ''Thrilling 30'' toys. Similarly to the [[Decoy]]s of old, the Autobot figurines are cast in red plastic, and the Decepticons in purple.

{{-}}{{anchor|ACGHK2013}}{{anchor|HKACGCONMetroplex}}
[[File:Generationstoy-T30-Metroplex-Hoist-HKACGCON.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I diagnose you with a severe case of [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]]! Oh wait, it's just [[electrum]].]]
*'''Metroplex''' (Titan Class, 2013)
**'''05 OF 30'''

: Another exclusive version of Titan Class [[Metroplex (G1)#ACGHK2013|Metroplex]] was made available at [[Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong]] 2013. This Metroplex also has the twelve robot/vehicle figurines of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#ACGHK2013|Orion Pax]], [[Megatron (G1)/toys#ACGHK2013|Megatron]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#ACGHK2013|Bumblebee]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#ACGHK2013|Thundercracker]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#ACGHK2013|Trailcutter]], and Hoist, but this time casts the Autobot figurines in gold plastic, and the Decepticons in silver.

{{-}}{{anchor|T30Deluxe}}{{anchor|Deluxe}}
[[File:Generations IDW Hoist.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Hmm, what can one say about Hoist's toy? Well, um... it's green, for starters. It's also, er... it's got a towing hook! A towing hook that, uh... turns into a gun, and...]]
*'''Hoist''' (Deluxe, 2013)
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / 005'''
**''Accessories'': Towing hook/blaster
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (Hasbro)}}

: Part of the sixth wave of 2012-onwards ''Generations'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Hoist is a redeco/retool of [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Generations|Trailcutter]]. He has a new head, and transforms into an off-road truck of made-up model with a towing arm. Instead of Trailcutter's truck bed canopy/shielded blaster, Hoist comes with a towing hook that can transform into a blaster, and peg via [[5 mm post]] onto any of his numerous ports.

: This version of the toy was redecorated into [[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)#Toys|Lift-Ticket]]. The original tooling of this toy also served as the basis of the non-toy characters [[Flatline (G1)|IDW Flatline]], [[Turbofire#Wings Universe|''Wings Universe'' Turbofire]], [[Trailbreaker (SG)|''Shattered Glass'' Trailbreaker]], and [[Lockdown (SG)|''Shattered Glass'' Lockdown]].

: The American release comes packaged with a copy of [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s [[The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist]]''.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/GenHoist/hoist.htm More information on ''Thrilling 30'' Hoist at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Generations'' (Japan)===
{{anchor|TG27}}{{anchor|TrailbreakerHoist2pack}}
*'''Trailbreaker & Hoist''' (Deluxe, [[2013]])
**''ID number'': '''TG-27'''
**''Release date'': [[November 30]] 2013
**''Accessories'': Towing hook/blaster

: The TakaraTomy [[Transformers: Generations (Japan)|''Generations'']] release of ''Thrilling 30'' Hoist is redecoed in colors closer to his original toy, featuring a darker shade of green plastic, a darker orange, and a blue windshield. He also has several additional [[paint operation]]s, including rear lights and a blue-painted visor (rather than the unpainted plastic of the Hasbro release). Hoist's yellow stripes were also changed to a darker orangey-yellow, and some of the black operations on his front bumper changed to silver.

: Hoist was only available in a two-pack with [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#TG27|Trailbreaker]], released in the eleventh wave of ''Generations'' product.

{{-}}

===''Kre-O''===
[[File:Kre-O-Toy Hoist.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|If you get shot, I'll patch you up and give you a...oh, really now, Hasbro. Don't make me have to give my patients those little Lego turkey legs!]]
*'''Hoist''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2013)
**''Collection'': '''2'''
**''Bag number'': '''***** 76'''
**''Accessories'': Long blaster
{{toydesigner|[[Ed Masiello]] (Hasbro)}}

: As part of the second wave of [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] ''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Micro-Changer]]s, Hoist is a [[Kreon]] patterned after Generation 1 Hoist. He can be rebuilt into a tow truck.

: This Collection was still in circulation at "dollar" stores and drug stores up through 2015. They eventually lost the individual-identifying bag codes, but other changes were hidden inside the bag. The 2015 releases replaced the 2x4 logo stand-brick with a new 3x4 logo plate. The Kreon was also given the slight [[retool]]ing to the arm seen in the 2014 Kreons, making the "cuff" parts more sharp-cornered and better adapted to being used as studs. Some of the add-on pieces may also be slightly off-color, possibly due to a change in factories in mid-production.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/Kre-OHoist/hoist.htm More information on Micro-Changer Hoist at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BotCon2013}}
[[File:KreO-Toy HoistMWKreon.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*'''Machine Wars''' (Kreon Souvenir Figure Set, 2013)
**''Accessories'': Large rifle

: This version of Hoist is based on the [[BotCon 2013]] [[#Timelines|version of Hoist]] (see below), which is in turn based on ''[[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]]'' [[#Machine Wars|Hoist]] (see above).

: He came in a ''Machine Wars'' five-pack exclusive to BotCon 2013, which also included Kreons of fellow convention box-set bots [[Megaplex#Kre-O|Megaplex]], [[Obsidian (BM)#Kre-O|Obsidian]], [[Skywarp (MW)#Kre-O|Skywarp]], and [[Strika (BM)#Kre-O|Strika]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BCKre-OHoist/hoist.htm More information on ''Machine Wars'' Hoist at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SDCC2015}}
*'''Kreon Class of 1985''' (Kreon figure set, 2015)
**''Set number'' '''B5152'''
**''Voted'': Most Helpful
**''Accessories'': Double-blaster

: "[[Kreon Class of '85]]" Hoist's deco is much more heavily based on the [[Hoist (G1)/toys#Generation 1|original Hoist toy]], plus gives him a wrist-blaster. Like the rest of the set, he uses the almost-totally-[[retool]]ed 2015 style of Kreon body.

: This box set of thirty Kreons was a [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2015 [[exclusive]], with leftovers being sold on [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] online after the show.

{{-}}{{Anchor|2016}}
*'''Hoist''' (Kreon Micro-Changer, 2016)
**''Collection'': '''2'''
**''Accessories'': Logo plate, large rifle

: In 2016, Micro-Changers Collection 2 was re-released in a whole new production run for Dollar General stores in the US as part of a large collection of re-released ''Kre-O'' sets. But where most of these releases are nigh-identical to the originals, the re-released Micro-Changer blind-bags use the almost-entirely-retooled 2015 Kreon, with slightly-differently-hued plastics than the originals. (It is possible for some of the add-on pieces to be in the older hues.) The "hook" piece from the original version has also been replaced with a similar-but-different piece, as presumably the original element was no longer in production. Hoist's [[tampograph]]s also got a slight change, replacing the flat gray with black, changing his black Autobot symbol to red with a white outline, and changing his upper leg deco to yellow.

: Sadly, this release has no individual-identification code on the bag, requiring you to use the feel-through-the-bag method or just buy blind and hope.
{{-}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:TL-toy Hoist-BC13.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Hey buddy, anybody ever tell you you look like Electro?]]
*'''Machine Wars: Termination''' (BotCon box set, 2013)
**''Accessories'': Rifle

: A redeco/retool of ''Generations'' [[Kup (G1)/toys#Generations|Sergeant Kup]], ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' Hoist is based on [[#Machine Wars|Hoist's ''Machine Wars'' body]], and has a new head that combines the elements of his own head and [[Electro]]'s. He transforms into a "retro"-styled Earth pickup truck of made-up model, and is covered in 3 mm rungs that are compatible with [[C joint]] clip-on weapons. There are two rungs on his backpack, plus two rungs each on his forearm kibble, and two on his lower back. The rifle can either plug into the underside of the truck, forming a second exhaust pipe, or clip onto the roof of the truck via a C joint. Interestingly, due to his transformation, Hoist's truck mode features a working tailgate.

: In an [[Misassembly|assembly error]], Hoist's shoulders are on the wrong sides, preventing his arms from being lowered to his sides all the way.

: Hoist comes in a [[BotCon 2013]]-exclusive boxset with [[Skywarp (MW)#Timelines|Skywarp]], [[Strika (BM)#Timelines|Strika]], [[Obsidian (BM)#Timelines|Obsidian]], and [[Megaplex#Timelines|Megaplex]]. The original version of this toy, with the [[Retool#Gang-molded alternate parts|alternate head]], was used to make ''Generations'' [[Swerve (G1)#Generations|Swerve]], while this version of the mold was redecoed into fellow BotCon 2013 exclusive, [[Electro#Timelines|Autobot Electrons]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BCHoist/hoist.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Hoist at TFU.info]''
{{GenerationsKupMold}}
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron: Earthrise''===
[[File:TF-WFC-E-Deluxe-Hoist.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|This makes him ''moist''.]]
*'''Hoist''' (Deluxe Class, 2020)
**''Hasbro ID number'': '''WFC-E5'''
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''ER-01'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': [[April 25]], 2020
**''Accessories'': Arm cannon
{{toydesigner|[[Yūya Ōnishi]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Part of the first wave of ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Hoist transforms into an Earth pickup truck with towing rig legally distinct from the Toyata Hi-Lux in 20 steps. As part of the new "[[A.I.R. Lock System]]" play pattern, his towing sled has a ramp/attachment point that allows it to attach to other compatible bases. His hand-cannon is designed to slip completely over and around either of his fists, replicating the cartoon's "hand-gun" design, with the peg being long enough to still work as a "[[C.O.M.B.A.T. System]]"-style gun mountable in vehicle mode (or most anywhere else 5 mm-compatible). In keeping with the ''War For Cybertron'' trilogy's concerns with cartoon-based scale, Hoist is one of ''Earthrise's'' tallest deluxe figures, standing just a little over Ironhide from the [[War for Cybertron: Siege|previous toyline]].

: Also pertaining to the previous toyline is Hoist's "battle damage" paint, featured on his chest/hood and the tops of his forearms. Due to the applied part being made of painted translucent plastic, the battle damage paint cannot be stripped from the chest/hood without damaging the color underneath.

: The toy's original stock render had his roof lights colored orange like the rest of his towing assembly, while the final toy has them cast in screen-accurate white plastic. Additionally, the door-windows are presented as a sky-blue color in the render, to better match up with the blue translucent plastic front window, while the actual toy has these windows painted in a non-continuous black.

: Like all ''Earthrise toys'', the inside of the back of Hoist's package includes an exclusive clip-and-save piece of a larger star map. Also in the box is a thin red piece of transparent plastic with which to read the star map. Hoist's piece of the map contains the labeled location of the planet "[[Junkion (planet)|JUNKION]]".

: This version of Hoist was [[redeco]]ed into ''[[Generations Selects (toyline)|Generations Selects]]'' [[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)#Generations Selects|Lift-Ticket]] under the ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' banner, and was also [[retool]]ed into ''Earthrise'' [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Trailbreaker]] and ''Generations Selects/Legacy'' [[Breaker (G1)#Legacy|DK-3 Breaker]].
{{--}}

===''Masterpiece''===
[[File:TF-Masterpiece-MP-58-Hoist.jpg|thumb|upright=1.88]]
*'''Hoist''' ([[January 25]], [[2024]])
**''ID number'': '''MP-58'''
{{toystub}}
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, [[1986]])
*'''Hoist''' ([[1987]])
**''Decoy number:'' '''21'''

:The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Decoys/Hoist/hoist.htm More information on Decoy Hoist at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:DiacloneHoist.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Maybe one of them is the real "Moist"?]]
*Like all of the other 1984-1985 Autobot "cars", the first Hoist toy was originally from the Japanese ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline as a piloted mecha. The '''4WD Hi-Lux Wrecker-type''' (4{{ruby|WD|ダブルディー}}ハイラックスレッカータイプ), came in two different color schemes: red with black kneecaps and yellow wrecker-rig, or in blue with red kneecaps and yellow rig, which was available in a two-pack with the ''Diaclone'' toy that would become [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]]. Yes, the green-and-orange coloration was made up specifically for ''Transformers''.
*The red version would later inspire the character [[Lift-Ticket (Diaclone)|Lift-Ticket]] while the blue version has yet to be used in the ''Transformers'' brand.
*The ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Autotrooper (SG Knights of Unicron)|Autotroopers]] conspicuously sport Hoist heads on the ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] mold and at one point were intended to be the [[BotCon 2016]] troop builder set. [[Jesse Wittenrich]] and [[Pete Sinclair]] would eventually confirm that this Hoist tooling does actually exist as the alternate head associated with the figure's [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Trailbreaker retool]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Decoys]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:KB Toys exclusives]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:SDCC exclusives]]
[[Category:Spychangers]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]

Quintesson

2020-10-17T19:32:22Z

CicadaNation: /* Generations */

{{factions|quintesson}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 alien race|their home planet which is called "Quintesson" in the Marvel Comic UK continuity|Quintessa (planet)}}
[[File:Quint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Hahahaha—[whir] —hahahahaha—[whir] —–hahahahaha—[whir] ——hahahahahaha—[whir] ——–hahahahahaha!"]]

The '''Quintessons''' are a bizarre and ancient race, whose dark history and shadowy machinations are bound up with the history of the [[Transformer]]s, with connections to both [[Primus]] and [[Unicron]]. They are known galaxy-wide as traders, entrepreneurs and businessmen, but their dealings are very rarely on the level, often laced with intrigue and betrayals. They prefer subtle manipulation, scheming, and advanced technology over brute force, but if those don't work, they can fall back on the legion of deadly [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] and [[Allicon]]s at their command and a fleet of battle-ready [[Quintesson spacecraft|spaceships]] as well. However, the Quintessons themselves have zero fighting abilities and are absolute cowards if they have nothing to hide behind. For example, they are seen to be powerless against a Sharkticon revolt.

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

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

==Types of Quintessons==
The Quintessons appear to be mostly (if not entirely) mechanical beings. They come in several distinct forms, some of which are identified by their place in the Quintessons' bizarre court system.
*[[Quintesson Judge]]
*[[Quintesson Bailiff]]
*[[Quintesson Executioner]]
*[[Quintesson Prosecutor]]
*[[Quintesson Scientist]]

[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|125px|thumb|My tentacles are on fire!]]
The Judges are not the only Quintessons to have multiple faces, though the only known exception is the '''three-faced scientist''' who was the primary creator of the [[Trans-Organic]]s. One of his faces was grievously damaged, a scar left by the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], which he covered with a mask.

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

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

[[File:Quint humanoid.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No one remembers we exist.]]
Non-bailiff, non-executioner '''Humanoid''' Quintessons are exceedingly rare. One accompanied [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] on his mission to use a [[Time Window]] to change Cybertron's history, stopping the slave revolt that drove the Quintessons off-planet. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

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

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Regis Cordic]], [[Roger C. Carmel]] and [[Jack Angel]] (English, primary recurring voices, see [[#Notes|Notes]]), [[Dick Gautier]] ("[[The Killing Jar (episode)|The Killing Jar]]"), [[Tony Pope]] ("[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[The Dweller in the Depths]]"), [[Paul Eiding]] ("[[The Quintesson Journal]]"), [[Charlie Adler]] ("[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"), [[Corey Burton]] ("[[Madman's Paradise]]"), [[Aron Kincaid]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]")}}
{{quote|We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy.|[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

[[File:FFOD4 Early Quintessons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The new Powerpuff Girls series never really got off the ground.]]
In ages long past, a race of aliens called the Quintessons existed on the planet-sized factory known as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Some of their early experiments in creating artificial life resulted in the [[Trans-Organic]]s. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} Some Quintessons turned to forbidden arts, and were banished to other dimensions. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} The Quintessons eventually created two lines of sentient robots: one was a line of robots designed for domestic duties and labor (known as [[Autobot]]s), and the other was a line designed for military use (known as [[Decepticon]]s). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} The Quintessons were exceptionally cruel to their creations, eventually leading to wide-spread rebellion, a rebellion started by the Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]]. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} Forced to flee the planet, the Quintessons eventually settled on the small, twisted planet of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], but fostered an undying hatred of all Transformers for the next eleven million years. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

They also spent this time productively, selling technology to other races, and often manipulating the political and military climate of regions of space to increase their sales, all the while diligently keeping track of their work by recording it in [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. {{Storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} Occasionally a race as the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] would arise that could potentially threaten the Quintessons, and they would deal with it by sealing off whole sections of space with [[quadrant lock]]s. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Believe it or not, you really do have better chances in Texas.]]
In 2005, they were shown to capture prisoners for trial and feeding to their army of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]. The mock trials held by the Quintesson Court seemed to have no purpose at all, except maybe for the Quintessons' amusement, as defendants were still immediately fed to the ravenous Sharkticons even when the Judge determined them to be innocent. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] managed to rescue the pair of Autobots the Quintessons had captured. Worse, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspired the Sharkticons to rebel... by stomping his foot on the ground and telling them to do so. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|The Quintessons' involvement in these events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]" and the storybook "[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers the Movie]]."}}

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

[[File:FFOD4 Quintessons raised tentacles and Galvatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Look out, it's Galvatron! Quick, make yourselves look big and maybe he'll leave us alone!"]]
After [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] mounted a rescue for their captive friends, the Quintessons attempted to kill the would-be rescuers by destroying the entire planet of Quintessa. After this plan failed, the surviving Quintessons approached the currently leaderless Decepticons, offering them [[energon]] in exchange for attacking the Autobots who had fled to the planet [[Goo 8739B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} When the newly revived [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] arrived intending to reclaim his army, the Quintessons made an alliance with him to attack Cybertron in return for the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], an object which didn't actually exist outside the Quintessons' fertile imaginations. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

The Quintessons betrayed Galvatron almost immediately after the battle had been won, sending the Sharkticons to pull a [[Large switch|switch]] which would cause all Transformers the galaxy over literally to freeze where they stood. Though the Sharkticons were fought off, Galvatron pulled the lever anyway. The Quintessons landed on Cybertron, intending to reclaim the planet, however Spike destroyed the switch and the Quintessons were forced to abandon the planet in an escape pod. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

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

[[File:ForeverLongTimeComing various Quintessons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Damn it! Who ate my yogurt?!"]]
Later still, the Quintessons attempted to rewrite history by preventing their loss of Cybertron, creating a [[Time Window]] on an asteroid, directed at Cybertron eleven million years in the past. The Autobots attacked the asteroid, occupying it as several of their number passed through the Time Window and resulting in the very fabric of reality starting to unravel the longer the window remained open. The Quintessons made several desperate attempts to retake the asteroid before convincing Rodimus Prime to shut the Time Window down, though their plans were still ruined as the time-displaced A-3 returned to the past to take his part in the rebellion. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After a Quintesson journal was lost on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], the Quintessons began inserting subliminal messages into the Junkions' [[television]] in an attempt to make them tidy and instill a distrust of other life forms. Unfortunately the equipment sending the subliminal signal was damaged during an attempt to retrieve the journal, resulting in the Junkions transmitting subliminal messages to the rest of the galaxy. In the ensuing battle, the Quintessons again tried to retrieve the journal, only to lose it when a stray shot knocked it loose from their tractor beam. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} The journal resurfaced again in the [[Angarrix sector]] at the same time that the Autobots were conducting peace talks with [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], two planets whom the Quintessons had manipulated into war so that they could sell weapons. Despite the Quintessons' best attempts the journal reached the conference where their interference was exposed, and the Autobots destroyed the Quintesson ship as it tried to deliver two [[omega bomb]]s intended to destroy the planets. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

The Quintessons would try other schemes to destroy the Autobots. One involved kidnapping [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and hooking him to a device which manifested his dreams in real life. Unfortunately the dream constructs turned on them when Rodimus was able to reach Daniel's sleeping mind. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}} Another was to manipulate Galvatron into releasing the Trans-Organics. Though Galvatron succeeded, releasing the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], the Autobots managed to expel the creature into space, where it attacked the Quintesson ship. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:MadmansParadise Mara-Al-Utha.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''"Why not Zoidberg?!'']]
Finding Galvatron interfering with the quadrant lock sealing [[Quadrant X]], the Quintessons entered the lock, taking a number of Transformers through with them. Unfortunately their [[isolator key]], needed to reopen the lock, was damaged, forcing them to obtain [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[universal emulator]]. Perceptor was able to program the emulator so that when the Quintessons used it, it disabled the quadrant lock for good. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}} In another dimension on [[Menonia]], the Autobots found the rogue Quintesson scientist [[Mara-Al-Utha]], and defeated him with the help of local wizard named the [[Golden One]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime Quintesson holding tool.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.45|"Right, where am I sticking this?"]]
The Quintessons suggested to Cyclonus that he take Galvatron to [[Torkulon]], believing the experience would prove fatal for the Decepticons. It didn't. {{storylink|Webworld}} A group of Quintessons based on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] made a deal with [[Dirk Manus]] to deliver them the [[Recreator]], while also sending the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] to attack him. Multiple double-crosses ensued until in one final double-cross, Manus set [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on the Quintessons and they retreated without the Recreator. {{storylink|Money Is Everything (episode)|Money Is Everything}}

When Rodimus asked [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to find him a Quintesson, Sky Lynx complained that the Quintessons had gone into hiding in the farthest reaches of the galaxy and would be difficult to find. Nonetheless Sky Lynx managed to find [[Klementia|one being chased]] by [[Hate Plague]] infected Sharkticons, and took him to Earth to restore life to the body of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} The lone Quintesson also restored a number of other Autobots to help Optimus retrieve the Matrix from Rodimus. He did his best to hold off the infected Transformers while Optimus journeyed into the Matrix and found a way to cure the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{--}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
======''Legends'' comic======
Millions of years ago, the Quintessons arrived on the planet that would become Cybertron and discovered the essence of the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] as well as the [[Matrix of Leadership|vessel]] that had once kept it. They subjugated the Oracle by encasing him within [[Vector Sigma]] and creating the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to control his powers, which they used to transform the planet into a metallic world. They went on to use Cybertron as a factory for [[Transformer|robotic slaves]] until their creations rebelled and drove them off the planet, claiming the Oracle's vessel and finding it full of malicious energy after years of accumulating the wisdom of its Quintesson owners. They promptly dumped out the Quintesson wisdom, which would one day go on to become [[Devil Z]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

In need of new territory after being driven off Cybertron, the Quintessons opened a portal to another dimension, the [[Legends World]], and invaded it with an army of [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharges]] led by a lone Quintesson. They were beaten back by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], leading to the Quintessons labeling the Legends World dangerous and sealing away its creators, the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]], with a [[quadrant lock]]. However, the Quintessons were unaware that their portal had in fact spanned time as well as space and led to the far future, and the Legends World would only be created ''after'' the Zamojin were released from the lock. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 59|Bonus Edition Vol. 59}}

======''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010'' story pages======
Teaming up with the Decepticons, the Quintessons began developing new warriors for their "allies". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 2}} The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s were constructed by the Quintessons during this alliance. The Sharkticons, also considered to be part of the Predacon faction, were leased to the Decepticons to bolster their ranks. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 3}} The Quintessons evidently consider the Sharkticons to be "the Pride of the Quintessons" and developed [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] specifically to outdo all previous Decepticon [[combiner]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

During [[Dark Awakening (episode)|the time they had Optimus Prime's corpse in their clutches]], the Quintessons copied his schematics. They also received schematics of Megatron from their alliance with the Decepticons and developed the Colossal Cannon Soldier [[Gilthor]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

======''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers'' manga======
[[File:2010manga04-title.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Great Guns", "Colossal Cannons", it's all semantics.]]

The Quintessons feigned to have created Gilthor as a subordinate for Galvatron, but in reality they had allied themselves with the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who gave the robot life. Gilthor quickly turned on Galvatron during an ambush on Rodimus Prime. He would have won, had Rodimus and Galvatron not worked together to defeat him, foiling the plans of the Quintessons. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #4}}
{{--}}

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

======Controverse======
When [[Primacron]] was taken into custody for unleashing [[Tornedron]] into the cosmos, the galactic council appointed the Quintesson judge [[Adveraros]] to preside over the scientist's trial. To guard the prisoner, the Quintessons brought along several Bailiffs and Sharkticons. Though Adveraros at first seemed to give a sensible ruling (acquittal by reason of insanity) in truth the Quintessons were planning to harvest Primacron's brain once he had been sent to [[Doruka III]], an asylum planet. The plot was foiled by Primacron himself, who fashioned a high-tech whistle out of his mechanical manacles, and took control of all nearby "[[Primitive]]" Transformers. Having restrained Adveraros with his own Sharkticon guards, Primacron revealed that he had once created bacterial machines, which he proposed was the Quintessons' distant ancestors. Adveraros loudly denounced this claim as the Autobots came in to take protective custody of Primacron. {{storylink|Controverse}}

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

The six found themselves on a strange, alien world in the year 2011. With their ship ensnared, they were herded by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] to the Space Tribunal, where the Quintessons put them on trial for time-traveling without their permission.

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

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

======''Generations Selects Special Comic''======
In [[2050]], thanks to humanity discovering and evacuating [[Earth]]'s [[Angolmois Energy]] and the unique temporal properties of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]], the Quintessons managed to escape from their dimensional prison and immediately set out to subdue the island's [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] residents to sell as merchandise. The Dinobots weren't keen on this idea, and so the leading Judge released the [[Recreator]] {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 1}} to bring forth a reborn [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] when the [[Allicon]]s weren't up to the task. Predaking had the Dinobots on the ropes, but they managed to tap into an [[Energon Matrix]] and Angolmois Energy to combine into [[Volcanicus (Generations)|Volcanicus]]. The Dinosaur combiner was able to easily defeat Predaking, although the Quintessons fled before they could be taken care of. {{storylink|Volcanicus comic 2}}

======Story of Binaltech======
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Outlier (comic)|Outlier}}}}

======''Alternity''======
As a result of a [[quadrant lock]] the Quintessons placed upon the [[BT World]] to trap the [[Binaltech]] Autobots, the planet was frozen in time until the [[Alternity]] were born and broke through it 900,000 years later. During the intervening time, however, a tragic fate befell the Quintessons. {{storylink|Alternation}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
{{wingsnote}}
Very early in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Autobot ship ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' was shot down over [[Beta-Nine]] while transporting a [[Matrix of Leadership|vital cargo]]. The Autobots initially believed that the crash was the result of a Decepticon attack, but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], a crewmember of the rescue ship ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', discovered the truth when he found green tentacled remains alongside the corpses of the murdered ''Van De Graaff'' crew. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

The Quintessons created [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] to lead a new generation of Sharkticons. In [[2010]], they sent Sky-Byte and several Sharkticons to Earth in an alliance with the [[Decepticon Syndicate]]. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

By [[2984]], Quintesson space had come under the control of the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]s. In that year, the temporally-displaced pirates known as the [[Star Seeker]]s traveled near former Quintesson space on their way to find the immortal spark of the infamous Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. The Star Seekers eventually gained access to a [[Shut-Up-Tornado-I'm-Trying-To-Think|planetoid]] existing in a pocket of space surrounded by black holes. In a chamber on the planetoid, they encountered a lone Quintesson who claimed to have been betrayed and marooned by Starscream on the planetoid some time earlier. The Star Seekers gave the Quintesson passage off of the planetoid in exchange for telling all that he knew of Starscream's last known destination. However as it turned out, the Quintesson was long dead, and Starscream's immortal spark had been using the Quintesson's body as a puppet. Forming an alliance with the Decepticon Star Seeker [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]], Starscream discarded the Quintesson's body and hijacked Captain [[Cannonball (G1)|Cannonball]]'s body for himself, simultaneously allowing Flamewar to take control of the Star Seekers for herself. {{storylink|Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur}}

=====''Transformers: All Spark''=====
{{groupstub}}
{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In an unstable [[Iocus]] universe engineered by the machinations of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Renegade#Gong|Gong]], the Quintessons on Quintessa were replaced by the [[Master Renegade]] and the [[Monster GoBot]]s on [[Antares 3|Antares III]] during the events of the [[Unicron War]]. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}}

=====''Deviations''=====
A group of Quintessons were presiding over the execution of Kranix when Optimus Prime and the Autobots intervened, forcing the Quintessons to abandon their kangaroo court and flee. Optimus noted a feeling of familiarity towards the aliens and their planet but could not place it. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations|Deviations}}

=====Big Looker storybooks=====
[[File:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Rarely do encounters with Autobots work out well for the Quintessons.]]
An Autobot ship crashed on Quintesson, with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] the only survivor. The Quintessons captured him, throwing him in a dungeon. They intended to execute him, taking him to a Sharkticon pit, however he managed to evade them and escaped into the jungles of Quintesson. When Hot Rod's ship also crashed on the planet, the Quintessons tried to mount a sneak attack, only for Wheelie to appear and fight them off single-handed. The Quintessons returned with Sharkticon backup, stalking the Autobots as Wheelie tried to lead them away from the crash site, however as it turned out even with their Sharkticons, the Quintesson were no match for the Autobots and most of them were killed in the battle that ensued. {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{--}}

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

=====3H comics=====
Millennia ago, the Quintessons were the minions of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], send out to locate [[Primus]]. The Quintessons succeeded, but rather than turn Primus over to Unicron, they instead constructed barriers around him, intending to make use of him to create consumer product lines. They eventually succeeded in doing so through [[Vector Sigma]], though some of their number such as [[Al-Badur]] warned of the danger of trying to control Primus's creations. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

Meanwhile the Wreckers encountered Al-Badur on an icy world, and he filled them in on the origin of Cybertron and bargained for his departure from the planet in exchange for information about the [[Divine Light]]. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

=====''Beast Wars: Uprising''=====
Several millennia ago, the Cybertronians bought some surplus [[Terrorbot]] drones from the Quintessons, including the cumbersome and inefficient [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] drones. {{storylink|Burning Bridges}}

Following the failed [[Great Push]] of [[2033]], a Quintesson court found Galvatron and his compatriots guilty of their many war crimes, sentencing them to death. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} By the 24th century, the Quintessons were among the few species still allowed to travel in and out of the [[Allowed Zone]] due to pre-existing contractual relationships with Cybertron; the [[Human Confederacy]] regarded the Quintessons with suspicion.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3361342 Post by Jim S on the Allspark Forums]</ref>

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

In an alternate future of 2005, the Quintessons took Hot Rod, Kup and several other Autobots hostage on their homeworld and chucked them into the Sharkticon pits for punishment. The Autobots were able to escape, however, and the Sharkticons quickly turned on their cruel masters. {{storylink|Judgment Day!}}

''In 2008, Quintesson scientists realized that their planet, Quintesson, was threatened with destruction by a time rift that was caused by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s time-traveling. Though they scoped out several other worlds to move their civilization to, the [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] containing the records on these planets was lost on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}} ''In an attempt to retrieve it, they captured [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and had him interrogated by the [[Mister Regan|Galaxy's greatest torturer]]. After being left to the torturer's tender mercies for some time, Wreck-Gar "confessed," in an elaborate story, that the journal was lost in the void of space. The Quintessons quickly deduced that whole tale had been nothing but [[Quintesson#The Big Broadcast of 2006|a fabrication]], and executed the torturer for failing to deliver the journal's true location.'' {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

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

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

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

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
After a [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] of great importance to the Quintessons was lost on the planet Junkion, the Quintessons sent down a school of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] planet-side to retrieve it. Though the Sharkticons came close to completing their mission, they were chased off at the last moment by the planet's natives, much to the Quintessons' frustration. Deciding to make another attempt at its retrieval through more surreptitious means, the Quintessons sent down a television set the next day, knowing of the Junkions' fondness for Earth broadcasts. Their television set, however, also broadcasted a subliminal message, which caused the Junkions to act aggressively towards all outsiders, and made compelled them to clean up their planet. The Quintessons hoped this would allow them to more easily find their journal amidst Junkion's heaps of garbage, while keeping any other parties who might interfere at bay.

As soon as the Junkions found the Quintessons' journal, the latter moved in. But the Autobots and Decepticons had caught wind that something was amiss on Junkion by this time, and both factions also became involved, forcing the Quintessons to attack them. The Autobot [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] proved too mighty for them however, and the Quintesson were forced to retreat without their prize in hand. Worse yet, during the Autobots' and the Decepticons' scuffle in Junkion's orbit, the Quintessons' transmitter was damaged, ultimately resulting in its broadcast being sent all around the galaxy. Various species gathered around the planet to duke it out between themselves as a result. Seeing another opportunity to seize their lost journal, the Quintessons sent down a shuttle-craft to retrieve it while everyone else was distracted in the melee. But as the journal was captured in the shuttle-craft's tractor beam, a wild shot hit it, sending the journal off into the void of space, and out of the Quintessons' reach. The Quintesson tasked with retrieving the journal was sentenced to death for failing to fulfill his mission. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

====''The Invisibility Factor''====
{{notemultipath}}
In one possible scenario, the Quintessons, currently allied with the Decepticons, sent a messenger craft to Earth. They informed Galvatron that they were ready to send in troops to help in a full-scale invasion of the Earth. Without any Autobots around to interfere with the messages they were relaying the Quintessons and the Decepticons soon turned Earth into one giant refuelling station.{{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}

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

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
The Quintessons were an alien race which appeared to have conquered Cybertron at some point, but were driven off. However, they continued to maintain watch over Cybertron, eventually coming to manipulate the [[Council of Ancients]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] claimed this was the reason that he started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

Megatron's animosity towards the Quintessons did not stop him from making a deal with the aliens, who provided him with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and a bunch of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]]. Knowing Megatron and the Quintessons, both were planning to betray each other when the time was right. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Megatron had promised to deliver Cybertron's core to the Quintessons in exchange for the army they had provided him, but Megatron forestalled on completing the deal once he had conquered Cybertron. The Quintessons grew annoyed, and began to rightly suspect that Megatron planned to renege on their transaction. Little did they know that [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], having been accidently been transported to Quintessa, was eavesdropping on their conversation, learning the true nature of Cybertron's conquest. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} The Quintessons discovered Flash spying on them, but he escaped thanks to his superior speed. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} The Quintessons then attempted to remotely extract Cybertron's core, only for their efforts to be thwarted by Starscream. Though their plans ended in failure, the Quintessons learned that the power they sought was also contained within Optimus Prime, a target much more attainable than Cybertron's core. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

The Quintessons began plotting further in earnest against Cybertron after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Noting that [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] might stand in their way, the Quintessons readied to put into use one of their agents on Cybertron, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who they could use to "distract" him. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} When Arcee informed that Hot Rod would soon be put in a mostly isolated position, the Quintessons excitedly put their plans of conquest in motion ahead of schedule. They called upon [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] to ready herself {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} and her [[Female Autobots|extraction team]] to invade Cybertron. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Generation One #11}}

{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}

Under the Quintessons' supervision, the extraction team successfully knocked out Hot Rod and retrieved the unconscious Autobot. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}}

====''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''====
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|What order is this read in?!]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded information on Cybertron's history from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s databanks, he saw the Quintessons create the [[Trans-Organic|transorganics]] and the Transformers. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
An enigmatic Quintesson historian named [[Pentius]] was shipwrecked on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for centuries until he was freed by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who needed a guide to get off the planet. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} During their time together, the Quintesson nurtured Megatron's evil ambitions in order to shape him into a true monster, though his motives for doing so were clouded in mystery. The Decepticon eventually killed Pentius to use his [[spark]]'s energy as fuel, but he was content with his death as it proved Megatron's training was complete. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} After inserting Pentius's spark into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Megatron accessed the giant's jumbled memories and saw other Quintessons, which he described as "devils" that preyed upon and destroyed entire civilizations. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

Some time after [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Ore-1]] [[Regenesis]] missiles struck the planet [[LV-117]], someone painted the Death face of a Quintesson Judge on top of the [[Decepticon]] insignia adorning it. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} A strange inscription of a Quintesson judge was also present inside the ruins of some unknown ancient civilization on the planet. Through the cracks in the stone it was carved into, its eerie eyes glowed... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

As [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began consuming LV-117, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Varta]] planned to flee the planet on a [[Quintesson Cruiser|familiar screw-shaped ship]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} {{storylink|Our Darkest}} After crashing the ship on [[LV-118]], Wheelie claimed to have stolen it from someone, but didn't specify who. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

A similar ship - this one chock full of Sharkticons - was used by Wreck-Gar and [[Rum-Maj|Rum-Maj's]] group of Junkions to travel to Earth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

When a trio of Autobots entered Unicron's internals, they found the remains of the Quintesson engraving. [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] questioned its significance only for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to point out the painting's presence meant they were nearing Unicron's core. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}}

====''Kre-O'' online comics====
[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked a Quintesson and spun it around by the tentacles during his rampage. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
The mysterious fifth dimensional beings known only as "the Makers" created the universe and with it [[Daiakuron]], a living planet which they imbued with the power to create life on its own. They went on to merge together, five at a time, into [[combiner|gestalt]] forms, becoming the Quintessons. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}} Taking up residence in the [[Transwarp|Void]], the Quintessons were displeased that the life spawned from Daiakuron had developed sentience, something they had not intended. They seized [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimal Prime]], [[Snake-Eyes]], and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]], putting them all on trial for theft of the body and the soul. Reviewing their memories: acquiring the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], being trained by the Blind Master in martial arts, and living at odds with his step-father, respectively, the trio was found guilty! However, before punishment could be dealt, the trio escaped back into reality. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} After learning the identity of their creators, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] sent a joint crew to [[Quadrant X]] to find the Quintessons. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
When [[Gozer]] appeared on Cybertron, the [[Temple of Gozer|temple]] it summoned was adorned with Quintesson visages. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
[[File:Alpha Q Faces.jpg|thumb|150px|left|"Show all five faces? With our budget?"]]
:''See [[Alpha Quintesson]]''

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

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

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

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

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

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

====Shattered Expectations====
When [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] and [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] confronted the evil Autobots [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], Starscream ordered the Autobots to surrender in the name of the '''[[Quintesson Federation]]'''. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations}}

===Aligned continuity family===
The Quintessons were small, organic, squid-like creatures. Physically frail, easily injured, and extremely cowardly, the Quintessons themselves were rarely seen, and did most of their dirty work through various proxies, willing or unwilling. When the Quintessons did need to expose themselves to further their own ends, they frequently encased themselves in mechanical suits styled after their various slave races, often claiming to be representatives of other races.

At some point after the creation of the first Transformers, [[Quintus Prime]] left Cybertron to seed other worlds in the universe with life with the [[Emberstone]], in the hopes that other peaceful, space-faring civilizations would one day contact Cybertron to form friendly alliances. Among his earliest creations were the Quintessons. So that didn't work out too well.

