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Blaster (G1)

2025-08-06T14:11:03Z

Diodicon: /* Twincast */

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{{disambigm|Blaster (disambiguation)|Twincast (disambiguation)}}
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:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]

'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in [[2005]]. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
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===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, [[you]]. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious, badass who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his [[alternate mode]], gathering the information they needed to launch an attack. After planting [[fission bomb]]s on the bridge, Blaster personally battled Straxus, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} Though [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and his troops spotted the Autobots upon their materialization on Earth, the Decepticons were distracted by a more pressing mission at the time, and left without attacking the new arrivals. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival; unfamiliar with Earth customs, Blaster's group first tried to communicate with RAAT's vehicles, leaving the humans an opening to blindside the Autobots with "electric snow" missiles. Circuit Breaker then delivered a powerful electric blast, short-circuiting the group. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Blaster and the others were disassembled, with their heads getting mounted on the wall of RAAT's headquarters. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Blaster's about to lay down some sick beats!]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his [[Batman]], Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found a crashed Decepticon ship, and befriended the scientist [[Charlie Fong]] in order to bypass the military blocked surrounding it. Upon approaching the crash-site, they ran afoul of the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s. As Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got [[Nerf]] guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned. Groove sped off and stashed Blaster away in a drainage pipe for retrieval after the battle's end, where he latter was found by four [[Spacehikers|human children]]. It took some convincing, but Blaster eventually talked the younglings to remove his mode lock. Despite once more being able to transform, Blaster was still no match for [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who had managed to fell Defensor in the meantime. Blaster was forced to rely on the children to put on a good show, and "proved" he was no longer loyal to the Autobots by making the Decepticon believe he shot one of them dead. The dimwitted colossus fooled, Blaster circled around him and collapsed an electrical tower onto Bruticus, knocking him offline. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free upon his recovery. In turn, Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} The humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[File:ClubCon-ptoo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a [[Egg transport|capsule]] in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb]]
A search of the waters where "Club Con" used to be proved fruitless, as the Decepticons quickly moved on after Blaster's incursion. Blaster berated himself for his "incompetence," which allowed the Decepticons to slip beyond their reach once more, though Optimus assured him they would track down their enemies in due course. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Soon after, the Autobots were drawn to the Arctic, where a Decepticon ambush awaited them. The warring factions struck a temporary truce when they learned that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had orchestrated the confrontation in order to distract everyone else from his own goals. The approaching object Blaster had learned about earlier, revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], would endow Starscream with godlike powers were he to absorb all of its cosmic energies. Though the Autobot/Decepticon alliance interrupted Starscream's absorption of the Underbase's power, the portion he did manage to take into himself was enough to grant him near-invincibility. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. Ratchet's nightmares came true for a short while, when the Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] managed to infiltrate the Ark and took control of the damaged Autobots' bodies to torment him. When this failed to make Ratchet snap completely, the Decepticons' plan was abandoned and Blaster was shut down once more. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, {{storylink|Still Life!}} with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. A meeting was called, with Blaster sharing the news to all present. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld. Blaster found Prowl wandering about outside, and cautioned his fellow Autobot to take shelter, as Cybertron's gradual self-destruction made the outdoors dangerous. His warning was met with laughter; Prowl had given up on living altogether, seeing no escape from the planet's death-throes. The pair were then surprised by Grimlock, who had foreseen the Decepticons' treachery and secured alternate transportation! {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} The Autobots followed the Decepticons to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Only five stragglers managed to escape this surprise attack: Blaster, Grimlock, Kup, Slag, and Prowl. Despite their best attempts to lose their pursuers, the Autobots found themselves hounded by a hunting party. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but persevered nonetheless. His group miraculously defeated the hunting party, and doubled back for a final stand against Bludgeon's forces. Upon arrival, they found a resurrected Optimus Prime already turning the tide of battle thanks to a new ally, the [[Last Autobot]]. Blaster was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] as the Decepticons were driven off into exile. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
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=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
[[File:Ultra magnus blaster big broadcast of 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived, they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was hypnotizing all the combatants into this aggressive behavior. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air, while Blaster would broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming all those affected by the signal. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}
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=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|left|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} Upon his arrival however, Kup urged the other Autobots to hold their fire; he had deduced that it was Unicron acting through Rodimus, as the dark god had been imprisoned within the Matrix at a pervious date. Blaster and the other reinforcements stood back as Kup managed to rip the sacred talisman out of Rodimus's chest, severing Unicron's connection to him. {{storylink|White Fire}}
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=====Letters page=====
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|left|upright=0.8|thumb|FAKE NU(cleon)S]]
The relaxed and jovial Blaster of "yet another alternate future" was turned into an [[Action Master]] and somehow arrived on 1990s Earth, where he took a job answering letters for Marvel UK. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}} He had to recuperate in an acclimatisation unit as a result and a nameless human at the Marvel offices took it upon themselves to answer a letter about being an Action Master, copying [[Nucleon (substance)#Toy packaging blurb|the back of a toy box]] and claiming that was the origin of [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]. Don't trust it, kids! The ''real'' answer comes from an upcoming story, kids! {{storylink|The Human Factor!|#303's Darn 'n' Blast}}{{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

When Dreadwind refused to accept he'd been replaced as letters host and barricaded his office, Blaster, new host of ''Darn 'n' Blast'', took up a temporary office next door. Dreadwind kept banging on the wall to distract him. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Transformation}} The kids of 1990 Britain duly wrote to Blaster with rap and cool lingo, dude. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

Unlike Grimlock, he felt guilty about using the [[variable voltage harness]] to punish Marvel UK staff for bad work. Following a suggestion by a sadistic fan, he instead began tormenting people with hours of {{w|The Church (band)|''The Church}} and {{w|Cliff Richard}}. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm|#308 Darn 'n' Blast It}}

During Blaster's run we learned he had a brother named [[Toaster]]{{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!|#310's letters page}} and a sister called [[Karmen]] {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}}, and about sports like the [[Iacon 5000]] and [[Mecha-soccer|Cybertron's football divisions]] (Primus League and Premier League). His team are the non-league no-hopers [[Throttlebot]] Wanderers {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}} and he lamented how badly they'd been fouled by Combaticon Hove Albion, ruining their chances of a cup win. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!|#320's letters page}}

He was unable to make a reader's birthday party due to the battle against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Exodus!|#326's letters page}}

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=====''Combat Colin''=====
[[File:Combat colin 300.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
After [[Colin Doobrey-Smiff|Colin]] managed to defeat all of his recurring villains at once, he grew a bit too big for his boots and announced that he was going to boot out the [[Transformer]]s and take over the rest of the comic. Overhearing this, Blaster was forced to remind him of his place as a back-up strip character. {{storylink|Combat Colin issue 300}}
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=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
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====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Blaster and the Autobots defended the launch of a new space flight by human scientists. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}
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====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

[[File:Recordicons12-everyone.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Blaster and his partners [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]], and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 12|Recordicons #12}}

Some time later on negative Cybertron, Blaster and [[Straxus (SG)|Straxus]] compared notes on their mirror universes, such as [[Straxus (G1)|the evil Straxus]]. {{storylink|Falling into Place}}
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====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery (Cybertron)|Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]], and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