After creating the Quintessons, Quintus Prime was never heard from again; [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] idly speculated that the Quintessons may have killed their creator. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

The Quintessons developed interstellar travel before the Transformers. At some point in the past, the Quintessons stole and reverse-engineered [[space bridge]] technology from an unknown source. They eventually discovered Cybertron toward the end of that planet's Age of Origins. As the first alien beings ever to make contact with the planet, the arrival of their ships awed the young Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} The Quintessons claimed to be benevolent entities sent to "uplift" the Cybertronians from their primitive existence, so that they could join the galactic community. By giving Cybertronians the "gift" of transformation and the power to assume [[alternate mode]]s, the Quintessons won Cybertron's public support. In reality, though, the Quintessons had simply learned to manipulate the dormant [[transformation cog]]s present in every Transformer. The dispersal of Quintesson technology and tutelage turned the feudal, tribe-based planet into a sophisticated spacefaring civilization almost overnight. The Quintessons established rule of law and eventually a global order overseen by the [[Elite Guard]] member [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].

Secretly, the Quintessons aimed to slowly rob the Cybertronians of their individuality, then sell them into slavery as mindless drones. To further this goal, they began implanting various Cybertronians, such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], with cockpits intended to house Quintesson pilots. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The Quintessons organized other Cybertronians into working collectives and attempted to tamper with the Well of All Sparks itself; newborn Transformers began emerging without names or identities, and instead received alphanumeric designations. The Quintesson's twisted, bizarre sense of justice led to the construction of the [[Supreme Court]] on Cybertron, a kangaroo court where innocents could be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

Eventually, a resistance movement formed, and the Quintessons were defeated in a rebellion led by Sentinel Prime, who led Cybertron into a subsequent [[Golden Age]]. Traces of their rule, such as the cockpits implanted in many Cybertronians, would remain even as Cybertron slowly rid itself of their influence. Some of the Cybertronians who had lived through this disturbing period- including a young librarian named [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]]- suppressed their traumatic memories of Cybertron's occupation, and eventually forgot about the Quintessons almost entirely. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Generations later, Orion Pax claimed Sentinel and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] had enslaved Cybertron with the [[caste system]] instead of having it forced on them by the Quintessons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The Quintessons never forgot about their humiliating rout at the hands of their former servants, and for many centuries the embittered race enviously regarded the planet and its inhabitants as rightfully theirs. At some point after Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], the Quintessons discovered and colonized the Transformers's ex-colony world of [[Aquatron]], modifying the bodies of its inhabitants to produce techno-organic monstrosities such as the [[Gamekeeper]] and the [[Hydratron]]. Aquatron was eventually subsumed into the Quintesson Imperium, and the Quintessons used their new [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] slaves as aquatic shock troopers.

When the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' entered the Aquatron system during Optimus Prime's search for the [[AllSpark]], the Quintessons awakened [[Inquirata (Prime)|Inquirata]] and his associate [[Xeros]] to carry out their deception that would eventually lead to the second invasion of Cybertron. Manipulating both Optimus and [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to the planet's surface under the guise of a peace treaty, the Quintessons were eventually able to place both Autobots and Decepticons under arrest and take them to court. During the trial, the Quintessons claimed that they had colonized Cybertron and literally built the first Transformers; Optimus quickly saw through their deception and maintained that all Cybertronians were creations of [[Primus]] alone. The Quintesson judges found Optimus innocent, and forced him to duel to the death with Megatron; siphoning energy from the two leaders, they powered a Space Bridge to Cybertron and launched a second invasion force to re-colonize and enslave Cybertron. Their genetically engineered leader [[Tyrannicon]] spearheaded the Sharkticon invasion and was able to swiftly overwhelm the weakened planet. The invasion was only defeated after Megatron, forced into a temporary truce with his archenemy, discovered the [[Sharkticon Matrix of Leadership]] and used it to override Tyrannicon's hold on his troops. In the ensuing fight, Xeros, Tyrannicon, and Inquirata were all killed, and Aquatron itself was freed of Quintesson control. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

The [[Mutacon]]s knew of the Quintessons but considered the law-bound Quintesson way of life to be boring and a worse fate than death. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeremy Levy]] (Death, English), [[Saskia Marx]] (Judgement and Cruelty, English), [[Dick Terhune]] (Chaos and [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]], English), [[Mike Rose]] (Ego, English), [[Billy Bob Thompson]] (Starscream, English), [[Sophia Isabella]] (Gray, English), [[Ryan Nicolls]] (Velgrox, English)}}
The Quintessons were a strange race of aliens, interdimensional beings who travelled the [[multiverse]] using their [[multiverse drive]] and passed judgement on which universes deserved to live or be destroyed. {{storylink|The Trial}} To do so, the Quintessons would create "[[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judges]]", hybrid beings based on the native lifeforms of that universe; if the universe was found guilty, then the Judge would oversee the destruction of the universe by using [[Transwarp|unspace]] to obliterate all matter. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} The [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]] traditionally oversaw the process, and in his travels developed a fondness for collecting various iterations of [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]] he plucked from the various doomed universes his kind had passed judgement upon. {{storylink|The Scientist}}

When exactly it is that the Quintessons found this particular universe is not clear; hieroglyphs inside the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Croaton]] suggested that the aliens had invaded his colony and abducted his inhabitants long before the present day, {{storylink|Ghost Town}} with [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] referencing the Quintesson reputation for engineering when affecting repairs to a disused [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Either way, the Quintessons had established an outpost in a distant region of the galaxy at some point before [[2007]]. Having previously encountered the [[Velgrox]] and the [[Gray]], incorporating a member of both races into their latest Judge, the Quintessons discovered that Cybertronians existed in this universe after Croaton, in search of his missing citizens, flew past the outpost, taking the hapless [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] with him. Although the current Judge planned to simply judge and dispose of their new prisoner, the ambitious Seeker tried to win over his captors by revealing the existence of the [[AllSpark|Allspark]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Seeing this as a power source to fuel the creation of the new Judge, the Quintessons made for Cybertron and "rewarded" Starscream with their highest honor: assimilation into the next Judge. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

Arriving shortly after [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s defeat, the Quintessons quickly conquered the planet and ensnared the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in the tendrils of their command tower. The Cybertronians were rounded up and placed in a virtual reality simulation designed to keep them happy and docile while the Scientist both drained their [[spark]]s and tapped into the Allspark's energy itself to fuel the creation of this new Judge. {{storylink|The Loop}} {{storylink|The Scientist}} Unfortunately, their machinations were upset by [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]], who the Quintessons had overlooked during their conquest of the planet. The ad hoc Cybertronian resistance he assembled operated out of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam]]'s, invisible to Quintesson sensors, and threatened to undermine their control of the planet. Although the Quintesson forces eventually captured Hot Rod, the Autobot leader proved uncooperative and was found guilty. {{storylink|The Trial}}

Soon, the resistance infiltrated the command tower and clashed with the Scientist himself, their battle putting the unborn Judge at risk and severing their hostages' connection to the virtual reality loop. {{storylink|The Scientist}} Freed of their prison, [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]], and their respective forces rebelled against the Quintessons, with the conflict escalating into open war between the two forces. Despite their best efforts, the Cybertronians proved unable to breach the force field that protected the Quintesson headquarters, but the partial activation of [[Iaconus]] pushed their [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] warriors into a retreat. {{storylink|The Alliance}}

The Quintessons eventually gained the advantage, primarily by the Judge's rage at Megatron's theft of their multiverse escape pod, disabling nearly all enemy combatants. However, the Judge was attacked and overwhelmed by the resistance leaders and, in their damage and frenzy, they crashed into the command tower, seemingly perishing as it exploded and collapsed. Although the prior Judge was killed, it had survived long enough for the gestation of their new Judge to finish. {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}}

The new Judge Starscream rounded up nearly all his enemies, only to monologue over them while Optimus Prime and Megatron were being located. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} Iaconus was soon awakened and battled the enslaved Croaton under Judge Starscream's command. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe II}} Despite the Scientist being killed off by Wheeljack, Judge Starscream used unspace to slay Iaconus. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

Despite his victory over Iaconus, Judge Starscream soon lost control of Croaton. As his enemies broke free and rallied, he was soon overwhelmed and seemingly destroyed by the dual [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices]] of Optimus Prime and a returned Megatron. The Quintesson invasion was effectively overthrown, and the remainder of their forces were subsequently dealt with by the Autobots and Deceptions. No trace of their occupation remained by the time of the factions' split control of the planet. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}}

====Alternate universe====
In the universe from which [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron X]] hailed from, the tyrant used a [[laser snare]] to destroy the Quintesson flagship as it descended onto Cybertron before salvaging its technology for his own ends. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends Quintesson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.2|You spin me right round baby, right round.]]
The Quintessons put [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] on trial. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived and promptly turned the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] on their masters. {{storylink|Mockery of Justice}} Intending to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]], the Quintessons allied with [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and sent her in to cause trouble. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}} They also send [[Skuxxoid]]s to the games to kidnap [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 1}} When the trio were rescued post-sentencing by the other Autobots, the Quintessons destroyed their own home planet, Quintesson, in an attempt to eliminate them. The Quints then tried to enlist the help of the Decepticons to wipe out the Autobots, only for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to arrive and reclaim his troops. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}} They soon struck an alliance with Galvatron and attacked Cybertron, with the end result that they activated an ancient device to deactivate all Transformers. After the device was destroyed by Spike, the Quintessons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3}}

The Quintessons observed from afar Ultra Magnus and his Autobots celebrated the activation of a new power core. Enraged by the sight, the Quintessons plotted to get revenge on both Autobots and Decepticons. They then approached Galvatron and gave the Decepticon leader false coordinates to a power core. The Quintessons had in truth led Galvatron to the location of their old creations, the Dweller and the Trans-Organics. After the ensuing battle that took place between the Autobots, the Decepticons and the Quintessons' ancient creations, a faint Quintesson cry for help was broadcast from deep underground... {{storylink|Dweller in the Depths (Legends)|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{--}}

===Transformers: Forged to Fight===
[[File:Quintessons-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|450px|Like a color-changing lamp!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{charstubgames}}

==Toys==
===''Energon''===
*'''[[Alpha Quintesson]]''' (Mega, [[2005]])
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, missile, base, three tentacles
[[File:Alpha Quintesson toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I do hope you'll bring these gadgets back in one piece, 007.]]

:One of the last toys in the [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|''Energon'' line]], Alpha Quintesson is fairly unique in that he is one of the only toys in the history of the main ''Transformers'' line that does not transform in any manner or even come with any kind of transforming accessory (like the [[Action Master]]s).

:Alpha Quintesson requires quite a bit of assembly out of the box, coming in six separate pieces: his main body, a solid "bed of tentacles" that serves as a wheeled base that the body plugs into, a firing missile launcher which plugs into his back (via a standard 5mm peg that also allows other characters to wield it) and points up over his head, and three rubber, wire-poseable tentacles which attach to the base. The tentacles end in a large yellow clamp, a red chainsaw, and a purple energy arc, and spin around via a gear-wheel system when the base is rolled back and forth. The figure features nine circular ports (three on each arm and three on the base), to which either [[Energon star|energon chip]]s or any weapons featuring 5mm pegs can be attached.

:The main body is notably very [[Show-accuracy|accurate]] to the CGI model from the animated series, save for its coloration and the addition of the missile launcher. As a toy that was entirely dull green from top to bottom would not have been a very interesting sight, the figure features several shades of green with yellow highlights, plus a red paint wash on its "underbelly" and arms. The main body contains its own gimmick, involving Alpha Q's spinning faces as seen in the cartoon. Opening the armor's jaws reveals Alpha Q's head, recessed within the body (though unable to move forward into a more prominent position as seen in the show), and pressing the trigger on the back of the body, disguised as one of the spinal fins, causes the head to spin from face to face. The toy only features the character's first three faces (Angry, Whiny and Crazy); the purple, calm face is not featured.

:As an allegiance was needed to brand the figure with for marketing purposes, Alpha Quintesson's toy is sold as a Decepticon, despite that faction not really being where his loyalties lie. There were also many reports of the toy coming misassembled, missing the hard point where the figure connected to the base, making it nigh impossible for the toy to stand up on its own.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/AlphaQuintesson/alphaquintesson.htm More information on Alpha Quintesson at TFU.info]''

===''Cyberverse''===
*'''Quintesson Invasion''' (Multi-pack, [[2019]])
[[File:CyberverseQuintessonToy.jpeg|thumb|200px|The Big Surprise of 2019]]

:The Quintesson Judge included in this set is a new roughly deluxe-sized mold, with five different faces that rotate when the top of the body is pushed down and released. The molded tentacle base/body has 4 ball-jointed tentacles that can pose freely.

:Also included in the set are the Spark Armor [[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] and [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Battle Class|Shockwave]], now ''sans'' the spark armor and with new mind control helmet accessories. Additionally, the mind control helmets can plug into any Battle Class spark armor figure. Ironically, Shockwave and Prowl died before encountering the Quintessons in the actual cartoon.

:The set was [[exclusive]] to [[Target]] in the United States and [[Toys"R"Us]] in Canada, and appeared at retail in December 2019 with no prior announcement by [[Hasbro]].
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
====''War for Cybertron: Earthrise''====
[[File:TF-WFC-E-Voyager-Quintesson-Judge.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it."]]
*'''Quintesson Judge''' (Voyager Class, [[2020]])
**''ID number'': '''WFC-E22'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''ER EX-08'''
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[August 29]], 2020'''
**''Accessories:'' Blaster, cage, seat, blast effect
:The first [[show-accuracy|G1-accurate]] Quintesson toy, released at the Voyager [[Size class|pricepoint]] as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' toyline. The Quintesson Judge and court chair convert into a modular battle station vaguely resembling the gangplank of a [[Quintesson Cruiser]] and separate prison cell in 16 steps. The cell is large enough to fit a Battlemaster. The faces can rotate via a switch and three of the five have articulated mouths. The included blaster resembles the welding / repair gun that a Quintesson Judge used in "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]". The order of the faces matches Transformers: The Movie, which means it does not match the order in the cartoon show or the comics, which had Rage and Doubt surrounding Death, rather than Bitterness and Laughter. The faces can be rearranged, but it requires taking apart and reassembling the hinges. The blaster can be stored either in the prison cell or underneath the chair for... sneakier judgement passing.

:Two faces (Rage and Doubt) come detached in the package, requiring owners to plug them into their respective sides; strangely, there have been multiple reports from owners that Rage was far more difficult to plug in. Promotional photos depicted a yellow levitation beam but production pieces were clear.

:He was originally supposed to be released in the second wave, but was changed to the third wave, with Starscream replacing him. In Japan, the Quintesson Judge was released as a [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusive.
{{-}}

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy''====
[[File:QuintPitOfJudgment.jpeg|upright=1.66|thumb|They've got this case all wrapped up.]]
*'''Quintesson Pit of Judgment''' (Multi-pack, 2020)
**''Accessories:'' Judge's blaster, cage, seat, blast effect; Bailiff's staff; Sharkticon's tail/mace
:This [[giftset]] represents the "trial" of [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] during ''The Transformers: The Movie''. The set includes a Quintesson Judge (a brighter [[redeco]] of the ''Earthrise'' toy above, now packaged with all its faces attached); a Bailiff (a [[retool]] of the ''Earthrise'' [[Allicon#Toys|Allicon]] with a new head, chest, shoulders, and axe); a non-transforming Prosecutor; a Sharkticon (a redeco of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Sharkticon (species)#Generations|Sharkticon]]); and a non-transforming Kranix. The interior packaging forms the Sharkticon execution pit.

:This piece was [[exclusive]] to [[Hasbro Pulse]] in the United States. It was announced to the public before the "standard" versions of the Judge and Allicon were released, and was available first for people who attended the Hasbro Fans Expo in [[Hong Kong]] and preordered the set.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:FloroDery originalquintesson.jpg|thumb|Touch the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow!]]
*The Quintessons were named after a local restaurant.<ref>Flint Dille interview at TFcon 2016</ref>
*An early design for the Quintessons, described in an April 1985 draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', gave them spindly bipedal bodies with large heads. Per this draft, the Autobots would have been shocked to discover that, in reality, they were ''all head''; when Hot Rod grabbed one, its head would disconnect from its body, fly off, and link up to another body in waiting. Somewhere along the way, the body idea got dropped, but not before designer [[Floro Dery]] produced a design seemingly based on this early idea, seen at right, revealed through his [https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FDartstudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name Etsy store] in October 2014. The idea did not disappear completely, however; the mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" was produced before the movie's script was finalized, and contains a few references to ideas from this early draft, including a scene in which one of [[Deliberata]]'s faces detaches—seemingly derived from the idea of a removable head.
*When asked about the finalized Quintesson design in an interview, Dery stated they were based on a cylindrical toy he designed at some point.<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref>
*In their first appearance in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', the two speaking Quintessons are voiced by [[Regis Cordic]] (who plays the judge) and [[Roger C. Carmel]] (the prosecutor). These two actors then became the primary recurring voices of the Quintessons in the third season of the cartoon, usually playing judges, with [[Jack Angel]] normally serving as a third in episodes where more than two speaking roles were required. In [[AKOM]]-animated episodes, Cordic's Quintesson (usually designated "Quintesson #1" in scripts) would commonly speak from the Face of Doubt, while Carmel's ("Quintesson #2") used the Face of Laughter; Angel's intermittently-appearing third Quintesson would most often use the Face of Death, but animation errors, and Quintesson face-rotating meant that these were not ''absolute'' rules. In [[Toei Animation|Toei]] episodes, judges usually spoke from the Face of Death regardless of actor, and prosecutors got more screen time, with Cordic, as the "lead" Quintesson actor, voicing most of them. Numerous guest actors also played assorted "guest" Quintesson roles in various episodes.
*Since [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]] never explains what the characters are being charged with, and offers no logical progression to a verdict, it's usually interpreted that Quintesson justice simply operates on reverse terminology for the sake of humor—that the Quintessons ''say'' "innocent", but dohohoho, they're aliens, and to them, that ''means'' "guilty", so the accused is sentenced to death. This was certainly the assumption [[Simon Furman]] was working off of when he first used the Quintessons in the UK-only framing sequence of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" and had a Quintesson find [[Mister Regan|an interrogator]] to be "innocent" of things which he is unambiguously guilty of. The 2014 novel ''[[Transformers: Retribution|Retribution]]'' also followed this path, with the note that "innocent" must "mean something different" to the aliens, as the characters on trial are indeed entirely guilty of what they are being accused of. What is consistently overlooked, however, is the one instance in all Transformers canon of the Quintessons actually finding someone guilty, which happens to Kup and Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". And they ''are'' guilty of the charges put before them: being Autobots, the race who stole Cybertron from the Quintessons. While it may have started out that way at some point in the script process of the movie, the cartoon universe made clear very early on that Quintesson justice isn't supposed to operate on reverse terminology for humor's sake; the aliens know the difference between the two terms, and the trials are just trivial, for their own amusement, before they kill you anyway.
*In a Q&A, [[Simon Furman]] said he considered making the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] a Quintesson artifact but changed his mind.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032 SIMON FURMAN - Q&A Nov/Dec 2008 at IDW Publishing Forums]</ref>
*The ''Animated'' Quintessons are just off-screen mentions, but as their empire's name is near-identical to [[Japan|Imperial Japan]]'s {{w|Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere}}, we can assume they're ''very nasty''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Quintessa-seijin''' (クインテッサ星人, "Planet Quintessa People"), '''Quintesson''' (クインテッサン ''Kuintessan'')
*''Italian:'' '''Quintessenziali''' ("Quintessentials")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wǔ Miàn Guài''' (五面怪, "Five-faced Monster")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Cyberverse species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 aliens]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon species]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) species]]
[[Category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Quintessons| ]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise subgroups]]
[[Category:Wings Universe species]]

Quintesson

2020-09-08T00:50:53Z

CicadaNation: /* Generations */

{{factions|quintesson}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 alien race|their home planet which is called "Quintesson" in the Marvel Comic UK continuity|Quintessa (planet)}}
[[File:Quint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Hahahaha— —hahahahaha— —–hahahahaha— ——hahahahahaha— ——–hahahahahaha!"]]

The '''Quintessons''' are a bizarre and ancient race, whose dark history and shadowy machinations are bound up with the history of the [[Transformer]]s, with connections to both [[Primus]] and [[Unicron]]. They are known galaxy-wide as traders, entrepreneurs and businessmen, but their dealings are very rarely on the level, often laced with intrigue and betrayals. They prefer subtle manipulation, scheming, and advanced technology over brute force, but if those don't work, they can fall back on the legion of deadly [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] and [[Allicon]]s at their command and a fleet of battle-ready [[Quintesson spacecraft|spaceships]] as well. However, the Quintessons themselves have zero fighting abilities and are absolute cowards if they have nothing to hide behind. For example, they are seen to be powerless against a Sharkticon revolt.

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

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

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

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

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

<gallery perrow="5">
File:Quintessondeath.jpg|'''Death'''
File:Qhead1.gif|'''Rage'''/Wrath
File:Qhead2.gif|'''Laughter'''/War
File:Qhead3.gif|'''Bitterness'''/Wisdom
File:Qhead4.gif|'''Doubt'''/Judgment
</gallery>

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

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

Named Judges include:
*[[Brinn]]
*[[Deliberata]]
*[[Derodomontatus]]
*[[Heirodyus]]
*[[Kledji]]
*[[Klementia]]
*[[Pentius]]
*[[Sevax]]
*[[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]]
*An unnamed [[Judge (Cyberverse)|judge]]

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

===Executioners===
[[File:TFU Quintesson Gatekeeper.jpg|thumb|Pokey, pokey!]]
Marvel's ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' referred to this kind of Quintesson as a "Gatekeeper," suggesting the design was created specifically for a scene that wound up being deleted from the film, in which a Quintesson standing watch at the gate to their citadel sent the Dinobots (searching for Hot Rod and Kup) off in the wrong direction. With the deletion of this scene, the design was instead used for the Quintesson who throws the switch that sends [[Arblus]] plumetting into the Sharkticon pit, earning them the designation of "Executioner."

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

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

Named prosecutors include:
*[[Krahulik]]
*[[Vashik]]
*Various unnamed [[Prosecutor (Cyberverse)|prosecutor]]s
{{-}}

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

Named scientists include:
*[[Al-Badur]]
*[[Extempaxia]]
*[[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]]
*[[Mara-Al-Utha]]
*An unnamed [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|scientist]]
{{-}}

===Other types===
[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|125px|thumb|My tentacles are on fire!]]
The Judges are not the only Quintessons to have multiple faces, though the only known exception is the '''three-faced scientist''' who was the primary creator of the [[Trans-Organic]]s. One of his faces was grievously damaged, a scar left by the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], which he covered with a mask.

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

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

[[File:Quint humanoid.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No one remembers we exist.]]
Non-bailiff, non-executioner '''Humanoid''' Quintessons are exceedingly rare. One accompanied [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] on his mission to use a [[Time Window]] to change Cybertron's history, stopping the slave revolt that drove the Quintessons off-planet. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

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

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Regis Cordic]], [[Roger C. Carmel]] and [[Jack Angel]] (English, primary recurring voices, see [[#Notes|Notes]]), [[Dick Gautier]] ("[[The Killing Jar (episode)|The Killing Jar]]"), [[Tony Pope]] ("[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[The Dweller in the Depths]]"), [[Paul Eiding]] ("[[The Quintesson Journal]]"), [[Charlie Adler]] ("[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"), [[Corey Burton]] ("[[Madman's Paradise]]"), [[Aron Kincaid]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]")}}
{{quote|We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy.|[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

[[File:FFOD4 Early Quintessons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The new Powerpuff Girls series never really got off the ground.]]
In ages long past, a race of aliens called the Quintessons existed on the planet-sized factory known as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Some of their early experiments in creating artificial life resulted in the [[Trans-Organic]]s. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} Some Quintessons turned to forbidden arts, and were banished to other dimensions. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} The Quintessons eventually created two lines of sentient robots: one was a line of robots designed for domestic duties and labor (known as [[Autobot]]s), and the other was a line designed for military use (known as [[Decepticon]]s). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} The Quintessons were exceptionally cruel to their creations, eventually leading to wide-spread rebellion, a rebellion started by the Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]]. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} Forced to flee the planet, the Quintessons eventually settled on the small, twisted planet of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], but fostered an undying hatred of all Transformers for the next eleven million years. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

They also spent this time productively, selling technology to other races, and often manipulating the political and military climate of regions of space to increase their sales, all the while diligently keeping track of their work by recording it in [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. {{Storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} Occasionally a race as the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] would arise that could potentially threaten the Quintessons, and they would deal with it by sealing off whole sections of space with [[quadrant lock]]s. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Believe it or not, you really do have better chances in Texas.]]
In 2005, they were shown to capture prisoners for trial and feeding to their army of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]. The mock trials held by the Quintesson Court seemed to have no purpose at all, except maybe for the Quintessons' amusement, as defendants were still immediately fed to the ravenous Sharkticons even when the Judge determined them to be innocent. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] managed to rescue the pair of Autobots the Quintessons had captured. Worse, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspired the Sharkticons to rebel... by stomping his foot on the ground and telling them to do so. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|The Quintessons' involvement in these events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]" and the storybook "[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers the Movie]]."}}

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

[[File:FFOD4 Quintessons raised tentacles and Galvatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Look out, it's Galvatron! Quick, make yourselves look big and maybe he'll leave us alone!"]]
After [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] mounted a rescue for their captive friends, the Quintessons attempted to kill the would-be rescuers by destroying the entire planet of Quintessa. After this plan failed, the surviving Quintessons approached the currently leaderless Decepticons, offering them [[energon]] in exchange for attacking the Autobots who had fled to the planet [[Goo 8739B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} When the newly revived [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] arrived intending to reclaim his army, the Quintessons made an alliance with him to attack Cybertron in return for the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], an object which didn't actually exist outside the Quintessons' fertile imaginations. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

The Quintessons betrayed Galvatron almost immediately after the battle had been won, sending the Sharkticons to pull a [[Large switch|switch]] which would cause all Transformers the galaxy over literally to freeze where they stood. Though the Sharkticons were fought off, Galvatron pulled the lever anyway. The Quintessons landed on Cybertron, intending to reclaim the planet, however Spike destroyed the switch and the Quintessons were forced to abandon the planet in an escape pod. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

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

[[File:ForeverLongTimeComing various Quintessons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Damn it! Who ate my yogurt?!"]]
Later still, the Quintessons attempted to rewrite history by preventing their loss of Cybertron, creating a [[Time Window]] on an asteroid, directed at Cybertron eleven million years in the past. The Autobots attacked the asteroid, occupying it as several of their number passed through the Time Window and resulting in the very fabric of reality starting to unravel the longer the window remained open. The Quintessons made several desperate attempts to retake the asteroid before convincing Rodimus Prime to shut the Time Window down, though their plans were still ruined as the time-displaced A-3 returned to the past to take his part in the rebellion. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After a Quintesson journal was lost on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], the Quintessons began inserting subliminal messages into the Junkions' [[television]] in an attempt to make them tidy and instill a distrust of other life forms. Unfortunately the equipment sending the subliminal signal was damaged during an attempt to retrieve the journal, resulting in the Junkions transmitting subliminal messages to the rest of the galaxy. In the ensuing battle, the Quintessons again tried to retrieve the journal, only to lose it when a stray shot knocked it loose from their tractor beam. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} The journal resurfaced again in the [[Angarrix sector]] at the same time that the Autobots were conducting peace talks with [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], two planets whom the Quintessons had manipulated into war so that they could sell weapons. Despite the Quintessons' best attempts the journal reached the conference where their interference was exposed, and the Autobots destroyed the Quintesson ship as it tried to deliver two [[omega bomb]]s intended to destroy the planets. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

The Quintessons would try other schemes to destroy the Autobots. One involved kidnapping [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and hooking him to a device which manifested his dreams in real life. Unfortunately the dream constructs turned on them when Rodimus was able to reach Daniel's sleeping mind. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}} Another was to manipulate Galvatron into releasing the Trans-Organics. Though Galvatron succeeded, releasing the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], the Autobots managed to expel the creature into space, where it attacked the Quintesson ship. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:MadmansParadise Mara-Al-Utha.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''"Why not Zoidberg?!'']]
Finding Galvatron interfering with the quadrant lock sealing [[Quadrant X]], the Quintessons entered the lock, taking a number of Transformers through with them. Unfortunately their [[isolator key]], needed to reopen the lock, was damaged, forcing them to obtain [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[universal emulator]]. Perceptor was able to program the emulator so that when the Quintessons used it, it disabled the quadrant lock for good. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}} In another dimension on [[Menonia]], the Autobots found the rogue Quintesson scientist [[Mara-Al-Utha]], and defeated him with the help of local wizard named the [[Golden One]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime Quintesson holding tool.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.45|"Right, where am I sticking this?"]]
The Quintessons suggested to Cyclonus that he take Galvatron to [[Torkulon]], believing the experience would prove fatal for the Decepticons. It didn't. {{storylink|Webworld}} A group of Quintessons based on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] made a deal with [[Dirk Manus]] to deliver them the [[Recreator]], while also sending the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] to attack him. Multiple double-crosses ensued until in one final double-cross, Manus set [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on the Quintessons and they retreated without the Recreator. {{storylink|Money Is Everything (episode)|Money Is Everything}}

When Rodimus asked [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to find him a Quintesson, Sky Lynx complained that the Quintessons had gone into hiding in the farthest reaches of the galaxy and would be difficult to find. Nonetheless Sky Lynx managed to find [[Klementia|one being chased]] by [[Hate Plague]] infected Sharkticons, and took him to Earth to restore life to the body of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} The lone Quintesson also restored a number of other Autobots to help Optimus retrieve the Matrix from Rodimus. He did his best to hold off the infected Transformers while Optimus journeyed into the Matrix and found a way to cure the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{--}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
======''Legends'' comic======
Millions of years ago, the Quintessons arrived on the planet that would become Cybertron and discovered the essence of the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] as well as the [[Matrix of Leadership|vessel]] that had once kept it. They subjugated the Oracle by encasing him within [[Vector Sigma]] and creating the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to control his powers, which they used to transform the planet into a metallic world. They went on to use Cybertron as a factory for [[Transformer|robotic slaves]] until their creations rebelled and drove them off the planet, claiming the Oracle's vessel and finding it full of malicious energy after years of accumulating the wisdom of its Quintesson owners. They promptly dumped out the Quintesson wisdom, which would one day go on to become [[Devil Z]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

In need of new territory after being driven off Cybertron, the Quintessons opened a portal to another dimension, the [[Legends World]], and invaded it with an army of [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharges]] led by a lone Quintesson. They were beaten back by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], leading to the Quintessons labeling the Legends World dangerous and sealing away its creators, the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]], with a [[quadrant lock]]. However, the Quintessons were unaware that their portal had in fact spanned time as well as space and led to the far future, and the Legends World would only be created ''after'' the Zamojin were released from the lock. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 59|Bonus Edition Vol. 59}}

======''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010'' story pages======
Teaming up with the Decepticons, the Quintessons began developing new warriors for their "allies". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 2}} The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s were constructed by the Quintessons during this alliance. The Sharkticons, also considered to be part of the Predacon faction, were leased to the Decepticons to bolster their ranks. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 3}} The Quintessons evidently consider the Sharkticons to be "the Pride of the Quintessons" and developed [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] specifically to outdo all previous Decepticon [[combiner]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

During [[Dark Awakening (episode)|the time they had Optimus Prime's corpse in their clutches]], the Quintessons copied his schematics. They also received schematics of Megatron from their alliance with the Decepticons and developed the Colossal Cannon Soldier [[Gilthor]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

======''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers'' manga======
[[File:2010manga04-title.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Great Guns", "Colossal Cannons", it's all semantics.]]

The Quintessons feigned to have created Gilthor as a subordinate for Galvatron, but in reality they had allied themselves with the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who gave the robot life. Gilthor quickly turned on Galvatron during an ambush on Rodimus Prime. He would have won, had Rodimus and Galvatron not worked together to defeat him, foiling the plans of the Quintessons. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #4}}
{{--}}

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

======Controverse======
When [[Primacron]] was taken into custody for unleashing [[Tornedron]] into the cosmos, the galactic council appointed the Quintesson judge [[Adveraros]] to preside over the scientist's trial. To guard the prisoner, the Quintessons brought along several Bailiffs and Sharkticons. Though Adveraros at first seemed to give a sensible ruling (acquittal by reason of insanity) in truth the Quintessons were planning to harvest Primacron's brain once he had been sent to [[Doruka III]], an asylum planet. The plot was foiled by Primacron himself, who fashioned a high-tech whistle out of his mechanical manacles, and took control of all nearby "[[Primitive]]" Transformers. Having restrained Adveraros with his own Sharkticon guards, Primacron revealed that he had once created bacterial machines, which he proposed was the Quintessons' distant ancestors. Adveraros loudly denounced this claim as the Autobots came in to take protective custody of Primacron. {{storylink|Controverse}}

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

The six found themselves on a strange, alien world in the year 2011. With their ship ensnared, they were herded by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] to the Space Tribunal, where the Quintessons put them on trial for time-traveling without their permission.

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

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

======Story of Binaltech======
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Outlier (comic)|Outlier}}}}

======''Alternity''======
As a result of a [[quadrant lock]] the Quintessons placed upon the [[BT World]] to trap the [[Binaltech]] Autobots, the planet was frozen in time until the [[Alternity]] were born and broke through it 900,000 years later. During the intervening time, however, a tragic fate befell the Quintessons. {{storylink|Alternation}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
{{wingsnote}}
Very early in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Autobot ship ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' was shot down over [[Beta-Nine]] while transporting a [[Matrix of Leadership|vital cargo]]. The Autobots initially believed that the crash was the result of a Decepticon attack, but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], a crewmember of the rescue ship ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', discovered the truth when he found green tentacled remains alongside the corpses of the murdered ''Van De Graaff'' crew. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

The Quintessons created [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] to lead a new generation of Sharkticons. In [[2010]], they sent Sky-Byte and several Sharkticons to Earth in an alliance with the [[Decepticon Syndicate]]. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

By [[2984]], Quintesson space had come under the control of the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]s. In that year, the temporally-displaced pirates known as the [[Star Seeker]]s traveled near former Quintesson space on their way to find the immortal spark of the infamous Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. The Star Seekers eventually gained access to a [[Shut-Up-Tornado-I'm-Trying-To-Think|planetoid]] existing in a pocket of space surrounded by black holes. In a chamber on the planetoid, they encountered a lone Quintesson who claimed to have been betrayed and marooned by Starscream on the planetoid some time earlier. The Star Seekers gave the Quintesson passage off of the planetoid in exchange for telling all that he knew of Starscream's last known destination. However as it turned out, the Quintesson was long dead, and Starscream's immortal spark had been using the Quintesson's body as a puppet. Forming an alliance with the Decepticon Star Seeker [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]], Starscream discarded the Quintesson's body and hijacked Captain [[Cannonball (G1)|Cannonball]]'s body for himself, simultaneously allowing Flamewar to take control of the Star Seekers for herself. {{storylink|Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur}}

=====''Transformers: All Spark''=====
{{groupstub}}
{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In an unstable [[Iocus]] universe engineered by the machinations of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Renegade#Gong|Gong]], the Quintessons on Quintessa were replaced by the [[Master Renegade]] and the [[Monster GoBot]]s on [[Antares 3|Antares III]] during the events of the [[Unicron War]]. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}}

=====''Deviations''=====
A group of Quintessons were presiding over the execution of Kranix when Optimus Prime and the Autobots intervened, forcing the Quintessons to abandon their kangaroo court and flee. Optimus noted a feeling of familiarity towards the aliens and their planet but could not place it. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations|Deviations}}

=====Big Looker storybooks=====
[[File:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Rarely do encounters with Autobots work out well for the Quintessons.]]
An Autobot ship crashed on Quintesson, with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] the only survivor. The Quintessons captured him, throwing him in a dungeon. They intended to execute him, taking him to a Sharkticon pit, however he managed to evade them and escaped into the jungles of Quintesson. When Hot Rod's ship also crashed on the planet, the Quintessons tried to mount a sneak attack, only for Wheelie to appear and fight them off single-handed. The Quintessons returned with Sharkticon backup, stalking the Autobots as Wheelie tried to lead them away from the crash site, however as it turned out even with their Sharkticons, the Quintesson were no match for the Autobots and most of them were killed in the battle that ensued. {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{--}}

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

=====3H comics=====
Millennia ago, the Quintessons were the minions of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], send out to locate [[Primus]]. The Quintessons succeeded, but rather than turn Primus over to Unicron, they instead constructed barriers around him, intending to make use of him to create consumer product lines. They eventually succeeded in doing so through [[Vector Sigma]], though some of their number such as [[Al-Badur]] warned of the danger of trying to control Primus's creations. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

Meanwhile the Wreckers encountered Al-Badur on an icy world, and he filled them in on the origin of Cybertron and bargained for his departure from the planet in exchange for information about the [[Divine Light]]. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

=====''Beast Wars: Uprising''=====
Several millennia ago, the Cybertronians bought some surplus [[Terrorbot]] drones from the Quintessons, including the cumbersome and inefficient [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] drones. {{storylink|Burning Bridges}}

Following the failed [[Great Push]] of [[2033]], a Quintesson court found Galvatron and his compatriots guilty of their many war crimes, sentencing them to death. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} By the 24th century, the Quintessons were among the few species still allowed to travel in and out of the [[Allowed Zone]] due to pre-existing contractual relationships with Cybertron; the [[Human Confederacy]] regarded the Quintessons with suspicion.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3361342 Post by Jim S on the Allspark Forums]</ref>

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

In an alternate future of 2005, the Quintessons took Hot Rod, Kup and several other Autobots hostage on their homeworld and chucked them into the Sharkticon pits for punishment. The Autobots were able to escape, however, and the Sharkticons quickly turned on their cruel masters. {{storylink|Judgment Day!}}

''In 2008, Quintesson scientists realized that their planet, Quintesson, was threatened with destruction by a time rift that was caused by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s time-traveling. Though they scoped out several other worlds to move their civilization to, the [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] containing the records on these planets was lost on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}} ''In an attempt to retrieve it, they captured [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and had him interrogated by the [[Mister Regan|Galaxy's greatest torturer]]. After being left to the torturer's tender mercies for some time, Wreck-Gar "confessed," in an elaborate story, that the journal was lost in the void of space. The Quintessons quickly deduced that whole tale had been nothing but [[Quintesson#The Big Broadcast of 2006|a fabrication]], and executed the torturer for failing to deliver the journal's true location.'' {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

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

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

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

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
After a [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] of great importance to the Quintessons was lost on the planet Junkion, the Quintessons sent down a school of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] planet-side to retrieve it. Though the Sharkticons came close to completing their mission, they were chased off at the last moment by the planet's natives, much to the Quintessons' frustration. Deciding to make another attempt at its retrieval through more surreptitious means, the Quintessons sent down a television set the next day, knowing of the Junkions' fondness for Earth broadcasts. Their television set, however, also broadcasted a subliminal message, which caused the Junkions to act aggressively towards all outsiders, and made compelled them to clean up their planet. The Quintessons hoped this would allow them to more easily find their journal amidst Junkion's heaps of garbage, while keeping any other parties who might interfere at bay.

As soon as the Junkions found the Quintessons' journal, the latter moved in. But the Autobots and Decepticons had caught wind that something was amiss on Junkion by this time, and both factions also became involved, forcing the Quintessons to attack them. The Autobot [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] proved too mighty for them however, and the Quintesson were forced to retreat without their prize in hand. Worse yet, during the Autobots' and the Decepticons' scuffle in Junkion's orbit, the Quintessons' transmitter was damaged, ultimately resulting in its broadcast being sent all around the galaxy. Various species gathered around the planet to duke it out between themselves as a result. Seeing another opportunity to seize their lost journal, the Quintessons sent down a shuttle-craft to retrieve it while everyone else was distracted in the melee. But as the journal was captured in the shuttle-craft's tractor beam, a wild shot hit it, sending the journal off into the void of space, and out of the Quintessons' reach. The Quintesson tasked with retrieving the journal was sentenced to death for failing to fulfill his mission. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

====''The Invisibility Factor''====
{{notemultipath}}
In one possible scenario, the Quintessons, currently allied with the Decepticons, sent a messenger craft to Earth. They informed Galvatron that they were ready to send in troops to help in a full-scale invasion of the Earth. Without any Autobots around to interfere with the messages they were relaying the Quintessons and the Decepticons soon turned Earth into one giant refuelling station.{{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}

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

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
The Quintessons were an alien race which appeared to have conquered Cybertron at some point, but were driven off. However, they continued to maintain watch over Cybertron, eventually coming to manipulate the [[Council of Ancients]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] claimed this was the reason that he started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

Megatron's animosity towards the Quintessons did not stop him from making a deal with the aliens, who provided him with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and a bunch of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]]. Knowing Megatron and the Quintessons, both were planning to betray each other when the time was right. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Megatron had promised to deliver Cybertron's core to the Quintessons in exchange for the army they had provided him, but Megatron forestalled on completing the deal once he had conquered Cybertron. The Quintessons grew annoyed, and began to rightly suspect that Megatron planned to renege on their transaction. Little did they know that [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], having been accidently been transported to Quintessa, was eavesdropping on their conversation, learning the true nature of Cybertron's conquest. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} The Quintessons discovered Flash spying on them, but he escaped thanks to his superior speed. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} The Quintessons then attempted to remotely extract Cybertron's core, only for their efforts to be thwarted by Starscream. Though their plans ended in failure, the Quintessons learned that the power they sought was also contained within Optimus Prime, a target much more attainable than Cybertron's core. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

The Quintessons began plotting further in earnest against Cybertron after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Noting that [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] might stand in their way, the Quintessons readied to put into use one of their agents on Cybertron, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who they could use to "distract" him. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} When Arcee informed that Hot Rod would soon be put in a mostly isolated position, the Quintessons excitedly put their plans of conquest in motion ahead of schedule. They called upon [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] to ready herself {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} and her [[Female Autobots|extraction team]] to invade Cybertron. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Generation One #11}}

{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}

Under the Quintessons' supervision, the extraction team successfully knocked out Hot Rod and retrieved the unconscious Autobot. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}}

====''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''====
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|What order is this read in?!]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded information on Cybertron's history from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s databanks, he saw the Quintessons create the [[Trans-Organic|transorganics]] and the Transformers. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
An enigmatic Quintesson historian named [[Pentius]] was shipwrecked on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for centuries until he was freed by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who needed a guide to get off the planet. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} During their time together, the Quintesson nurtured Megatron's evil ambitions in order to shape him into a true monster, though his motives for doing so were clouded in mystery. The Decepticon eventually killed Pentius to use his [[spark]]'s energy as fuel, but he was content with his death as it proved Megatron's training was complete. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} After inserting Pentius's spark into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Megatron accessed the giant's jumbled memories and saw other Quintessons, which he described as "devils" that preyed upon and destroyed entire civilizations. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

Some time after [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Ore-1]] [[Regenesis]] missiles struck the planet [[LV-117]], someone painted the Death face of a Quintesson Judge on top of the [[Decepticon]] insignia adorning it. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} A strange inscription of a Quintesson judge was also present inside the ruins of some unknown ancient civilization on the planet. Through the cracks in the stone it was carved into, its eerie eyes glowed... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

As [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began consuming LV-117, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Varta]] planned to flee the planet on a [[Quintesson Cruiser|familiar screw-shaped ship]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} {{storylink|Our Darkest}} After crashing the ship on [[LV-118]], Wheelie claimed to have stolen it from someone, but didn't specify who. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

A similar ship - this one chock full of Sharkticons - was used by Wreck-Gar and [[Rum-Maj|Rum-Maj's]] group of Junkions to travel to Earth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

When a trio of Autobots entered Unicron's internals, they found the remains of the Quintesson engraving. [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] questioned its significance only for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to point out the painting presence's meant they were nearing Unicron's core. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}}

====''Kre-O'' online comics====
[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked a Quintesson and spun it around by the tentacles during his rampage. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
The mysterious fifth dimensional beings known only as "the Makers" created the universe and with it [[Daiakuron]], a living planet which they imbued with the power to create life on its own. They went on to merge together, five at a time, into [[combiner|gestalt]] forms, becoming the Quintessons. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}} Taking up residence in the [[Transwarp|Void]], the Quintessons were displeased that the life spawned from Daiakuron had developed sentience, something they had not intended. Seizing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Snake-Eyes]], and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] the three were placed on trial for theft of the body and the soul. Reviewing their memories, acquiring the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], being trained by the Blind Master in martial arts and living at odds with his step-father, respectively the trio was found guilty! Before persecution could be passed they escaped back into reality. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} After learning the identity of their creators, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] sent a joint crew to [[Quadrant X]] to find the Quintessons. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
When [[Gozer]] appeared on Cybertron, the [[Temple of Gozer|temple]] it summoned was adorned with Quintesson visages. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
[[File:Alpha Q Faces.jpg|thumb|150px|left|"Show all five faces? With our budget?"]]
:''See [[Alpha Quintesson]]''

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

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

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

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

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

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

====Shattered Expectations====
When [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] and [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] confronted the evil Autobots [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], Starscream ordered the Autobots to surrender in the name of the '''[[Quintesson Federation]]'''. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations}}

===Aligned continuity family===
The Quintessons were small, organic, squid-like creatures. Physically frail, easily injured, and extremely cowardly, the Quintessons themselves were rarely seen, and did most of their dirty work through various proxies, willing or unwilling. When the Quintessons did need to expose themselves to further their own ends, they frequently encased themselves in mechanical suits styled after their various slave races, often claiming to be representatives of other races.

At some point after the creation of the first Transformers, [[Quintus Prime]] left Cybertron to seed other worlds in the universe with life with the [[Emberstone]], in the hopes that other peaceful, space-faring civilizations would one day contact Cybertron to form friendly alliances. Among his earliest creations were the Quintessons. So that didn't work out too well.

After creating the Quintessons, Quintus Prime was never heard from again; [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] idly speculated that the Quintessons may have killed their creator. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

The Quintessons developed interstellar travel before the Transformers. At some point in the past, the Quintessons stole and reverse-engineered [[space bridge]] technology from an unknown source. They eventually discovered Cybertron toward the end of that planet's Age of Origins. As the first alien beings ever to make contact with the planet, the arrival of their ships awed the young Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} The Quintessons claimed to be benevolent entities sent to "uplift" the Cybertronians from their primitive existence, so that they could join the galactic community. By giving Cybertronians the "gift" of transformation and the power to assume [[alternate mode]]s, the Quintessons won Cybertron's public support. In reality, though, the Quintessons had simply learned to manipulate the dormant [[transformation cog]]s present in every Transformer. The dispersal of Quintesson technology and tutelage turned the feudal, tribe-based planet into a sophisticated spacefaring civilization almost overnight. The Quintessons established rule of law and eventually a global order overseen by the [[Elite Guard]] member [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].

Secretly, the Quintessons aimed to slowly rob the Cybertronians of their individuality, then sell them into slavery as mindless drones. To further this goal, they began implanting various Cybertronians, such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], with cockpits intended to house Quintesson pilots. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The Quintessons organized other Cybertronians into working collectives and attempted to tamper with the Well of All Sparks itself; newborn Transformers began emerging without names or identities, and instead received alphanumeric designations. The Quintesson's twisted, bizarre sense of justice led to the construction of the [[Supreme Court]] on Cybertron, a kangaroo court where innocents could be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

Eventually, a resistance movement formed, and the Quintessons were defeated in a rebellion led by Sentinel Prime, who led Cybertron into a subsequent [[Golden Age]]. Traces of their rule, such as the cockpits implanted in many Cybertronians, would remain even as Cybertron slowly rid itself of their influence. Some of the Cybertronians who had lived through this disturbing period- including a young librarian named [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]]- suppressed their traumatic memories of Cybertron's occupation, and eventually forgot about the Quintessons almost entirely. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Generations later, Orion Pax claimed Sentinel and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] had enslaved Cybertron with the [[caste system]] instead of having it forced on them by the Quintessons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The Quintessons never forgot about their humiliating rout at the hands of their former servants, and for many centuries the embittered race enviously regarded the planet and its inhabitants as rightfully theirs. At some point after Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], the Quintessons discovered and colonized the Transformers's ex-colony world of [[Aquatron]], modifying the bodies of its inhabitants to produce techno-organic monstrosities such as the [[Gamekeeper]] and the [[Hydratron]]. Aquatron was eventually subsumed into the Quintesson Imperium, and the Quintessons used their new [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] slaves as aquatic shock troopers.

When the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' entered the Aquatron system during Optimus Prime's search for the [[AllSpark]], the Quintessons awakened [[Inquirata (Prime)|Inquirata]] and his associate [[Xeros]] to carry out their deception that would eventually lead to the second invasion of Cybertron. Manipulating both Optimus and [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to the planet's surface under the guise of a peace treaty, the Quintessons were eventually able to place both Autobots and Decepticons under arrest and take them to court. During the trial, the Quintessons claimed that they had colonized Cybertron and literally built the first Transformers; Optimus quickly saw through their deception and maintained that all Cybertronians were creations of [[Primus]] alone. The Quintesson judges found Optimus innocent, and forced him to duel to the death with Megatron; siphoning energy from the two leaders, they powered a Space Bridge to Cybertron and launched a second invasion force to re-colonize and enslave Cybertron. Their genetically engineered leader [[Tyrannicon]] spearheaded the Sharkticon invasion and was able to swiftly overwhelm the weakened planet. The invasion was only defeated after Megatron, forced into a temporary truce with his archenemy, discovered the [[Sharkticon Matrix of Leadership]] and used it to override Tyrannicon's hold on his troops. In the ensuing fight, Xeros, Tyrannicon, and Inquirata were all killed, and Aquatron itself was freed of Quintesson control. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

The [[Mutacon]]s knew of the Quintessons but considered the law-bound Quintesson way of life to be boring and a worse fate than death. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeremy Levy]] (Death, English), [[Saskia Marx]] (Judgement and Cruelty, English), [[Dick Terhune]] (Chaos and [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]], English), [[Mike Rose]] (Ego, English), [[Billy Bob Thompson]] (Starscream, English), [[Sophia Isabella]] (Gray, English), [[Ryan Nicolls]] (Velgrox, English)}}
The Quintessons were a strange race of aliens, interdimensional beings who travelled the [[multiverse]] using their [[multiverse drive]] and passed judgement on which universes deserved to live or be destroyed. {{storylink|The Trial}} To do so, the Quintessons would create "[[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judges]]", hybrid beings based on the native lifeforms of that universe; if the universe was found guilty, then the Judge would oversee the destruction of the universe by using [[Transwarp|unspace]] to obliterate all matter. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} The [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]] traditionally oversaw the process, and in his travels developed a fondness for collecting various iterations of [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]] he plucked from the various doomed universes his kind had passed judgement upon. {{storylink|The Scientist}}

When exactly it is that the Quintessons found this particular universe is not clear; hieroglyphs inside the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Croaton]] suggested that the aliens had invaded his colony and abducted his inhabitants long before the present day, {{storylink|Ghost Town}} with [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] referencing the Quintesson reputation for engineering when affecting repairs to a disused [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Either way, the Quintessons had established an outpost in a distant region of the galaxy at some point before [[2007]]. Having previously encountered the [[Velgrox]] and the [[Gray]], incorporating a member of both races into their latest Judge, the Quintessons discovered that Cybertronians existed in this universe after Croaton, in search of his missing citizens, flew past the outpost, taking the hapless [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] with him. Although the current Judge planned to simply judge and dispose of their new prisoner, the ambitious Seeker tried to win over his captors by revealing the existence of the [[AllSpark|Allspark]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Seeing this as a power source to fuel the creation of the new Judge, the Quintessons made for Cybertron and "rewarded" Starscream with their highest honor: assimilation into the next Judge. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

Arriving shortly after [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s defeat, the Quintessons quickly conquered the planet and ensnared the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in the tendrils of their command tower. The Cybertronians were rounded up and placed in a virtual reality simulation designed to keep them happy and docile while the Scientist both drained their [[spark]]s and tapped into the Allspark's energy itself to fuel the creation of this new Judge. {{storylink|The Loop}} {{storylink|The Scientist}} Unfortunately, their machinations were upset by [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]], who the Quintessons had overlooked during their conquest of the planet. The ad hoc Cybertronian resistance he assembled operated out of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam]]'s, invisible to Quintesson sensors, and threatened to undermine their control of the planet. Although the Quintesson forces eventually captured Hot Rod, the Autobot leader proved uncooperative and was found guilty. {{storylink|The Trial}}

Soon, the resistance infiltrated the command tower and clashed with the Scientist himself, their battle putting the unborn Judge at risk and severing their hostages' connection to the virtual reality loop. {{storylink|The Scientist}} Freed of their prison, [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]], and their respective forces rebelled against the Quintessons, with the conflict escalating into open war between the two forces. Despite their best efforts, the Cybertronians proved unable to breach the force field that protected the Quintesson headquarters, but the partial activation of [[Iaconus]] pushed their [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] warriors into a retreat. {{storylink|The Alliance}}

The Quintessons eventually gained the advantage, primarily by the Judge's rage at Megatron's theft of their multiverse escape pod, disabling nearly all enemy combatants. However, the Judge was attacked and overwhelmed by the resistance leaders and, in their damage and frenzy, they crashed into the command tower, seemingly perishing as it exploded and collapsed. Although the prior Judge was killed, it had survived long enough for the gestation of their new Judge to finish. {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}}

The new Judge Starscream rounded up nearly all his enemies, only to monologue over them while Optimus Prime and Megatron were being located. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} Iaconus was soon awakened and battled the enslaved Croaton under Judge Starscream's command. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe II}} Despite the Scientist being killed off by Wheeljack, Judge Starscream used unspace to slay Iaconus. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

Despite his victory over Iaconus, Judge Starscream soon lost control of Croaton. As his enemies broke free and rallied, he was soon overwhelmed and seemingly destroyed by the dual [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices]] of Optimus Prime and a returned Megatron. The Quintesson invasion was effectively overthrown, and the remainder of their forces were subsequently dealt with by the Autobots and Deceptions. No trace of their occupation remained by the time of the factions' split control of the planet. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}}

====Alternate universe====
In the universe from which [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron X]] hailed from, the tyrant used a [[laser snare]] to destroy the Quintesson flagship as it descended onto Cybertron before salvaging its technology for his own ends. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends Quintesson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.2|You spin me right round baby, right round.]]
The Quintessons put [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] on trial. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived and promptly turned the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] on their masters. {{storylink|Mockery of Justice}} Intending to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]], the Quintessons allied with [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and sent her in to cause trouble. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}} They also send [[Skuxxoid]]s to the games to kidnap [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 1}} When the trio were rescued post-sentencing by the other Autobots, the Quintessons destroyed their own home planet, Quintesson, in an attempt to eliminate them. The Quints then tried to enlist the help of the Decepticons to wipe out the Autobots, only for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to arrive and reclaim his troops. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}} They soon struck an alliance with Galvatron and attacked Cybertron, with the end result that they activated an ancient device to deactivate all Transformers. After the device was destroyed by Spike, the Quintessons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3}}

The Quintessons observed from afar Ultra Magnus and his Autobots celebrated the activation of a new power core. Enraged by the sight, the Quintessons plotted to get revenge on both Autobots and Decepticons. They then approached Galvatron and gave the Decepticon leader false coordinates to a power core. The Quintessons had in truth led Galvatron to the location of their old creations, the Dweller and the Trans-Organics. After the ensuing battle that took place between the Autobots, the Decepticons and the Quintessons' ancient creations, a faint Quintesson cry for help was broadcast from deep underground... {{storylink|Dweller in the Depths (Legends)|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{--}}

===Transformers: Forged to Fight===
[[File:Quintessons-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|450px|Like a color-changing lamp!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{charstubgames}}

==Toys==
===Energon===
*'''[[Alpha Quintesson]]''' (Mega, [[2005]])
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, missile, base, three tentacles
[[File:Alpha Quintesson toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I do hope you'll bring these gadgets back in one piece, 007.]]

:One of the last toys in the [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|''Energon'' line]], Alpha Quintesson is fairly unique in that he is one of the only toys in the history of the main ''Transformers'' line that does not transform in any manner or even come with any kind of transforming accessory (like the [[Action Master]]s).

:Alpha Quintesson requires quite a bit of assembly out of the box, coming in six separate pieces: his main body, a solid "bed of tentacles" that serves as a wheeled base that the body plugs into, a firing missile launcher which plugs into his back (via a standard 5mm peg that also allows other characters to wield it) and points up over his head, and three rubber, wire-poseable tentacles which attach to the base. The tentacles end in a large yellow clamp, a red chainsaw, and a purple energy arc, and spin around via a gear-wheel system when the base is rolled back and forth. The figure features nine circular ports (three on each arm and three on the base), to which either [[Energon star|energon chip]]s or any weapons featuring 5mm pegs can be attached.

:The main body is notably very [[Show-accuracy|accurate]] to the CGI model from the animated series, save for its coloration and the addition of the missile launcher. As a toy that was entirely dull green from top to bottom would not have been a very interesting sight, the figure features several shades of green with yellow highlights, plus a red paint wash on its "underbelly" and arms. The main body contains its own gimmick, involving Alpha Q's spinning faces as seen in the cartoon. Opening the armor's jaws reveals Alpha Q's head, recessed within the body (though unable to move forward into a more prominent position as seen in the show), and pressing the trigger on the back of the body, disguised as one of the spinal fins, causes the head to spin from face to face. The toy only features the character's first three faces (Angry, Whiny and Crazy); the purple, calm face is not featured.

:As an allegiance was needed to brand the figure with for marketing purposes, Alpha Quintesson's toy is sold as a Decepticon, despite that faction not really being where his loyalties lie. There were also many reports of the toy coming misassembled, missing the hard point where the figure connected to the base, making it nigh impossible for the toy to stand up on its own.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/AlphaQuintesson/alphaquintesson.htm More information on Alpha Quintesson at TFU.info]''

===Cyberverse===
*'''Quintesson Invasion''' (Multi-pack, [[2019]])
[[File:CyberverseQuintessonToy.jpeg|thumb|200px|The Big Surprise of 2019]]

:The Quintesson Judge included in this set is a new roughly deluxe-sized mold, with five different faces that rotate when the top of the body is pushed down and released. The molded tentacle base/body has 4 ball-jointed tentacles that can pose freely.

:Also included in the set are the Spark Armor [[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] and [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Battle Class|Shockwave]], now ''sans'' the spark armor and with new mind control helmet accessories. Additionally, the mind control helmets can plug into any Battle Class spark armor figure. Ironically, Shockwave and Prowl died before encountering the Quintessons in the actual cartoon.

:The set was [[exclusive]] to [[Target]], and appeared at retail in December 2019 with no prior announcement by [[Hasbro]].
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:TF-WFC-E-Voyager-Quintesson-Judge.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it."]]
*'''Quintesson Judge''' (Voyager Class, [[2020]])
**''ID number'': '''WFC-E22'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''ER EX-08'''
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[August 1]], 2020'''
**''Accessories:'' Blaster, cage, seat, blast effect
:The first [[show accuracy|G1-accurate]] Quintesson toy, released at the Voyager [[pricepoint]] as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' toyline. The Quintesson Judge converts into a modular battle station and prison in 16 steps. The prison cell is large enough to fit a Battlemaster, and the five faces have articulated mouths and a rotating gimmick. The included blaster resembles the welding / repair gun that a Quintesson Judge used in "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]". The order of the faces matches Transformers: The Movie, which means it does not match the order in the cartoon show or the comics, which had Rage and Doubt surrounding Death, rather than Bitterness and Laughter.

:Two faces (Rage and Doubt) come detached in the package, requiring owners to plug them into their respective sides; strangely, there have been multiple reports from owners that Rage was far more difficult to plug in. Promotional photos depicted a yellow levitation beam but production pieces were clear.

:He was originally supposed to be released in the second wave, but was changed to the third wave, with Starscream replacing him. In Japan, the Quintesson Judge was released as a [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusive.
{{-}}

[[File:QuintPitOfJudgment.jpeg|upright=1.66|thumb|They've got this case all wrapped up.]]
*'''Quintesson Pit of Judgment''' (2020)
**''Accessories:'' Judge's blaster, cage, seat, blast effect; Bailiff's staff; Sharkticon's tail/mace
:This [[giftset]] represents the "trial" of [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] during ''The Transformers: The Movie''. The set includes a Quintesson Judge (a brighter [[redeco]] of the ''Earthrise'' toy above); a Bailiff (a [[retool]] of the ''Earthrise'' [[Allicon#Toys|Allicon]] with a new head, chest, shoulders, and axe); a non-transforming Prosecutor; a Sharkticon (a redeco of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Sharkticon (species)#Generations|Sharkticon]]); and a non-transforming Kranix. The interior packaging forms the Sharkticon execution pit.

:This piece was [[exclusive]] to [[Hasbro Pulse]] in the United States. It was announced to the public before the "standard" versions of the Judge and Allicon were released, and was available first for people who attended the Hasbro Fans Expo in [[Hong Kong]] and preordered the set.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:FloroDery originalquintesson.jpg|thumb|Touch the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow!]]
*The Quintessons were named after a local restaurant.<ref>Flint Dille interview at TFcon 2016</ref>
*An early design for the Quintessons, described in an April 1985 draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', gave them spindly bipedal bodies with large heads. Per this draft, the Autobots would have been shocked to discover that, in reality, they were ''all head''; when Hot Rod grabbed one, its head would disconnect from its body, fly off, and link up to another body in waiting. Somewhere along the way, the body idea got dropped, but not before designer [[Floro Dery]] produced a design seemingly based on this early idea, seen at right, revealed through his [https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FDartstudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name Etsy store] in October 2014. The idea did not disappear completely, however; the mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" was produced before the movie's script was finalized, and contains a few references to ideas from this early draft, including a scene in which one of [[Deliberata]]'s faces detaches—seemingly derived from the idea of a removable head.
*When asked about the finalized Quintesson design in an interview, Dery stated they were based on a cylindrical toy he designed at some point.<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref>
*In their first appearance in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', the two speaking Quintessons are voiced by [[Regis Cordic]] (who plays the judge) and [[Roger C. Carmel]] (the prosecutor). These two actors then became the primary recurring voices of the Quintessons in the third season of the cartoon, usually playing judges, with [[Jack Angel]] normally serving as a third in episodes where more than two speaking roles were required. In [[AKOM]]-animated episodes, Cordic's Quintesson (usually designated "Quintesson #1" in scripts) would commonly speak from the Face of Doubt, while Carmel's ("Quintesson #2") used the Face of Laughter; Angel's intermittently-appearing third Quintesson would most often use the Face of Death, but animation errors, and Quintesson face-rotating meant that these were not ''absolute'' rules. In [[Toei Animation|Toei]] episodes, judges usually spoke from the Face of Death regardless of actor, and prosecutors got more screen time, with Cordic, as the "lead" Quintesson actor, voicing most of them. Numerous guest actors also played assorted "guest" Quintesson roles in various episodes.
*Since [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]] never explains what the characters are being charged with, and offers no logical progression to a verdict, it's usually interpreted that Quintesson justice simply operates on reverse terminology for the sake of humor—that the Quintessons ''say'' "innocent", but dohohoho, they're aliens, and to them, that ''means'' "guilty", so the accused is sentenced to death. This was certainly the assumption [[Simon Furman]] was working off of when he first used the Quintessons in the UK-only framing sequence of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" and had a Quintesson find [[Mister Regan|an interrogator]] to be "innocent" of things which he is unambiguously guilty of. The 2014 novel ''[[Transformers: Retribution|Retribution]]'' also followed this path, with the note that "innocent" must "mean something different" to the aliens, as the characters on trial are indeed entirely guilty of what they are being accused of. What is consistently overlooked, however, is the one instance in all Transformers canon of the Quintessons actually finding someone guilty, which happens to Kup and Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". And they ''are'' guilty of the charges put before them: being Autobots, the race who stole Cybertron from the Quintessons. While it may have started out that way at some point in the script process of the movie, the cartoon universe made clear very early on that Quintesson justice isn't supposed to operate on reverse terminology for humor's sake; the aliens know the difference between the two terms, and the trials are just trivial, for their own amusement, before they kill you anyway.
*In a Q&A, [[Simon Furman]] said he considered making the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] a Quintesson artifact but changed his mind.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032 SIMON FURMAN - Q&A Nov/Dec 2008 at IDW Publishing Forums]</ref>
*The ''Animated'' Quintessons are just off-screen mentions, but as their empire's name is near-identical to [[Japan|Imperial Japan]]'s {{w|Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere}}, we can assume they're ''very nasty''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Quintessa-seijin''' (クインテッサ星人, "Planet Quintessa People"), '''Quintesson''' (クインテッサン ''Kuintessan'')
*''Italian:'' '''Quintessenziali''' ("Quintessentials")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wǔ Miàn Guài''' (五面怪, "Five-faced Monster")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Cyberverse species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 aliens]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon species]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) species]]
[[Category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Quintessons| ]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe species]]

Quintesson

2020-09-08T00:49:13Z

CicadaNation: /* Generations */

{{factions|quintesson}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 alien race|their home planet which is called "Quintesson" in the Marvel Comic UK continuity|Quintessa (planet)}}
[[File:Quint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Hahahaha— —hahahahaha— —–hahahahaha— ——hahahahahaha— ——–hahahahahaha!"]]

The '''Quintessons''' are a bizarre and ancient race, whose dark history and shadowy machinations are bound up with the history of the [[Transformer]]s, with connections to both [[Primus]] and [[Unicron]]. They are known galaxy-wide as traders, entrepreneurs and businessmen, but their dealings are very rarely on the level, often laced with intrigue and betrayals. They prefer subtle manipulation, scheming, and advanced technology over brute force, but if those don't work, they can fall back on the legion of deadly [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] and [[Allicon]]s at their command and a fleet of battle-ready [[Quintesson spacecraft|spaceships]] as well. However, the Quintessons themselves have zero fighting abilities and are absolute cowards if they have nothing to hide behind. For example, they are seen to be powerless against a Sharkticon revolt.

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

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

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

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

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

<gallery perrow="5">
File:Quintessondeath.jpg|'''Death'''
File:Qhead1.gif|'''Rage'''/Wrath
File:Qhead2.gif|'''Laughter'''/War
File:Qhead3.gif|'''Bitterness'''/Wisdom
File:Qhead4.gif|'''Doubt'''/Judgment
</gallery>

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

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

Named Judges include:
*[[Brinn]]
*[[Deliberata]]
*[[Derodomontatus]]
*[[Heirodyus]]
*[[Kledji]]
*[[Klementia]]
*[[Pentius]]
*[[Sevax]]
*[[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]]
*An unnamed [[Judge (Cyberverse)|judge]]

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

===Executioners===
[[File:TFU Quintesson Gatekeeper.jpg|thumb|Pokey, pokey!]]
Marvel's ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' referred to this kind of Quintesson as a "Gatekeeper," suggesting the design was created specifically for a scene that wound up being deleted from the film, in which a Quintesson standing watch at the gate to their citadel sent the Dinobots (searching for Hot Rod and Kup) off in the wrong direction. With the deletion of this scene, the design was instead used for the Quintesson who throws the switch that sends [[Arblus]] plumetting into the Sharkticon pit, earning them the designation of "Executioner."

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

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

Named prosecutors include:
*[[Krahulik]]
*[[Vashik]]
*Various unnamed [[Prosecutor (Cyberverse)|prosecutor]]s
{{-}}

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

Named scientists include:
*[[Al-Badur]]
*[[Extempaxia]]
*[[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]]
*[[Mara-Al-Utha]]
*An unnamed [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|scientist]]
{{-}}

===Other types===
[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|125px|thumb|My tentacles are on fire!]]
The Judges are not the only Quintessons to have multiple faces, though the only known exception is the '''three-faced scientist''' who was the primary creator of the [[Trans-Organic]]s. One of his faces was grievously damaged, a scar left by the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], which he covered with a mask.

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

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

[[File:Quint humanoid.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No one remembers we exist.]]
Non-bailiff, non-executioner '''Humanoid''' Quintessons are exceedingly rare. One accompanied [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] on his mission to use a [[Time Window]] to change Cybertron's history, stopping the slave revolt that drove the Quintessons off-planet. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

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

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Regis Cordic]], [[Roger C. Carmel]] and [[Jack Angel]] (English, primary recurring voices, see [[#Notes|Notes]]), [[Dick Gautier]] ("[[The Killing Jar (episode)|The Killing Jar]]"), [[Tony Pope]] ("[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[The Dweller in the Depths]]"), [[Paul Eiding]] ("[[The Quintesson Journal]]"), [[Charlie Adler]] ("[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"), [[Corey Burton]] ("[[Madman's Paradise]]"), [[Aron Kincaid]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]")}}
{{quote|We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy.|[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

[[File:FFOD4 Early Quintessons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The new Powerpuff Girls series never really got off the ground.]]
In ages long past, a race of aliens called the Quintessons existed on the planet-sized factory known as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Some of their early experiments in creating artificial life resulted in the [[Trans-Organic]]s. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} Some Quintessons turned to forbidden arts, and were banished to other dimensions. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} The Quintessons eventually created two lines of sentient robots: one was a line of robots designed for domestic duties and labor (known as [[Autobot]]s), and the other was a line designed for military use (known as [[Decepticon]]s). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} The Quintessons were exceptionally cruel to their creations, eventually leading to wide-spread rebellion, a rebellion started by the Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]]. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} Forced to flee the planet, the Quintessons eventually settled on the small, twisted planet of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], but fostered an undying hatred of all Transformers for the next eleven million years. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

They also spent this time productively, selling technology to other races, and often manipulating the political and military climate of regions of space to increase their sales, all the while diligently keeping track of their work by recording it in [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. {{Storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} Occasionally a race as the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] would arise that could potentially threaten the Quintessons, and they would deal with it by sealing off whole sections of space with [[quadrant lock]]s. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Believe it or not, you really do have better chances in Texas.]]
In 2005, they were shown to capture prisoners for trial and feeding to their army of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]. The mock trials held by the Quintesson Court seemed to have no purpose at all, except maybe for the Quintessons' amusement, as defendants were still immediately fed to the ravenous Sharkticons even when the Judge determined them to be innocent. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] managed to rescue the pair of Autobots the Quintessons had captured. Worse, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspired the Sharkticons to rebel... by stomping his foot on the ground and telling them to do so. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|The Quintessons' involvement in these events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]" and the storybook "[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers the Movie]]."}}

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

[[File:FFOD4 Quintessons raised tentacles and Galvatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Look out, it's Galvatron! Quick, make yourselves look big and maybe he'll leave us alone!"]]
After [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] mounted a rescue for their captive friends, the Quintessons attempted to kill the would-be rescuers by destroying the entire planet of Quintessa. After this plan failed, the surviving Quintessons approached the currently leaderless Decepticons, offering them [[energon]] in exchange for attacking the Autobots who had fled to the planet [[Goo 8739B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} When the newly revived [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] arrived intending to reclaim his army, the Quintessons made an alliance with him to attack Cybertron in return for the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], an object which didn't actually exist outside the Quintessons' fertile imaginations. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

The Quintessons betrayed Galvatron almost immediately after the battle had been won, sending the Sharkticons to pull a [[Large switch|switch]] which would cause all Transformers the galaxy over literally to freeze where they stood. Though the Sharkticons were fought off, Galvatron pulled the lever anyway. The Quintessons landed on Cybertron, intending to reclaim the planet, however Spike destroyed the switch and the Quintessons were forced to abandon the planet in an escape pod. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

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

[[File:ForeverLongTimeComing various Quintessons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Damn it! Who ate my yogurt?!"]]
Later still, the Quintessons attempted to rewrite history by preventing their loss of Cybertron, creating a [[Time Window]] on an asteroid, directed at Cybertron eleven million years in the past. The Autobots attacked the asteroid, occupying it as several of their number passed through the Time Window and resulting in the very fabric of reality starting to unravel the longer the window remained open. The Quintessons made several desperate attempts to retake the asteroid before convincing Rodimus Prime to shut the Time Window down, though their plans were still ruined as the time-displaced A-3 returned to the past to take his part in the rebellion. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After a Quintesson journal was lost on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], the Quintessons began inserting subliminal messages into the Junkions' [[television]] in an attempt to make them tidy and instill a distrust of other life forms. Unfortunately the equipment sending the subliminal signal was damaged during an attempt to retrieve the journal, resulting in the Junkions transmitting subliminal messages to the rest of the galaxy. In the ensuing battle, the Quintessons again tried to retrieve the journal, only to lose it when a stray shot knocked it loose from their tractor beam. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} The journal resurfaced again in the [[Angarrix sector]] at the same time that the Autobots were conducting peace talks with [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], two planets whom the Quintessons had manipulated into war so that they could sell weapons. Despite the Quintessons' best attempts the journal reached the conference where their interference was exposed, and the Autobots destroyed the Quintesson ship as it tried to deliver two [[omega bomb]]s intended to destroy the planets. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

The Quintessons would try other schemes to destroy the Autobots. One involved kidnapping [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and hooking him to a device which manifested his dreams in real life. Unfortunately the dream constructs turned on them when Rodimus was able to reach Daniel's sleeping mind. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}} Another was to manipulate Galvatron into releasing the Trans-Organics. Though Galvatron succeeded, releasing the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], the Autobots managed to expel the creature into space, where it attacked the Quintesson ship. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:MadmansParadise Mara-Al-Utha.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''"Why not Zoidberg?!'']]
Finding Galvatron interfering with the quadrant lock sealing [[Quadrant X]], the Quintessons entered the lock, taking a number of Transformers through with them. Unfortunately their [[isolator key]], needed to reopen the lock, was damaged, forcing them to obtain [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[universal emulator]]. Perceptor was able to program the emulator so that when the Quintessons used it, it disabled the quadrant lock for good. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}} In another dimension on [[Menonia]], the Autobots found the rogue Quintesson scientist [[Mara-Al-Utha]], and defeated him with the help of local wizard named the [[Golden One]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime Quintesson holding tool.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.45|"Right, where am I sticking this?"]]
The Quintessons suggested to Cyclonus that he take Galvatron to [[Torkulon]], believing the experience would prove fatal for the Decepticons. It didn't. {{storylink|Webworld}} A group of Quintessons based on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] made a deal with [[Dirk Manus]] to deliver them the [[Recreator]], while also sending the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] to attack him. Multiple double-crosses ensued until in one final double-cross, Manus set [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on the Quintessons and they retreated without the Recreator. {{storylink|Money Is Everything (episode)|Money Is Everything}}

When Rodimus asked [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to find him a Quintesson, Sky Lynx complained that the Quintessons had gone into hiding in the farthest reaches of the galaxy and would be difficult to find. Nonetheless Sky Lynx managed to find [[Klementia|one being chased]] by [[Hate Plague]] infected Sharkticons, and took him to Earth to restore life to the body of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} The lone Quintesson also restored a number of other Autobots to help Optimus retrieve the Matrix from Rodimus. He did his best to hold off the infected Transformers while Optimus journeyed into the Matrix and found a way to cure the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{--}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
======''Legends'' comic======
Millions of years ago, the Quintessons arrived on the planet that would become Cybertron and discovered the essence of the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] as well as the [[Matrix of Leadership|vessel]] that had once kept it. They subjugated the Oracle by encasing him within [[Vector Sigma]] and creating the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to control his powers, which they used to transform the planet into a metallic world. They went on to use Cybertron as a factory for [[Transformer|robotic slaves]] until their creations rebelled and drove them off the planet, claiming the Oracle's vessel and finding it full of malicious energy after years of accumulating the wisdom of its Quintesson owners. They promptly dumped out the Quintesson wisdom, which would one day go on to become [[Devil Z]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

In need of new territory after being driven off Cybertron, the Quintessons opened a portal to another dimension, the [[Legends World]], and invaded it with an army of [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharges]] led by a lone Quintesson. They were beaten back by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], leading to the Quintessons labeling the Legends World dangerous and sealing away its creators, the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]], with a [[quadrant lock]]. However, the Quintessons were unaware that their portal had in fact spanned time as well as space and led to the far future, and the Legends World would only be created ''after'' the Zamojin were released from the lock. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 59|Bonus Edition Vol. 59}}

======''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010'' story pages======
Teaming up with the Decepticons, the Quintessons began developing new warriors for their "allies". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 2}} The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s were constructed by the Quintessons during this alliance. The Sharkticons, also considered to be part of the Predacon faction, were leased to the Decepticons to bolster their ranks. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 3}} The Quintessons evidently consider the Sharkticons to be "the Pride of the Quintessons" and developed [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] specifically to outdo all previous Decepticon [[combiner]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

During [[Dark Awakening (episode)|the time they had Optimus Prime's corpse in their clutches]], the Quintessons copied his schematics. They also received schematics of Megatron from their alliance with the Decepticons and developed the Colossal Cannon Soldier [[Gilthor]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

======''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers'' manga======
[[File:2010manga04-title.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Great Guns", "Colossal Cannons", it's all semantics.]]