[[File:Blaster soundwave destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|''Only one will survive. Beatle-based pop vs. New Romantic, History will decide.'']]
As the Decepticon invasion/uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s command vessel ''[[Priam]]'' during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinate [[Wreckers]] staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron to face an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The [[Dark Matrix|Anti-Matrix]] had consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into [[shadow-leech]]es. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the [[space bridge]] network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in [[Zero Space]], bringing an end to its machinations. On Nebulos, Blaster joined [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s troops in finishing off [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] once and for all. With their link to the [[multiverse]] and [[Primus]] himself permanently cut off, Blaster and the other remaining Transformers abandoned Cybertron, eventually growing old and dying. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Blaster and the Autobots protected the humans from a revenge attack by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticons.{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:ListeningtoBlaster-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left]]
Blaster received a message from Decepticon headquarters and conveyed it to Optimus Prime; the Decepticons had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] hostage, and were demanding the Autobots' surrender. The Autobots sent out a party to rescue their captured comrade, but the attempt failed. Afterwards, Blaster once more relayed a message from Megatron to Optimus; the Decepticon leader threatened to destroy all four captured Autobots and rebuild them into Decepticons if Optimus did not surrender before morning. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Attack of the Insecticons===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autobot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|left|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Blaster took orders from Optimus Prime as the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' launched. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}

Blaster and his team used an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Blaster was badly damaged, losing a leg in his fight against Megatron. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with his flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Blaster participated in a savage battle against the Decepticons, though he did not fare too well, already laying defeated on the battleground during the conflict's early stages.{{storylink|The Beast Within}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

Blaster was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}} He took a brief respite from reporting to work for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

[[File:Broadcast BlastersMoment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left]]
When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (event)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.9|thumb|right|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' ''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the war going into full swing, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, this time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|I dunno... sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wreckers]], suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]]
With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

[[File:IntimateBeheading BRILLIANT.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]] {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} and was one of the first people to use [[Swerve's]], being part of the grand secret opening. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[unspace|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Not that it would have mattered much, as Blaster went on to say that any attempt made with the subspace communicator to reach Cybertron met with failure. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus, {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} and the crew was ultimately overwhelmed by the Legislators. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Following the Tyrest crisis, Blaster was one of the dozens of Autobots who helped clean and fix up the [[Swerve's|devastated bar]] so that Swerve could reopen it. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:TwentyPlusOne BlasterLostRodimus.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|right]]
Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Fortunately, the new crew managed to reverse the quantum irregularity, and Blaster and the others quickly returned. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

On a quantum-duplicated ''Lost Light'', its version of Blaster was executed along with the rest of the crew, save their Rewind. He was forced to transform into vehicle mode to keep his transformation cog fresh, which was harvested from his body by the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]. His corpse was found among a large collection of bodies in a room by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds-LostLightmutiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Always [[Totaled!|first in line for mutiny.]]]]
Blaster gathered with most of the crew to hear Rodimus announce their rendezvous with the ''Vis Vitalis'' for the dying Thunderclash's "pre-wake". {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He later served as DJ for a dance party in Swerve's and accepted a song request from [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} After a life-size [[holomatter]] projection of Earth appeared to be tailing the ''Lost Light'', Blaster attempted to make radio contact with it, only to hear a "catchy" song being played back to them. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} When [[Getaway]] set up his mutiny, Blaster agreed to be part of it. He 'discovered' the source of a signal that would lure Megatron, Rodimus, and their 'loyalists' off the ''Light'', and later stood with Getaway in a broadcast to emphasize how the crew had turned on their captains. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Do one mutiny, get a second free.]]
During a team meeting regarding the [[Warren]], Blaster interrupted to report a distress signal came in from [[Frayus]], but was stunned when Getaway told him to respond that they couldn't assist. As Getaway and Thunderclash argued, Blaster and his teammates were horrified when a transmission from Rodimus revealed that Getaway had not only abandoned Rodimus's men to the mercies of the [[Galactic Council]], but to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With the command structure threatening to breakdown, Getaway had the mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] reprogram the memories of Blaster and the rest of the crew. They were coerced into believing that Rodimus and the others left of their own free will, abandoning the rest of the crew to find Cyberutopia faster on their own. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

As the use of the Warren drew the ''Lost Light'' closer to Cyberutopia, Blaster was instructed by Getaway to change their course so that they could make a rendezvous with their new Head of Security. Soon after, Blaster happily reported to Getaway that they had finally arrived at Cyberutopia. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:ADanceBeforeDying BlasterSparkeater.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"Hey folks, this is Blaster slaverin' at ya! ''Uhnnn, SPAAAAAAARKSSSSSSSS''..."]]
Everything collapsed, however, when they reached Cyberutopia. The promised land turned out to be a sham, and the ''Lost Light'' came under attack by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] and his [[Phantom Fleet]] of [[Worldsweeper]]s. Desperate to save his own skin, Getaway made a deal with the Architect to spare him in exchange for his help against Rodimus, who Getaway swore would try to stop the Grand Architect's plans. To that end, the Architect's ally [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was allowed to subject Blaster and the other Autobots to a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] virus, changing them into zombie-like minions with acid vomit, a thirst for sparks, and no will of their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

When Rodimus and the others ''did'' arrive on Cyberutopia, Blaster was dispatched with the first wave of Sparkeaters along with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to "greet" their friends. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Blaster and the Sparkeaters threatened Rodimus and his growing collection of allies as they opposed the Grand Architect's forces. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Eventually, First Aid discovered a form of concussive medicine that would transmit a kinetic program code to eliminate the Sparkeater virus. Blaster and the others were incapacitated, but seemingly cured of their infection. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} After Rodimus reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', he had Blaster and his ailing crew brought aboard for Ratchet and First Aid to continue treating as they confronted the Grand Architect. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

After the crisis was over, Blaster joined the rest of the crew for one last "victory lap" aboard the ''Lost Light''. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the Lost Light's adventures would never truly end. Rodimus put the notion to a vote, and the crew agreed to attempt it.

After returning to Cybertron and years in the future, Blaster was one of the attendees at Ratchet's funeral. He led the grieving Hound away after the service had concluded.

Unaware to everyone, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' with its version of Blaster had successfully materialized. Blaster excitedly reported that the navigation computers had no idea where they were, and everyone got ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
{{--}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Bugaloo}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:Blaster Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Blaster was seemingly escorting [[Lumina Hoshi|Lumina]] at the inauguration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Autobot City]], as he was holding her hand. {{Storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

Some time later, when [[Soundwave (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Soundwave]] tried to use his clones to brainwash humans, Blaster arrived alongside [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus]] and [[Jazz (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Jazz]] to stop him. Blaster turned to tape deck mode to help the Autobots in the battle of opposing sounds, and later (in a different blue coloration) played music at the ensuing hanami. {{Storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Blaster was a freedom fighter on a Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. He was one of the many thorns in Megatron's side that continuously evaded capture.