The Quintessons feigned to have created Gilthor as a subordinate for Galvatron, but in reality they had allied themselves with the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who gave the robot life. Gilthor quickly turned on Galvatron during an ambush on Rodimus Prime. He would have won, had Rodimus and Galvatron not worked together to defeat him, foiling the plans of the Quintessons. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #4}}
{{--}}

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

======Controverse======
When [[Primacron]] was taken into custody for unleashing [[Tornedron]] into the cosmos, the galactic council appointed the Quintesson judge [[Adveraros]] to preside over the scientist's trial. To guard the prisoner, the Quintessons brought along several Bailiffs and Sharkticons. Though Adveraros at first seemed to give a sensible ruling (acquittal by reason of insanity) in truth the Quintessons were planning to harvest Primacron's brain once he had been sent to [[Doruka III]], an asylum planet. The plot was foiled by Primacron himself, who fashioned a high-tech whistle out of his mechanical manacles, and took control of all nearby "[[Primitive]]" Transformers. Having restrained Adveraros with his own Sharkticon guards, Primacron revealed that he had once created bacterial machines, which he proposed was the Quintessons' distant ancestors. Adveraros loudly denounced this claim as the Autobots came in to take protective custody of Primacron. {{storylink|Controverse}}

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

The six found themselves on a strange, alien world in the year 2011. With their ship ensnared, they were herded by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] to the Space Tribunal, where the Quintessons put them on trial for time-traveling without their permission.

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

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

======Story of Binaltech======
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Outlier (comic)|Outlier}}}}

======''Alternity''======
As a result of a [[quadrant lock]] the Quintessons placed upon the [[BT World]] to trap the [[Binaltech]] Autobots, the planet was frozen in time until the [[Alternity]] were born and broke through it 900,000 years later. During the intervening time, however, a tragic fate befell the Quintessons. {{storylink|Alternation}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
{{wingsnote}}
Very early in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Autobot ship ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' was shot down over [[Beta-Nine]] while transporting a [[Matrix of Leadership|vital cargo]]. The Autobots initially believed that the crash was the result of a Decepticon attack, but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], a crewmember of the rescue ship ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', discovered the truth when he found green tentacled remains alongside the corpses of the murdered ''Van De Graaff'' crew. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

The Quintessons created [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] to lead a new generation of Sharkticons. In [[2010]], they sent Sky-Byte and several Sharkticons to Earth in an alliance with the [[Decepticon Syndicate]]. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

By [[2984]], Quintesson space had come under the control of the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]s. In that year, the temporally-displaced pirates known as the [[Star Seeker]]s traveled near former Quintesson space on their way to find the immortal spark of the infamous Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. The Star Seekers eventually gained access to a [[Shut-Up-Tornado-I'm-Trying-To-Think|planetoid]] existing in a pocket of space surrounded by black holes. In a chamber on the planetoid, they encountered a lone Quintesson who claimed to have been betrayed and marooned by Starscream on the planetoid some time earlier. The Star Seekers gave the Quintesson passage off of the planetoid in exchange for telling all that he knew of Starscream's last known destination. However as it turned out, the Quintesson was long dead, and Starscream's immortal spark had been using the Quintesson's body as a puppet. Forming an alliance with the Decepticon Star Seeker [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]], Starscream discarded the Quintesson's body and hijacked Captain [[Cannonball (G1)|Cannonball]]'s body for himself, simultaneously allowing Flamewar to take control of the Star Seekers for herself. {{storylink|Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur}}

=====''Transformers: All Spark''=====
{{groupstub}}
{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In an unstable [[Iocus]] universe engineered by the machinations of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Renegade#Gong|Gong]], the Quintessons on Quintessa were replaced by the [[Master Renegade]] and the [[Monster GoBot]]s on [[Antares 3|Antares III]] during the events of the [[Unicron War]]. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}}

=====''Deviations''=====
A group of Quintessons were presiding over the execution of Kranix when Optimus Prime and the Autobots intervened, forcing the Quintessons to abandon their kangaroo court and flee. Optimus noted a feeling of familiarity towards the aliens and their planet but could not place it. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations|Deviations}}

=====Big Looker storybooks=====
[[File:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Rarely do encounters with Autobots work out well for the Quintessons.]]
An Autobot ship crashed on Quintesson, with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] the only survivor. The Quintessons captured him, throwing him in a dungeon. They intended to execute him, taking him to a Sharkticon pit, however he managed to evade them and escaped into the jungles of Quintesson. When Hot Rod's ship also crashed on the planet, the Quintessons tried to mount a sneak attack, only for Wheelie to appear and fight them off single-handed. The Quintessons returned with Sharkticon backup, stalking the Autobots as Wheelie tried to lead them away from the crash site, however as it turned out even with their Sharkticons, the Quintesson were no match for the Autobots and most of them were killed in the battle that ensued. {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{--}}

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

=====3H comics=====
Millennia ago, the Quintessons were the minions of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], send out to locate [[Primus]]. The Quintessons succeeded, but rather than turn Primus over to Unicron, they instead constructed barriers around him, intending to make use of him to create consumer product lines. They eventually succeeded in doing so through [[Vector Sigma]], though some of their number such as [[Al-Badur]] warned of the danger of trying to control Primus's creations. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

Meanwhile the Wreckers encountered Al-Badur on an icy world, and he filled them in on the origin of Cybertron and bargained for his departure from the planet in exchange for information about the [[Divine Light]]. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

=====''Beast Wars: Uprising''=====
Several millennia ago, the Cybertronians bought some surplus [[Terrorbot]] drones from the Quintessons, including the cumbersome and inefficient [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] drones. {{storylink|Burning Bridges}}

Following the failed [[Great Push]] of [[2033]], a Quintesson court found Galvatron and his compatriots guilty of their many war crimes, sentencing them to death. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} By the 24th century, the Quintessons were among the few species still allowed to travel in and out of the [[Allowed Zone]] due to pre-existing contractual relationships with Cybertron; the [[Human Confederacy]] regarded the Quintessons with suspicion.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3361342 Post by Jim S on the Allspark Forums]</ref>

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

In an alternate future of 2005, the Quintessons took Hot Rod, Kup and several other Autobots hostage on their homeworld and chucked them into the Sharkticon pits for punishment. The Autobots were able to escape, however, and the Sharkticons quickly turned on their cruel masters. {{storylink|Judgment Day!}}

''In 2008, Quintesson scientists realized that their planet, Quintesson, was threatened with destruction by a time rift that was caused by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s time-traveling. Though they scoped out several other worlds to move their civilization to, the [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] containing the records on these planets was lost on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}} ''In an attempt to retrieve it, they captured [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and had him interrogated by the [[Mister Regan|Galaxy's greatest torturer]]. After being left to the torturer's tender mercies for some time, Wreck-Gar "confessed," in an elaborate story, that the journal was lost in the void of space. The Quintessons quickly deduced that whole tale had been nothing but [[Quintesson#The Big Broadcast of 2006|a fabrication]], and executed the torturer for failing to deliver the journal's true location.'' {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

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

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

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

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
After a [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] of great importance to the Quintessons was lost on the planet Junkion, the Quintessons sent down a school of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] planet-side to retrieve it. Though the Sharkticons came close to completing their mission, they were chased off at the last moment by the planet's natives, much to the Quintessons' frustration. Deciding to make another attempt at its retrieval through more surreptitious means, the Quintessons sent down a television set the next day, knowing of the Junkions' fondness for Earth broadcasts. Their television set, however, also broadcasted a subliminal message, which caused the Junkions to act aggressively towards all outsiders, and made compelled them to clean up their planet. The Quintessons hoped this would allow them to more easily find their journal amidst Junkion's heaps of garbage, while keeping any other parties who might interfere at bay.

As soon as the Junkions found the Quintessons' journal, the latter moved in. But the Autobots and Decepticons had caught wind that something was amiss on Junkion by this time, and both factions also became involved, forcing the Quintessons to attack them. The Autobot [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] proved too mighty for them however, and the Quintesson were forced to retreat without their prize in hand. Worse yet, during the Autobots' and the Decepticons' scuffle in Junkion's orbit, the Quintessons' transmitter was damaged, ultimately resulting in its broadcast being sent all around the galaxy. Various species gathered around the planet to duke it out between themselves as a result. Seeing another opportunity to seize their lost journal, the Quintessons sent down a shuttle-craft to retrieve it while everyone else was distracted in the melee. But as the journal was captured in the shuttle-craft's tractor beam, a wild shot hit it, sending the journal off into the void of space, and out of the Quintessons' reach. The Quintesson tasked with retrieving the journal was sentenced to death for failing to fulfill his mission. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

====''The Invisibility Factor''====
{{notemultipath}}
In one possible scenario, the Quintessons, currently allied with the Decepticons, sent a messenger craft to Earth. They informed Galvatron that they were ready to send in troops to help in a full-scale invasion of the Earth. Without any Autobots around to interfere with the messages they were relaying the Quintessons and the Decepticons soon turned Earth into one giant refuelling station.{{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}

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

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
The Quintessons were an alien race which appeared to have conquered Cybertron at some point, but were driven off. However, they continued to maintain watch over Cybertron, eventually coming to manipulate the [[Council of Ancients]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] claimed this was the reason that he started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

Megatron's animosity towards the Quintessons did not stop him from making a deal with the aliens, who provided him with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and a bunch of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]]. Knowing Megatron and the Quintessons, both were planning to betray each other when the time was right. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Megatron had promised to deliver Cybertron's core to the Quintessons in exchange for the army they had provided him, but Megatron forestalled on completing the deal once he had conquered Cybertron. The Quintessons grew annoyed, and began to rightly suspect that Megatron planned to renege on their transaction. Little did they know that [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], having been accidently been transported to Quintessa, was eavesdropping on their conversation, learning the true nature of Cybertron's conquest. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} The Quintessons discovered Flash spying on them, but he escaped thanks to his superior speed. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} The Quintessons then attempted to remotely extract Cybertron's core, only for their efforts to be thwarted by Starscream. Though their plans ended in failure, the Quintessons learned that the power they sought was also contained within Optimus Prime, a target much more attainable than Cybertron's core. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

The Quintessons began plotting further in earnest against Cybertron after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Noting that [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] might stand in their way, the Quintessons readied to put into use one of their agents on Cybertron, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who they could use to "distract" him. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} When Arcee informed that Hot Rod would soon be put in a mostly isolated position, the Quintessons excitedly put their plans of conquest in motion ahead of schedule. They called upon [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] to ready herself {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} and her [[Female Autobots|extraction team]] to invade Cybertron. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Generation One #11}}

{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}

Under the Quintessons' supervision, the extraction team successfully knocked out Hot Rod and retrieved the unconscious Autobot. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}}

====''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''====
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|What order is this read in?!]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded information on Cybertron's history from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s databanks, he saw the Quintessons create the [[Trans-Organic|transorganics]] and the Transformers. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
An enigmatic Quintesson historian named [[Pentius]] was shipwrecked on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for centuries until he was freed by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who needed a guide to get off the planet. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} During their time together, the Quintesson nurtured Megatron's evil ambitions in order to shape him into a true monster, though his motives for doing so were clouded in mystery. The Decepticon eventually killed Pentius to use his [[spark]]'s energy as fuel, but he was content with his death as it proved Megatron's training was complete. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} After inserting Pentius's spark into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Megatron accessed the giant's jumbled memories and saw other Quintessons, which he described as "devils" that preyed upon and destroyed entire civilizations. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

Some time after [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Ore-1]] [[Regenesis]] missiles struck the planet [[LV-117]], someone painted the Death face of a Quintesson Judge on top of the [[Decepticon]] insignia adorning it. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} A strange inscription of a Quintesson judge was also present inside the ruins of some unknown ancient civilization on the planet. Through the cracks in the stone it was carved into, its eerie eyes glowed... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

As [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began consuming LV-117, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Varta]] planned to flee the planet on a [[Quintesson Cruiser|familiar screw-shaped ship]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} {{storylink|Our Darkest}} After crashing the ship on [[LV-118]], Wheelie claimed to have stolen it from someone, but didn't specify who. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

A similar ship - this one chock full of Sharkticons - was used by Wreck-Gar and [[Rum-Maj|Rum-Maj's]] group of Junkions to travel to Earth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

When a trio of Autobots entered Unicron's internals, they found the remains of the Quintesson engraving. [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] questioned its significance only for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to point out the painting presence's meant they were nearing Unicron's core. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}}

====''Kre-O'' online comics====
[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked a Quintesson and spun it around by the tentacles during his rampage. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
The mysterious fifth dimensional beings known only as "the Makers" created the universe and with it [[Daiakuron]], a living planet which they imbued with the power to create life on its own. They went on to merge together, five at a time, into [[combiner|gestalt]] forms, becoming the Quintessons. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}} Taking up residence in the [[Transwarp|Void]], the Quintessons were displeased that the life spawned from Daiakuron had developed sentience, something they had not intended. Seizing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Snake-Eyes]], and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] the three were placed on trial for theft of the body and the soul. Reviewing their memories, acquiring the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], being trained by the Blind Master in martial arts and living at odds with his step-father, respectively the trio was found guilty! Before persecution could be passed they escaped back into reality. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} After learning the identity of their creators, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] sent a joint crew to [[Quadrant X]] to find the Quintessons. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
When [[Gozer]] appeared on Cybertron, the [[Temple of Gozer|temple]] it summoned was adorned with Quintesson visages. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
[[File:Alpha Q Faces.jpg|thumb|150px|left|"Show all five faces? With our budget?"]]
:''See [[Alpha Quintesson]]''

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

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

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

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

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

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

====Shattered Expectations====
When [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] and [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] confronted the evil Autobots [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], Starscream ordered the Autobots to surrender in the name of the '''[[Quintesson Federation]]'''. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations}}

===Aligned continuity family===
The Quintessons were small, organic, squid-like creatures. Physically frail, easily injured, and extremely cowardly, the Quintessons themselves were rarely seen, and did most of their dirty work through various proxies, willing or unwilling. When the Quintessons did need to expose themselves to further their own ends, they frequently encased themselves in mechanical suits styled after their various slave races, often claiming to be representatives of other races.

At some point after the creation of the first Transformers, [[Quintus Prime]] left Cybertron to seed other worlds in the universe with life with the [[Emberstone]], in the hopes that other peaceful, space-faring civilizations would one day contact Cybertron to form friendly alliances. Among his earliest creations were the Quintessons. So that didn't work out too well.

After creating the Quintessons, Quintus Prime was never heard from again; [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] idly speculated that the Quintessons may have killed their creator. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

The Quintessons developed interstellar travel before the Transformers. At some point in the past, the Quintessons stole and reverse-engineered [[space bridge]] technology from an unknown source. They eventually discovered Cybertron toward the end of that planet's Age of Origins. As the first alien beings ever to make contact with the planet, the arrival of their ships awed the young Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} The Quintessons claimed to be benevolent entities sent to "uplift" the Cybertronians from their primitive existence, so that they could join the galactic community. By giving Cybertronians the "gift" of transformation and the power to assume [[alternate mode]]s, the Quintessons won Cybertron's public support. In reality, though, the Quintessons had simply learned to manipulate the dormant [[transformation cog]]s present in every Transformer. The dispersal of Quintesson technology and tutelage turned the feudal, tribe-based planet into a sophisticated spacefaring civilization almost overnight. The Quintessons established rule of law and eventually a global order overseen by the [[Elite Guard]] member [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].

Secretly, the Quintessons aimed to slowly rob the Cybertronians of their individuality, then sell them into slavery as mindless drones. To further this goal, they began implanting various Cybertronians, such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], with cockpits intended to house Quintesson pilots. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The Quintessons organized other Cybertronians into working collectives and attempted to tamper with the Well of All Sparks itself; newborn Transformers began emerging without names or identities, and instead received alphanumeric designations. The Quintesson's twisted, bizarre sense of justice led to the construction of the [[Supreme Court]] on Cybertron, a kangaroo court where innocents could be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

Eventually, a resistance movement formed, and the Quintessons were defeated in a rebellion led by Sentinel Prime, who led Cybertron into a subsequent [[Golden Age]]. Traces of their rule, such as the cockpits implanted in many Cybertronians, would remain even as Cybertron slowly rid itself of their influence. Some of the Cybertronians who had lived through this disturbing period- including a young librarian named [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]]- suppressed their traumatic memories of Cybertron's occupation, and eventually forgot about the Quintessons almost entirely. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Generations later, Orion Pax claimed Sentinel and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] had enslaved Cybertron with the [[caste system]] instead of having it forced on them by the Quintessons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The Quintessons never forgot about their humiliating rout at the hands of their former servants, and for many centuries the embittered race enviously regarded the planet and its inhabitants as rightfully theirs. At some point after Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], the Quintessons discovered and colonized the Transformers's ex-colony world of [[Aquatron]], modifying the bodies of its inhabitants to produce techno-organic monstrosities such as the [[Gamekeeper]] and the [[Hydratron]]. Aquatron was eventually subsumed into the Quintesson Imperium, and the Quintessons used their new [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] slaves as aquatic shock troopers.

When the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' entered the Aquatron system during Optimus Prime's search for the [[AllSpark]], the Quintessons awakened [[Inquirata (Prime)|Inquirata]] and his associate [[Xeros]] to carry out their deception that would eventually lead to the second invasion of Cybertron. Manipulating both Optimus and [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to the planet's surface under the guise of a peace treaty, the Quintessons were eventually able to place both Autobots and Decepticons under arrest and take them to court. During the trial, the Quintessons claimed that they had colonized Cybertron and literally built the first Transformers; Optimus quickly saw through their deception and maintained that all Cybertronians were creations of [[Primus]] alone. The Quintesson judges found Optimus innocent, and forced him to duel to the death with Megatron; siphoning energy from the two leaders, they powered a Space Bridge to Cybertron and launched a second invasion force to re-colonize and enslave Cybertron. Their genetically engineered leader [[Tyrannicon]] spearheaded the Sharkticon invasion and was able to swiftly overwhelm the weakened planet. The invasion was only defeated after Megatron, forced into a temporary truce with his archenemy, discovered the [[Sharkticon Matrix of Leadership]] and used it to override Tyrannicon's hold on his troops. In the ensuing fight, Xeros, Tyrannicon, and Inquirata were all killed, and Aquatron itself was freed of Quintesson control. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

The [[Mutacon]]s knew of the Quintessons but considered the law-bound Quintesson way of life to be boring and a worse fate than death. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeremy Levy]] (Death, English), [[Saskia Marx]] (Judgement and Cruelty, English), [[Dick Terhune]] (Chaos and [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]], English), [[Mike Rose]] (Ego, English), [[Billy Bob Thompson]] (Starscream, English), [[Sophia Isabella]] (Gray, English), [[Ryan Nicolls]] (Velgrox, English)}}
The Quintessons were a strange race of aliens, interdimensional beings who travelled the [[multiverse]] using their [[multiverse drive]] and passed judgement on which universes deserved to live or be destroyed. {{storylink|The Trial}} To do so, the Quintessons would create "[[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judges]]", hybrid beings based on the native lifeforms of that universe; if the universe was found guilty, then the Judge would oversee the destruction of the universe by using [[Transwarp|unspace]] to obliterate all matter. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} The [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]] traditionally oversaw the process, and in his travels developed a fondness for collecting various iterations of [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]] he plucked from the various doomed universes his kind had passed judgement upon. {{storylink|The Scientist}}

When exactly it is that the Quintessons found this particular universe is not clear; hieroglyphs inside the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Croaton]] suggested that the aliens had invaded his colony and abducted his inhabitants long before the present day, {{storylink|Ghost Town}} with [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] referencing the Quintesson reputation for engineering when affecting repairs to a disused [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Either way, the Quintessons had established an outpost in a distant region of the galaxy at some point before [[2007]]. Having previously encountered the [[Velgrox]] and the [[Gray]], incorporating a member of both races into their latest Judge, the Quintessons discovered that Cybertronians existed in this universe after Croaton, in search of his missing citizens, flew past the outpost, taking the hapless [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] with him. Although the current Judge planned to simply judge and dispose of their new prisoner, the ambitious Seeker tried to win over his captors by revealing the existence of the [[AllSpark|Allspark]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Seeing this as a power source to fuel the creation of the new Judge, the Quintessons made for Cybertron and "rewarded" Starscream with their highest honor: assimilation into the next Judge. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

Arriving shortly after [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s defeat, the Quintessons quickly conquered the planet and ensnared the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in the tendrils of their command tower. The Cybertronians were rounded up and placed in a virtual reality simulation designed to keep them happy and docile while the Scientist both drained their [[spark]]s and tapped into the Allspark's energy itself to fuel the creation of this new Judge. {{storylink|The Loop}} {{storylink|The Scientist}} Unfortunately, their machinations were upset by [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]], who the Quintessons had overlooked during their conquest of the planet. The ad hoc Cybertronian resistance he assembled operated out of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam]]'s, invisible to Quintesson sensors, and threatened to undermine their control of the planet. Although the Quintesson forces eventually captured Hot Rod, the Autobot leader proved uncooperative and was found guilty. {{storylink|The Trial}}

Soon, the resistance infiltrated the command tower and clashed with the Scientist himself, their battle putting the unborn Judge at risk and severing their hostages' connection to the virtual reality loop. {{storylink|The Scientist}} Freed of their prison, [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]], and their respective forces rebelled against the Quintessons, with the conflict escalating into open war between the two forces. Despite their best efforts, the Cybertronians proved unable to breach the force field that protected the Quintesson headquarters, but the partial activation of [[Iaconus]] pushed their [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] warriors into a retreat. {{storylink|The Alliance}}

The Quintessons eventually gained the advantage, primarily by the Judge's rage at Megatron's theft of their multiverse escape pod, disabling nearly all enemy combatants. However, the Judge was attacked and overwhelmed by the resistance leaders and, in their damage and frenzy, they crashed into the command tower, seemingly perishing as it exploded and collapsed. Although the prior Judge was killed, it had survived long enough for the gestation of their new Judge to finish. {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}}

The new Judge Starscream rounded up nearly all his enemies, only to monologue over them while Optimus Prime and Megatron were being located. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} Iaconus was soon awakened and battled the enslaved Croaton under Judge Starscream's command. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe II}} Despite the Scientist being killed off by Wheeljack, Judge Starscream used unspace to slay Iaconus. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

Despite his victory over Iaconus, Judge Starscream soon lost control of Croaton. As his enemies broke free and rallied, he was soon overwhelmed and seemingly destroyed by the dual [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices]] of Optimus Prime and a returned Megatron. The Quintesson invasion was effectively overthrown, and the remainder of their forces were subsequently dealt with by the Autobots and Deceptions. No trace of their occupation remained by the time of the factions' split control of the planet. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}}

====Alternate universe====
In the universe from which [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron X]] hailed from, the tyrant used a [[laser snare]] to destroy the Quintesson flagship as it descended onto Cybertron before salvaging its technology for his own ends. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends Quintesson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.2|You spin me right round baby, right round.]]
The Quintessons put [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] on trial. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived and promptly turned the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] on their masters. {{storylink|Mockery of Justice}} Intending to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]], the Quintessons allied with [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and sent her in to cause trouble. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}} They also send [[Skuxxoid]]s to the games to kidnap [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 1}} When the trio were rescued post-sentencing by the other Autobots, the Quintessons destroyed their own home planet, Quintesson, in an attempt to eliminate them. The Quints then tried to enlist the help of the Decepticons to wipe out the Autobots, only for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to arrive and reclaim his troops. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}} They soon struck an alliance with Galvatron and attacked Cybertron, with the end result that they activated an ancient device to deactivate all Transformers. After the device was destroyed by Spike, the Quintessons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3}}

The Quintessons observed from afar Ultra Magnus and his Autobots celebrated the activation of a new power core. Enraged by the sight, the Quintessons plotted to get revenge on both Autobots and Decepticons. They then approached Galvatron and gave the Decepticon leader false coordinates to a power core. The Quintessons had in truth led Galvatron to the location of their old creations, the Dweller and the Trans-Organics. After the ensuing battle that took place between the Autobots, the Decepticons and the Quintessons' ancient creations, a faint Quintesson cry for help was broadcast from deep underground... {{storylink|Dweller in the Depths (Legends)|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{--}}

===Transformers: Forged to Fight===
[[File:Quintessons-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|450px|Like a color-changing lamp!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{charstubgames}}

==Toys==
===Energon===
*'''[[Alpha Quintesson]]''' (Mega, [[2005]])
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, missile, base, three tentacles
[[File:Alpha Quintesson toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I do hope you'll bring these gadgets back in one piece, 007.]]

:One of the last toys in the [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|''Energon'' line]], Alpha Quintesson is fairly unique in that he is one of the only toys in the history of the main ''Transformers'' line that does not transform in any manner or even come with any kind of transforming accessory (like the [[Action Master]]s).

:Alpha Quintesson requires quite a bit of assembly out of the box, coming in six separate pieces: his main body, a solid "bed of tentacles" that serves as a wheeled base that the body plugs into, a firing missile launcher which plugs into his back (via a standard 5mm peg that also allows other characters to wield it) and points up over his head, and three rubber, wire-poseable tentacles which attach to the base. The tentacles end in a large yellow clamp, a red chainsaw, and a purple energy arc, and spin around via a gear-wheel system when the base is rolled back and forth. The figure features nine circular ports (three on each arm and three on the base), to which either [[Energon star|energon chip]]s or any weapons featuring 5mm pegs can be attached.

:The main body is notably very [[Show-accuracy|accurate]] to the CGI model from the animated series, save for its coloration and the addition of the missile launcher. As a toy that was entirely dull green from top to bottom would not have been a very interesting sight, the figure features several shades of green with yellow highlights, plus a red paint wash on its "underbelly" and arms. The main body contains its own gimmick, involving Alpha Q's spinning faces as seen in the cartoon. Opening the armor's jaws reveals Alpha Q's head, recessed within the body (though unable to move forward into a more prominent position as seen in the show), and pressing the trigger on the back of the body, disguised as one of the spinal fins, causes the head to spin from face to face. The toy only features the character's first three faces (Angry, Whiny and Crazy); the purple, calm face is not featured.

:As an allegiance was needed to brand the figure with for marketing purposes, Alpha Quintesson's toy is sold as a Decepticon, despite that faction not really being where his loyalties lie. There were also many reports of the toy coming misassembled, missing the hard point where the figure connected to the base, making it nigh impossible for the toy to stand up on its own.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/AlphaQuintesson/alphaquintesson.htm More information on Alpha Quintesson at TFU.info]''

===Cyberverse===
*'''Quintesson Invasion''' (Multi-pack, [[2019]])
[[File:CyberverseQuintessonToy.jpeg|thumb|200px|The Big Surprise of 2019]]

:The Quintesson Judge included in this set is a new roughly deluxe-sized mold, with five different faces that rotate when the top of the body is pushed down and released. The molded tentacle base/body has 4 ball-jointed tentacles that can pose freely.

:Also included in the set are the Spark Armor [[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] and [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Battle Class|Shockwave]], now ''sans'' the spark armor and with new mind control helmet accessories. Additionally, the mind control helmets can plug into any Battle Class spark armor figure. Ironically, Shockwave and Prowl died before encountering the Quintessons in the actual cartoon.

:The set was [[exclusive]] to [[Target]], and appeared at retail in December 2019 with no prior announcement by [[Hasbro]].
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:TF-WFC-E-Voyager-Quintesson-Judge.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it."]]
*'''Quintesson Judge''' (Voyager Class, [[2020]])
**''ID number'': '''WFC-E22'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''ER EX-08'''
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[August 1]], 2020'''
**''Accessories:'' Blaster, cage, seat, blast effect
:The first [[show accuracy|G1-accurate]] Quintesson toy, released at the Voyager [[pricepoint]] as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' toyline. The Quintesson Judge converts into a modular battle station and prison in 16 steps. The prison cell is large enough to fit a Battlemaster, and the five faces have articulated mouths and a rotating gimmick. The included blaster resembles the welding / repair gun that a Quintesson Judge used in "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]". The order of the faces matches Transformers: The Movie, which means it does not match the order in the cartoon show or the comics, which had Rage and Doubt surrounding Death, rather than Laughter and Bitterness.

:Two faces (Rage and Doubt) come detached in the package, requiring owners to plug them into their respective sides; strangely, there have been multiple reports from owners that Rage was far more difficult to plug in. Promotional photos depicted a yellow levitation beam but production pieces were clear.

:He was originally supposed to be released in the second wave, but was changed to the third wave, with Starscream replacing him. In Japan, the Quintesson Judge was released as a [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusive.
{{-}}

[[File:QuintPitOfJudgment.jpeg|upright=1.66|thumb|They've got this case all wrapped up.]]
*'''Quintesson Pit of Judgment''' (2020)
**''Accessories:'' Judge's blaster, cage, seat, blast effect; Bailiff's staff; Sharkticon's tail/mace
:This [[giftset]] represents the "trial" of [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] during ''The Transformers: The Movie''. The set includes a Quintesson Judge (a brighter [[redeco]] of the ''Earthrise'' toy above); a Bailiff (a [[retool]] of the ''Earthrise'' [[Allicon#Toys|Allicon]] with a new head, chest, shoulders, and axe); a non-transforming Prosecutor; a Sharkticon (a redeco of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Sharkticon (species)#Generations|Sharkticon]]); and a non-transforming Kranix. The interior packaging forms the Sharkticon execution pit.

:This piece was [[exclusive]] to [[Hasbro Pulse]] in the United States. It was announced to the public before the "standard" versions of the Judge and Allicon were released, and was available first for people who attended the Hasbro Fans Expo in [[Hong Kong]] and preordered the set.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:FloroDery originalquintesson.jpg|thumb|Touch the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow!]]
*The Quintessons were named after a local restaurant.<ref>Flint Dille interview at TFcon 2016</ref>
*An early design for the Quintessons, described in an April 1985 draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', gave them spindly bipedal bodies with large heads. Per this draft, the Autobots would have been shocked to discover that, in reality, they were ''all head''; when Hot Rod grabbed one, its head would disconnect from its body, fly off, and link up to another body in waiting. Somewhere along the way, the body idea got dropped, but not before designer [[Floro Dery]] produced a design seemingly based on this early idea, seen at right, revealed through his [https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FDartstudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name Etsy store] in October 2014. The idea did not disappear completely, however; the mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" was produced before the movie's script was finalized, and contains a few references to ideas from this early draft, including a scene in which one of [[Deliberata]]'s faces detaches—seemingly derived from the idea of a removable head.
*When asked about the finalized Quintesson design in an interview, Dery stated they were based on a cylindrical toy he designed at some point.<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref>
*In their first appearance in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', the two speaking Quintessons are voiced by [[Regis Cordic]] (who plays the judge) and [[Roger C. Carmel]] (the prosecutor). These two actors then became the primary recurring voices of the Quintessons in the third season of the cartoon, usually playing judges, with [[Jack Angel]] normally serving as a third in episodes where more than two speaking roles were required. In [[AKOM]]-animated episodes, Cordic's Quintesson (usually designated "Quintesson #1" in scripts) would commonly speak from the Face of Doubt, while Carmel's ("Quintesson #2") used the Face of Laughter; Angel's intermittently-appearing third Quintesson would most often use the Face of Death, but animation errors, and Quintesson face-rotating meant that these were not ''absolute'' rules. In [[Toei Animation|Toei]] episodes, judges usually spoke from the Face of Death regardless of actor, and prosecutors got more screen time, with Cordic, as the "lead" Quintesson actor, voicing most of them. Numerous guest actors also played assorted "guest" Quintesson roles in various episodes.
*Since [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]] never explains what the characters are being charged with, and offers no logical progression to a verdict, it's usually interpreted that Quintesson justice simply operates on reverse terminology for the sake of humor—that the Quintessons ''say'' "innocent", but dohohoho, they're aliens, and to them, that ''means'' "guilty", so the accused is sentenced to death. This was certainly the assumption [[Simon Furman]] was working off of when he first used the Quintessons in the UK-only framing sequence of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" and had a Quintesson find [[Mister Regan|an interrogator]] to be "innocent" of things which he is unambiguously guilty of. The 2014 novel ''[[Transformers: Retribution|Retribution]]'' also followed this path, with the note that "innocent" must "mean something different" to the aliens, as the characters on trial are indeed entirely guilty of what they are being accused of. What is consistently overlooked, however, is the one instance in all Transformers canon of the Quintessons actually finding someone guilty, which happens to Kup and Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". And they ''are'' guilty of the charges put before them: being Autobots, the race who stole Cybertron from the Quintessons. While it may have started out that way at some point in the script process of the movie, the cartoon universe made clear very early on that Quintesson justice isn't supposed to operate on reverse terminology for humor's sake; the aliens know the difference between the two terms, and the trials are just trivial, for their own amusement, before they kill you anyway.
*In a Q&A, [[Simon Furman]] said he considered making the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] a Quintesson artifact but changed his mind.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032 SIMON FURMAN - Q&A Nov/Dec 2008 at IDW Publishing Forums]</ref>
*The ''Animated'' Quintessons are just off-screen mentions, but as their empire's name is near-identical to [[Japan|Imperial Japan]]'s {{w|Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere}}, we can assume they're ''very nasty''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Quintessa-seijin''' (クインテッサ星人, "Planet Quintessa People"), '''Quintesson''' (クインテッサン ''Kuintessan'')
*''Italian:'' '''Quintessenziali''' ("Quintessentials")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wǔ Miàn Guài''' (五面怪, "Five-faced Monster")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Cyberverse species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 aliens]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon species]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) species]]
[[Category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Quintessons| ]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe species]]

Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)

2020-09-01T01:50:07Z

CicadaNation: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 episode|the ''Punishment'' issue|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (issue)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=74
|ep2=9
|prev2=Dark Awakening (episode)
|next2=The Killing Jar (episode)
|image=Time Portal.jpg
|caption=The biggest {{w|Interocitor}} in history.
|title="Forever Is a Long Time Coming"
|production code=700-94
|airdate=[[October 8]], 1986
|written by=[[Gerry Conway]] [[Carla Conway]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''In an attempt to alter history, the Quintessons open a Time Window to Cybertron's ancient past, but their meddling ultimately causes time itself to begin unraveling.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:ForeverLongTime Sharkticons asteroid.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Belch Blasters]]

[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]], [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]], and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] investigate chronal pulses coming from an asteroid belt near [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. They are fired upon by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]], which launch from an installation on a bowl-shaped asteroid, the source of the pulses. The Autobots make quick work of the Sharkticons as Perceptor tells Blaster to radio [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] for reinforcements. The Autobots land on the asteroid just in time to see a Quintesson scientist open a time portal to eleven million years in the past to retrieve a "target subject", much to Perceptor's horror. The Autobots are fired on by Quintesson ships, which blast Perceptor and herd the other Autobots toward the time portal—much to the chagrin of the scientist. The [[Time Window]] fades out as the Autobots, sans Perceptor, end up eleven million years in the past!

The Quintesson ships continue firing, striking the time portal before being ambushed by [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and Rodimus Prime. The Quintessons escape as a damaged Perceptor tells Rodimus Prime to find the Autobots and Silverbolt instructs the other Aerialbots not to follow... as a mysterious figure suddenly materializes, confused from the time travel.

[[File:Darkguardian.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"What did you DO, Ray?"]]

Eleven million years ago, automatic defenses fire upon the Autobots, who quickly retreat. [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] charges and runs right into a [[Dark Guardian]] in hot pursuit. The Dark Guardian attempts to step on the Autobots, but is stopped by a shot from an unknown female Transformer called [[Beta (G1)|Beta]], who tells the others to follow her to the [[Warrens]] before the Quintessons send more. She states even though she's taking a risk bringing in Blaster and his cadre, they need all the help they can get for an attack on [[Hive City]]. Beta is disgusted by the "mark of shame" on the Autobots' chests. She explains the Autobot symbol has been a symbol of slavery for over a million years, but that [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]] says it must become a symbol of freedom. She states A-3 has a [[Coder Remote]] device to freeze the Dark Guardians, allowing the [[Autobot rebel|slaves]] to rise against the Quintessons. [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] finally realizes they are in Cybertron's past, when the Transformers were still slaves for the Quintessons, and if the Quintessons stop this [[Autobot Rebellion|rebellion]], they would rule Cybertron in the present. Beta notes that A-3 is missing, but that they must attack at dawn with or without him. The Autobots agree to help the slaves in their attack.

[[File:ForeverLongTime A3 superion.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Frankly, my dear Superion, I don't give a damn."]]

Back in 2006, the Time Window is leaking energy into space—ripples in the timestream. Rodimus refuses to shut the window down while five Autobots are stuck in the past. The Quintessons fear that if the window isn't closed in the next hour, the ripples will travel through the universe, jeopardizing reality itself—some events will repeat in an endless loop (such as [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] winning a race over and over) while some will reverse (such as water running backward in a lake) and worse, the past and future will collide—evidenced by [[Marissa Faireborn]] reverting to a baby—until the universe ceases to exist. The only solution, according to the Quintessons, is to destroy the Time Window. The scientist orders a full scale assault on the asteroid.

A-3 has finally revived, but refuses to give information to "Quintesson slaves" like the Autobots. A-3 and Rodimus take cover from Quintesson starbombs and an incoming Sharkticon offensive as the other Autobots begin defending the time portal. A-3 is blasted away from the asteroid and tumbles through space before being saved by Superion, who is cornered by Quintesson ships. Under heavy fire and proclaiming his failure, Superion has a vision, seeing A-3 turn into his future self—[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]! Suddenly, the ripples in the time stream cause Superion to briefly warp into two places at once, as space and time begin to warp and mutilate itself. The Quintessons retreat, fearing the results of the distortions. Rodimus orders [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] to repair Perceptor, as he's the only one that can figure out what's going on. [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] attempts to talk to A-3, who isn't even sure who he is anymore.

[[File:ForeverLongTime Beta rebels.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Blue 42... Blue 42... Hike!]]

Back in the past, the Autobots take part in the raid on Hive City, finding themselves and the slaves against several Dark Guardians, as in the present, the Quintesson scientist proposes an alliance—and for the Time Window be closed. The raid is apparently successful with the help of the Autobots, but a five-faced Quintesson demands surrender, as the Dark Guardians surround the rebellion.

[[File:A-3 Constellation.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|It's a couple of light years away from the Optimus Prime hologram.]]

Rodimus is finally convinced by the Quintesson to close the Time Window, but A-3 volunteers to go through the time portal to retrieve the time-displaced Autobots, much to the Quintesson scientist's chagrin. A-3 lands at the raid point to Beta's elation, as the Quintesson orders the Guardians to attack. A-3 removes the golden Autobot symbol on his chest, which is the Coder Remote in disguise. A-3 triggers the Remote, which disables the Dark Guardians, then orders the Autobots to return to the present, thanking them for their help. The Autobots return to 2006 just in time for Rodimus to close the Time Window, which self-destructs.

As the day is saved, the Autobots finally realize that A-3 was Alpha Trion, as a constellation forms with his likeness.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (1)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (2)
* [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (3)
* [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (4)
* [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (5)
* [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (7)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (10)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (11)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (12)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (14)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (15)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (16)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3/Alpha Trion]] (17)
* [[Beta (G1)|Beta]] (19)
* [[Autobot rebel]]s (20)
* [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (21)
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (22)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (23)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (24)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (25)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (26)
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (27)

|c3=
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (27)

|c4=
* [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (6)
* [[Quintesson]]s (9)
** [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] (8)
* [[Dark Guardian]]s (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"So why'd ya-w-why'd ya want us along? This ain't-this ain't our gig-k-kinda gig!"
:—'''Ramhorn''' has a problem with scientific expeditions... and speaking coherently.

[[File:ForeverLongTime Air Raid Silverbolt.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"How come they made you Aerialbot leader, Silverbolt? You've got no sense of adventure!" 
"Exactly."
:—'''Air Raid''' gets put in his place by '''Silverbolt'''.

"What in the name of Alpha Trion?!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''', as A-3 comes through the time portal. See what they did there?

"Ohhhh! I don't know where we are but wherever it is it's somewhere but somewhere else would definitely be a better place to be!"
:—'''Blurr''' isn't too fond of ancient Cybertron.

'''Superion''': I... have... failed you Rodimus... it is... finished. 
'''A-3''': No... Superion! ''('transforming' into Alpha Trion)'' You must live... so that I may be born! 
'''Superion''': Alpha... Trion? 
'''A-3''': A... 3...
:—'''Superion''' is given a vision of who ''' A-3 ''' really is.

'''Wreck-Gar''': Phew. One to five rodents agree exceptional headache number one is a mad dog guardian. 
'''Blaster''': Right on, but we still gotta lure 'em away from the walls so Beta and the rebels can attack. 
'''Blurr''': Yeah, that's what we said we'd do, and I always do what I say I'll do, because I have to, so I'd better do it, because if we say we do and then we don't— 
''[Ramhorn roars and charges the Dark Guardians]'' 
'''Rewind''': Methinks the die has been cast. 
:—The Autobots discuss strategy as '''Ramhorn''' gets bored.

"You will now put down your arms and return to work, or the Dark Guardians will incinerate you where you stand. Please decide quickly."
:—An ever-polite '''Quintesson''' gives the Autobots a simple choice.

"Your friends want you home. Go, now." 
"Yeah, but—" 
"No time for talk. We thank you for your help, but you must go at once." 
"Okay. I guess we can trust you to win this one. After all, you already did."
:—'''A-3''' and '''Blaster'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:YoungA3.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* Gadgets and powers:
** The Sharkticons are able to fly in shark mode. It looks as goofy and awkward as you might expect. This ability will be seen again in "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]".
** The nubs on Blurr's upper arms are lasers.
* The Dark Guardians are introduced here, and are obviously the predecessors of the Guardian Robots introduced in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]". The Guardian Robots were protectors of the general populace; in this earlier era, the Dark Guardians are the oppressive servants of the Quintessons.
* Likewise, this episode takes us deep into Cybertron's past, to the slave rebellion outlined in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]". It also gives us our earliest look at the 'bot later known as Alpha Trion.
* Blaster's tapes are awake and active when riding around in his chest.
* So the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] save A-3. To whom they would eventually bring Orion Pax, causing him to be rebuilt in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" into Optimus Prime. Who would eventually call for the Aerialbots to be built, prompting Alpha Trion to sacrifice his life to give life to the Aerialbots in "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2]]". Who had saved his life 11 million years earlier. Or twenty years later. Circle of life, man.

===Real-world references===
* Blurr rattles off the {{w|Fundamental interaction|four basic forces}} of the universe (the strong force, the weak force, electromagnetic, and gravity).
* Blaster orders Ramhorn to ram the "{{w|Rama Lama Ding Dong}}" out of the Sharkticons, citing the title of a 1957 doo-wop pop song by The Edsels.
*Wreck-Gar gets a few digs in:
** "Golly, Mr. Wizard," is a reference to the famous children-oriented television science show, ''{{w|Watch Mr. Wizard}}'' (later ''Mr. Wizard's World'').
** "We've come a long way, baby!" is a take on a {{w|Virginia Slims}} cigarette ad campaign of the 1970s.
** "Exceptional headache #1" is a take on an {{w|Excedrin}} ad campaign.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** From ''The Empire Strikes Back'': soaring and descending snowspeeders as the Wreck-Gar and Blurr fly around blasting Sharkticons.
** The sound at the start of Rewind's first shot is also a snowspeeder sound effect, from the battle on Hoth.
** Death Star defense lasers during the second Quintesson assault on the asteroid.

===Animation and technical errors===
* An AKOM episode, featuring AKOM's usual oddities:
** Movie characters often get a colored mouth. Blurr's mouth is blue, for example.
**Rodimus is consistently colored using an outdated color models; his shoulder indentations are red instead of white, his pelvis-windshield details are white instead of light burgundy, and his gun is red instead of black. Additionally, in this episode, Rodimus's back spoiler is all yellow, when it should be orange in the middle.
**A view from behind of Wreck-Gar during the Dark Guardian attack reveals that the animators did not have a rear view model. They appear to have used his toy as a reference.
* Speaking of time loops:
** A shot shows the Autobots flying away from Cybertron... then is repeated a few shots later, showing them leaving ''again''.
** A recycled shot has Perceptor dodging the Quintesson blasts in the same way twice in a row.
* The number of switches on Blaster's chest changes throughout the episode. For instance, in the opening shots, he has anywhere from ''ten'' to just ''one''. When he ejects Ramhorn, it changes from 9 to 5.
* Coloring errors:
** Perceptor's cannon is black instead of red as he answers Blaster's question about the asteroids.
** During the attack, Blaster ejects Rewind and his chest is plain blue instead of grey or yellow.
** Blurr's chest alternates from plain white to white with blue on the bottom throughout the episode (and his Autobot logo appears, moves around from the center to his abs, and disappears in different shots).
** When Beta rescues the Autobots from the Dark Guardian robot, Blaster's Autobot logo isn't colored in.
** Just before the future Autobots attack the Dark Guardians, a group shot from behind has Wheelie colored like Rewind.
** As the Autobots dive into the time gateway, Wheelie is colored like Kup.
* When the asteroid begins firing on the Autobots, Perceptor's Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white.
* The asteroid's shots don't seem to come from any kind of gun emplacement.
* Rewind's transformation sound effect doesn't play until after the shot of him transforming is already over.
* The Quintesson declares "contact with target" before the "energy hook" (which isn't made of energy at all) has even entered the time window.
* Perceptor cries out in pain before he's actually shot. Also the shot misses him completely.
* Although the Autobots are seen flying toward the time window, which begins to fade in and out, they're never actually shown flying INTO the window. Some sound effects play to presumably indicate their passage through.
* As Rodimus arrives to help the Autobots, Perceptor is flying with him instead of Superion. He's supposed to be unconscious on the asteroid at this point.
* When Superion disengages back into the Aerialbots, Silverbolt is formed from his right leg, while his torso turns into Air Raid.
* Ventriloquist bots:
** As the Autobots come under attack from the guardian robot, Rewind points and his faceplate moves as if he's speaking, but he doesn't say anything.
** Superion's faceplate doesn't move for his first line ("I have failed you...").
** As Superion appears in two places at once, the Quintesson commander is shown mouthing the Quintesson scientist's lines.
** Blaster's helmet is red as he and the others observe the massed Dark Guardians.
** Blurr's chest is all white as Rewind explains A-3 to him; Rewind's mouthplate doesn't move as he speaks.
[[File:Blaster Sideways Door.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Ouch. That's gotta hurt.]]
* When Blaster ejects Rewind on ancient Cybertron, his tape door opens sideways.
* When Rewind asks Beta where A-3 is, his eye disappears.
* Silverbolt's shoulder-wings are mounted incorrectly as he worries about the time window.
* An abnormally huge Wheelie is shown racing Jazz (who's missing the numbers on his doors). (Also watch for a brief cameo glimpse of Bumblebee, Swerve and Springer in the establishing shot!)
[[File:Aerial forever 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|AKOM's skillful shot blocking successfully conveys the exact opposite of the script's intent.]]
* A-3 is established be a pretty small dude - only waist-high to the smaller Aerialbots - but he's Rodimus's height when Rodimus tries to strike up a conversation with him, and later is shown as ''taller'' than Silverbolt.
* When the Quintesson bailiff instructs the Sharkticons to attack the Autobots, they are shown with deep space behind them; the next shot shows the Sharkticons exiting the Quintesson ship.
* When Superion is hit by the time ripples, he vanishes, leaving A-3 and the outline of his hand behind. He's supposed to be ''duplicated'', though, so he really should have stayed put.
* Also, the picture is overlapping the top of the left display monitor on the Quintesson ship.
* Beta's rebels hide in a dirt ditch on Cybertron...a planet made of metal.
* The Autobots in the past stand on top of a building in front of the Quintessons' base, but when they jump down, they're in an alcove somewhere in the middle of the building.
* The Dark Guardians fire lasers out of their faces that don't seem to come from any particular laser-firing apparatus.
* As the constellation of the Quintesson talks to the Autobots, Rodimus's chest piece is too big, and there are two generic robots behind him. (They should be the Aerialbots, but if so, they're badly misdrawn.)
[[File:ForeverLongTime Ramhorn guardian.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Maybe it's a very small Dark Guardian?]]
* As the slave rebellion starts, Ramhorn rams a Dark Guardian and is almost as big as it is!
* As Beta fires her arrow at the Dark Guardians during the big battle, her "slave brand" (Autobot logo) is missing.
* The five-faced Quintesson in the past hovers on board a chair, but when a closeup is shown, the chair is not seen. When the view is restored, the chair is visible again.
** Speaking of the chair, it starts off with a blue flame beneath it, but the flame is red a few shots later.
* The Guardians surrounding the Autobots don't appear until the Quintesson threatens them with incineration.
* "Maybe we should send someone through to find them" - Rodimus's spoiler is missing.
* When A-3 returns to the past, the Autobots are standing in a completely different setting than when we last saw them. They're also no longer surrounded by Dark Guardians.
* The Autobot symbol on A-3's chest is suddenly a solid plate (including surrounding metal) when it is revealed as the Coder Remote, but looks no different from the regular Autobot symbol in previous shots (other than being golden).
* Beta came with four rebels, but two, five and six are shown in various shots.
* A-3 came through the gateway to the past and it was shown as just the frame of the portal, but when the Autobots go through it, it includes the control panel underneath (on ''both'' sides).
* As A-3 tells them to go, Wreck-Gar is next to Blaster on the right, but a shot later, he's behind him on the left.
* Also, as the Autobots dive into the gateway, Ramhorn disappears from the shot.
* When the Autobots land and run away from the gateway, Wheelie is running with them. (He's supposed to be on ''another planet''!) Also, Rewind is missing from the shot.
* Rodimus is nowhere near the gateway after he presses the button. The shot should show him running too.
* As he tells Rodimus they must close the time portal, Perceptor is drawn huge. (If he stood up, he'd be much taller than Rodimus, who is closer to the camera but drawn smaller.)
* Air Raid clips through Rewind as he walks up to deliver the last lines of the episode.

===Continuity errors===
* Flying Autobots:
** Perceptor, Blurr & company fly off of Cybertron and have a whole battle out in space under their own power. No jetpacks are shown or mentioned.
* Why would the Autobots fly right into the Quintessons' device?
* Supposedly, the Quintessons were after Alpha Trion, but the claw at the beginning was grabbing for something sphere-shaped.
* Nobody suspects that A-3 might be Alpha Trion until his "future ghost" talks to Superion.
** And, even more oddly, the Aerialbots are surprised at the end to discover this fact, even though A-3 himself said as much to their combined form!
* Past-Cybertron appears with a partial Earth-like rocky landscape - such as the trench in which Beta and the rebels are hiding - in addition to the conventional metal-plated ground. Are we to assume the Quintessons were still cyberforming the planet as the rebellion started? And did the Quintessons finish during the rebellion, or did the Transformers complete the job afterwards?

===Other trivia===
* The Quintesson scientist is named Inquirata in the script, but is unnamed in the episode proper.
* This is the second episode in a row to conclude with a constellation image of a character, as "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]" ends with a star image Optimus Prime right after his apparent destruction.
* This is one of the few episodes not to feature the [[Decepticon]]s.
*What is it with Aerialbots and [[War Dawn (episode)|time travel episodes]]?

===Foreign localization===

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Ewigkeit dauert lange'''" ("The Eternity takes a long Time")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
*This was one of twelve episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]] released as audio adventures by the [[Germany|German]] company [[Karussell|Karussell Musik und Video]].

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La finestra del tempo'''" (First dub, "The Time Window"), "'''L'eternità giungerà tra molto tempo'''" (Second dub, "Eternity will arrive after a long time")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 時の罠 (''Toki no Wana'', "Time Trap")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 16]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' Suìyuè zhī Chuāng (岁月之窗, "Time Window")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1993 — The Biggest Ever Saturday Morning Picture Show ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 5: Return to Cybertron ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-94.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808827/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [https://drive.google.com/open?id=1x2gWADPnQa_2RbpJy64MNpQMkyizlohC Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Quintesson

2020-08-31T23:59:36Z

CicadaNation: /* Generations */

{{factions|quintesson}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 alien race|their home planet which is called "Quintesson" in the Marvel Comic UK continuity|Quintessa (planet)}}
[[File:Quint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Hahahaha— —hahahahaha— —–hahahahaha— ——hahahahahaha— ——–hahahahahaha!"]]

The '''Quintessons''' are a bizarre and ancient race, whose dark history and shadowy machinations are bound up with the history of the [[Transformer]]s, with connections to both [[Primus]] and [[Unicron]]. They are known galaxy-wide as traders, entrepreneurs and businessmen, but their dealings are very rarely on the level, often laced with intrigue and betrayals. They prefer subtle manipulation, scheming, and advanced technology over brute force, but if those don't work, they can fall back on the legion of deadly [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] and [[Allicon]]s at their command and a fleet of battle-ready [[Quintesson spacecraft|spaceships]] as well. However, the Quintessons themselves have zero fighting abilities and are absolute cowards if they have nothing to hide behind. For example, they are seen to be powerless against a Sharkticon revolt.

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

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

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

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

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

<gallery perrow="5">
File:Quintessondeath.jpg|'''Death'''
File:Qhead1.gif|'''Rage'''/Wrath
File:Qhead2.gif|'''Laughter'''/War
File:Qhead3.gif|'''Bitterness'''/Wisdom
File:Qhead4.gif|'''Doubt'''/Judgment
</gallery>

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

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

Named Judges include:
*[[Brinn]]
*[[Deliberata]]
*[[Derodomontatus]]
*[[Heirodyus]]
*[[Kledji]]
*[[Klementia]]
*[[Pentius]]
*[[Sevax]]
*[[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]]
*An unnamed [[Judge (Cyberverse)|judge]]

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

===Executioners===
[[File:TFU Quintesson Gatekeeper.jpg|thumb|Pokey, pokey!]]
Marvel's ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' referred to this kind of Quintesson as a "Gatekeeper," suggesting the design was created specifically for a scene that wound up being deleted from the film, in which a Quintesson standing watch at the gate to their citadel sent the Dinobots (searching for Hot Rod and Kup) off in the wrong direction. With the deletion of this scene, the design was instead used for the Quintesson who throws the switch that sends [[Arblus]] plumetting into the Sharkticon pit, earning them the designation of "Executioner."

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

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

Named prosecutors include:
*[[Krahulik]]
*[[Vashik]]
*Various unnamed [[Prosecutor (Cyberverse)|prosecutor]]s
{{-}}

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

Named scientists include:
*[[Al-Badur]]
*[[Extempaxia]]
*[[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]]
*[[Mara-Al-Utha]]
*An unnamed [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|scientist]]
{{-}}

===Other types===
[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|125px|thumb|My tentacles are on fire!]]
The Judges are not the only Quintessons to have multiple faces, though the only known exception is the '''three-faced scientist''' who was the primary creator of the [[Trans-Organic]]s. One of his faces was grievously damaged, a scar left by the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], which he covered with a mask.

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

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

[[File:Quint humanoid.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No one remembers we exist.]]
Non-bailiff, non-executioner '''Humanoid''' Quintessons are exceedingly rare. One accompanied [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] on his mission to use a [[Time Window]] to change Cybertron's history, stopping the slave revolt that drove the Quintessons off-planet. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

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

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Regis Cordic]], [[Roger C. Carmel]] and [[Jack Angel]] (English, primary recurring voices, see [[#Notes|Notes]]), [[Dick Gautier]] ("[[The Killing Jar (episode)|The Killing Jar]]"), [[Tony Pope]] ("[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[The Dweller in the Depths]]"), [[Paul Eiding]] ("[[The Quintesson Journal]]"), [[Charlie Adler]] ("[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"), [[Corey Burton]] ("[[Madman's Paradise]]"), [[Aron Kincaid]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]")}}
{{quote|We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy.|[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

[[File:FFOD4 Early Quintessons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The new Powerpuff Girls series never really got off the ground.]]
In ages long past, a race of aliens called the Quintessons existed on the planet-sized factory known as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Some of their early experiments in creating artificial life resulted in the [[Trans-Organic]]s. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} Some Quintessons turned to forbidden arts, and were banished to other dimensions. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} The Quintessons eventually created two lines of sentient robots: one was a line of robots designed for domestic duties and labor (known as [[Autobot]]s), and the other was a line designed for military use (known as [[Decepticon]]s). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} The Quintessons were exceptionally cruel to their creations, eventually leading to wide-spread rebellion, a rebellion started by the Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]]. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} Forced to flee the planet, the Quintessons eventually settled on the small, twisted planet of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], but fostered an undying hatred of all Transformers for the next eleven million years. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

They also spent this time productively, selling technology to other races, and often manipulating the political and military climate of regions of space to increase their sales, all the while diligently keeping track of their work by recording it in [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. {{Storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} Occasionally a race as the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] would arise that could potentially threaten the Quintessons, and they would deal with it by sealing off whole sections of space with [[quadrant lock]]s. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Believe it or not, you really do have better chances in Texas.]]
In 2005, they were shown to capture prisoners for trial and feeding to their army of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]. The mock trials held by the Quintesson Court seemed to have no purpose at all, except maybe for the Quintessons' amusement, as defendants were still immediately fed to the ravenous Sharkticons even when the Judge determined them to be innocent. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] managed to rescue the pair of Autobots the Quintessons had captured. Worse, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspired the Sharkticons to rebel... by stomping his foot on the ground and telling them to do so. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|The Quintessons' involvement in these events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]" and the storybook "[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers the Movie]]."}}

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

[[File:FFOD4 Quintessons raised tentacles and Galvatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Look out, it's Galvatron! Quick, make yourselves look big and maybe he'll leave us alone!"]]
After [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] mounted a rescue for their captive friends, the Quintessons attempted to kill the would-be rescuers by destroying the entire planet of Quintessa. After this plan failed, the surviving Quintessons approached the currently leaderless Decepticons, offering them [[energon]] in exchange for attacking the Autobots who had fled to the planet [[Goo 8739B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} When the newly revived [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] arrived intending to reclaim his army, the Quintessons made an alliance with him to attack Cybertron in return for the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], an object which didn't actually exist outside the Quintessons' fertile imaginations. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

The Quintessons betrayed Galvatron almost immediately after the battle had been won, sending the Sharkticons to pull a [[Large switch|switch]] which would cause all Transformers the galaxy over literally to freeze where they stood. Though the Sharkticons were fought off, Galvatron pulled the lever anyway. The Quintessons landed on Cybertron, intending to reclaim the planet, however Spike destroyed the switch and the Quintessons were forced to abandon the planet in an escape pod. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

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

[[File:ForeverLongTimeComing various Quintessons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Damn it! Who ate my yogurt?!"]]
Later still, the Quintessons attempted to rewrite history by preventing their loss of Cybertron, creating a [[Time Window]] on an asteroid, directed at Cybertron eleven million years in the past. The Autobots attacked the asteroid, occupying it as several of their number passed through the Time Window and resulting in the very fabric of reality starting to unravel the longer the window remained open. The Quintessons made several desperate attempts to retake the asteroid before convincing Rodimus Prime to shut the Time Window down, though their plans were still ruined as the time-displaced A-3 returned to the past to take his part in the rebellion. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After a Quintesson journal was lost on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], the Quintessons began inserting subliminal messages into the Junkions' [[television]] in an attempt to make them tidy and instill a distrust of other life forms. Unfortunately the equipment sending the subliminal signal was damaged during an attempt to retrieve the journal, resulting in the Junkions transmitting subliminal messages to the rest of the galaxy. In the ensuing battle, the Quintessons again tried to retrieve the journal, only to lose it when a stray shot knocked it loose from their tractor beam. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} The journal resurfaced again in the [[Angarrix sector]] at the same time that the Autobots were conducting peace talks with [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], two planets whom the Quintessons had manipulated into war so that they could sell weapons. Despite the Quintessons' best attempts the journal reached the conference where their interference was exposed, and the Autobots destroyed the Quintesson ship as it tried to deliver two [[omega bomb]]s intended to destroy the planets. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

The Quintessons would try other schemes to destroy the Autobots. One involved kidnapping [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and hooking him to a device which manifested his dreams in real life. Unfortunately the dream constructs turned on them when Rodimus was able to reach Daniel's sleeping mind. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}} Another was to manipulate Galvatron into releasing the Trans-Organics. Though Galvatron succeeded, releasing the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], the Autobots managed to expel the creature into space, where it attacked the Quintesson ship. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:MadmansParadise Mara-Al-Utha.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''"Why not Zoidberg?!'']]
Finding Galvatron interfering with the quadrant lock sealing [[Quadrant X]], the Quintessons entered the lock, taking a number of Transformers through with them. Unfortunately their [[isolator key]], needed to reopen the lock, was damaged, forcing them to obtain [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[universal emulator]]. Perceptor was able to program the emulator so that when the Quintessons used it, it disabled the quadrant lock for good. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}} In another dimension on [[Menonia]], the Autobots found the rogue Quintesson scientist [[Mara-Al-Utha]], and defeated him with the help of local wizard named the [[Golden One]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime Quintesson holding tool.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.45|"Right, where am I sticking this?"]]
The Quintessons suggested to Cyclonus that he take Galvatron to [[Torkulon]], believing the experience would prove fatal for the Decepticons. It didn't. {{storylink|Webworld}} A group of Quintessons based on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] made a deal with [[Dirk Manus]] to deliver them the [[Recreator]], while also sending the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] to attack him. Multiple double-crosses ensued until in one final double-cross, Manus set [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on the Quintessons and they retreated without the Recreator. {{storylink|Money Is Everything (episode)|Money Is Everything}}

When Rodimus asked [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to find him a Quintesson, Sky Lynx complained that the Quintessons had gone into hiding in the farthest reaches of the galaxy and would be difficult to find. Nonetheless Sky Lynx managed to find [[Klementia|one being chased]] by [[Hate Plague]] infected Sharkticons, and took him to Earth to restore life to the body of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} The lone Quintesson also restored a number of other Autobots to help Optimus retrieve the Matrix from Rodimus. He did his best to hold off the infected Transformers while Optimus journeyed into the Matrix and found a way to cure the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{--}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
======''Legends'' comic======
Millions of years ago, the Quintessons arrived on the planet that would become Cybertron and discovered the essence of the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] as well as the [[Matrix of Leadership|vessel]] that had once kept it. They subjugated the Oracle by encasing him within [[Vector Sigma]] and creating the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to control his powers, which they used to transform the planet into a metallic world. They went on to use Cybertron as a factory for [[Transformer|robotic slaves]] until their creations rebelled and drove them off the planet, claiming the Oracle's vessel and finding it full of malicious energy after years of accumulating the wisdom of its Quintesson owners. They promptly dumped out the Quintesson wisdom, which would one day go on to become [[Devil Z]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

In need of new territory after being driven off Cybertron, the Quintessons opened a portal to another dimension, the [[Legends World]], and invaded it with an army of [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharges]] led by a lone Quintesson. They were beaten back by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], leading to the Quintessons labeling the Legends World dangerous and sealing away its creators, the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]], with a [[quadrant lock]]. However, the Quintessons were unaware that their portal had in fact spanned time as well as space and led to the far future, and the Legends World would only be created ''after'' the Zamojin were released from the lock. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 59|Bonus Edition Vol. 59}}

======''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010'' story pages======
Teaming up with the Decepticons, the Quintessons began developing new warriors for their "allies". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 2}} The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s were constructed by the Quintessons during this alliance. The Sharkticons, also considered to be part of the Predacon faction, were leased to the Decepticons to bolster their ranks. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 3}} The Quintessons evidently consider the Sharkticons to be "the Pride of the Quintessons" and developed [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] specifically to outdo all previous Decepticon [[combiner]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

During [[Dark Awakening (episode)|the time they had Optimus Prime's corpse in their clutches]], the Quintessons copied his schematics. They also received schematics of Megatron from their alliance with the Decepticons and developed the Colossal Cannon Soldier [[Gilthor]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

======''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers'' manga======
[[File:2010manga04-title.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Great Guns", "Colossal Cannons", it's all semantics.]]

The Quintessons feigned to have created Gilthor as a subordinate for Galvatron, but in reality they had allied themselves with the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who gave the robot life. Gilthor quickly turned on Galvatron during an ambush on Rodimus Prime. He would have won, had Rodimus and Galvatron not worked together to defeat him, foiling the plans of the Quintessons. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #4}}
{{--}}

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

======Controverse======
When [[Primacron]] was taken into custody for unleashing [[Tornedron]] into the cosmos, the galactic council appointed the Quintesson judge [[Adveraros]] to preside over the scientist's trial. To guard the prisoner, the Quintessons brought along several Bailiffs and Sharkticons. Though Adveraros at first seemed to give a sensible ruling (acquittal by reason of insanity) in truth the Quintessons were planning to harvest Primacron's brain once he had been sent to [[Doruka III]], an asylum planet. The plot was foiled by Primacron himself, who fashioned a high-tech whistle out of his mechanical manacles, and took control of all nearby "[[Primitive]]" Transformers. Having restrained Adveraros with his own Sharkticon guards, Primacron revealed that he had once created bacterial machines, which he proposed was the Quintessons' distant ancestors. Adveraros loudly denounced this claim as the Autobots came in to take protective custody of Primacron. {{storylink|Controverse}}

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

The six found themselves on a strange, alien world in the year 2011. With their ship ensnared, they were herded by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] to the Space Tribunal, where the Quintessons put them on trial for time-traveling without their permission.

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

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

======Story of Binaltech======
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Outlier (comic)|Outlier}}}}

======''Alternity''======
As a result of a [[quadrant lock]] the Quintessons placed upon the [[BT World]] to trap the [[Binaltech]] Autobots, the planet was frozen in time until the [[Alternity]] were born and broke through it 900,000 years later. During the intervening time, however, a tragic fate befell the Quintessons. {{storylink|Alternation}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
{{wingsnote}}
Very early in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Autobot ship ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' was shot down over [[Beta-Nine]] while transporting a [[Matrix of Leadership|vital cargo]]. The Autobots initially believed that the crash was the result of a Decepticon attack, but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], a crewmember of the rescue ship ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', discovered the truth when he found green tentacled remains alongside the corpses of the murdered ''Van De Graaff'' crew. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

The Quintessons created [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] to lead a new generation of Sharkticons. In [[2010]], they sent Sky-Byte and several Sharkticons to Earth in an alliance with the [[Decepticon Syndicate]]. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

By [[2984]], Quintesson space had come under the control of the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]s. In that year, the temporally-displaced pirates known as the [[Star Seeker]]s traveled near former Quintesson space on their way to find the immortal spark of the infamous Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. The Star Seekers eventually gained access to a [[Shut-Up-Tornado-I'm-Trying-To-Think|planetoid]] existing in a pocket of space surrounded by black holes. In a chamber on the planetoid, they encountered a lone Quintesson who claimed to have been betrayed and marooned by Starscream on the planetoid some time earlier. The Star Seekers gave the Quintesson passage off of the planetoid in exchange for telling all that he knew of Starscream's last known destination. However as it turned out, the Quintesson was long dead, and Starscream's immortal spark had been using the Quintesson's body as a puppet. Forming an alliance with the Decepticon Star Seeker [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]], Starscream discarded the Quintesson's body and hijacked Captain [[Cannonball (G1)|Cannonball]]'s body for himself, simultaneously allowing Flamewar to take control of the Star Seekers for herself. {{storylink|Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur}}

=====''Transformers: All Spark''=====
{{groupstub}}
{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In an unstable [[Iocus]] universe engineered by the machinations of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Renegade#Gong|Gong]], the Quintessons on Quintessa were replaced by the [[Master Renegade]] and the [[Monster GoBot]]s on [[Antares 3|Antares III]] during the events of the [[Unicron War]]. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}}

=====''Deviations''=====
A group of Quintessons were presiding over the execution of Kranix when Optimus Prime and the Autobots intervened, forcing the Quintessons to abandon their kangaroo court and flee. Optimus noted a feeling of familiarity towards the aliens and their planet but could not place it. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations|Deviations}}

=====Big Looker storybooks=====
[[File:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Rarely do encounters with Autobots work out well for the Quintessons.]]
An Autobot ship crashed on Quintesson, with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] the only survivor. The Quintessons captured him, throwing him in a dungeon. They intended to execute him, taking him to a Sharkticon pit, however he managed to evade them and escaped into the jungles of Quintesson. When Hot Rod's ship also crashed on the planet, the Quintessons tried to mount a sneak attack, only for Wheelie to appear and fight them off single-handed. The Quintessons returned with Sharkticon backup, stalking the Autobots as Wheelie tried to lead them away from the crash site, however as it turned out even with their Sharkticons, the Quintesson were no match for the Autobots and most of them were killed in the battle that ensued. {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{--}}

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

=====3H comics=====
Millennia ago, the Quintessons were the minions of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], send out to locate [[Primus]]. The Quintessons succeeded, but rather than turn Primus over to Unicron, they instead constructed barriers around him, intending to make use of him to create consumer product lines. They eventually succeeded in doing so through [[Vector Sigma]], though some of their number such as [[Al-Badur]] warned of the danger of trying to control Primus's creations. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

Meanwhile the Wreckers encountered Al-Badur on an icy world, and he filled them in on the origin of Cybertron and bargained for his departure from the planet in exchange for information about the [[Divine Light]]. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

=====''Beast Wars: Uprising''=====
Several millennia ago, the Cybertronians bought some surplus [[Terrorbot]] drones from the Quintessons, including the cumbersome and inefficient [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] drones. {{storylink|Burning Bridges}}

Following the failed [[Great Push]] of [[2033]], a Quintesson court found Galvatron and his compatriots guilty of their many war crimes, sentencing them to death. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} By the 24th century, the Quintessons were among the few species still allowed to travel in and out of the [[Allowed Zone]] due to pre-existing contractual relationships with Cybertron; the [[Human Confederacy]] regarded the Quintessons with suspicion.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3361342 Post by Jim S on the Allspark Forums]</ref>

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

In an alternate future of 2005, the Quintessons took Hot Rod, Kup and several other Autobots hostage on their homeworld and chucked them into the Sharkticon pits for punishment. The Autobots were able to escape, however, and the Sharkticons quickly turned on their cruel masters. {{storylink|Judgment Day!}}

''In 2008, Quintesson scientists realized that their planet, Quintesson, was threatened with destruction by a time rift that was caused by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s time-traveling. Though they scoped out several other worlds to move their civilization to, the [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] containing the records on these planets was lost on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}} ''In an attempt to retrieve it, they captured [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and had him interrogated by the [[Mister Regan|Galaxy's greatest torturer]]. After being left to the torturer's tender mercies for some time, Wreck-Gar "confessed," in an elaborate story, that the journal was lost in the void of space. The Quintessons quickly deduced that whole tale had been nothing but [[Quintesson#The Big Broadcast of 2006|a fabrication]], and executed the torturer for failing to deliver the journal's true location.'' {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

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

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

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

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
After a [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] of great importance to the Quintessons was lost on the planet Junkion, the Quintessons sent down a school of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] planet-side to retrieve it. Though the Sharkticons came close to completing their mission, they were chased off at the last moment by the planet's natives, much to the Quintessons' frustration. Deciding to make another attempt at its retrieval through more surreptitious means, the Quintessons sent down a television set the next day, knowing of the Junkions' fondness for Earth broadcasts. Their television set, however, also broadcasted a subliminal message, which caused the Junkions to act aggressively towards all outsiders, and made compelled them to clean up their planet. The Quintessons hoped this would allow them to more easily find their journal amidst Junkion's heaps of garbage, while keeping any other parties who might interfere at bay.

As soon as the Junkions found the Quintessons' journal, the latter moved in. But the Autobots and Decepticons had caught wind that something was amiss on Junkion by this time, and both factions also became involved, forcing the Quintessons to attack them. The Autobot [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] proved too mighty for them however, and the Quintesson were forced to retreat without their prize in hand. Worse yet, during the Autobots' and the Decepticons' scuffle in Junkion's orbit, the Quintessons' transmitter was damaged, ultimately resulting in its broadcast being sent all around the galaxy. Various species gathered around the planet to duke it out between themselves as a result. Seeing another opportunity to seize their lost journal, the Quintessons sent down a shuttle-craft to retrieve it while everyone else was distracted in the melee. But as the journal was captured in the shuttle-craft's tractor beam, a wild shot hit it, sending the journal off into the void of space, and out of the Quintessons' reach. The Quintesson tasked with retrieving the journal was sentenced to death for failing to fulfill his mission. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

====''The Invisibility Factor''====
{{notemultipath}}
In one possible scenario, the Quintessons, currently allied with the Decepticons, sent a messenger craft to Earth. They informed Galvatron that they were ready to send in troops to help in a full-scale invasion of the Earth. Without any Autobots around to interfere with the messages they were relaying the Quintessons and the Decepticons soon turned Earth into one giant refuelling station.{{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}

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

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
The Quintessons were an alien race which appeared to have conquered Cybertron at some point, but were driven off. However, they continued to maintain watch over Cybertron, and began plotting in earnest after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. eventually coming to manipulate the [[Council of Ancients]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] claimed this was the reason that he started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

Megatron's animosity towards the Quintessons did not stop him from making a deal with the aliens, who provided him with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and a bunch of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]]. Knowing Megatron and the Quintessons, both were planning to betray each other when the time was right. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Megatron had promised to deliver Cybertron's core to the Quintessons in exchange for the army they had provided him, but Megatron forestalled on completing the deal once he had conquered Cybertron. The Quintessons grew annoyed, and began to rightly suspect that Megatron planned to renege on their transaction. Little did they know that [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], having been accidently been transported to Quintessa, was eavesdropping on their conversation, learning the true nature of Cybertron's conquest. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} The Quintessons discovered Flash spying on them, but he escaped thanks to his superior speed. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} The Quintessons then attempted to remotely extract Cybertron's core, only for their efforts to be thwarted by Starscream. Though their plans ended in failure, the Quintessons learned that the power they sought was also contained within Optimus Prime, a target much more attainable than Cybertron's core. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

The Quintessons began plotting further in earnest against Cybertron after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Noting that [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] might stand in their way, the Quintessons readied to put into use one of their agents on Cybertron, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who they could use to "distract" him. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} When Arcee informed that Hot Rod would soon be put in a mostly isolated position, the Quintessons excitedly put their plans of conquest in motion ahead of schedule. They called upon [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] to ready herself {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} and her [[Female Autobots|extraction team]] to invade Cybertron. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Generation One #11}}

{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}

Under the Quintessons' supervision, the extraction team successfully knocked out Hot Rod and retrieved the unconscious Autobot. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}}

====''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''====
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|What order is this read in?!]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded information on Cybertron's history from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s databanks, he saw the Quintessons create the [[Trans-Organic|transorganics]] and the Transformers. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
An enigmatic Quintesson historian named [[Pentius]] was shipwrecked on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for centuries until he was freed by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who needed a guide to get off the planet. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} During their time together, the Quintesson nurtured Megatron's evil ambitions in order to shape him into a true monster, though his motives for doing so were clouded in mystery. The Decepticon eventually killed Pentius to use his [[spark]]'s energy as fuel, but he was content with his death as it proved Megatron's training was complete. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} After inserting Pentius's spark into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Megatron accessed the giant's jumbled memories and saw other Quintessons, which he described as "devils" that preyed upon and destroyed entire civilizations. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

Some time after [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Ore-1]] [[Regenesis]] missiles struck the planet [[LV-117]], someone painted the Death face of a Quintesson Judge on top of the [[Decepticon]] insignia adorning it. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} A strange inscription of a Quintesson judge was also present inside the ruins of some unknown ancient civilization on the planet. Through the cracks in the stone it was carved into, its eerie eyes glowed... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

As [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began consuming LV-117, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Varta]] planned to flee the planet on a [[Quintesson Cruiser|familiar screw-shaped ship]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} {{storylink|Our Darkest}} After crashing the ship on [[LV-118]], Wheelie claimed to have stolen it from someone, but didn't specify who. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

A similar ship - this one chock full of Sharkticons - was used by Wreck-Gar and [[Rum-Maj|Rum-Maj's]] group of Junkions to travel to Earth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

When a trio of Autobots entered Unicron's internals, they found the remains of the Quintesson engraving. [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] questioned its significance only for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to point out the painting presence's meant they were nearing Unicron's core. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}}

====''Kre-O'' online comics====
[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked a Quintesson and spun it around by the tentacles during his rampage. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
The mysterious fifth dimensional beings known only as "the Makers" created the universe and with it [[Daiakuron]], a living planet which they imbued with the power to create life on its own. They went on to merge together, five at a time, into [[combiner|gestalt]] forms, becoming the Quintessons. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}} Taking up residence in the [[Transwarp|Void]], the Quintessons were displeased that the life spawned from Daiakuron had developed sentience, something they had not intended. Seizing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Snake-Eyes]], and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] the three were placed on trial for theft of the body and the soul. Reviewing their memories, acquiring the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], being trained by the Blind Master in martial arts and living at odds with his step-father, respectively the trio was found guilty! Before persecution could be passed they escaped back into reality. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} After learning the identity of their creators, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] sent a joint crew to [[Quadrant X]] to find the Quintessons. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
When [[Gozer]] appeared on Cybertron, the [[Temple of Gozer|temple]] it summoned was adorned with Quintesson visages. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
[[File:Alpha Q Faces.jpg|thumb|150px|left|"Show all five faces? With our budget?"]]
:''See [[Alpha Quintesson]]''

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

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

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

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

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

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

====Shattered Expectations====
When [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] and [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] confronted the evil Autobots [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], Starscream ordered the Autobots to surrender in the name of the '''[[Quintesson Federation]]'''. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations}}

===Aligned continuity family===
The Quintessons were small, organic, squid-like creatures. Physically frail, easily injured, and extremely cowardly, the Quintessons themselves were rarely seen, and did most of their dirty work through various proxies, willing or unwilling. When the Quintessons did need to expose themselves to further their own ends, they frequently encased themselves in mechanical suits styled after their various slave races, often claiming to be representatives of other races.