Enraged that the once great [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] was one of the many Autobots that had succumbed to Megatron's will, Blaster set out to confront his fellow Autobot at the planet's north pole. There, he berated and blasted Rodimus for his fall from grace. Rodimus retaliated and during the firefight, [[G.I.Rocket]]s began to rain down around them. One of the rockets' blasts caused debris to fall atop of Blaster, knocking him out. Rather than allow his friend to be captured by the Decepticons, Rodimus abandoned his post and hauled Blaster away. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Rodimus brought Blaster to Ratchet for repairs before seizing leadership of the Autobots from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

During the combined Autobot-Joe attack on the Decepticon army, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had Blaster deactivate [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s force shield by using his altmode to emit a sonic signal imbued with the shield's codes. Blaster then joined the battle by releasing his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|Recordobots]] against [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including his mentor Blaster, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
[[File:TPotTM BlasterStripesRewind.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
When the [[Titan Master]]s joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Blaster was partnered with the Titan Master [[Twin Cast]], the bot with the universe's most advanced cryptographic abilities. {{storylink|Blaster (G1)/toys#TitansReturn|''Titans Return'' Twin Cast/Blaster toy bio}} On the planet [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], Blaster, Stripes, and Rewind pursued [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]], [[Grax]], and [[Horri-Bull|Rot-Gut]] through the streets. They were ultimately forced to break off when Rot-Gut and Skullsmasher combined, allowing Skullsmasher to deploy a cloud of armor-eating rust and make good their escape. Blaster was later seen fighting off Soundwave's all-out attack on Cybertron. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

{{--}}

===''Win If You Dare''===
[[File:WinIfYouDare-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Blaster was playing music outside the crashed ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] returned from a test drive, part of Ratchet's experimental "music therapy" program. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|''Transformers'' #17]]}}

[[File:WarWorldHunt-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Blaster worked with [[Playback (G1)|Playback]] and [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] at the [[Titan Net]] primary hub in Iacon. When members of [[The Rise]] hacked their network to upload a powerful [[data-bomb]], Blaster and his crew found that the virus left them unable to awaken any of the dormant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s in Cybertron's orbit, and powerless to prevent the rogue Titan [[Vigilem]] from approaching the [[Winged Moon]]. With no other options, Blaster contacted [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] and her Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], who had only recently returned from beyond Cybertronian space and hadn't yet linked with the Titan Net, and ordered her to stop Vigilem by any means necessary.{{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Five}}

Despite their best efforts, the pair weren't able to stop Vigilem from severing the great [[Tether]] that connected the Winged Moon to Cybertron. Blaster and his crew did their best to re-establish a link with the Titans; despite receiving assistance from [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]], [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} they weren't able to repair the Titan Net before Megatron staged a coup, overthrew the [[Senate]], and killed [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] inherited the Matrix to become Optimus Prime, Blaster attended his first speech. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings}} Not long afterwards, the triumphant Decepticons moved to seize control of Iacon's infrastructure by planting loyalists in positions of power, and as a result [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]], and [[Sparkstalker]] took control of the Titan Net building and ousted Blaster and his crew. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

Blaster followed Optimus Prime and his followers when they abandoned Iacon entirely and decamped to [[Crystal City]]. There, Blaster received a proper [[Autobot]] insignia as part of a ceremony commemorating the rebirth of the Autobot faction. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} However, when the Decepticons turned their sights on Crystal City, Blaster and a number of other scientists and engineers retreated to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Radical Time}} There, Blaster helped [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] engineer a data-bomb that would disrupt the Insecticon neural network long enough for [[Termagax]] to transmit new instructions to the swarming [[Insecticon clone]]s and call off their rampage. {{storylink|End of Time}}

{{--}}

===Precursor World===
[[File:GodNeptuneComic1-Twincast.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Video killed the radio star.]]

A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling Twincast was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. When the traitorous [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus twins]] unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, he was slain in the ensuing brawl. Vanguard leader [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] later loaded the Warrior's lingering [[spark]]s into his [[Golden Noah]] in an attempt to ferry their souls to the [[G1 World|next world]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}} Unfortunately, this did not work. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
[[File:GoGo13-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Blaster was freestyling with the other Autobots when he encountered his old foe [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] came up with the idea of having the equally matched rivals settle their differences through a rap battle, where they eventually admitted their grudging respect for one another. However, the two soon went back to brawling when each accused the other of screwing up their conciliatory high five. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 13}}

One evening, Blaster invited Bumblebee to come outside and play, but Bumblebee had too much homework to do. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} Blaster and Eject took part in a snowball fight until Wheeljack's snowball-throwing robot went haywire. Jazz and Blaster provided covering fire so that Bumblebee could close the distance and switch off the machine, and that night the Autobots used the excess snow to construct an igloo where they could relax. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}}}}

{{ongoing}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Blaster wielding gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Tell my electro-scrambler I love her!"]]
During a battle on Cybertron, Blaster was shot in the chest. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}}

{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Blaster allowed himself to be found by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in his radio mode. The device caught Rumble's eye, and he decided to bring Blaster back to the Decepticons' headquarters. Soundwave wasn't as easily duped, and recognized Blaster as an Autobot intruder immediately upon seeing him. Blaster then had to contend with fending off [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Blaster|Blaster commercial}}
*When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led a squad of Decepticons on an attack on the Autobots' launch site, Blaster informed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] was off-planet, and so couldn't come to their aid. He stayed behind as Ultra Magnus carried several Autobots into battle to counter-attack. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*Blaster, Cosmos, and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations (Legends)|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Returning from a charity event, Blaster, Windcharger and Cliffjumper received a distress signal from a nearby human military base. Leading the charge, Blaster found a Decepticon raiding party scouring the base for the [[MacGuffin Generator]]. The Autobots fought the Decepticons to a stalemate until the evil robots managed to acquire the device. It proved more volatile than they expected however, and Blaster and his team helped rebuild the base after the Decepticons were blown away by the generator. {{storylink|Raiding Party}}

Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
[[File:Blaster-Bird.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{main|Bubbles#As Blaster}}

On an [[AllSpark|Eggspark]]-altered [[Piggy Island]], Blaster found himself fused with [[Bubbles]] of the [[Flock]], turning them into an [[Autobird]] that transforms into a van-like thing. Bubbles-Blaster launches a rapid-fire stream of sonic blasts that pack incredible punch and have a wide "splash damage" range, especially when paired up with his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|cassette]] partners.

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Accessory'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Rarity'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Rosanna (AB)|Rosanna]]
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +20% Explosive Force
|
|-
|Headphones
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Damage
|
|-
|Baseball Cap
|Head
|Common
|5 Common Crystals + 2,500 Coins
| +10% Vehicle Time
|
|-
|Santa Hat
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Defense
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Festive Deely Bopper
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Snowman
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Lion Hat
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +16% Defense
|Chinese New Year exclusive
|-
|[[Stripes]]
|Chest
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +40% Faster Reload
|
|-
|[[Sundor]]
|Arms
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
|
|}
</center>

[[File:Blaster accessory.jpeg|thumb|200px|But I'm already a [[Bubbles#As Blaster|character]] in the game!]]