At some point after the creation of the first Transformers, [[Quintus Prime]] left Cybertron to seed other worlds in the universe with life with the [[Emberstone]], in the hopes that other peaceful, space-faring civilizations would one day contact Cybertron to form friendly alliances. Among his earliest creations were the Quintessons. So that didn't work out too well.

After creating the Quintessons, Quintus Prime was never heard from again; [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] idly speculated that the Quintessons may have killed their creator. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

The Quintessons developed interstellar travel before the Transformers. At some point in the past, the Quintessons stole and reverse-engineered [[space bridge]] technology from an unknown source. They eventually discovered Cybertron toward the end of that planet's Age of Origins. As the first alien beings ever to make contact with the planet, the arrival of their ships awed the young Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} The Quintessons claimed to be benevolent entities sent to "uplift" the Cybertronians from their primitive existence, so that they could join the galactic community. By giving Cybertronians the "gift" of transformation and the power to assume [[alternate mode]]s, the Quintessons won Cybertron's public support. In reality, though, the Quintessons had simply learned to manipulate the dormant [[transformation cog]]s present in every Transformer. The dispersal of Quintesson technology and tutelage turned the feudal, tribe-based planet into a sophisticated spacefaring civilization almost overnight. The Quintessons established rule of law and eventually a global order overseen by the [[Elite Guard]] member [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].

Secretly, the Quintessons aimed to slowly rob the Cybertronians of their individuality, then sell them into slavery as mindless drones. To further this goal, they began implanting various Cybertronians, such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], with cockpits intended to house Quintesson pilots. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The Quintessons organized other Cybertronians into working collectives and attempted to tamper with the Well of All Sparks itself; newborn Transformers began emerging without names or identities, and instead received alphanumeric designations. The Quintesson's twisted, bizarre sense of justice led to the construction of the [[Supreme Court]] on Cybertron, a kangaroo court where innocents could be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

Eventually, a resistance movement formed, and the Quintessons were defeated in a rebellion led by Sentinel Prime, who led Cybertron into a subsequent [[Golden Age]]. Traces of their rule, such as the cockpits implanted in many Cybertronians, would remain even as Cybertron slowly rid itself of their influence. Some of the Cybertronians who had lived through this disturbing period- including a young librarian named [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]]- suppressed their traumatic memories of Cybertron's occupation, and eventually forgot about the Quintessons almost entirely. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Generations later, Orion Pax claimed Sentinel and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] had enslaved Cybertron with the [[caste system]] instead of having it forced on them by the Quintessons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The Quintessons never forgot about their humiliating rout at the hands of their former servants, and for many centuries the embittered race enviously regarded the planet and its inhabitants as rightfully theirs. At some point after Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], the Quintessons discovered and colonized the Transformers's ex-colony world of [[Aquatron]], modifying the bodies of its inhabitants to produce techno-organic monstrosities such as the [[Gamekeeper]] and the [[Hydratron]]. Aquatron was eventually subsumed into the Quintesson Imperium, and the Quintessons used their new [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] slaves as aquatic shock troopers.

When the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' entered the Aquatron system during Optimus Prime's search for the [[AllSpark]], the Quintessons awakened [[Inquirata (Prime)|Inquirata]] and his associate [[Xeros]] to carry out their deception that would eventually lead to the second invasion of Cybertron. Manipulating both Optimus and [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to the planet's surface under the guise of a peace treaty, the Quintessons were eventually able to place both Autobots and Decepticons under arrest and take them to court. During the trial, the Quintessons claimed that they had colonized Cybertron and literally built the first Transformers; Optimus quickly saw through their deception and maintained that all Cybertronians were creations of [[Primus]] alone. The Quintesson judges found Optimus innocent, and forced him to duel to the death with Megatron; siphoning energy from the two leaders, they powered a Space Bridge to Cybertron and launched a second invasion force to re-colonize and enslave Cybertron. Their genetically engineered leader [[Tyrannicon]] spearheaded the Sharkticon invasion and was able to swiftly overwhelm the weakened planet. The invasion was only defeated after Megatron, forced into a temporary truce with his archenemy, discovered the [[Sharkticon Matrix of Leadership]] and used it to override Tyrannicon's hold on his troops. In the ensuing fight, Xeros, Tyrannicon, and Inquirata were all killed, and Aquatron itself was freed of Quintesson control. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

The [[Mutacon]]s knew of the Quintessons but considered the law-bound Quintesson way of life to be boring and a worse fate than death. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeremy Levy]] (Death, English), [[Saskia Marx]] (Judgement and Cruelty, English), [[Dick Terhune]] (Chaos and [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]], English), [[Mike Rose]] (Ego, English), [[Billy Bob Thompson]] (Starscream, English), [[Sophia Isabella]] (Gray, English), [[Ryan Nicolls]] (Velgrox, English)}}
The Quintessons were a strange race of aliens, interdimensional beings who travelled the [[multiverse]] using their [[multiverse drive]] and passed judgement on which universes deserved to live or be destroyed. {{storylink|The Trial}} To do so, the Quintessons would create "[[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judges]]", hybrid beings based on the native lifeforms of that universe; if the universe was found guilty, then the Judge would oversee the destruction of the universe by using [[Transwarp|unspace]] to obliterate all matter. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} The [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]] traditionally oversaw the process, and in his travels developed a fondness for collecting various iterations of [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]] he plucked from the various doomed universes his kind had passed judgement upon. {{storylink|The Scientist}}

When exactly it is that the Quintessons found this particular universe is not clear; hieroglyphs inside the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Croaton]] suggested that the aliens had invaded his colony and abducted his inhabitants long before the present day, {{storylink|Ghost Town}} with [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] referencing the Quintesson reputation for engineering when affecting repairs to a disused [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Either way, the Quintessons had established an outpost in a distant region of the galaxy at some point before [[2007]]. Having previously encountered the [[Velgrox]] and the [[Gray]], incorporating a member of both races into their latest Judge, the Quintessons discovered that Cybertronians existed in this universe after Croaton, in search of his missing citizens, flew past the outpost, taking the hapless [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] with him. Although the current Judge planned to simply judge and dispose of their new prisoner, the ambitious Seeker tried to win over his captors by revealing the existence of the [[AllSpark|Allspark]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Seeing this as a power source to fuel the creation of the new Judge, the Quintessons made for Cybertron and "rewarded" Starscream with their highest honor: assimilation into the next Judge. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

Arriving shortly after [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s defeat, the Quintessons quickly conquered the planet and ensnared the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in the tendrils of their command tower. The Cybertronians were rounded up and placed in a virtual reality simulation designed to keep them happy and docile while the Scientist both drained their [[spark]]s and tapped into the Allspark's energy itself to fuel the creation of this new Judge. {{storylink|The Loop}} {{storylink|The Scientist}} Unfortunately, their machinations were upset by [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]], who the Quintessons had overlooked during their conquest of the planet. The ad hoc Cybertronian resistance he assembled operated out of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam]]'s, invisible to Quintesson sensors, and threatened to undermine their control of the planet. Although the Quintesson forces eventually captured Hot Rod, the Autobot leader proved uncooperative and was found guilty. {{storylink|The Trial}}

Soon, the resistance infiltrated the command tower and clashed with the Scientist himself, their battle putting the unborn Judge at risk and severing their hostages' connection to the virtual reality loop. {{storylink|The Scientist}} Freed of their prison, [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]], and their respective forces rebelled against the Quintessons, with the conflict escalating into open war between the two forces. Despite their best efforts, the Cybertronians proved unable to breach the force field that protected the Quintesson headquarters, but the partial activation of [[Iaconus]] pushed their [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] warriors into a retreat. {{storylink|The Alliance}}

The Quintessons eventually gained the advantage, primarily by the Judge's rage at Megatron's theft of their multiverse escape pod, disabling nearly all enemy combatants. However, the Judge was attacked and overwhelmed by the resistance leaders and, in their damage and frenzy, they crashed into the command tower, seemingly perishing as it exploded and collapsed. Although the prior Judge was killed, it had survived long enough for the gestation of their new Judge to finish. {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}}

The new Judge Starscream rounded up nearly all his enemies, only to monologue over them while Optimus Prime and Megatron were being located. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} Iaconus was soon awakened and battled the enslaved Croaton under Judge Starscream's command. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe II}} Despite the Scientist being killed off by Wheeljack, Judge Starscream used unspace to slay Iaconus. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

Despite his victory over Iaconus, Judge Starscream soon lost control of Croaton. As his enemies broke free and rallied, he was soon overwhelmed and seemingly destroyed by the dual [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices]] of Optimus Prime and a returned Megatron. The Quintesson invasion was effectively overthrown, and the remainder of their forces were subsequently dealt with by the Autobots and Deceptions. No trace of their occupation remained by the time of the factions' split control of the planet. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}}

====Alternate universe====
In the universe from which [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron X]] hailed from, the tyrant used a [[laser snare]] to destroy the Quintesson flagship as it descended onto Cybertron before salvaging its technology for his own ends. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends Quintesson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.2|You spin me right round baby, right round.]]
The Quintessons put [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] on trial. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived and promptly turned the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] on their masters. {{storylink|Mockery of Justice}} Intending to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]], the Quintessons allied with [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and sent her in to cause trouble. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}} They also send [[Skuxxoid]]s to the games to kidnap [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 1}} When the trio were rescued post-sentencing by the other Autobots, the Quintessons destroyed their own home planet, Quintesson, in an attempt to eliminate them. The Quints then tried to enlist the help of the Decepticons to wipe out the Autobots, only for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to arrive and reclaim his troops. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}} They soon struck an alliance with Galvatron and attacked Cybertron, with the end result that they activated an ancient device to deactivate all Transformers. After the device was destroyed by Spike, the Quintessons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3}}

The Quintessons observed from afar Ultra Magnus and his Autobots celebrated the activation of a new power core. Enraged by the sight, the Quintessons plotted to get revenge on both Autobots and Decepticons. They then approached Galvatron and gave the Decepticon leader false coordinates to a power core. The Quintessons had in truth led Galvatron to the location of their old creations, the Dweller and the Trans-Organics. After the ensuing battle that took place between the Autobots, the Decepticons and the Quintessons' ancient creations, a faint Quintesson cry for help was broadcast from deep underground... {{storylink|Dweller in the Depths (Legends)|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{--}}

===Transformers: Forged to Fight===
[[File:Quintessons-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|450px|Like a color-changing lamp!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{charstubgames}}

==Toys==
===Energon===
*'''[[Alpha Quintesson]]''' (Mega, [[2005]])
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, missile, base, three tentacles
[[File:Alpha Quintesson toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I do hope you'll bring these gadgets back in one piece, 007.]]

:One of the last toys in the [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|''Energon'' line]], Alpha Quintesson is fairly unique in that he is one of the only toys in the history of the main ''Transformers'' line that does not transform in any manner or even come with any kind of transforming accessory (like the [[Action Master]]s).

:Alpha Quintesson requires quite a bit of assembly out of the box, coming in six separate pieces: his main body, a solid "bed of tentacles" that serves as a wheeled base that the body plugs into, a firing missile launcher which plugs into his back (via a standard 5mm peg that also allows other characters to wield it) and points up over his head, and three rubber, wire-poseable tentacles which attach to the base. The tentacles end in a large yellow clamp, a red chainsaw, and a purple energy arc, and spin around via a gear-wheel system when the base is rolled back and forth. The figure features nine circular ports (three on each arm and three on the base), to which either [[Energon star|energon chip]]s or any weapons featuring 5mm pegs can be attached.

:The main body is notably very [[Show-accuracy|accurate]] to the CGI model from the animated series, save for its coloration and the addition of the missile launcher. As a toy that was entirely dull green from top to bottom would not have been a very interesting sight, the figure features several shades of green with yellow highlights, plus a red paint wash on its "underbelly" and arms. The main body contains its own gimmick, involving Alpha Q's spinning faces as seen in the cartoon. Opening the armor's jaws reveals Alpha Q's head, recessed within the body (though unable to move forward into a more prominent position as seen in the show), and pressing the trigger on the back of the body, disguised as one of the spinal fins, causes the head to spin from face to face. The toy only features the character's first three faces (Angry, Whiny and Crazy); the purple, calm face is not featured.

:As an allegiance was needed to brand the figure with for marketing purposes, Alpha Quintesson's toy is sold as a Decepticon, despite that faction not really being where his loyalties lie. There were also many reports of the toy coming misassembled, missing the hard point where the figure connected to the base, making it nigh impossible for the toy to stand up on its own.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/AlphaQuintesson/alphaquintesson.htm More information on Alpha Quintesson at TFU.info]''

===Cyberverse===
*'''Quintesson Invasion''' (Multi-pack, [[2019]])
[[File:CyberverseQuintessonToy.jpeg|thumb|200px|The Big Surprise of 2019]]

:The Quintesson Judge included in this set is a new roughly deluxe-sized mold, with five different faces that rotate when the top of the body is pushed down and released. The molded tentacle base/body has 4 ball-jointed tentacles that can pose freely.

:Also included in the set are the Spark Armor [[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] and [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Battle Class|Shockwave]], now ''sans'' the spark armor and with new mind control helmet accessories. Additionally, the mind control helmets can plug into any Battle Class spark armor figure. Ironically, Shockwave and Prowl died before encountering the Quintessons in the actual cartoon.

:The set was [[exclusive]] to [[Target]], and appeared at retail in December 2019 with no prior announcement by [[Hasbro]].
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:TF-WFC-E-Voyager-Quintesson-Judge.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it."]]
*'''Quintesson Judge''' (Voyager Class, [[2020]])
**''ID number'': '''WFC-E22'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''ER EX-08'''
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[August 1]], 2020'''
**''Accessories:'' Blaster, cage, seat, blast effect
:The first [[show accuracy|G1-accurate]] Quintesson toy, released at the Voyager [[pricepoint]] as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' toyline. The Quintesson Judge converts into a modular battle station and prison in 16 steps. The prison cell is large enough to fit a Battlemaster, and the five faces have articulated mouths and a rotating gimmick. The faces Rage and Wrath are disassembled in package, requiring owners to plug them into their respective sides. Promotional photos depicted a yellow levitation beam but production pieces were clear.

:He was originally supposed to be released in the second wave, but was changed to the third wave, with Starscream replacing him. In Japan, the Quintesson Judge was released as a [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusive.
{{-}}

[[File:QuintPitOfJudgment.jpeg|upright=1.66|thumb|They've got this case all wrapped up.]]
*'''Quintesson Pit of Judgment''' (2020)
**''Accessories:'' Judge's blaster, cage, seat, blast effect; Bailiff's staff; Sharkticon's tail/mace
:This [[giftset]] represents the "trial" of [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] during ''The Transformers: The Movie''. The set includes a Quintesson Judge (a brighter [[redeco]] of the ''Earthrise'' toy above); a Bailiff (a [[retool]] of the ''Earthrise'' [[Allicon#Toys|Allicon]] with a new head, chest, shoulders, and axe); a non-transforming Prosecutor; a Sharkticon (a redeco of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Sharkticon (species)#Generations|Sharkticon]]); and a non-transforming Kranix. The interior packaging forms the Sharkticon execution pit.

:This piece was [[exclusive]] to [[Hasbro Pulse]] in the United States. It was announced to the public before the "standard" versions of the Judge and Allicon were released, and was avalible first for people who attended the Hasbro Fans Expo in [[Hong Kong]] and preordered the set.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:FloroDery originalquintesson.jpg|thumb|Touch the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow!]]
*The Quintessons were named after a local restaurant.<ref>Flint Dille interview at TFcon 2016</ref>
*An early design for the Quintessons, described in an April 1985 draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', gave them spindly bipedal bodies with large heads. Per this draft, the Autobots would have been shocked to discover that, in reality, they were ''all head''; when Hot Rod grabbed one, its head would disconnect from its body, fly off, and link up to another body in waiting. Somewhere along the way, the body idea got dropped, but not before designer [[Floro Dery]] produced a design seemingly based on this early idea, seen at right, revealed through his [https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FDartstudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name Etsy store] in October 2014. The idea did not disappear completely, however; the mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" was produced before the movie's script was finalized, and contains a few references to ideas from this early draft, including a scene in which one of [[Deliberata]]'s faces detaches—seemingly derived from the idea of a removable head.
*When asked about the finalized Quintesson design in an interview, Dery stated they were based on a cylindrical toy he designed at some point.<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref>
*In their first appearance in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', the two speaking Quintessons are voiced by [[Regis Cordic]] (who plays the judge) and [[Roger C. Carmel]] (the prosecutor). These two actors then became the primary recurring voices of the Quintessons in the third season of the cartoon, usually playing judges, with [[Jack Angel]] normally serving as a third in episodes where more than two speaking roles were required. In [[AKOM]]-animated episodes, Cordic's Quintesson (usually designated "Quintesson #1" in scripts) would commonly speak from the Face of Doubt, while Carmel's ("Quintesson #2") used the Face of Laughter; Angel's intermittently-appearing third Quintesson would most often use the Face of Death, but animation errors, and Quintesson face-rotating meant that these were not ''absolute'' rules. In [[Toei Animation|Toei]] episodes, judges usually spoke from the Face of Death regardless of actor, and prosecutors got more screen time, with Cordic, as the "lead" Quintesson actor, voicing most of them. Numerous guest actors also played assorted "guest" Quintesson roles in various episodes.
*Since [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]] never explains what the characters are being charged with, and offers no logical progression to a verdict, it's usually interpreted that Quintesson justice simply operates on reverse terminology for the sake of humor—that the Quintessons ''say'' "innocent", but dohohoho, they're aliens, and to them, that ''means'' "guilty", so the accused is sentenced to death. This was certainly the assumption [[Simon Furman]] was working off of when he first used the Quintessons in the UK-only framing sequence of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" and had a Quintesson find [[Mister Regan|an interrogator]] to be "innocent" of things which he is unambiguously guilty of. The 2014 novel ''[[Transformers: Retribution|Retribution]]'' also followed this path, with the note that "innocent" must "mean something different" to the aliens, as the characters on trial are indeed entirely guilty of what they are being accused of. What is consistently overlooked, however, is the one instance in all Transformers canon of the Quintessons actually finding someone guilty, which happens to Kup and Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". And they ''are'' guilty of the charges put before them: being Autobots, the race who stole Cybertron from the Quintessons. While it may have started out that way at some point in the script process of the movie, the cartoon universe made clear very early on that Quintesson justice isn't supposed to operate on reverse terminology for humor's sake; the aliens know the difference between the two terms, and the trials are just trivial, for their own amusement, before they kill you anyway.
*In a Q&A, [[Simon Furman]] said he considered making the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] a Quintesson artifact but changed his mind.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032 SIMON FURMAN - Q&A Nov/Dec 2008 at IDW Publishing Forums]</ref>
*The ''Animated'' Quintessons are just off-screen mentions, but as their empire's name is near-identical to [[Japan|Imperial Japan]]'s {{w|Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere}}, we can assume they're ''very nasty''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Quintessa-seijin''' (クインテッサ星人, "Planet Quintessa People"), '''Quintesson''' (クインテッサン ''Kuintessan'')
*''Italian:'' '''Quintessenziali''' ("Quintessentials")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wǔ Miàn Guài''' (五面怪, "Five-faced Monster")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Cyberverse species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 aliens]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon species]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) species]]
[[Category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Quintessons| ]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe species]]

Quintesson

2020-08-31T23:57:02Z

CicadaNation: /* Generations */

{{factions|quintesson}}
{{disambig2|the Generation 1 alien race|their home planet which is called "Quintesson" in the Marvel Comic UK continuity|Quintessa (planet)}}
[[File:Quint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Hahahaha— —hahahahaha— —–hahahahaha— ——hahahahahaha— ——–hahahahahaha!"]]

The '''Quintessons''' are a bizarre and ancient race, whose dark history and shadowy machinations are bound up with the history of the [[Transformer]]s, with connections to both [[Primus]] and [[Unicron]]. They are known galaxy-wide as traders, entrepreneurs and businessmen, but their dealings are very rarely on the level, often laced with intrigue and betrayals. They prefer subtle manipulation, scheming, and advanced technology over brute force, but if those don't work, they can fall back on the legion of deadly [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] and [[Allicon]]s at their command and a fleet of battle-ready [[Quintesson spacecraft|spaceships]] as well. However, the Quintessons themselves have zero fighting abilities and are absolute cowards if they have nothing to hide behind. For example, they are seen to be powerless against a Sharkticon revolt.

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

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

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

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

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

<gallery perrow="5">
File:Quintessondeath.jpg|'''Death'''
File:Qhead1.gif|'''Rage'''/Wrath
File:Qhead2.gif|'''Laughter'''/War
File:Qhead3.gif|'''Bitterness'''/Wisdom
File:Qhead4.gif|'''Doubt'''/Judgment
</gallery>

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

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

Named Judges include:
*[[Brinn]]
*[[Deliberata]]
*[[Derodomontatus]]
*[[Heirodyus]]
*[[Kledji]]
*[[Klementia]]
*[[Pentius]]
*[[Sevax]]
*[[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]]
*An unnamed [[Judge (Cyberverse)|judge]]

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

===Executioners===
[[File:TFU Quintesson Gatekeeper.jpg|thumb|Pokey, pokey!]]
Marvel's ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' referred to this kind of Quintesson as a "Gatekeeper," suggesting the design was created specifically for a scene that wound up being deleted from the film, in which a Quintesson standing watch at the gate to their citadel sent the Dinobots (searching for Hot Rod and Kup) off in the wrong direction. With the deletion of this scene, the design was instead used for the Quintesson who throws the switch that sends [[Arblus]] plumetting into the Sharkticon pit, earning them the designation of "Executioner."

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

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

Named prosecutors include:
*[[Krahulik]]
*[[Vashik]]
*Various unnamed [[Prosecutor (Cyberverse)|prosecutor]]s
{{-}}

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

Named scientists include:
*[[Al-Badur]]
*[[Extempaxia]]
*[[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]]
*[[Mara-Al-Utha]]
*An unnamed [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|scientist]]
{{-}}

===Other types===
[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|125px|thumb|My tentacles are on fire!]]
The Judges are not the only Quintessons to have multiple faces, though the only known exception is the '''three-faced scientist''' who was the primary creator of the [[Trans-Organic]]s. One of his faces was grievously damaged, a scar left by the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], which he covered with a mask.

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

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

[[File:Quint humanoid.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No one remembers we exist.]]
Non-bailiff, non-executioner '''Humanoid''' Quintessons are exceedingly rare. One accompanied [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] on his mission to use a [[Time Window]] to change Cybertron's history, stopping the slave revolt that drove the Quintessons off-planet. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

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

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Regis Cordic]], [[Roger C. Carmel]] and [[Jack Angel]] (English, primary recurring voices, see [[#Notes|Notes]]), [[Dick Gautier]] ("[[The Killing Jar (episode)|The Killing Jar]]"), [[Tony Pope]] ("[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]" and "[[The Dweller in the Depths]]"), [[Paul Eiding]] ("[[The Quintesson Journal]]"), [[Charlie Adler]] ("[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"), [[Corey Burton]] ("[[Madman's Paradise]]"), [[Aron Kincaid]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]")}}
{{quote|We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy.|[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]|"[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"}}

[[File:FFOD4 Early Quintessons.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|The new Powerpuff Girls series never really got off the ground.]]
In ages long past, a race of aliens called the Quintessons existed on the planet-sized factory known as [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Some of their early experiments in creating artificial life resulted in the [[Trans-Organic]]s. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}} Some Quintessons turned to forbidden arts, and were banished to other dimensions. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}} The Quintessons eventually created two lines of sentient robots: one was a line of robots designed for domestic duties and labor (known as [[Autobot]]s), and the other was a line designed for military use (known as [[Decepticon]]s). {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} The Quintessons were exceptionally cruel to their creations, eventually leading to wide-spread rebellion, a rebellion started by the Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]]. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} Forced to flee the planet, the Quintessons eventually settled on the small, twisted planet of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], but fostered an undying hatred of all Transformers for the next eleven million years. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

They also spent this time productively, selling technology to other races, and often manipulating the political and military climate of regions of space to increase their sales, all the while diligently keeping track of their work by recording it in [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. {{Storylink|The Quintesson Journal}} Occasionally a race as the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]] would arise that could potentially threaten the Quintessons, and they would deal with it by sealing off whole sections of space with [[quadrant lock]]s. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}}

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Believe it or not, you really do have better chances in Texas.]]
In 2005, they were shown to capture prisoners for trial and feeding to their army of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]]. The mock trials held by the Quintesson Court seemed to have no purpose at all, except maybe for the Quintessons' amusement, as defendants were still immediately fed to the ravenous Sharkticons even when the Judge determined them to be innocent. However, the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] managed to rescue the pair of Autobots the Quintessons had captured. Worse, [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] inspired the Sharkticons to rebel... by stomping his foot on the ground and telling them to do so. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|The Quintessons' involvement in these events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]" and the storybook "[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers the Movie]]."}}

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

[[File:FFOD4 Quintessons raised tentacles and Galvatron.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Look out, it's Galvatron! Quick, make yourselves look big and maybe he'll leave us alone!"]]
After [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] mounted a rescue for their captive friends, the Quintessons attempted to kill the would-be rescuers by destroying the entire planet of Quintessa. After this plan failed, the surviving Quintessons approached the currently leaderless Decepticons, offering them [[energon]] in exchange for attacking the Autobots who had fled to the planet [[Goo 8739B|Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} When the newly revived [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] arrived intending to reclaim his army, the Quintessons made an alliance with him to attack Cybertron in return for the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], an object which didn't actually exist outside the Quintessons' fertile imaginations. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

The Quintessons betrayed Galvatron almost immediately after the battle had been won, sending the Sharkticons to pull a [[Large switch|switch]] which would cause all Transformers the galaxy over literally to freeze where they stood. Though the Sharkticons were fought off, Galvatron pulled the lever anyway. The Quintessons landed on Cybertron, intending to reclaim the planet, however Spike destroyed the switch and the Quintessons were forced to abandon the planet in an escape pod. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

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

[[File:ForeverLongTimeComing various Quintessons.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Damn it! Who ate my yogurt?!"]]
Later still, the Quintessons attempted to rewrite history by preventing their loss of Cybertron, creating a [[Time Window]] on an asteroid, directed at Cybertron eleven million years in the past. The Autobots attacked the asteroid, occupying it as several of their number passed through the Time Window and resulting in the very fabric of reality starting to unravel the longer the window remained open. The Quintessons made several desperate attempts to retake the asteroid before convincing Rodimus Prime to shut the Time Window down, though their plans were still ruined as the time-displaced A-3 returned to the past to take his part in the rebellion. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

After a Quintesson journal was lost on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], the Quintessons began inserting subliminal messages into the Junkions' [[television]] in an attempt to make them tidy and instill a distrust of other life forms. Unfortunately the equipment sending the subliminal signal was damaged during an attempt to retrieve the journal, resulting in the Junkions transmitting subliminal messages to the rest of the galaxy. In the ensuing battle, the Quintessons again tried to retrieve the journal, only to lose it when a stray shot knocked it loose from their tractor beam. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} The journal resurfaced again in the [[Angarrix sector]] at the same time that the Autobots were conducting peace talks with [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], two planets whom the Quintessons had manipulated into war so that they could sell weapons. Despite the Quintessons' best attempts the journal reached the conference where their interference was exposed, and the Autobots destroyed the Quintesson ship as it tried to deliver two [[omega bomb]]s intended to destroy the planets. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

The Quintessons would try other schemes to destroy the Autobots. One involved kidnapping [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] and hooking him to a device which manifested his dreams in real life. Unfortunately the dream constructs turned on them when Rodimus was able to reach Daniel's sleeping mind. {{storylink|Nightmare Planet}} Another was to manipulate Galvatron into releasing the Trans-Organics. Though Galvatron succeeded, releasing the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], the Autobots managed to expel the creature into space, where it attacked the Quintesson ship. {{storylink|The Dweller in the Depths}}

[[File:MadmansParadise Mara-Al-Utha.jpg|thumb|left|240px|''"Why not Zoidberg?!'']]
Finding Galvatron interfering with the quadrant lock sealing [[Quadrant X]], the Quintessons entered the lock, taking a number of Transformers through with them. Unfortunately their [[isolator key]], needed to reopen the lock, was damaged, forcing them to obtain [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[universal emulator]]. Perceptor was able to program the emulator so that when the Quintessons used it, it disabled the quadrant lock for good. {{storylink|The Face of the Nijika}} In another dimension on [[Menonia]], the Autobots found the rogue Quintesson scientist [[Mara-Al-Utha]], and defeated him with the help of local wizard named the [[Golden One]]. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime Quintesson holding tool.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.45|"Right, where am I sticking this?"]]
The Quintessons suggested to Cyclonus that he take Galvatron to [[Torkulon]], believing the experience would prove fatal for the Decepticons. It didn't. {{storylink|Webworld}} A group of Quintessons based on [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] made a deal with [[Dirk Manus]] to deliver them the [[Recreator]], while also sending the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] to attack him. Multiple double-crosses ensued until in one final double-cross, Manus set [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] on the Quintessons and they retreated without the Recreator. {{storylink|Money Is Everything (episode)|Money Is Everything}}

When Rodimus asked [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to find him a Quintesson, Sky Lynx complained that the Quintessons had gone into hiding in the farthest reaches of the galaxy and would be difficult to find. Nonetheless Sky Lynx managed to find [[Klementia|one being chased]] by [[Hate Plague]] infected Sharkticons, and took him to Earth to restore life to the body of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} The lone Quintesson also restored a number of other Autobots to help Optimus retrieve the Matrix from Rodimus. He did his best to hold off the infected Transformers while Optimus journeyed into the Matrix and found a way to cure the Hate Plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{--}}

=====Japanese cartoon continuity=====
======''Legends'' comic======
Millions of years ago, the Quintessons arrived on the planet that would become Cybertron and discovered the essence of the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]] as well as the [[Matrix of Leadership|vessel]] that had once kept it. They subjugated the Oracle by encasing him within [[Vector Sigma]] and creating the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] to control his powers, which they used to transform the planet into a metallic world. They went on to use Cybertron as a factory for [[Transformer|robotic slaves]] until their creations rebelled and drove them off the planet, claiming the Oracle's vessel and finding it full of malicious energy after years of accumulating the wisdom of its Quintesson owners. They promptly dumped out the Quintesson wisdom, which would one day go on to become [[Devil Z]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

In need of new territory after being driven off Cybertron, the Quintessons opened a portal to another dimension, the [[Legends World]], and invaded it with an army of [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharges]] led by a lone Quintesson. They were beaten back by [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], leading to the Quintessons labeling the Legends World dangerous and sealing away its creators, the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]], with a [[quadrant lock]]. However, the Quintessons were unaware that their portal had in fact spanned time as well as space and led to the far future, and the Legends World would only be created ''after'' the Zamojin were released from the lock. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 59|Bonus Edition Vol. 59}}

======''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010'' story pages======
Teaming up with the Decepticons, the Quintessons began developing new warriors for their "allies". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 2}} The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s were constructed by the Quintessons during this alliance. The Sharkticons, also considered to be part of the Predacon faction, were leased to the Decepticons to bolster their ranks. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 3}} The Quintessons evidently consider the Sharkticons to be "the Pride of the Quintessons" and developed [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] specifically to outdo all previous Decepticon [[combiner]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

During [[Dark Awakening (episode)|the time they had Optimus Prime's corpse in their clutches]], the Quintessons copied his schematics. They also received schematics of Megatron from their alliance with the Decepticons and developed the Colossal Cannon Soldier [[Gilthor]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|2010 Part 4}}

======''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers'' manga======
[[File:2010manga04-title.jpg|left|thumb|200px|"Great Guns", "Colossal Cannons", it's all semantics.]]

The Quintessons feigned to have created Gilthor as a subordinate for Galvatron, but in reality they had allied themselves with the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who gave the robot life. Gilthor quickly turned on Galvatron during an ambush on Rodimus Prime. He would have won, had Rodimus and Galvatron not worked together to defeat him, foiling the plans of the Quintessons. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 4|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #4}}
{{--}}

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

======Controverse======
When [[Primacron]] was taken into custody for unleashing [[Tornedron]] into the cosmos, the galactic council appointed the Quintesson judge [[Adveraros]] to preside over the scientist's trial. To guard the prisoner, the Quintessons brought along several Bailiffs and Sharkticons. Though Adveraros at first seemed to give a sensible ruling (acquittal by reason of insanity) in truth the Quintessons were planning to harvest Primacron's brain once he had been sent to [[Doruka III]], an asylum planet. The plot was foiled by Primacron himself, who fashioned a high-tech whistle out of his mechanical manacles, and took control of all nearby "[[Primitive]]" Transformers. Having restrained Adveraros with his own Sharkticon guards, Primacron revealed that he had once created bacterial machines, which he proposed was the Quintessons' distant ancestors. Adveraros loudly denounced this claim as the Autobots came in to take protective custody of Primacron. {{storylink|Controverse}}

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

The six found themselves on a strange, alien world in the year 2011. With their ship ensnared, they were herded by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] to the Space Tribunal, where the Quintessons put them on trial for time-traveling without their permission.

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

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

======Story of Binaltech======
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Outlier (comic)|Outlier}}}}

======''Alternity''======
As a result of a [[quadrant lock]] the Quintessons placed upon the [[BT World]] to trap the [[Binaltech]] Autobots, the planet was frozen in time until the [[Alternity]] were born and broke through it 900,000 years later. During the intervening time, however, a tragic fate befell the Quintessons. {{storylink|Alternation}}

=====''Wings Universe''=====
{{wingsnote}}
Very early in the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], the Autobot ship ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' was shot down over [[Beta-Nine]] while transporting a [[Matrix of Leadership|vital cargo]]. The Autobots initially believed that the crash was the result of a Decepticon attack, but [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], a crewmember of the rescue ship ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', discovered the truth when he found green tentacled remains alongside the corpses of the murdered ''Van De Graaff'' crew. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

The Quintessons created [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] to lead a new generation of Sharkticons. In [[2010]], they sent Sky-Byte and several Sharkticons to Earth in an alliance with the [[Decepticon Syndicate]]. {{storylink|Generation 2: Redux}}

By [[2984]], Quintesson space had come under the control of the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]]s. In that year, the temporally-displaced pirates known as the [[Star Seeker]]s traveled near former Quintesson space on their way to find the immortal spark of the infamous Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. The Star Seekers eventually gained access to a [[Shut-Up-Tornado-I'm-Trying-To-Think|planetoid]] existing in a pocket of space surrounded by black holes. In a chamber on the planetoid, they encountered a lone Quintesson who claimed to have been betrayed and marooned by Starscream on the planetoid some time earlier. The Star Seekers gave the Quintesson passage off of the planetoid in exchange for telling all that he knew of Starscream's last known destination. However as it turned out, the Quintesson was long dead, and Starscream's immortal spark had been using the Quintesson's body as a puppet. Forming an alliance with the Decepticon Star Seeker [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]], Starscream discarded the Quintesson's body and hijacked Captain [[Cannonball (G1)|Cannonball]]'s body for himself, simultaneously allowing Flamewar to take control of the Star Seekers for herself. {{storylink|Tornado - Decepticon Saboteur}}

=====''Transformers: All Spark''=====
{{groupstub}}
{{storylink|Another Episode, Part 2}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}

=====Ask Vector Prime=====
In an unstable [[Iocus]] universe engineered by the machinations of [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] and [[Renegade#Gong|Gong]], the Quintessons on Quintessa were replaced by the [[Master Renegade]] and the [[Monster GoBot]]s on [[Antares 3|Antares III]] during the events of the [[Unicron War]]. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}}

=====''Deviations''=====
A group of Quintessons were presiding over the execution of Kranix when Optimus Prime and the Autobots intervened, forcing the Quintessons to abandon their kangaroo court and flee. Optimus noted a feeling of familiarity towards the aliens and their planet but could not place it. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations|Deviations}}

=====Big Looker storybooks=====
[[File:Wildboyofquintessonbattle.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Rarely do encounters with Autobots work out well for the Quintessons.]]
An Autobot ship crashed on Quintesson, with [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] the only survivor. The Quintessons captured him, throwing him in a dungeon. They intended to execute him, taking him to a Sharkticon pit, however he managed to evade them and escaped into the jungles of Quintesson. When Hot Rod's ship also crashed on the planet, the Quintessons tried to mount a sneak attack, only for Wheelie to appear and fight them off single-handed. The Quintessons returned with Sharkticon backup, stalking the Autobots as Wheelie tried to lead them away from the crash site, however as it turned out even with their Sharkticons, the Quintesson were no match for the Autobots and most of them were killed in the battle that ensued. {{storylink|The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson}}
{{--}}

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

=====3H comics=====
Millennia ago, the Quintessons were the minions of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], send out to locate [[Primus]]. The Quintessons succeeded, but rather than turn Primus over to Unicron, they instead constructed barriers around him, intending to make use of him to create consumer product lines. They eventually succeeded in doing so through [[Vector Sigma]], though some of their number such as [[Al-Badur]] warned of the danger of trying to control Primus's creations. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

Meanwhile the Wreckers encountered Al-Badur on an icy world, and he filled them in on the origin of Cybertron and bargained for his departure from the planet in exchange for information about the [[Divine Light]]. {{storylink|Disclosure}}

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

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

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

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

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

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

=====''Beast Wars: Uprising''=====
Several millennia ago, the Cybertronians bought some surplus [[Terrorbot]] drones from the Quintessons, including the cumbersome and inefficient [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] drones. {{storylink|Burning Bridges}}

Following the failed [[Great Push]] of [[2033]], a Quintesson court found Galvatron and his compatriots guilty of their many war crimes, sentencing them to death. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy–Prologue}} By the 24th century, the Quintessons were among the few species still allowed to travel in and out of the [[Allowed Zone]] due to pre-existing contractual relationships with Cybertron; the [[Human Confederacy]] regarded the Quintessons with suspicion.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3361342 Post by Jim S on the Allspark Forums]</ref>

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

In an alternate future of 2005, the Quintessons took Hot Rod, Kup and several other Autobots hostage on their homeworld and chucked them into the Sharkticon pits for punishment. The Autobots were able to escape, however, and the Sharkticons quickly turned on their cruel masters. {{storylink|Judgment Day!}}

''In 2008, Quintesson scientists realized that their planet, Quintesson, was threatened with destruction by a time rift that was caused by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]'s time-traveling. Though they scoped out several other worlds to move their civilization to, the [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] containing the records on these planets was lost on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}} ''In an attempt to retrieve it, they captured [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and had him interrogated by the [[Mister Regan|Galaxy's greatest torturer]]. After being left to the torturer's tender mercies for some time, Wreck-Gar "confessed," in an elaborate story, that the journal was lost in the void of space. The Quintessons quickly deduced that whole tale had been nothing but [[Quintesson#The Big Broadcast of 2006|a fabrication]], and executed the torturer for failing to deliver the journal's true location.'' {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

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

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

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

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
After a [[Quintesson Journal|journal]] of great importance to the Quintessons was lost on the planet Junkion, the Quintessons sent down a school of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] planet-side to retrieve it. Though the Sharkticons came close to completing their mission, they were chased off at the last moment by the planet's natives, much to the Quintessons' frustration. Deciding to make another attempt at its retrieval through more surreptitious means, the Quintessons sent down a television set the next day, knowing of the Junkions' fondness for Earth broadcasts. Their television set, however, also broadcasted a subliminal message, which caused the Junkions to act aggressively towards all outsiders, and made compelled them to clean up their planet. The Quintessons hoped this would allow them to more easily find their journal amidst Junkion's heaps of garbage, while keeping any other parties who might interfere at bay.

As soon as the Junkions found the Quintessons' journal, the latter moved in. But the Autobots and Decepticons had caught wind that something was amiss on Junkion by this time, and both factions also became involved, forcing the Quintessons to attack them. The Autobot [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] proved too mighty for them however, and the Quintesson were forced to retreat without their prize in hand. Worse yet, during the Autobots' and the Decepticons' scuffle in Junkion's orbit, the Quintessons' transmitter was damaged, ultimately resulting in its broadcast being sent all around the galaxy. Various species gathered around the planet to duke it out between themselves as a result. Seeing another opportunity to seize their lost journal, the Quintessons sent down a shuttle-craft to retrieve it while everyone else was distracted in the melee. But as the journal was captured in the shuttle-craft's tractor beam, a wild shot hit it, sending the journal off into the void of space, and out of the Quintessons' reach. The Quintesson tasked with retrieving the journal was sentenced to death for failing to fulfill his mission. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

====''The Invisibility Factor''====
{{notemultipath}}
In one possible scenario, the Quintessons, currently allied with the Decepticons, sent a messenger craft to Earth. They informed Galvatron that they were ready to send in troops to help in a full-scale invasion of the Earth. Without any Autobots around to interfere with the messages they were relaying the Quintessons and the Decepticons soon turned Earth into one giant refuelling station.{{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}

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

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
The Quintessons were an alien race which appeared to have conquered Cybertron at some point, but were driven off. However, they continued to maintain watch over Cybertron, and began plotting in earnest after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. eventually coming to manipulate the [[Council of Ancients]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] claimed this was the reason that he started the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

Megatron's animosity towards the Quintessons did not stop him from making a deal with the aliens, who provided him with the [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]] and a bunch of [[Piranacon (Quintesson)|Piranacons]]. Knowing Megatron and the Quintessons, both were planning to betray each other when the time was right. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}
Megatron had promised to deliver Cybertron's core to the Quintessons in exchange for the army they had provided him, but Megatron forestalled on completing the deal once he had conquered Cybertron. The Quintessons grew annoyed, and began to rightly suspect that Megatron planned to renege on their transaction. Little did they know that [[Flash (G1)|Flash]], having been accidently been transported to Quintessa, was eavesdropping on their conversation, learning the true nature of Cybertron's conquest. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} The Quintessons discovered Flash spying on them, but he escaped thanks to his superior speed. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} The Quintessons then attempted to remotely extract Cybertron's core, only for their efforts to be thwarted by Starscream. Though their plans ended in failure, the Quintessons learned that the power they sought was also contained within Optimus Prime, a target much more attainable than Cybertron's core. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

The Quintessons began plotting further in earnest against Cybertron after a totalitarian regime headed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was toppled by the Autobots. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} Noting that [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] might stand in their way, the Quintessons readied to put into use one of their agents on Cybertron, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who they could use to "distract" him. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}} When Arcee informed that Hot Rod would soon be put in a mostly isolated position, the Quintessons excitedly put their plans of conquest in motion ahead of schedule. They called upon [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] to ready herself {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}} and her [[Female Autobots|extraction team]] to invade Cybertron. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Generation One #11}}

{{Unreleased DW G1 comic}}

Under the Quintessons' supervision, the extraction team successfully knocked out Hot Rod and retrieved the unconscious Autobot. {{storylink|Unreleased Dreamwave issues#Issue 11|Generation 1 #11}}

====''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''====
[[File:Historyofcybertron.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|What order is this read in?!]]
When [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] downloaded information on Cybertron's history from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s databanks, he saw the Quintessons create the [[Trans-Organic|transorganics]] and the Transformers. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}}
{{-}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
An enigmatic Quintesson historian named [[Pentius]] was shipwrecked on [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] for centuries until he was freed by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who needed a guide to get off the planet. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} During their time together, the Quintesson nurtured Megatron's evil ambitions in order to shape him into a true monster, though his motives for doing so were clouded in mystery. The Decepticon eventually killed Pentius to use his [[spark]]'s energy as fuel, but he was content with his death as it proved Megatron's training was complete. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}} After inserting Pentius's spark into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Megatron accessed the giant's jumbled memories and saw other Quintessons, which he described as "devils" that preyed upon and destroyed entire civilizations. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

Some time after [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Ore-1]] [[Regenesis]] missiles struck the planet [[LV-117]], someone painted the Death face of a Quintesson Judge on top of the [[Decepticon]] insignia adorning it. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} A strange inscription of a Quintesson judge was also present inside the ruins of some unknown ancient civilization on the planet. Through the cracks in the stone it was carved into, its eerie eyes glowed... {{storylink|Spotlight: Wheelie}}

As [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began consuming LV-117, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Varta]] planned to flee the planet on a [[Quintesson Cruiser|familiar screw-shaped ship]]. {{storylink|Syndromica (2)}} {{storylink|Our Darkest}} After crashing the ship on [[LV-118]], Wheelie claimed to have stolen it from someone, but didn't specify who. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}}

A similar ship - this one chock full of Sharkticons - was used by Wreck-Gar and [[Rum-Maj|Rum-Maj's]] group of Junkions to travel to Earth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

When a trio of Autobots entered Unicron's internals, they found the remains of the Quintesson engraving. [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] questioned its significance only for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] to point out the painting presence's meant they were nearing Unicron's core. {{storylink|Last Stand (Unicron)|Last Stand}}

====''Kre-O'' online comics====
[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] attacked a Quintesson and spun it around by the tentacles during his rampage. {{storylink|Enter the New Emperor of Destruction!? Stop Galvatron's Rampage!}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
The mysterious fifth dimensional beings known only as "the Makers" created the universe and with it [[Daiakuron]], a living planet which they imbued with the power to create life on its own. They went on to merge together, five at a time, into [[combiner|gestalt]] forms, becoming the Quintessons. {{storylink|Earth: R.I.P.}} Taking up residence in the [[Transwarp|Void]], the Quintessons were displeased that the life spawned from Daiakuron had developed sentience, something they had not intended. Seizing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Snake-Eyes]], and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] the three were placed on trial for theft of the body and the soul. Reviewing their memories, acquiring the [[Matrix of Leadership]] from [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], being trained by the Blind Master in martial arts and living at odds with his step-father, respectively the trio was found guilty! Before persecution could be passed they escaped back into reality. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} After learning the identity of their creators, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] sent a joint crew to [[Quadrant X]] to find the Quintessons. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
When [[Gozer]] appeared on Cybertron, the [[Temple of Gozer|temple]] it summoned was adorned with Quintesson visages. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 1}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
[[File:Alpha Q Faces.jpg|thumb|150px|left|"Show all five faces? With our budget?"]]
:''See [[Alpha Quintesson]]''

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

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

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

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

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

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

====Shattered Expectations====
When [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] and [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] confronted the evil Autobots [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]], and [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], Starscream ordered the Autobots to surrender in the name of the '''[[Quintesson Federation]]'''. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations}}

===Aligned continuity family===
The Quintessons were small, organic, squid-like creatures. Physically frail, easily injured, and extremely cowardly, the Quintessons themselves were rarely seen, and did most of their dirty work through various proxies, willing or unwilling. When the Quintessons did need to expose themselves to further their own ends, they frequently encased themselves in mechanical suits styled after their various slave races, often claiming to be representatives of other races.

At some point after the creation of the first Transformers, [[Quintus Prime]] left Cybertron to seed other worlds in the universe with life with the [[Emberstone]], in the hopes that other peaceful, space-faring civilizations would one day contact Cybertron to form friendly alliances. Among his earliest creations were the Quintessons. So that didn't work out too well.

After creating the Quintessons, Quintus Prime was never heard from again; [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] idly speculated that the Quintessons may have killed their creator. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

The Quintessons developed interstellar travel before the Transformers. At some point in the past, the Quintessons stole and reverse-engineered [[space bridge]] technology from an unknown source. They eventually discovered Cybertron toward the end of that planet's Age of Origins. As the first alien beings ever to make contact with the planet, the arrival of their ships awed the young Cybertronian race. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} The Quintessons claimed to be benevolent entities sent to "uplift" the Cybertronians from their primitive existence, so that they could join the galactic community. By giving Cybertronians the "gift" of transformation and the power to assume [[alternate mode]]s, the Quintessons won Cybertron's public support. In reality, though, the Quintessons had simply learned to manipulate the dormant [[transformation cog]]s present in every Transformer. The dispersal of Quintesson technology and tutelage turned the feudal, tribe-based planet into a sophisticated spacefaring civilization almost overnight. The Quintessons established rule of law and eventually a global order overseen by the [[Elite Guard]] member [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]].

Secretly, the Quintessons aimed to slowly rob the Cybertronians of their individuality, then sell them into slavery as mindless drones. To further this goal, they began implanting various Cybertronians, such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], with cockpits intended to house Quintesson pilots. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}} The Quintessons organized other Cybertronians into working collectives and attempted to tamper with the Well of All Sparks itself; newborn Transformers began emerging without names or identities, and instead received alphanumeric designations. The Quintesson's twisted, bizarre sense of justice led to the construction of the [[Supreme Court]] on Cybertron, a kangaroo court where innocents could be sentenced to life imprisonment or death. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

Eventually, a resistance movement formed, and the Quintessons were defeated in a rebellion led by Sentinel Prime, who led Cybertron into a subsequent [[Golden Age]]. Traces of their rule, such as the cockpits implanted in many Cybertronians, would remain even as Cybertron slowly rid itself of their influence. Some of the Cybertronians who had lived through this disturbing period- including a young librarian named [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]]- suppressed their traumatic memories of Cybertron's occupation, and eventually forgot about the Quintessons almost entirely. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}} {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}} Generations later, Orion Pax claimed Sentinel and the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] had enslaved Cybertron with the [[caste system]] instead of having it forced on them by the Quintessons. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}

The Quintessons never forgot about their humiliating rout at the hands of their former servants, and for many centuries the embittered race enviously regarded the planet and its inhabitants as rightfully theirs. At some point after Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], the Quintessons discovered and colonized the Transformers's ex-colony world of [[Aquatron]], modifying the bodies of its inhabitants to produce techno-organic monstrosities such as the [[Gamekeeper]] and the [[Hydratron]]. Aquatron was eventually subsumed into the Quintesson Imperium, and the Quintessons used their new [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] slaves as aquatic shock troopers.

When the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'' entered the Aquatron system during Optimus Prime's search for the [[AllSpark]], the Quintessons awakened [[Inquirata (Prime)|Inquirata]] and his associate [[Xeros]] to carry out their deception that would eventually lead to the second invasion of Cybertron. Manipulating both Optimus and [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] to the planet's surface under the guise of a peace treaty, the Quintessons were eventually able to place both Autobots and Decepticons under arrest and take them to court. During the trial, the Quintessons claimed that they had colonized Cybertron and literally built the first Transformers; Optimus quickly saw through their deception and maintained that all Cybertronians were creations of [[Primus]] alone. The Quintesson judges found Optimus innocent, and forced him to duel to the death with Megatron; siphoning energy from the two leaders, they powered a Space Bridge to Cybertron and launched a second invasion force to re-colonize and enslave Cybertron. Their genetically engineered leader [[Tyrannicon]] spearheaded the Sharkticon invasion and was able to swiftly overwhelm the weakened planet. The invasion was only defeated after Megatron, forced into a temporary truce with his archenemy, discovered the [[Sharkticon Matrix of Leadership]] and used it to override Tyrannicon's hold on his troops. In the ensuing fight, Xeros, Tyrannicon, and Inquirata were all killed, and Aquatron itself was freed of Quintesson control. {{storylink|Transformers: Retribution|Retribution}}

The [[Mutacon]]s knew of the Quintessons but considered the law-bound Quintesson way of life to be boring and a worse fate than death. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Jeremy Levy]] (Death, English), [[Saskia Marx]] (Judgement and Cruelty, English), [[Dick Terhune]] (Chaos and [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]], English), [[Mike Rose]] (Ego, English), [[Billy Bob Thompson]] (Starscream, English), [[Sophia Isabella]] (Gray, English), [[Ryan Nicolls]] (Velgrox, English)}}
The Quintessons were a strange race of aliens, interdimensional beings who travelled the [[multiverse]] using their [[multiverse drive]] and passed judgement on which universes deserved to live or be destroyed. {{storylink|The Trial}} To do so, the Quintessons would create "[[Judge (Cyberverse)|Judges]]", hybrid beings based on the native lifeforms of that universe; if the universe was found guilty, then the Judge would oversee the destruction of the universe by using [[Transwarp|unspace]] to obliterate all matter. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} The [[Scientist (Cyberverse)|Scientist]] traditionally oversaw the process, and in his travels developed a fondness for collecting various iterations of [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]] he plucked from the various doomed universes his kind had passed judgement upon. {{storylink|The Scientist}}

When exactly it is that the Quintessons found this particular universe is not clear; hieroglyphs inside the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Croaton]] suggested that the aliens had invaded his colony and abducted his inhabitants long before the present day, {{storylink|Ghost Town}} with [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] referencing the Quintesson reputation for engineering when affecting repairs to a disused [[space bridge]]. {{storylink|The Crossroads}}

Either way, the Quintessons had established an outpost in a distant region of the galaxy at some point before [[2007]]. Having previously encountered the [[Velgrox]] and the [[Gray]], incorporating a member of both races into their latest Judge, the Quintessons discovered that Cybertronians existed in this universe after Croaton, in search of his missing citizens, flew past the outpost, taking the hapless [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] with him. Although the current Judge planned to simply judge and dispose of their new prisoner, the ambitious Seeker tried to win over his captors by revealing the existence of the [[AllSpark|Allspark]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Seeing this as a power source to fuel the creation of the new Judge, the Quintessons made for Cybertron and "rewarded" Starscream with their highest honor: assimilation into the next Judge. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}}

Arriving shortly after [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]]'s defeat, the Quintessons quickly conquered the planet and ensnared the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] in the tendrils of their command tower. The Cybertronians were rounded up and placed in a virtual reality simulation designed to keep them happy and docile while the Scientist both drained their [[spark]]s and tapped into the Allspark's energy itself to fuel the creation of this new Judge. {{storylink|The Loop}} {{storylink|The Scientist}} Unfortunately, their machinations were upset by [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]], who the Quintessons had overlooked during their conquest of the planet. The ad hoc Cybertronian resistance he assembled operated out of [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam]]'s, invisible to Quintesson sensors, and threatened to undermine their control of the planet. Although the Quintesson forces eventually captured Hot Rod, the Autobot leader proved uncooperative and was found guilty. {{storylink|The Trial}}

Soon, the resistance infiltrated the command tower and clashed with the Scientist himself, their battle putting the unborn Judge at risk and severing their hostages' connection to the virtual reality loop. {{storylink|The Scientist}} Freed of their prison, [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]], and their respective forces rebelled against the Quintessons, with the conflict escalating into open war between the two forces. Despite their best efforts, the Cybertronians proved unable to breach the force field that protected the Quintesson headquarters, but the partial activation of [[Iaconus]] pushed their [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] warriors into a retreat. {{storylink|The Alliance}}

The Quintessons eventually gained the advantage, primarily by the Judge's rage at Megatron's theft of their multiverse escape pod, disabling nearly all enemy combatants. However, the Judge was attacked and overwhelmed by the resistance leaders and, in their damage and frenzy, they crashed into the command tower, seemingly perishing as it exploded and collapsed. Although the prior Judge was killed, it had survived long enough for the gestation of their new Judge to finish. {{storylink|The Judge (episode)|The Judge}}

The new Judge Starscream rounded up nearly all his enemies, only to monologue over them while Optimus Prime and Megatron were being located. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe I}} Iaconus was soon awakened and battled the enslaved Croaton under Judge Starscream's command. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe II}} Despite the Scientist being killed off by Wheeljack, Judge Starscream used unspace to slay Iaconus. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe III}}

Despite his victory over Iaconus, Judge Starscream soon lost control of Croaton. As his enemies broke free and rallied, he was soon overwhelmed and seemingly destroyed by the dual [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices]] of Optimus Prime and a returned Megatron. The Quintesson invasion was effectively overthrown, and the remainder of their forces were subsequently dealt with by the Autobots and Deceptions. No trace of their occupation remained by the time of the factions' split control of the planet. {{storylink|The End Of The Universe IV}}

====Alternate universe====
In the universe from which [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron X]] hailed from, the tyrant used a [[laser snare]] to destroy the Quintesson flagship as it descended onto Cybertron before salvaging its technology for his own ends. {{storylink|The Other One}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends Quintesson.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.2|You spin me right round baby, right round.]]
The Quintessons put [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] on trial. Unfortunately [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] arrived and promptly turned the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] on their masters. {{storylink|Mockery of Justice}} Intending to disrupt the [[Galactic Olympics|Galactic Games]], the Quintessons allied with [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and sent her in to cause trouble. {{storylink|The Galactic Games}} They also send [[Skuxxoid]]s to the games to kidnap [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 1}} When the trio were rescued post-sentencing by the other Autobots, the Quintessons destroyed their own home planet, Quintesson, in an attempt to eliminate them. The Quints then tried to enlist the help of the Decepticons to wipe out the Autobots, only for [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to arrive and reclaim his troops. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}} They soon struck an alliance with Galvatron and attacked Cybertron, with the end result that they activated an ancient device to deactivate all Transformers. After the device was destroyed by Spike, the Quintessons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3}}

The Quintessons observed from afar Ultra Magnus and his Autobots celebrated the activation of a new power core. Enraged by the sight, the Quintessons plotted to get revenge on both Autobots and Decepticons. They then approached Galvatron and gave the Decepticon leader false coordinates to a power core. The Quintessons had in truth led Galvatron to the location of their old creations, the Dweller and the Trans-Organics. After the ensuing battle that took place between the Autobots, the Decepticons and the Quintessons' ancient creations, a faint Quintesson cry for help was broadcast from deep underground... {{storylink|Dweller in the Depths (Legends)|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{--}}

===Transformers: Forged to Fight===
[[File:Quintessons-Forged-to-Fight.jpg|thumb|450px|Like a color-changing lamp!]]
{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}
{{charstubgames}}

==Toys==
===Energon===
*'''[[Alpha Quintesson]]''' (Mega, [[2005]])
**''Accessories:'' Missile launcher, missile, base, three tentacles
[[File:Alpha Quintesson toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I do hope you'll bring these gadgets back in one piece, 007.]]

:One of the last toys in the [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|''Energon'' line]], Alpha Quintesson is fairly unique in that he is one of the only toys in the history of the main ''Transformers'' line that does not transform in any manner or even come with any kind of transforming accessory (like the [[Action Master]]s).

:Alpha Quintesson requires quite a bit of assembly out of the box, coming in six separate pieces: his main body, a solid "bed of tentacles" that serves as a wheeled base that the body plugs into, a firing missile launcher which plugs into his back (via a standard 5mm peg that also allows other characters to wield it) and points up over his head, and three rubber, wire-poseable tentacles which attach to the base. The tentacles end in a large yellow clamp, a red chainsaw, and a purple energy arc, and spin around via a gear-wheel system when the base is rolled back and forth. The figure features nine circular ports (three on each arm and three on the base), to which either [[Energon star|energon chip]]s or any weapons featuring 5mm pegs can be attached.

:The main body is notably very [[Show-accuracy|accurate]] to the CGI model from the animated series, save for its coloration and the addition of the missile launcher. As a toy that was entirely dull green from top to bottom would not have been a very interesting sight, the figure features several shades of green with yellow highlights, plus a red paint wash on its "underbelly" and arms. The main body contains its own gimmick, involving Alpha Q's spinning faces as seen in the cartoon. Opening the armor's jaws reveals Alpha Q's head, recessed within the body (though unable to move forward into a more prominent position as seen in the show), and pressing the trigger on the back of the body, disguised as one of the spinal fins, causes the head to spin from face to face. The toy only features the character's first three faces (Angry, Whiny and Crazy); the purple, calm face is not featured.

:As an allegiance was needed to brand the figure with for marketing purposes, Alpha Quintesson's toy is sold as a Decepticon, despite that faction not really being where his loyalties lie. There were also many reports of the toy coming misassembled, missing the hard point where the figure connected to the base, making it nigh impossible for the toy to stand up on its own.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/AlphaQuintesson/alphaquintesson.htm More information on Alpha Quintesson at TFU.info]''

===Cyberverse===
*'''Quintesson Invasion''' (Multi-pack, [[2019]])
[[File:CyberverseQuintessonToy.jpeg|thumb|200px|The Big Surprise of 2019]]

:The Quintesson Judge included in this set is a new roughly deluxe-sized mold, with five different faces that rotate when the top of the body is pushed down and released. The molded tentacle base/body has 4 ball-jointed tentacles that can pose freely.

:Also included in the set are the Spark Armor [[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] and [[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Battle Class|Shockwave]], now ''sans'' the spark armor and with new mind control helmet accessories. Additionally, the mind control helmets can plug into any Battle Class spark armor figure. Ironically, Shockwave and Prowl died before encountering the Quintessons in the actual cartoon.

:The set was [[exclusive]] to [[Target]], and appeared at retail in December 2019 with no prior announcement by [[Hasbro]].
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:TF-WFC-E-Voyager-Quintesson-Judge.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it."]]
*'''Quintesson Judge''' (Voyager Class, [[2020]])
**''ID number'': '''WFC-E22'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''ER EX-08'''
**''Japanese release date'': '''[[August 1]], 2020'''
**''Accessories:'' Blaster, cage, seat, blast effect
:The first [[show accuracy|G1-accurate]] Quintesson toy, released at the Voyager [[pricepoint]] as part of the ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' toyline. The Quintesson Judge converts into a modular battle station and prison in 16 steps. The prison cell is large enough to fit a Battlemaster, and the five faces have articulated mouths and a rotating gimmick. The faces Rage and Wrath are disassembled in package, requiring owners to plug them into their respective sides.
Promotional photos depicted a yellow levitation beam but production pieces were clear.

:He was originally supposed to be released in the second wave, but was changed to the third wave, with Starscream replacing him. In Japan, the Quintesson Judge was released as a [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusive.
{{-}}

[[File:QuintPitOfJudgment.jpeg|upright=1.66|thumb|They've got this case all wrapped up.]]
*'''Quintesson Pit of Judgment''' (2020)
**''Accessories:'' Judge's blaster, cage, seat, blast effect; Bailiff's staff; Sharkticon's tail/mace
:This [[giftset]] represents the "trial" of [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] during ''The Transformers: The Movie''. The set includes a Quintesson Judge (a brighter [[redeco]] of the ''Earthrise'' toy above); a Bailiff (a [[retool]] of the ''Earthrise'' [[Allicon#Toys|Allicon]] with a new head, chest, shoulders, and axe); a non-transforming Prosecutor; a Sharkticon (a redeco of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Sharkticon (species)#Generations|Sharkticon]]); and a non-transforming Kranix. The interior packaging forms the Sharkticon execution pit.

:This piece was [[exclusive]] to [[Hasbro Pulse]] in the United States. It was announced to the public before the "standard" versions of the Judge and Allicon were released, and was avalible first for people who attended the Hasbro Fans Expo in [[Hong Kong]] and preordered the set.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:FloroDery originalquintesson.jpg|thumb|Touch the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow!]]
*The Quintessons were named after a local restaurant.<ref>Flint Dille interview at TFcon 2016</ref>
*An early design for the Quintessons, described in an April 1985 draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', gave them spindly bipedal bodies with large heads. Per this draft, the Autobots would have been shocked to discover that, in reality, they were ''all head''; when Hot Rod grabbed one, its head would disconnect from its body, fly off, and link up to another body in waiting. Somewhere along the way, the body idea got dropped, but not before designer [[Floro Dery]] produced a design seemingly based on this early idea, seen at right, revealed through his [https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FDartstudio?ref=l2-shopheader-name Etsy store] in October 2014. The idea did not disappear completely, however; the mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" was produced before the movie's script was finalized, and contains a few references to ideas from this early draft, including a scene in which one of [[Deliberata]]'s faces detaches—seemingly derived from the idea of a removable head.
*When asked about the finalized Quintesson design in an interview, Dery stated they were based on a cylindrical toy he designed at some point.<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref>
*In their first appearance in ''The Transformers: The Movie'', the two speaking Quintessons are voiced by [[Regis Cordic]] (who plays the judge) and [[Roger C. Carmel]] (the prosecutor). These two actors then became the primary recurring voices of the Quintessons in the third season of the cartoon, usually playing judges, with [[Jack Angel]] normally serving as a third in episodes where more than two speaking roles were required. In [[AKOM]]-animated episodes, Cordic's Quintesson (usually designated "Quintesson #1" in scripts) would commonly speak from the Face of Doubt, while Carmel's ("Quintesson #2") used the Face of Laughter; Angel's intermittently-appearing third Quintesson would most often use the Face of Death, but animation errors, and Quintesson face-rotating meant that these were not ''absolute'' rules. In [[Toei Animation|Toei]] episodes, judges usually spoke from the Face of Death regardless of actor, and prosecutors got more screen time, with Cordic, as the "lead" Quintesson actor, voicing most of them. Numerous guest actors also played assorted "guest" Quintesson roles in various episodes.
*Since [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]] never explains what the characters are being charged with, and offers no logical progression to a verdict, it's usually interpreted that Quintesson justice simply operates on reverse terminology for the sake of humor—that the Quintessons ''say'' "innocent", but dohohoho, they're aliens, and to them, that ''means'' "guilty", so the accused is sentenced to death. This was certainly the assumption [[Simon Furman]] was working off of when he first used the Quintessons in the UK-only framing sequence of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" and had a Quintesson find [[Mister Regan|an interrogator]] to be "innocent" of things which he is unambiguously guilty of. The 2014 novel ''[[Transformers: Retribution|Retribution]]'' also followed this path, with the note that "innocent" must "mean something different" to the aliens, as the characters on trial are indeed entirely guilty of what they are being accused of. What is consistently overlooked, however, is the one instance in all Transformers canon of the Quintessons actually finding someone guilty, which happens to Kup and Ultra Magnus in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]". And they ''are'' guilty of the charges put before them: being Autobots, the race who stole Cybertron from the Quintessons. While it may have started out that way at some point in the script process of the movie, the cartoon universe made clear very early on that Quintesson justice isn't supposed to operate on reverse terminology for humor's sake; the aliens know the difference between the two terms, and the trials are just trivial, for their own amusement, before they kill you anyway.
*In a Q&A, [[Simon Furman]] said he considered making the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] a Quintesson artifact but changed his mind.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=5032 SIMON FURMAN - Q&A Nov/Dec 2008 at IDW Publishing Forums]</ref>
*The ''Animated'' Quintessons are just off-screen mentions, but as their empire's name is near-identical to [[Japan|Imperial Japan]]'s {{w|Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere}}, we can assume they're ''very nasty''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Quintessa-seijin''' (クインテッサ星人, "Planet Quintessa People"), '''Quintesson''' (クインテッサン ''Kuintessan'')
*''Italian:'' '''Quintessenziali''' ("Quintessentials")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wǔ Miàn Guài''' (五面怪, "Five-faced Monster")

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Cyberverse species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 aliens]]
[[Category:Generation 1 factions]]
[[Category:Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon species]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) species]]
[[Category:Kiss Players]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 species]]
[[Category:Quintessons| ]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron species]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Earthrise characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe species]]

A Plague of Insecticons

2020-08-16T15:09:27Z

CicadaNation: /* Continuity errors */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the similarly-named Marvel UK Annual story|Plague of the Insecticons!}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=15
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=64
|prev2=Fire on the Mountain (episode)
|next2=The Autobot Run
|image=Plague Insecticons robot mode.JPG
|caption=We're gonna need a big [[Rustbug hoop|swatter]]! A really big swatter!
|title="A Plague of Insecticons"
|production code=#700-12
|airdate=[[December 29]], 1984
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Reports of giant insects terrorizing Bali lead the Decepticons to discover their long-lost comrades, the Insecticons.'''

==Synopsis==
On the island of [[Bali]], there is a swamp through which people rarely travel. It is the [[Demon Swamp]], and in that swamp lie monsters who appear to be enormous insects. But they are not insects, they are [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]], and they are [[Transformer|robots in disguise]]. They are driven by a single, unrelenting desire: food. Attacking a trio of boats, the insects feed on the grain, but quickly become interested in the reports of a farm. At the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot base]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] overhears the reports of "robot insects", and a team is taken aboard [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] to investigate while [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] remains to alert [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the rest of the [[Autobot]]s.

[[File:Inseticon Base.jpg|left|thumb|"Ravage, get back here! They're just bugs, how big could they be?"]]
However, [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] comes across the transmissions, and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is intrigued. He takes a group of [[Decepticon]]s to Demon Swamp, where [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] dispatches [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] to locate the robots' lair. The Decepticons discover that the lair is not a hollowed-out rock, as it appears, but an escape pod ejected from the [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]] that brought them to [[Earth]]. [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] realizes what Megatron has already figured out: The robot insects are Decepticons who have been modified to assume [[Alternate mode|insect modes]]—[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], if you will.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime is leading the rest of the Autobots to the farm, but they are blocked by a local festival. [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] leads the Autobots down a shortcut...which turns out to be a dead end. Refusing to admit defeat, Sideswipe decides to drill his way through the solid rock. Arriving at the farm the Insecticons are attacking, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] attack, only to discover that the Insecticons possess some impressive [[System|weapons systems]]. Worse, they can make clones of themselves by using shells and scrap metal. Overwhelmed, the Autobots take cover amid the crops, but Shrapnel releases a fragmentation grenade which cuts the crops down to size. Finally, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. The Autobots realize they're in over their heads, but Skyfire has been damaged and cannot [[Transformation|transform]]. Shrapnel finds something familiar about the Decepticons, and when Megatron explains that they came from Decepticon science, Shrapnel extends his hand in friendship...an alliance which will be solidified by destroying the Autobots at the farm.

[[File:Optimus ram.jpg|thumb|Where we're going, we don't need roads!]]
Elsewhere, Sideswipe is getting nowhere slowly with his drilling, so Optimus Prime decides on a simpler tactic and drives right through the rock wall. Coming up on the farm just in time, Sideswipe and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] tackle the Decepticons, who withdraw to a nearby [[oil]] refinery to recharge before they destroy the Autobots. During the respite, [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] repairs Skyfire, who follows them in the air while the Autobots follow from the ground. The Insecticons attack Skyfire, and Wheeljack goes to help but is knocked out of the air by Kickback. Shrapnel takes control of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, causing them to drive toward the Autobots, but [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] disrupts Shrapnel's control with his [[force field]]. Optimus throws Brawn at Shrapnel, but Kickback knocks him off. Fortunately, Skyfire is able to catch Brawn.

[[File:Skeet surfin.jpg|left|thumb|"First wave, don't get tired. Second wave, aim higher. Third wave, pull and fire. Skeet Surfin'..."]]
At the refinery, the Decepticons are busy making some [[energon cube]]s. Megatron offers the Insecticons a tanker filled to the brim, and the trio gorge themselves. Unfortunately, it also causes the oil to leak into the ocean. As the Autobots arrive, the Decepticons force them to take some cover. Shrapnel uses a shrapnel grenade to knock Optimus, Brawn, and Wheeljack into the ocean, where the Autobot leader warns that the oil could ignite. On cue, Thundercracker lights the oil on fire, only for the Autobots to knock him into the flaming water. Before the ship goes kaboom, [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] is able to douse the flames. However, storm clouds appear overhead, and Shrapnel uses them as a means to fire electricity at the Autobots. Spike realizes that the rubber in their tires will serve as insulation. Some Autobots go to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], while others stand on them, neutralizing Shrapnel's abilities. In addition, Trailbreaker uses his force field to neutralize Shrapnel's control over the clones, causing them to go to pieces.

[[File:Tanker throw.jpg|thumb|Optimus shows why he's a three time World's strongest Bot champion.]]
Megatron realizes that he's losing, so the Decepticon leader employs a time-honored strategy: "If I can't have it, no one can." Megatron sets the tanker on fire and pushes it toward the refinery. However, Optimus pushes the tanker underwater, and Megatron with it. Rising to the surface, Megatron prepares to blast Bumblebee and Spike, only for Optimus Prime to throw the tanker ''through the air'' at Megatron.

The Insecticons observe the deteriorating situation and decide to cut their losses. They begin to feed off the [[energon]], but Megatron, his rage overwhelming his common sense, orders the Decepticons to attack the Insecticons. As the Insecticons flee with the Decepticons in pursuit, the Autobots claim victory. Optimus Prime still worries that the Insecticons will inevitably be drawn back towards the Decepticons, but when and if that happens, the Autobots will be ready.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (9)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (10)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (11)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (24)
|c2=
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (4)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (5)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (6)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (13)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (16)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (17)
*[[Insecticon clone]]s (25)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (27)
|c3=
*Fisherman 1 (1)
*Fisherman 2 (2)
*Fisherman 3 (3)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
*Villagers (18)
*Oil Refinery Worker 1
*Oil Refinery Worker 2
}}

==Quotes==
"Boy! Talk about hot lips!"
:—'''Windcharger''' is hit by an Insecticon blast.

[[File:PlagueofInsecticons Skyfire sitting in puddle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Still think they're optical illusions, Brawn?"
:—'''Skyfire''', after getting his ass handed to him by an army of Insecticon clones.

"Well, let's look at the bright side—at least they didn't bring that sawed-off nerd Rumble along."
:—'''Brawn''', showing he is an optimist, even in the worst situations.

"Uh-oh! What I wouldn't give for a laser-powered flyswatter."
:—'''Skyfire''' comes up with something else for Wheeljack to invent.

"Now, taste the lightning, Autobot fool!" 
"It tastes terrible."
:—'''Shrapnel''' zaps '''Wheeljack'''.

"Megatron, CATCH!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' plays catch... with a 10,000-ton oil tanker.

"Maybe we've picked the wrong allies, Shrapnel."
:—'''Bombshell''', showing a rare moment of insight.