Blaster is also an "Accessory" character, giving Autobirds he's attached to an increase to their EMP Rounds (probably due to his groovy, well-tuned personality). This bonus can be increased with level upgrades, won from random-prize Crates or in the "[[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower" mini-game.

He can be unlocked by purchasing him with Gems in the Barracks, with Tokens during specific [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)/Challenge Events|Challenge Events]], or won from Crates and [[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="15%" | '''Autobird'''
! scope="col" width="8%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Gem Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Red (AB)#As Blurr|Blurr]]
|Arms
|650
| EMP Rounds
|
|-
|}
</center>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Among the random Movie quotes a random bot says are: Two can Play! Sic' em! Don't know how much longer we can hold out. We're all going to look like burnt-out toaster ovens.]]
Blaster participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who first appeared in the "Sonic Clash" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal,100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Blaster-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Yo dawg! Let's build this base before the Cons show up!]]

Loud, proud and in-your-face, Blaster has a zest for life and an unquenchable appetite for action.
The louder and more intense it gets, the more it sparks his circuits.
The opposite of sneaky, he prefers to make his presence known, literally assaulting his enemies with sound and fury.
But his special passion is good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, and his ability to monitor multiple frequencies and channels has exposed him to a wide variety of music. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Blaster Bio}}

Blaster was in contact with Ironhide and Jetfire after the latter two and an ally raided a Decepticon outpost. Blaster suggested it would be great if they upgraded the HQ.
{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

Blaster then helped out in the many other battles that the Autobots participated in.

*'''Class:''': Special (Deployer)
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Weapons:''' Blaster uses a standard issue Photon blaster used by Jetfire and the Aerobots.
*'''Ability: Deploy Minions:''' Deploy Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn to attack targets! All have unique attacks.
**'''Cost''': 3 ability points +3 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:blaster Blaster at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

Blaster is one of two characters that has a unique ending victory pose, in which Blaster has a chance to perform a handstand, and then start break dancing.

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Impossible! Our laserfire is only making him '''stronger!'''"]]
In a surprising twist, Blaster isn't a clone of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], instead having his own unique animations and abilities. He fights using buffed-up energy attacks and his cassette allies, and, when awakened, can heal himself when struck with the enemy's ranged laser attacks.
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Blaster was head of Autobot communications and a master of sonic warfare. In his off-time, he was something of a party animal, and this laid-back approach to life has bled back into his career as a soldier. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers Roleplaying Game bonus material}}

Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were deployed to an abandoned railyard in [[Colorado]] to guard a shipment of [[energon cube]]s while [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] drew the attention of the Decepticons. However, their ruse failed; the Decepticons tracked the [[Union Pacific]] train back to its point of origin, and in the ensuing battle [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and his comrades defeated Blaster and stole the energon. {{storylink|The Great Energon Robbery}}

==Toys==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Blaster's finalized [[character model]] was apparently not available to artist [[Don Perlin]] when he first drew Blaster in the Marvel Comic. While the final model—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives Blaster a set of individual eyes, Perlin's interpretation of the toy reference material he had to work with saw him draw Blaster with a goggled visor. Perlin's visored head design would be used throughout the Marvel run, until the last few issues, when UK artists who had taken over drawing the book rendered Blaster with his finalized model's head. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in [[robot mode]], but four in [[alternate mode]]. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster. {{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious badass seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner [[Flight Pack]] did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
====Blaster====
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto''), '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), '''Blaster''' (ブラスター ''Burasutā'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub),
*''Czech:'' '''Reprák''' (Supermax dub, "Speaker")
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("Bombardment"), '''Lőmester''' ("Demolitions-Expert", alternate name used occasionally in the Marvel comics)
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters'')
*''Chinese:'' '''Lùyīnjī''' (China, 录音机, "Recorder"), '''Shuāng Lǚdài''' (''The Headmasters'', 双履带, "Double Pedrail")
*''Polish:'' '''Łoskot''' ("Rumble", sic!; in some episodes of cartoon)
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' ("Бластер", "Blaster", ''Transformers''), '''Billy''' ("Билли", ''The Headmasters'')

====Twincast====
*''Japanese:'' '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasto'')
*''English:'' '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Digital'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Platon'''
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' (Бластер, "Blaster")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Autobirds]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Blue Order]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combat Colin characters]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Earthforce]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

Blaster (G1)

2025-08-06T14:10:42Z

Diodicon: /* Twincast */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|autobird|primusvanguard}}
{{disambigm|Blaster (disambiguation)|Twincast (disambiguation)}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]

'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in [[2005]]. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, [[you]]. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious, badass who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his [[alternate mode]], gathering the information they needed to launch an attack. After planting [[fission bomb]]s on the bridge, Blaster personally battled Straxus, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} Though [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and his troops spotted the Autobots upon their materialization on Earth, the Decepticons were distracted by a more pressing mission at the time, and left without attacking the new arrivals. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival; unfamiliar with Earth customs, Blaster's group first tried to communicate with RAAT's vehicles, leaving the humans an opening to blindside the Autobots with "electric snow" missiles. Circuit Breaker then delivered a powerful electric blast, short-circuiting the group. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Blaster and the others were disassembled, with their heads getting mounted on the wall of RAAT's headquarters. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Blaster's about to lay down some sick beats!]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his [[Batman]], Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found a crashed Decepticon ship, and befriended the scientist [[Charlie Fong]] in order to bypass the military blocked surrounding it. Upon approaching the crash-site, they ran afoul of the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s. As Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got [[Nerf]] guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned. Groove sped off and stashed Blaster away in a drainage pipe for retrieval after the battle's end, where he latter was found by four [[Spacehikers|human children]]. It took some convincing, but Blaster eventually talked the younglings to remove his mode lock. Despite once more being able to transform, Blaster was still no match for [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who had managed to fell Defensor in the meantime. Blaster was forced to rely on the children to put on a good show, and "proved" he was no longer loyal to the Autobots by making the Decepticon believe he shot one of them dead. The dimwitted colossus fooled, Blaster circled around him and collapsed an electrical tower onto Bruticus, knocking him offline. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free upon his recovery. In turn, Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} The humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[File:ClubCon-ptoo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a [[Egg transport|capsule]] in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb]]
A search of the waters where "Club Con" used to be proved fruitless, as the Decepticons quickly moved on after Blaster's incursion. Blaster berated himself for his "incompetence," which allowed the Decepticons to slip beyond their reach once more, though Optimus assured him they would track down their enemies in due course. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Soon after, the Autobots were drawn to the Arctic, where a Decepticon ambush awaited them. The warring factions struck a temporary truce when they learned that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had orchestrated the confrontation in order to distract everyone else from his own goals. The approaching object Blaster had learned about earlier, revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], would endow Starscream with godlike powers were he to absorb all of its cosmic energies. Though the Autobot/Decepticon alliance interrupted Starscream's absorption of the Underbase's power, the portion he did manage to take into himself was enough to grant him near-invincibility. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. Ratchet's nightmares came true for a short while, when the Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] managed to infiltrate the Ark and took control of the damaged Autobots' bodies to torment him. When this failed to make Ratchet snap completely, the Decepticons' plan was abandoned and Blaster was shut down once more. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, {{storylink|Still Life!}} with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. A meeting was called, with Blaster sharing the news to all present. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld. Blaster found Prowl wandering about outside, and cautioned his fellow Autobot to take shelter, as Cybertron's gradual self-destruction made the outdoors dangerous. His warning was met with laughter; Prowl had given up on living altogether, seeing no escape from the planet's death-throes. The pair were then surprised by Grimlock, who had foreseen the Decepticons' treachery and secured alternate transportation! {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} The Autobots followed the Decepticons to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Only five stragglers managed to escape this surprise attack: Blaster, Grimlock, Kup, Slag, and Prowl. Despite their best attempts to lose their pursuers, the Autobots found themselves hounded by a hunting party. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but persevered nonetheless. His group miraculously defeated the hunting party, and doubled back for a final stand against Bludgeon's forces. Upon arrival, they found a resurrected Optimus Prime already turning the tide of battle thanks to a new ally, the [[Last Autobot]]. Blaster was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] as the Decepticons were driven off into exile. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
[[File:Ultra magnus blaster big broadcast of 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived, they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was hypnotizing all the combatants into this aggressive behavior. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air, while Blaster would broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming all those affected by the signal. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|left|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} Upon his arrival however, Kup urged the other Autobots to hold their fire; he had deduced that it was Unicron acting through Rodimus, as the dark god had been imprisoned within the Matrix at a pervious date. Blaster and the other reinforcements stood back as Kup managed to rip the sacred talisman out of Rodimus's chest, severing Unicron's connection to him. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