"The traitors! We befriended them, and now they steal our power source. Forget the Autobots, DESTROY THE INSECTICONS!"
:—'''Megatron'''. He really does have a hard time keeping his troops loyal.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script: 27th July 1984
* Script revised by [[Ron Friedman]]: 6th August 1984
* Final script: 13th August 1984
* Returned to the US for telecine: 17th December 1984

===Technical or animation glitches===
[[File:G1 PlagueofInsecticons Bombshell blast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Shrapnel's back should be black, not yellow. His bug legs should probably be white, but the show changes their color so much that it's kinda hard to tell for sure.]]
* Coloring errors:
** Bombshell loses all his yellow and purple coloration as he throws the first boat in the swamp.
** Shrapnel's bug head is purple instead of black as he notes that Kickback's meal is escaping.[[File:Ark silver.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|.995 percent pure silver leaf]]
** In the establishing shot of [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the ship is colored silver instead of orange.[[File:Plague Insecticons robot mode.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Seriously, a human comes up to the Insecticons' knees. How big ''is'' this tree??]]
** As the Insecticons stand on the (unfathomably huge) tree branch, both Shrapnel and Kickback's faces are dark gray instead of silver.
** As Skyfire arrives at the farm, his booster pack is white instead of red.
** In the next shot, Kickback's face is still dark gray.
** After the Autobots transform at the end of Sideswipe's "shortcut", Sunstreaker's engine intake is yellow instead of silver.
** As Ironhide and Sunstreaker watch Sideswipe work on the tunnel, Sunstreaker's entire helmet is yellow, rather than just his ear-wings.
** Skyfire's face is white instead of gray as he tries to transform, and his antennae are blue instead of white.
** Bombshell's eyes are a creepy, empty, yet toy-like white (instead of red) as Shrapnel first addresses Megatron.
** Soundwave's missing his cassette door stripes again as the Decepticons take aim.
** When Sideswipe and Sunstreaker get ahead of Optimus Prime after breaking out of the tunnel, both are coloured in Sunstreaker's yellow color scheme for a brief moment.
** Thundercracker is a dark, toy-like blue as he fills the energon cubes, rather than his usual medium blue.
** Prime's tires are white instead of black as Shrapnel takes control of the twins.
** In the following overhead shot, Sideswipe is colored black instead of red.
** The blue vehicle next to out-of-focus Prime doesn't correspond to any Autobot present, and there wasn't anyone in that location in the previous shot anyway.
** Shrapnel's [[beast mode|bug mode]] front half is white as he sends the twins on a second attack run.
** Skyfire's cockpit, boosters and thruster nozzles are white as he fires on the refinery, rather than blue, red and black, respectively.
** Sunstreaker is [[Diaclone#Car Robots|red instead of yellow]] as the Autobots arrive at the refinery and transform.
** Wheeljack is in Bombshell's colors as the Autobots start to run for cover.
** Brawn's helmet is yellow instead of gray as he and the others dive into the water.
** Wheeljack is missing his orange chest details as he stands in the water.
** Brawn is in Skyfire's colors as Thundercracker prepares to ignite the spilled oil.
** As the Decepticons retreat from battle and fly towards the oil refinery, Skyfire is part of the formation.
** Prime's hand is red instead of blue as he orders Bumblebee to stay back.
** Bombshell is missing his purple color as he speculates on whether they picked the right allies.
** In the final shot of the assembled Autobots, Sunstreaker's head is yellow again. Trailbreaker's cheeks are colored blue instead of his eye visor (it looks like he's wearing reading glasses!) Sideswipe's eyes are red instead of blue. Brawn's green is very washed out.
* Bombshell's animation model totally cheats. His [[robot mode]] color scheme is completely lacking in purple, yet the same parts that are colored black instead become purple when he transforms.
* The show was ''never'' able to make up its mind about Kickback's insect mode head. Sometimes it's drawn with his robot mode face underneath it, just like the toy, even having him talk and emote with it. Other times it's just plain black, with his robot face replaced by a mechanical bug mouth, more like you'd expect from a giant super-advanced space robot trying to pass himself off as an ordinary giant metal robot grasshopper. This episode shows ''both'' versions at various times, even changing it between successive shots (such as the "there's more food to devour on a farm!" sequence.) At least once it splits the difference, showing abstract details colored like his face and eyeband.
* The "Wait for me!" rower makes a pretty spectacular and improbable leap onto the last boat.
* Kickback has no transformation noise as he swims up to his buddies and transforms.
* As Megatron orders his troops to move out, his faction emblem is all blurry.
* As Thundercracker exposits that the Insecticons are Decepticons, Soundwave is missing the yellow lines around his tape door.
* Bombshell is missing his head cannon as the Insecticons raise their guns to fire.
* Brawn and company fall over into the pond before the Insecticons' fire actually hits them.
* In the first shot after the first commercial break, all of the Insecticon clones have disappeared from the field.
* As the Insecticons charge, Bombshell's head launcher is missing its little side laser dealies, and Bombshell's Decepticon insignia is blinking.
* Windcharger is drawn delivering Bumblebee's "I sure hope Prime" line.
* As he stands aside to let Optimus through, Sideswipe's pile drivers have turned into drills.
* Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
** Ratchet is shown transforming with the rest of Prime's team, despite not being part of it.
* When the Decepticons and Insecticons flee from the field, Thundercracker in jet mode is colored in Skyfire's white-and-red palette. The clones finally reappear in the same shot, after going missing for several scenes.
* At the line "bite down, it's our only chance to hang on!" the voice is Bombshell's, but Shrapnel is shown. Since they're in bug mode and Bombshell was shown in the preceding shot, this may not be an animation error exactly, but at the very least it's poor framing.
* Kickback's robot head shows up beneath his bug head as he turns to kick Brawn off of Shrapnel.
* Thundercracker's arm laser is mounted on the wrong side and in the wrong spot as he aims at Skyfire.
* Soundwave's chest compartment isn't drawn in as Ravage ejects.
* Megatron is missing his insignia as he wonders what Kickback is talking about.
* Shrapnel is missing his insignia as he wonders what went wrong.
* Someone got their signals crossed; after the Autobots prove able to defeat Shrapnel's lightning blasts by rolling on their tires, Optimus is also totally immune to ''normal'' Insecticon firepower.
* Reflector shows up out of nowhere as Megatron rails about the Insecticons stealing their energon, despite not having been seen in the entire episode.

====Rhino DVD release====
The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] release of this episode had errors not present in the original broadcast version, due to their use of incomplete film masters:

* A cel layering error causes Skyfire's door to appear behind Spike and the Autobots as he boards them. As a result, the door closes ''behind'' Bumblebee and Spike as they wave to Optimus, only for them to disappear when it closes fully.
* When Shrapnel shoots his ball shaped bomb, the flame and bomb are missing thus leaving him to fire absolutely nothing; the ball is shown a second later.
* As Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are being controlled by Shrapnel's control beams, Shrapnel is missing from the shot and is nowhere to be seen.
* As the two of them are forcefully driven toward the other Autobots, Sunstreaker is colored black and the frame of animation is not arranged properly.
* Just before Brawn asks Optimus to throw him, Prime is in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], then he transforms from robot to vehicle mode, and is then standing in robot mode.
* When Shrapnel says the line "Has brought it to us us now now" his dialogue lags behind the scene where he speaks.
* Some instances of Wheeljack speaking, like when he says "Thanks Prime, keep on truckin'", are missing the flashing "ears" effect.
* When Bumblebee says "There's gotta be something we can do before we all get fried", his mouth and head do not move until he says the word "fried".

===Continuity errors===
* The Insecticons' origin is fraught with problems. The story seems to be that they were aboard [[Nemesis (G1)|the Decepticon ship]], and ejected in an escape pod before it crashed, four million years ago. What happened after that is not clear, but no version of the story completely jibes with the known facts:
** Megatron says that the Insecticons' escape pod was launched "before [[Nemesis (G1)|our own ship]] crashed here millions of years ago". One might reasonably take this to mean that the Insecticons were aboard the ''Nemesis''; however, upon meeting Megatron a few scenes later, Shrapnel says to him "I don't know you", implying that they ''weren't'' aboard the ''Nemesis''. The summary of the episode in the [[production bible]] clarifies this, saying the pod "...was originally part of the Decepticon spacecraft that jettisoned away just before the Autobots and Decepticons crash landed on Earth".<ref>http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#072</ref> Guess Shrapnel was just feeling conveniently forgetful that day day.
** The narration ("a strange new form of robot") makes it sound like the Insecticons just recently awoke, as does the sudden distress call from the residents of Bali. But if that's the case, it's a ''huge'' coincidence that, after four million years, they were revived just a few months after their kin aboard the Ark.
** The alternative - that the Insecticons have been up and running around for millions of years - doesn't make sense either. How could neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons have ever learned of their existence until this episode?
[[File:Plagueofinsecticons Sideswipe drilling.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* ''Digging a tunnel'' is seriously faster than just backtracking a mile or two to find another way around? Seriously?
*Michael Bell seems to have gotten a bit confused. Throughout this episode he uses his Prowl voice for Sideswipe.
* How does Skyfire manage to hide in the bushes with the other, shorter Autobots? He's about four Bumblebees tall! In fact the entire notion of corn that's tall enough to hide an Autobot is a bit far fetched. The absurdity is further called out a few shots later when the Autobots (and Spike!) are shown ''towering'' over the corn.
* How does Skyfire know Kickback's name? None of the Insecticons have introduced themselves.
* How does Optimus Prime's team ''drive to Bali'', an Indonesian island which is clear across the Pacific Ocean? They needed Skyfire to get to Peru. Even if we accept they used the "hydrofoils" from "The Ultimate Doom, Part 1," they arrive only moments after the Decepticons, who are already in Bali. They would have arrived even sooner if not for their "detour."
* Per the cartoon physics norm, if ''anything'' besides the ground breaks your fall, you're just fine. Thus, Wheeljack smacking into Prime's trailer does absolutely no damage to him.
* Brawn gets the same treatment a second later, as Skyfire "catches" him.
* Megatron gives the very strange order to "activate the Ravage cassette".
* As they arrive at the refinery, Optimus Prime orders "let's get them, Autobots!" They immediately run for cover, firing no weapons.
* Kickback claims there is no spray capable of stopping the Insecticons. Guess he's never heard of [[robotic insecticide]]!
* When Megatron and company arrive at the Balinese oil refinery, a human shouts "the monsters are back!" Neither the Insecticons nor Decepticons have been shown attacking an oil refinery in this episode. Unless one of the refinery workers just happens to moonlight as a swamp boater.

===Continuity notes===
* It may or may not be an intentional bit of continuity, but Starscream, [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|last seen]] being hauled off by Megatron for unspecified punishment, is absent from this episode. Then again, Skywarp and Frenzy are missing too, which tells us absolutely nothing.
[[File:Plagueofinsecticons fire fighting.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|It can't be [[fire-retardant foam]]; if it was, the Autobots would've won the war eons ago.]]
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Windcharger repulsorfield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Funny part is, there isn't actually any button there.]]
[[File:ShrapnelG1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|When there's lightning, you know it always brings me down]]
[[File:PlagueInsecticons Kickback harvester.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Rideeeer Kick!]]

* Gadgets and powers:
** Laserbeak slides yet another gadget out of his head, this one a micro radar dish that he uses to contact Megatron.
** Megatron has the flashing pectoral rectangles to acknowledge Laserbeak's signal, as seen [[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|last episode]].
** The Insecticons, presumably like all Transformers, have [[idento-computer]]s that somehow "adapted them for life on Earth by turning them into Insecticons". Depending on your interpretation of this statement, it might be considered the first instance of a Transformer gaining a new [[alternate mode]] through internal reconfiguration, rather than through external reconstruction, a premise that would not gain traction until the ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' franchise in 2002.
** Not for the last time, Skyfire extends his legs in a sort of mid-transformation pause. (Sorry, ''Macross'' dorks, it's not a GERWALK/Guardian. Those have arms.)
** Rather than use his rather well documented pile driver abilities to dig his tunnel, Sideswipe just retracts his hands and ''smashes his way through with his arms''. Looks like some animator misunderstood a script direction. They ''finally'' got it right in the final tunnel digging scene...and then they show him with drills on his hands.
** Windcharger activates a magnetic "repulsor field" by pressing a button on his chest.
** Wheeljack uses his documented ability to fly. He even (mostly) keeps his arms at his side like he's supposed to, considering it's supposed to be wrist rockets that let him do it. He also uses his missile launcher... sorta. Actually the missiles just kind of fly out from behind his back.
** It's a showcase for Trailbreaker's forcefield, as he uses it first to cut off Shrapnel's override waves and then his control beams, the latter destroying the Insecticon clones. It's also a rare instance of it actually being projected from the right place, namely the silver box gadget thing behind his head.
** Thundercracker uses his flamethrower again, previously seen in "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" and "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]". As noted before, this was likely an interpretation of the "incendiary guns" his bio described him as being armed with.
** Ironhide puts out a fire with [[Fire-retardant foam|foamy gassy white stuff]] that he fires from both retracted wrists.
** Kickback materializes a gun out of thin air in a flash of light, one of those occasional shots leading to fandom "subspace" theories about weapons and parts storage.
** As the stars of the episode, the Insecticons get a whole host of special powers:
*** They quickly demonstrate one of their most characteristic powers, the ability to create clones of themselves, a power which was ''never'' mentioned in any of their Tech Spec writeups and was created solely for the cartoon. Shrapnel claims ownership of the cloning beams, but Kickback is also shown generating them. Bombshell is also involved, but the animation does not convey the full intent of the script when it comes to his role: the visuals imply that all he does is blow up a derelict tractor with his "Insecta-shells" to create debris to form the clones, but the script explains that the Insecta-shell was supposed to release streams of filament and micro-circuitry to connect the debris together, through which Shrapnel's beams are then channelled to form and animate the clones.
*** Shrapnel uses his grenade launcher, firing a steel ball from his wrist which then explodes into a bazillion razor-sharp fragments. His Tech Spec has the launcher as his hand-held weapon, but otherwise the ability is correct as shown. Later he identifies it as "a shrapnel grenade" (or perhaps a Shrapnel Grenade?)
*** Shrapnel uses his "special override wave" to control Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.
*** Shrapnel uses his famous ability to capture and fire lightning. He seems to need Bombshell's help to do it, though. The Autobots are able to counter the effects of the lightning by transforming and electrically insulating themselves from the ground with their rubber tires.
* Optimus demonstrates ''highly improbable'' amounts of strength, lifting an entire sunken [[oil tanker]] out of the water and throwing it at Megatron.
* The episode's closing dialog provides us with the interesting factoid that Spike is not yet old enough to drive, capping his likely age in 1984 at 15.

===Real-world references===
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Bali establishing shot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Come for the farms. Stay for the Insecticons!]]
* The Insecticons inhabit the real world island of [[Bali]], which is part of the nation of [[Indonesia]].
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Kickback launches to pursue the last boat.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst ''and'' [[Death Star]] superlaser as the Insecticons fly out of the swamp.
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine as Laserbeak reports his findings.
** Death Star superlaser again as the Insecticons launch to attack the farm.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as the Insecticons fly to attack Skyfire.
** Death Star superlaser as Shrapnel and Bombshell cling to Skyfire's wings.
** X-wing diving whine in the same sequence.
** Luke deflecting seeker ball bolts as Thundercracker compresses the energon cubes.
** X-Wing diving whine as the Insecticons attach to the tanker.
** Death Star superlaser as Megatron launches to re-ignite the tanker.
** Death Star superlaser as the Insecticons flee from the refinery.

===Trivia===
[[File:PlagueOfInsecticons Trailbreaker projecting forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* The Shout! Factory release (incorrectly?) credits this episode as being written by [[Donald F. Glut]].
* Wheeljack refers to the idea of a motorcycle alternate form as "[[Groove (G1)|something new]]". Ah, Transformers was so young and new back then!
* Some episodes provide plot, character development, and storytelling. Others are a big parade of battles and special buy-my-toy powers. The reader may draw their own conclusions as to which category this episode falls under.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Praga de Insecticons'''" ("The Plague of Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Gli Insekticons'''" ("The Insecticons")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La piaga degli Insecticons'''" ("The Plague of the Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Insectron no Nazo'''" (インセクトロンの謎, "The Mystery of the Insectrons")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 24]], [[1986]]
:*Due to [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s status as a [[Bandai]] toy in Japan, the Japanese broadcast of this episode had to be delayed until near the end of the series, when the legal matters could be resolved.
:*Being a Japanese dub and all, Shrapnel dramatically announces the name of his lightning blast as though it were a special move: "Thunder Attack!" ...Yes, ''thunder''. Not lightning.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jīqì Kūnchóng '''" (机器昆虫, "The Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nashestviye Insecticonov'''" ("The Invasion of Insecticons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Nајezdа Insektikonа'''" (Најезда Инсектикона, "Insecticon Invasion")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 12: "The Secret of Omega Supreme", "War Dawn", "A Plague of Insecticons" ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Three (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-12.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1j7OGUiXk5ZF-BuqIPg3hYQfFdqXF3q4_ Full episode script, finalised on 13th August 1984]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plague of Insecticons}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Repugnus (G1)

2020-08-14T03:38:12Z

CicadaNation: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|maximal}}
{{disambig3|Repugnus}}
:''Repugnus is an [[Autobot]] [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Repugnus boxart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|There's ugly, pug-ugly, fugly, pug-fugly...and then below all those there's ''Repugnus''-ugly.]]
Never a [[Decepticon]], '''Repugnus''' is not always an Autobot. No, sometimes he's a former Autobot who has been discharged for insubordination or just plain nastiness, but he always gets called back to perform some mission too unsavory for anybody else. Though he doesn't give a slag for authority or decency, Repugnus always does his job well.

Man, does he love his job. He'll describe with relish how he clawed an enemy within an inch of his life, then beat the bastard's head into a fuel-soaked wad of scrap metal with his own torn-off leg unit. He'll also add plenty of profanities and colorful idioms to the story. His friends would find this disturbing, if he had any.

==Fiction==
===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Legends'' comic (1)====
The Monsterbots were created by [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] in 2011 and programmed with low intelligence to keep them from rampaging like some other beast-type Transformers. Their strange personalities made them unsuitable to be placed on the frontlines, leading to their being stationed on Beast where they were treated as equals by the Beastformers and eventually developed more advanced intelligence. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Michitaka Kobayashi]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:RebellionBeest Repugnus.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|At least Japan cares about me. ''sobs'']]
Repugnus and his fellow Monsterbots were sent to the planet [[Beast (planet)|Beast]] by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], as a fair number of the planet's natives had been enslaved by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. While rescuing some slaves from the Decepticon base, Repugnus found some sort of blueprint attached to a wall, and decided to take it with him. After Autobots had driven the Decepticon forces off the planet, the blueprint turned out to depict a component of [[Transtector|some kind of giant machine]]. Rodimus Prime subsequently ordered the Monsterbots to stay on Beast and protect it against any future Decepticon assaults. Repugnus was fine with this, replying that it seemed like a nice planet to stay on. {{storylink|Rebellion on Planet Beast}}

The Monsterbots were later called away from Beast to assist [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] during a battle on the planet [[Paradise]]. Repugnus and his comrades attacked [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] with their fire-breath, and some stray flames served to destroy the [[energon cube]]s that the Decepticons had amassed. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}}

====''Beastformers'' catalog====
When [[Devilbat]] scanned the secret of [[White Leo]]'s Burstsun power and produced a Secret Photo of it, Repugnus spotted the whole event and gave chase. Devilbat dropped the Secret Photo into Beast's greatest forest during the pursuit. {{storylink|Beastformers catalog|Series 2 catalog}}

====''Legends'' comic (2)====
At one point, the Monsterbots returned to Beast to aid the Beastformers in their war against the [[Laser Beast]]s. However, their heads were torn off when the Laser Beasts took control of the [[Head Hunter]]s. {{storylink|LG51 Doublecross Prologue}}

By [[2021]], Repugnus had rescaled as a Cyberdroid and ended up on the Legends World with [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]'s crew. He had taken to mooching off of [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] where he went unemployed and lived on Brawn's salary. When Brawn acquired a larger pilotable body in order to impress [[Scylla]] only to fall ill on the day of their date, he pressured Repugnus into getting in the mech and going in his stead. Things went alright until Scylla opened up the mech's car mode and discovered Repugnus, after which she took out her anger on both him and Brawn. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 48|Bonus Edition Vol. 48}} As thanks for helping out, Brawn then got Repugnus a mech suit of his own. When Doublecross showed up under the control of the evil [[Tigerburn]], Repugnus was confused that his old Monsterbot friend was an enemy now. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 51|Bonus Edition Vol. 51}} Repugnus and Brawn later offered [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] use of their armor suits to defeat [[Thrust (Armada)|Armada Thrust]], and he was able to pilot Repugnus's one after they increased its mass using [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 53|Bonus Edition Vol. 53}}

Following the destruction of the Legends World, Repugnus emerged from a portal over planet Beast with the Battleship Maximus and his friends. They intervened on the side of the Beastformers to help Doublecross and [[White Leo]] against Tigerburn and the Laser Beasts. [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] used water from the [[Well of Transformation]] to separate the Laser Beasts from their stolen Headmaster bodies, allowing Repugnus to reclaim his original Monsterbot form as a Headmaster himself. Tigerburn then unleashed the Battle Bases on the Beastformers. Grotusque/[[Platinum Tiger]] and Doublecross/White Leo stood up to this new attack, and Repugnus lamented that he needed the power of teamwork as well. [[Hedgehog]] had acquired [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]]'s old exo-suit, and offered to merge with Repugnus. They became a new Headmaster combination, but were almost immediately struck by the [[Shocking Shark]]. Repugnus repaired Hedgehog's head armor into a copy of his own head, and began using his Legends drone armor as a handheld weapon. The Battle Bases were defeated, and the final battle came down to White Leo and Tigerburn, who locked themselves into a crystal form, finally bringing peace to Beast. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 1}}

In [[2038]], the Monsterbots greeted Legends [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] when he ended up on Beast {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two}} and got him up to speed on things. The destruction of the Legends World had cast the residents to different time periods, and so while Rattrap had only seen Repugnus hours earlier, it was fifteen years later for the Monsterbot. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 1}}

As the Monsterbots and Beastformers met with the new arrivals, [[Galvatron II]] brought the Decepticons and his base-ship ''[[Nemesis (BWII)|Nemesis]]'' to attack Beast. Repugnus had mass-produced his mini-me drone armor, and he and Hedgehog launched the drones at ''Nemesis'', only for many to be shot down by Galvatron. The Emperor of Destruction was too powerful for the Monsterbots, and he prepared to execute them. Repugnus and his friends tried to save their comrades by separating from their Headmasters before the final blow. This drew out the [[Three Wise Ones]] from their Gems, impressed by the Monsterbots' compassion. They fashioned themselves into mechanical head modules and merged with the Monsterbots, filling them with Beast Power. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3}}

Through the power of the Gem of Earth, Repugnus recombined with Hedgehog as a [[Getmaster]] in his chest. This Beastformer configuration enabled him to drive off the Decepticons using explosive needle attacks and defended Rattrap using his [[MVP Weapon]], the Double Jungle Swords. Doublecross was not as fortunate, however, and lost the Gem of Fire to Galvatron. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Repugnus)|Repugnus Chapter}} Still, Grotusque and Platinum Tiger were able to tap into their Getmaster mode, and Galvatron was defeated and driven off of Beast. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grotusque)|Grotusque Chapter}}

Repugnus later appeared at the [[Zone Base]] with Rattrap and his Legends refugees and they prepared to reconstruct the Legends World. {{storylink|Transformers Legends Final Chapter "Epiloge"|Epiloge}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
[[File:Brothersinarmor-repugnus-morethanwords.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Obviously, that whole "quest for peace" thing worked out pretty well for him.]]
Repugnus decided to join [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] in abandoning the war and settling down for a peaceful, quiet life on the verdant paradise of [[Nebulos]]. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}}

After Decepticon treachery turned the locals against the Autobots, Repugnus and the other Monsterbots attempted to defend the [[Mercury Gardens of Melanossus]] from [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s forces. Repugnus fought ferociously, blasting his enemies with optic lasers while trash-talking the Decepticon leader, and was outraged when Grotusque, realizing the gardens were being destroyed by the battle, ordered a retreat.

Repugnus and rest of Fortress Maximus's troops then left Nebulos for [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}} They made a stop on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] to meet the Earth-stationed Autobots and to observe [[Code of Combat|a ritual battle]] between [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] for overall leadership of the Autobot forces. Repugnus never got to see the end result of the duel, as the proceedings were interrupted by a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
Repugnus was offlined during the Underbase fiasco and kept in stasis aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. His body was reanimated and lobotomised by [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and pressed into service as part of a [[zombie]] army used to devastate the Earth. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}} When Megatron was defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], all his inactive zombies were gathered up by the Autobots, thrown into a huge pit, and vaporized from orbit. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
The three Monsterbots and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] composed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s team during the search for [[Metascan Alpha]]. The group ended up on a desolate moon, confronted by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]. Although Repugnus was keen to fight "the ugly ones", Ultra Magnus insisted they continue with their mission. They flew down to the planet below, only to find it under attack by the [[Destructon]]s. Repugnus was batted aside by [[Bruton]]'s Confusion Club, and the Autobots beat a hasty retreat back to the moon. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===3H comics===
Less than three [[Units of time|deca-cycles]] after the [[reformatting]] of Cybertron into a [[technorganic]] wonderland, Repugnus and his fellow Monsterbots (apparently all having undergone the [[Great Upgrade|Maximal Upgrade]] downsizing) were seen exiting a bar at [[Spaceport CSSB-16]], soused out of their minds (Repugnus especially so, as he was half carried by [[Doublecross]]) on some high-quality [[energon]]. {{storylink|The Wreckers: Finale Part 1}}

===Fun Publications comics===
[[Image:Repugnus-TFUart.jpg|left|thumb|I am the Frito Bandito...]]
A [[Maximal]] Repugnus from [[Primax 1104.30-TW Zeta]] {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/02}} was one of the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] involved in the final battle of the [[Universe War]] on the surface of [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}} With the disappearance of Unicron beneath him, he apparently ended up at [[Axiom Nexus]] and was "processed". {{storylink|Transcendent: Part 1}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Spotlight: Arcee]] (spark only); [[Maximum Dinobots issue 2|Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #2]] (full appearance)
[[File:MaximumDinobots3 RepugnusBeastMode.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Aw... wook at da cute widdle Monsterbot. Here, boy! Kootchie, kootchie... AUGH! AUGH! IT'S RIPPING MY ARM OFF!"]]
In the era of [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], Repugnus was seen among the crowd of protesters rallying against the [[Outback (G1)|Autobot cop]] who reportedly killed an unarmed [[Hefter|Decepticon agitator]]. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

Repugnus, apparent leader of the Monsterbots, was held as a prisoner in the [[Garrus-9]] penitentiary complex overseen by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]], stripped down to his [[spark]] and held in a tiny box for an as-of-yet unknown crime or offense. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

He has apparently served out his sentence, as he showed up on Earth with the other Monsterbots to bail out [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 2|Maximum Dinobots #2}} He merrily directed his team to mass-murder the [[Sunstreaker clone]]s, while threatening that Grimlock ''better'' have something to make his trip worthwhile—both Monsterbot and [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobot]] may be outcasts, but he doesn't do things [[Death's Head (G1)|for free, yes?]] {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 3|Maximum Dinobots #3}}

[[File:Repugnus MaximumDinobots4.jpg|left|upright=1|thumb|Do you think I care that this is your series? Give me my damn money!]]
Later, aboard the Monsterbots' ship, Repugnus and his cohorts had a little sit-down with Grimlock. Repugnus wasn't particularly happy with Grimlock remaining mum on their payment, and not-so subtly hinted that they'd have to resort to violent methods (perish the thought, of course!) in order to extract their due. Grimlock calmly explained that they'd be given payment in the form of whatever information the Dynobots took from [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s ship [[Spotlight: Shockwave|before they destroyed it]]. Repugnus seemed satisfied enough by this.

The Monsterbots dropped the Dynobots off at [[Machination]] HQ, and even laid down a suppressive bombardment to knock out the anti-air defenses, but that was the extent of their help. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 4|Maximum Dinobots #4}}

When the battle largely went south, Repugnus and crew were summoned again for evac. [[Slag (G1)|Slag]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] showed up and Repugnus noted that they'd be good fits for his team, being interested only in themselves. This remark didn't appear to sit too well with the three Dynobots and they decided to return to help Grimlock battle Shockwave. The Monsterbots presumably lit out of there in a hurry before [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] caught sight of them. {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 5|Maximum Dinobots #5}}

Years later, Repugnus had apparently rejoined the Autobot cause proper as a crew member of the ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} When the ''Lost Light'' began to rapidly disappear, Repugnus evacuated the ship along with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} After the ordeal had been dealt with, Repugnus was having a drink at [[Swerve's]] before being knocked out when [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] spiked the drinks. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}} Repugnus, along with [[Doublecross]] fell on top of [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], trapping him. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

Repugnus became a member of the security team for the ''Lost Light'' after supporting [[Getaway]]'s mutiny. Like all of the crew, he was subjected to [[mnemosurgery]] that made him forget the mutiny and believe [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], and Ultra Magnus left of their own accord, abandoning the rest of the crew. He was subjected to additional reprogramming as a member of the security team, causing him to unquestioningly accept Getaway's orders, and believe anyone who opposed Getaway was a Decepticon traitor. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 1): Full Circle|Full Circle}}
{{-}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Repugnus was interviewed by [[Bishop (Autobot)|Bishop]] to give an expert entomologist opinion on a recent [[Virulent Clone|bug invasion]]. After Repugnus explained that he liked raising the cute little bug larvae to become massive horrible killers to sic on intruders, he then confirmed that not only was he not an entomologist, he didn't even know what that meant. {{storylink|Around Cybertron issue 10|Around Cybertron #10}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
{{Note|Repugnus is a non-playable character. He appears among the legion of Autobot duplicates in the Decepticon campaign.}}
{{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}

==Commercial appearances==
Repugnus and the Monsterbots were created accidentally during an attempt to create new Autobots. [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] raced to warn [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] of the accident as the wild Monsterbots trashed the lab where they were born. Thankfully the [[Decepticon]]s attacked just then, and the Monsterbots burst out of the building through the wall to fight them. Repugnus, sweet guy that he is, gave [[Octane]] a great big hug. Rodimus expressed relief that, though they were monsters, at least they were Autobot monsters. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Monsterbots|Monsterbots commercial}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}
[[File:G1Repugnus toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Moonlights as a tin of baked beans.]]
*'''Repugnus''' (Monsterbot, 1987/1988)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-98'''
**''Accessories:'' "[[Venom laser|Venom Laser]]" gun
:''[[The Transformers (toyline)|G1]]'' Repugnus transforms from robot to bizarre bug-thing and back. His toy can shoot [[sparking gimmick|"cold" sparks]] from his bug-mode mouth by pressing down on a geared button on his bug-skull. His mandibles open and close as well.

:In Japan, Repugnus was never made available as part of the normal retail line. Instead, he was offered only as a mail-order item during ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', the series ''after'' [[Transformers: The Headmasters (franchise)|the one in which the character appeared]]. He cost 2500 yen (200 yen more than the other two Monsterbots) and five [[Robot Point]]s.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Autobot/Repugnus/repugnus.htm More info on Repugnus at TFU.info.]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:Universe Repugnus toy.jpg|thumb|300px]]
*'''Overbite with Repugnus''' (Ultra Class two-pack, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Pincer-pack, tail-shield

: A [[redeco]] of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Fuzor]] [[Buzzclaw (BW)#Toys|Buzzclaw]] toy in translucent red and yellow, Repugnus transforms into a praying mantis/lizard monster, with massive hooked claws and enormous mandibles. Pressing a grip on the creature's back causes the claws to swing outwards. This assembly can be used as a hand-held weapon in robot mode, while his tail becomes a forearm-mounted shield.

: He was only available in a box set with [[Overbite (G1)#Universe (2003)|''Universe'' Overbite]] which had been originally intended for normal retail release, but with the cancellation of the ''Universe'' line at retail, was eventually released as a Target [[exclusive]]. Repugnus is an Autobot according to the [[Insignia|faction sigil]] stamped on him, though the packaging labels him a [[Decepticon]].

: The same mold was used to create ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Buzzclaw (G1)|Buzzclaw]], [[Dirge (Timelines)|Dirge]], and the [[Virulent Clone]]s. Like those figures, Repugnus came [[Misassembly|misassembled]], with his creature mode mandibles angled perpendicular to the beast head as opposed to their proper parallel position. This does not hamper his robot mode in any way, however.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/UniRepugnus/repugnus.htm More information on ''Universe'' Repugnus at TFU.info]''

===''Generations''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Titan-Master-Repugnus.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Does not shoot sparks when connected to the body.]]
*'''Repugnus''' (Titan Master, 2017)
**''Accessories'': Insect/jet/blade-weapon vehicle
:Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' Titan Master figures, Repugnus transforms from robot based on his original toy to a head based on his design in ''The Headmasters'' cartoon, and he's compatible as a head with any Deluxe-or-larger ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' figure.

:Included with him is a shell that he can combine with to resemble his original toy's beast mode. His shell can become a bladed non-firing double-barred blaster, or a jet-like vehicle with four thrusters molded into the legs. Repugnus fits inside the beast and weapon modes as a folded-up component, but "pilots" the jet mode as a robot.

:The two pegs at the bottom front of his beast shell can be used to connect his feet, though none of his modes use them in this way. In an undocumented or possibly unintended feature, moving the beast head forward and inserting the Titan Master behind it with arms raised allows the feet to peg firmly here, creating a "rider" mode. The notch in the back of the neck strut is just wide enough to accommodate the waist of the Titan Master.

:Like his wavemate Shuffler, Repugnus never saw wide release in Malaysia, due to [[Shelfwarmer|shelfwarming]] in the first and second waves.

:His head was later redecoed for the ''Legends'' line (see below), while his insect/jet/blade-weapon vehicle was redecoed as [[Broadside (G1)#Legends|''Legends'' Broadside]]'s accessory.

{{-}}{{anchor|PWTSE}}{{anchor|SpecialEdition}}
[[File:TF-Generations-TR-Deluxe-Class-Repugnus.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"If you want me to have eyes, buy the Titan Master with me."]]
*'''Repugnus''' (Special Edition, [[2018]])
**''Accessories'': Two swords, "[[Dastard#Toys|Dastard]]" [[Titan Master]], "[[Solus Prime#Titans Return|Solus Prime]]" [[Prime Master]]
:''Titans Return'' Special Edition Repugnus is a very extensive [[retool]] of Deluxe Class [[Doublecross#Generations|Twinferno]], transforming into his traditional robot and bug-monster modes. The robot's swords plug into the back in both creature and robot modes to give the appearance of an insect's curved carapace or combine together to create a sled that Dastard or any other Titan Master can ride. They can also be clipped together onto his arm in robot mode, creating what is apparently supposed to be a bladed gauntlet of some kind. The sled can also be mounted on Repugnus's bug mode shoulder. Titan Master Dastard gives Repugnus a head sculpt very much based on the G1 toy, unlike the animation-based Repugnus Titan Master listed above. Unlike standard toys from the ''Titans Return'' toyline, Repugnus does not come with a card showing his stats.

:Some specimens have red paint on both of the robot pectoral plates, while others have it only on one. It is unknown which version is more common.

:The picture on the back of the box shows the toy stretching its bug forelimbs out to the sides, though this is not possible on the final toy without [[customizing|filing down the elbow joint]].

:This "Special Edition" set, celebrating the ''Titans Return'' portion of the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', was an [[Amazon (website)|Amazon.com]] exclusive in the U.S., first revealed via preorder listing without any official announcement from Hasbro. It was also available at general retail in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Singapore.
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:LG48-Repug.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Does not shoot sparks when installed on Brawn, either.]]
*'''Gong & Repug''' ('''Brawn & Repugnus''')<ref>The packaging says "ゴング&リパッグ" (Gong & Repug) in Japanese, but the accompanying English subtitle is "Brawn & Repugnus".</ref> ([[October 28]], 2017)
**''ID number'': '''LG48'''
:Included with [[Brawn (G1)/toys#LG48|Gong]], ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Repug is a redeco of ''Titans Return'' Repugnus, with the colors based on his animated appearance in ''The Headmasters''. Though he lacks the insect/jet/blade-weapon vehicle accessory of the Hasbro release, he is compatible with the redeco of said accessory included with [[Broadside (G1)#Legends|Broadside]].

{{-}}{{anchor|LG53}}
[[File:TF-Legends-LG53-Broadside.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Broadside''' ([[November 25]], 2017)
**''ID number'': '''LG53'''
:Included with [[Broadside (G1)#Legends|Broadside]], the "Repug Armor" [[Partner Drone]] is a redeco of the ''Titans Returns'' Repugnus figure above, minus the Titan Master. It can do all of the things the original can do.

{{-}}{{anchor|LGEX}}
*'''Repug & Grotes''' ('''Repugnus & Grotusque''') ([[January 26]], 2019)
**''ID number'': '''LGEX'''
**''Accessories'': Repug's two swords, [[Hedgehog#Legends|Hedgehog]] Headmaster, Grotes's left and right guns, [[Platinum Tiger#Legends|Platinum Tiger]] Headmaster
:This EX version of Repug is a re-release of the ''Prime Wars Trilogy'' Special Edition figure, sans Prime Master. The Takara release is very slightly different, utilizing a glossy paint finish and black screws in contrast to a matte finish and silver screws of the Hasbro release.

{{-}}
==Merchandise==
===''Tiny Titans''===
*'''Repugnus''' (Tiny Titan, 2015)
**''Series'': '''3'''
**''Number: '''2/12'''

: Part of the third assortment of ''[[Tiny Titans]]'', Repugnus is a lightly-painted PVC figurine of the Monsterbot in insect-monster mode, one of only two Tiny Titans to not be in "robot" mode (the other being the [[Sharkticon (G1)#Tiny Titans|Sharkticon]]).

: He includes a collectible card that renders him in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'']] styling. The card includes a scan-badge for the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (mobile game)|''Robots in Disguise'' mobile game]], which unlocks a random amount of Energon "currency" and a randomized bonus power-up item.

{{-}}

==Notes==
*The instructions for the original Repugnus and [[Doublecross]] toys depict Repugnus with Doublecross's Rust Ray and Doublecross with Repugnus's venom laser.
*The box photography for G1 Repugnus features his robot mode incorrectly transformed, with his bug mode claws hanging above his robot mode shoulders instead of folded across his robot mode chest.
*Repugnus was one of [[Glen Hallit]]'s last contributions to the ''Universe'' line, as the [[redeco]] was his brainchild. It's likely that if the ''Universe'' comic had continued, Repugnus would have been indicated to be the Generation 1 character, a favorite of Hallit's. [[Ask Vector Prime]] would [[Canonizing|canonize]] this idea years later.
*In one of the extras in ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|The Dark Ages]]'' trade paperback, [[Grotusque]] is listed as a member of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s evil [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacon]] faction. This seems at odds with what we know of Grotusque's personality, plus he never actually appeared in the comic at Starscream's side. It's possible this is a mistake, and it was meant to be his more unstable Monsterbot colleague, Repugnus.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Repug''' (リパッグ ''Ripaggu'')
*''French:'' '''Répugnus''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Undor''' ("Abomination")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bàoluàn Shòu''' (China, 暴乱兽, "Riot Beast")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Power of the Primes Autobots]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One zombies]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Titan Masters]]
[[Category:Titans Return Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Maximals]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe Maximals]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

File:Fire on the mountain.jpg

2020-07-13T04:06:12Z

CicadaNation: CicadaNation uploaded a new version of "File:Fire on the mountain.jpg": Reverted to version as of 20:43, 19 June 2008