=====Letters page=====
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|left|upright=0.8|thumb|FAKE NU(cleon)S]]
The relaxed and jovial Blaster of "yet another alternate future" was turned into an [[Action Master]] and somehow arrived on 1990s Earth, where he took a job answering letters for Marvel UK. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}} He had to recuperate in an acclimatisation unit as a result and a nameless human at the Marvel offices took it upon themselves to answer a letter about being an Action Master, copying [[Nucleon (substance)#Toy packaging blurb|the back of a toy box]] and claiming that was the origin of [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]. Don't trust it, kids! The ''real'' answer comes from an upcoming story, kids! {{storylink|The Human Factor!|#303's Darn 'n' Blast}}{{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

When Dreadwind refused to accept he'd been replaced as letters host and barricaded his office, Blaster, new host of ''Darn 'n' Blast'', took up a temporary office next door. Dreadwind kept banging on the wall to distract him. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Transformation}} The kids of 1990 Britain duly wrote to Blaster with rap and cool lingo, dude. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

Unlike Grimlock, he felt guilty about using the [[variable voltage harness]] to punish Marvel UK staff for bad work. Following a suggestion by a sadistic fan, he instead began tormenting people with hours of {{w|The Church (band)|''The Church}} and {{w|Cliff Richard}}. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm|#308 Darn 'n' Blast It}}

During Blaster's run we learned he had a brother named [[Toaster]]{{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!|#310's letters page}} and a sister called [[Karmen]] {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}}, and about sports like the [[Iacon 5000]] and [[Mecha-soccer|Cybertron's football divisions]] (Primus League and Premier League). His team are the non-league no-hopers [[Throttlebot]] Wanderers {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}} and he lamented how badly they'd been fouled by Combaticon Hove Albion, ruining their chances of a cup win. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!|#320's letters page}}

He was unable to make a reader's birthday party due to the battle against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Exodus!|#326's letters page}}

{{-}}

=====''Combat Colin''=====
[[File:Combat colin 300.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
After [[Colin Doobrey-Smiff|Colin]] managed to defeat all of his recurring villains at once, he grew a bit too big for his boots and announced that he was going to boot out the [[Transformer]]s and take over the rest of the comic. Overhearing this, Blaster was forced to remind him of his place as a back-up strip character. {{storylink|Combat Colin issue 300}}
{{-}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Blaster and the Autobots defended the launch of a new space flight by human scientists. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

[[File:Recordicons12-everyone.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Blaster and his partners [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]], and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 12|Recordicons #12}}

Some time later on negative Cybertron, Blaster and [[Straxus (SG)|Straxus]] compared notes on their mirror universes, such as [[Straxus (G1)|the evil Straxus]]. {{storylink|Falling into Place}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery (Cybertron)|Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]], and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

[[File:Blaster soundwave destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|''Only one will survive. Beatle-based pop vs. New Romantic, History will decide.'']]
As the Decepticon invasion/uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s command vessel ''[[Priam]]'' during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinate [[Wreckers]] staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron to face an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The [[Dark Matrix|Anti-Matrix]] had consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into [[shadow-leech]]es. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the [[space bridge]] network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in [[Zero Space]], bringing an end to its machinations. On Nebulos, Blaster joined [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s troops in finishing off [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] once and for all. With their link to the [[multiverse]] and [[Primus]] himself permanently cut off, Blaster and the other remaining Transformers abandoned Cybertron, eventually growing old and dying. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Blaster and the Autobots protected the humans from a revenge attack by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticons.{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:ListeningtoBlaster-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left]]
Blaster received a message from Decepticon headquarters and conveyed it to Optimus Prime; the Decepticons had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] hostage, and were demanding the Autobots' surrender. The Autobots sent out a party to rescue their captured comrade, but the attempt failed. Afterwards, Blaster once more relayed a message from Megatron to Optimus; the Decepticon leader threatened to destroy all four captured Autobots and rebuild them into Decepticons if Optimus did not surrender before morning. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Attack of the Insecticons===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autobot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|left|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Blaster took orders from Optimus Prime as the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' launched. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}

Blaster and his team used an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Blaster was badly damaged, losing a leg in his fight against Megatron. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with his flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Blaster participated in a savage battle against the Decepticons, though he did not fare too well, already laying defeated on the battleground during the conflict's early stages.{{storylink|The Beast Within}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

Blaster was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}} He took a brief respite from reporting to work for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

[[File:Broadcast BlastersMoment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left]]
When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (event)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.9|thumb|right|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' ''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the war going into full swing, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, this time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|I dunno... sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wreckers]], suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]]
With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

[[File:IntimateBeheading BRILLIANT.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]] {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} and was one of the first people to use [[Swerve's]], being part of the grand secret opening. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[unspace|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Not that it would have mattered much, as Blaster went on to say that any attempt made with the subspace communicator to reach Cybertron met with failure. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus, {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} and the crew was ultimately overwhelmed by the Legislators. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Following the Tyrest crisis, Blaster was one of the dozens of Autobots who helped clean and fix up the [[Swerve's|devastated bar]] so that Swerve could reopen it. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:TwentyPlusOne BlasterLostRodimus.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|right]]
Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Fortunately, the new crew managed to reverse the quantum irregularity, and Blaster and the others quickly returned. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

On a quantum-duplicated ''Lost Light'', its version of Blaster was executed along with the rest of the crew, save their Rewind. He was forced to transform into vehicle mode to keep his transformation cog fresh, which was harvested from his body by the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]. His corpse was found among a large collection of bodies in a room by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds-LostLightmutiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Always [[Totaled!|first in line for mutiny.]]]]
Blaster gathered with most of the crew to hear Rodimus announce their rendezvous with the ''Vis Vitalis'' for the dying Thunderclash's "pre-wake". {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He later served as DJ for a dance party in Swerve's and accepted a song request from [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} After a life-size [[holomatter]] projection of Earth appeared to be tailing the ''Lost Light'', Blaster attempted to make radio contact with it, only to hear a "catchy" song being played back to them. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} When [[Getaway]] set up his mutiny, Blaster agreed to be part of it. He 'discovered' the source of a signal that would lure Megatron, Rodimus, and their 'loyalists' off the ''Light'', and later stood with Getaway in a broadcast to emphasize how the crew had turned on their captains. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Do one mutiny, get a second free.]]
During a team meeting regarding the [[Warren]], Blaster interrupted to report a distress signal came in from [[Frayus]], but was stunned when Getaway told him to respond that they couldn't assist. As Getaway and Thunderclash argued, Blaster and his teammates were horrified when a transmission from Rodimus revealed that Getaway had not only abandoned Rodimus's men to the mercies of the [[Galactic Council]], but to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With the command structure threatening to breakdown, Getaway had the mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] reprogram the memories of Blaster and the rest of the crew. They were coerced into believing that Rodimus and the others left of their own free will, abandoning the rest of the crew to find Cyberutopia faster on their own. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

As the use of the Warren drew the ''Lost Light'' closer to Cyberutopia, Blaster was instructed by Getaway to change their course so that they could make a rendezvous with their new Head of Security. Soon after, Blaster happily reported to Getaway that they had finally arrived at Cyberutopia. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:ADanceBeforeDying BlasterSparkeater.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"Hey folks, this is Blaster slaverin' at ya! ''Uhnnn, SPAAAAAAARKSSSSSSSS''..."]]
Everything collapsed, however, when they reached Cyberutopia. The promised land turned out to be a sham, and the ''Lost Light'' came under attack by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] and his [[Phantom Fleet]] of [[Worldsweeper]]s. Desperate to save his own skin, Getaway made a deal with the Architect to spare him in exchange for his help against Rodimus, who Getaway swore would try to stop the Grand Architect's plans. To that end, the Architect's ally [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was allowed to subject Blaster and the other Autobots to a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] virus, changing them into zombie-like minions with acid vomit, a thirst for sparks, and no will of their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

When Rodimus and the others ''did'' arrive on Cyberutopia, Blaster was dispatched with the first wave of Sparkeaters along with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to "greet" their friends. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Blaster and the Sparkeaters threatened Rodimus and his growing collection of allies as they opposed the Grand Architect's forces. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Eventually, First Aid discovered a form of concussive medicine that would transmit a kinetic program code to eliminate the Sparkeater virus. Blaster and the others were incapacitated, but seemingly cured of their infection. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} After Rodimus reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', he had Blaster and his ailing crew brought aboard for Ratchet and First Aid to continue treating as they confronted the Grand Architect. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

After the crisis was over, Blaster joined the rest of the crew for one last "victory lap" aboard the ''Lost Light''. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the Lost Light's adventures would never truly end. Rodimus put the notion to a vote, and the crew agreed to attempt it.

After returning to Cybertron and years in the future, Blaster was one of the attendees at Ratchet's funeral. He led the grieving Hound away after the service had concluded.

Unaware to everyone, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' with its version of Blaster had successfully materialized. Blaster excitedly reported that the navigation computers had no idea where they were, and everyone got ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
{{--}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Bugaloo}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:Blaster Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Blaster was seemingly escorting [[Lumina Hoshi|Lumina]] at the inauguration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Autobot City]], as he was holding her hand. {{Storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

Some time later, when [[Soundwave (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Soundwave]] tried to use his clones to brainwash humans, Blaster arrived alongside [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus]] and [[Jazz (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Jazz]] to stop him. Blaster turned to tape deck mode to help the Autobots in the battle of opposing sounds, and later (in a different blue coloration) played music at the ensuing hanami. {{Storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Blaster was a freedom fighter on a Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. He was one of the many thorns in Megatron's side that continuously evaded capture.

Enraged that the once great [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] was one of the many Autobots that had succumbed to Megatron's will, Blaster set out to confront his fellow Autobot at the planet's north pole. There, he berated and blasted Rodimus for his fall from grace. Rodimus retaliated and during the firefight, [[G.I.Rocket]]s began to rain down around them. One of the rockets' blasts caused debris to fall atop of Blaster, knocking him out. Rather than allow his friend to be captured by the Decepticons, Rodimus abandoned his post and hauled Blaster away. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Rodimus brought Blaster to Ratchet for repairs before seizing leadership of the Autobots from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

During the combined Autobot-Joe attack on the Decepticon army, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had Blaster deactivate [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s force shield by using his altmode to emit a sonic signal imbued with the shield's codes. Blaster then joined the battle by releasing his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|Recordobots]] against [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including his mentor Blaster, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
[[File:TPotTM BlasterStripesRewind.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
When the [[Titan Master]]s joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Blaster was partnered with the Titan Master [[Twin Cast]], the bot with the universe's most advanced cryptographic abilities. {{storylink|Blaster (G1)/toys#TitansReturn|''Titans Return'' Twin Cast/Blaster toy bio}} On the planet [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], Blaster, Stripes, and Rewind pursued [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]], [[Grax]], and [[Horri-Bull|Rot-Gut]] through the streets. They were ultimately forced to break off when Rot-Gut and Skullsmasher combined, allowing Skullsmasher to deploy a cloud of armor-eating rust and make good their escape. Blaster was later seen fighting off Soundwave's all-out attack on Cybertron. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

{{--}}

===''Win If You Dare''===
[[File:WinIfYouDare-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Blaster was playing music outside the crashed ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] returned from a test drive, part of Ratchet's experimental "music therapy" program. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|''Transformers'' #17]]}}

[[File:WarWorldHunt-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Blaster worked with [[Playback (G1)|Playback]] and [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] at the [[Titan Net]] primary hub in Iacon. When members of [[The Rise]] hacked their network to upload a powerful [[data-bomb]], Blaster and his crew found that the virus left them unable to awaken any of the dormant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s in Cybertron's orbit, and powerless to prevent the rogue Titan [[Vigilem]] from approaching the [[Winged Moon]]. With no other options, Blaster contacted [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] and her Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], who had only recently returned from beyond Cybertronian space and hadn't yet linked with the Titan Net, and ordered her to stop Vigilem by any means necessary.{{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Five}}

Despite their best efforts, the pair weren't able to stop Vigilem from severing the great [[Tether]] that connected the Winged Moon to Cybertron. Blaster and his crew did their best to re-establish a link with the Titans; despite receiving assistance from [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]], [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} they weren't able to repair the Titan Net before Megatron staged a coup, overthrew the [[Senate]], and killed [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] inherited the Matrix to become Optimus Prime, Blaster attended his first speech. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings}} Not long afterwards, the triumphant Decepticons moved to seize control of Iacon's infrastructure by planting loyalists in positions of power, and as a result [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]], and [[Sparkstalker]] took control of the Titan Net building and ousted Blaster and his crew. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

Blaster followed Optimus Prime and his followers when they abandoned Iacon entirely and decamped to [[Crystal City]]. There, Blaster received a proper [[Autobot]] insignia as part of a ceremony commemorating the rebirth of the Autobot faction. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} However, when the Decepticons turned their sights on Crystal City, Blaster and a number of other scientists and engineers retreated to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Radical Time}} There, Blaster helped [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] engineer a data-bomb that would disrupt the Insecticon neural network long enough for [[Termagax]] to transmit new instructions to the swarming [[Insecticon clone]]s and call off their rampage. {{storylink|End of Time}}

{{--}}

===Precursor World===
[[File:GodNeptuneComic1-Twincast.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Video killed the radio star.]]

A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling Twincast was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. When the traitorous [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus twins]] unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, he was slain in the ensuing brawl. Vanguard leader [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] later loaded the Warrior's lingering [[spark]]s into his [[Golden Noah]] in an attempt to ferry their souls to the [[G1 World|next world]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}} Unfortunately, this did not work. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
[[File:GoGo13-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Blaster was freestyling with the other Autobots when he encountered his old foe [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] came up with the idea of having the equally matched rivals settle their differences through a rap battle, where they eventually admitted their grudging respect for one another. However, the two soon went back to brawling when each accused the other of screwing up their conciliatory high five. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 13}}

One evening, Blaster invited Bumblebee to come outside and play, but Bumblebee had too much homework to do. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} Blaster and Eject took part in a snowball fight until Wheeljack's snowball-throwing robot went haywire. Jazz and Blaster provided covering fire so that Bumblebee could close the distance and switch off the machine, and that night the Autobots used the excess snow to construct an igloo where they could relax. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}}}}

{{ongoing}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Blaster wielding gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Tell my electro-scrambler I love her!"]]
During a battle on Cybertron, Blaster was shot in the chest. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}}

{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Blaster allowed himself to be found by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in his radio mode. The device caught Rumble's eye, and he decided to bring Blaster back to the Decepticons' headquarters. Soundwave wasn't as easily duped, and recognized Blaster as an Autobot intruder immediately upon seeing him. Blaster then had to contend with fending off [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Blaster|Blaster commercial}}
*When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led a squad of Decepticons on an attack on the Autobots' launch site, Blaster informed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] was off-planet, and so couldn't come to their aid. He stayed behind as Ultra Magnus carried several Autobots into battle to counter-attack. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*Blaster, Cosmos, and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations (Legends)|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Returning from a charity event, Blaster, Windcharger and Cliffjumper received a distress signal from a nearby human military base. Leading the charge, Blaster found a Decepticon raiding party scouring the base for the [[MacGuffin Generator]]. The Autobots fought the Decepticons to a stalemate until the evil robots managed to acquire the device. It proved more volatile than they expected however, and Blaster and his team helped rebuild the base after the Decepticons were blown away by the generator. {{storylink|Raiding Party}}

Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
[[File:Blaster-Bird.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{main|Bubbles#As Blaster}}

On an [[AllSpark|Eggspark]]-altered [[Piggy Island]], Blaster found himself fused with [[Bubbles]] of the [[Flock]], turning them into an [[Autobird]] that transforms into a van-like thing. Bubbles-Blaster launches a rapid-fire stream of sonic blasts that pack incredible punch and have a wide "splash damage" range, especially when paired up with his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|cassette]] partners.

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Accessory'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Rarity'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Rosanna (AB)|Rosanna]]
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +20% Explosive Force
|
|-
|Headphones
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Damage
|
|-
|Baseball Cap
|Head
|Common
|5 Common Crystals + 2,500 Coins
| +10% Vehicle Time
|
|-
|Santa Hat
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Defense
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Festive Deely Bopper
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Snowman
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Lion Hat
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +16% Defense
|Chinese New Year exclusive
|-
|[[Stripes]]
|Chest
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +40% Faster Reload
|
|-
|[[Sundor]]
|Arms
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
|
|}
</center>

[[File:Blaster accessory.jpeg|thumb|200px|But I'm already a [[Bubbles#As Blaster|character]] in the game!]]

Blaster is also an "Accessory" character, giving Autobirds he's attached to an increase to their EMP Rounds (probably due to his groovy, well-tuned personality). This bonus can be increased with level upgrades, won from random-prize Crates or in the "[[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower" mini-game.

He can be unlocked by purchasing him with Gems in the Barracks, with Tokens during specific [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)/Challenge Events|Challenge Events]], or won from Crates and [[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="15%" | '''Autobird'''
! scope="col" width="8%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Gem Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Red (AB)#As Blurr|Blurr]]
|Arms
|650
| EMP Rounds
|
|-
|}
</center>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Among the random Movie quotes a random bot says are: Two can Play! Sic' em! Don't know how much longer we can hold out. We're all going to look like burnt-out toaster ovens.]]
Blaster participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who first appeared in the "Sonic Clash" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal,100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Blaster-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Yo dawg! Let's build this base before the Cons show up!]]

Loud, proud and in-your-face, Blaster has a zest for life and an unquenchable appetite for action.
The louder and more intense it gets, the more it sparks his circuits.
The opposite of sneaky, he prefers to make his presence known, literally assaulting his enemies with sound and fury.
But his special passion is good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, and his ability to monitor multiple frequencies and channels has exposed him to a wide variety of music. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Blaster Bio}}

Blaster was in contact with Ironhide and Jetfire after the latter two and an ally raided a Decepticon outpost. Blaster suggested it would be great if they upgraded the HQ.
{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

Blaster then helped out in the many other battles that the Autobots participated in.

*'''Class:''': Special (Deployer)
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Weapons:''' Blaster uses a standard issue Photon blaster used by Jetfire and the Aerobots.
*'''Ability: Deploy Minions:''' Deploy Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn to attack targets! All have unique attacks.
**'''Cost''': 3 ability points +3 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:blaster Blaster at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

Blaster is one of two characters that has a unique ending victory pose, in which Blaster has a chance to perform a handstand, and then start break dancing.

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Impossible! Our laserfire is only making him '''stronger!'''"]]
In a surprising twist, Blaster isn't a clone of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], instead having his own unique animations and abilities. He fights using buffed-up energy attacks and his cassette allies, and, when awakened, can heal himself when struck with the enemy's ranged laser attacks.
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Blaster was head of Autobot communications and a master of sonic warfare. In his off-time, he was something of a party animal, and this laid-back approach to life has bled back into his career as a soldier. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers Roleplaying Game bonus material}}

Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were deployed to an abandoned railyard in [[Colorado]] to guard a shipment of [[energon cube]]s while [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] drew the attention of the Decepticons. However, their ruse failed; the Decepticons tracked the [[Union Pacific]] train back to its point of origin, and in the ensuing battle [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and his comrades defeated Blaster and stole the energon. {{storylink|The Great Energon Robbery}}

==Toys==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Blaster's finalized [[character model]] was apparently not available to artist [[Don Perlin]] when he first drew Blaster in the Marvel Comic. While the final model—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives Blaster a set of individual eyes, Perlin's interpretation of the toy reference material he had to work with saw him draw Blaster with a goggled visor. Perlin's visored head design would be used throughout the Marvel run, until the last few issues, when UK artists who had taken over drawing the book rendered Blaster with his finalized model's head. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in [[robot mode]], but four in [[alternate mode]]. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster. {{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious badass seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner [[Flight Pack]] did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
====Blaster====
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto''), '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), '''Blaster''' (ブラスター ''Burasutā'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub),
*''Czech:'' '''Reprák''' (Supermax dub, "Speaker")
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("Bombardment"), '''Lőmester''' ("Demolitions-Expert", alternate name used occasionally in the Marvel comics)
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters'')
*''Chinese:'' '''Lùyīnjī''' (China, 录音机, "Recorder"), '''Shuāng Lǚdài''' (''The Headmasters'', 双履带, "Double Pedrail")
*''Polish:'' '''Łoskot''' ("Rumble", sic!; in some episodes of cartoon)
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' ("Бластер", "Blaster", ''Transformers''), '''Billy''' ("Билли", ''The Headmasters'')

====Twincast====
*''Japanese:'' '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasto'')
*''English:'' '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Digital'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Platon'''
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' (Бластер, ''"Blaster"'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Autobirds]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Blue Order]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combat Colin characters]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Earthforce]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

Blaster (G1)

2025-08-06T14:07:30Z

Diodicon: /* Twincast */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|autobird|primusvanguard}}
{{disambigm|Blaster (disambiguation)|Twincast (disambiguation)}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]

'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in [[2005]]. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, [[you]]. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious, badass who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his [[alternate mode]], gathering the information they needed to launch an attack. After planting [[fission bomb]]s on the bridge, Blaster personally battled Straxus, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} Though [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and his troops spotted the Autobots upon their materialization on Earth, the Decepticons were distracted by a more pressing mission at the time, and left without attacking the new arrivals. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival; unfamiliar with Earth customs, Blaster's group first tried to communicate with RAAT's vehicles, leaving the humans an opening to blindside the Autobots with "electric snow" missiles. Circuit Breaker then delivered a powerful electric blast, short-circuiting the group. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Blaster and the others were disassembled, with their heads getting mounted on the wall of RAAT's headquarters. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Blaster's about to lay down some sick beats!]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his [[Batman]], Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found a crashed Decepticon ship, and befriended the scientist [[Charlie Fong]] in order to bypass the military blocked surrounding it. Upon approaching the crash-site, they ran afoul of the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s. As Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got [[Nerf]] guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned. Groove sped off and stashed Blaster away in a drainage pipe for retrieval after the battle's end, where he latter was found by four [[Spacehikers|human children]]. It took some convincing, but Blaster eventually talked the younglings to remove his mode lock. Despite once more being able to transform, Blaster was still no match for [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who had managed to fell Defensor in the meantime. Blaster was forced to rely on the children to put on a good show, and "proved" he was no longer loyal to the Autobots by making the Decepticon believe he shot one of them dead. The dimwitted colossus fooled, Blaster circled around him and collapsed an electrical tower onto Bruticus, knocking him offline. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free upon his recovery. In turn, Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} The humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[File:ClubCon-ptoo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a [[Egg transport|capsule]] in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb]]
A search of the waters where "Club Con" used to be proved fruitless, as the Decepticons quickly moved on after Blaster's incursion. Blaster berated himself for his "incompetence," which allowed the Decepticons to slip beyond their reach once more, though Optimus assured him they would track down their enemies in due course. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Soon after, the Autobots were drawn to the Arctic, where a Decepticon ambush awaited them. The warring factions struck a temporary truce when they learned that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had orchestrated the confrontation in order to distract everyone else from his own goals. The approaching object Blaster had learned about earlier, revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], would endow Starscream with godlike powers were he to absorb all of its cosmic energies. Though the Autobot/Decepticon alliance interrupted Starscream's absorption of the Underbase's power, the portion he did manage to take into himself was enough to grant him near-invincibility. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. Ratchet's nightmares came true for a short while, when the Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] managed to infiltrate the Ark and took control of the damaged Autobots' bodies to torment him. When this failed to make Ratchet snap completely, the Decepticons' plan was abandoned and Blaster was shut down once more. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, {{storylink|Still Life!}} with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. A meeting was called, with Blaster sharing the news to all present. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld. Blaster found Prowl wandering about outside, and cautioned his fellow Autobot to take shelter, as Cybertron's gradual self-destruction made the outdoors dangerous. His warning was met with laughter; Prowl had given up on living altogether, seeing no escape from the planet's death-throes. The pair were then surprised by Grimlock, who had foreseen the Decepticons' treachery and secured alternate transportation! {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} The Autobots followed the Decepticons to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Only five stragglers managed to escape this surprise attack: Blaster, Grimlock, Kup, Slag, and Prowl. Despite their best attempts to lose their pursuers, the Autobots found themselves hounded by a hunting party. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but persevered nonetheless. His group miraculously defeated the hunting party, and doubled back for a final stand against Bludgeon's forces. Upon arrival, they found a resurrected Optimus Prime already turning the tide of battle thanks to a new ally, the [[Last Autobot]]. Blaster was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] as the Decepticons were driven off into exile. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
[[File:Ultra magnus blaster big broadcast of 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived, they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was hypnotizing all the combatants into this aggressive behavior. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air, while Blaster would broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming all those affected by the signal. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|left|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} Upon his arrival however, Kup urged the other Autobots to hold their fire; he had deduced that it was Unicron acting through Rodimus, as the dark god had been imprisoned within the Matrix at a pervious date. Blaster and the other reinforcements stood back as Kup managed to rip the sacred talisman out of Rodimus's chest, severing Unicron's connection to him. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

=====Letters page=====
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|left|upright=0.8|thumb|FAKE NU(cleon)S]]
The relaxed and jovial Blaster of "yet another alternate future" was turned into an [[Action Master]] and somehow arrived on 1990s Earth, where he took a job answering letters for Marvel UK. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}} He had to recuperate in an acclimatisation unit as a result and a nameless human at the Marvel offices took it upon themselves to answer a letter about being an Action Master, copying [[Nucleon (substance)#Toy packaging blurb|the back of a toy box]] and claiming that was the origin of [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]. Don't trust it, kids! The ''real'' answer comes from an upcoming story, kids! {{storylink|The Human Factor!|#303's Darn 'n' Blast}}{{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

When Dreadwind refused to accept he'd been replaced as letters host and barricaded his office, Blaster, new host of ''Darn 'n' Blast'', took up a temporary office next door. Dreadwind kept banging on the wall to distract him. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Transformation}} The kids of 1990 Britain duly wrote to Blaster with rap and cool lingo, dude. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

Unlike Grimlock, he felt guilty about using the [[variable voltage harness]] to punish Marvel UK staff for bad work. Following a suggestion by a sadistic fan, he instead began tormenting people with hours of {{w|The Church (band)|''The Church}} and {{w|Cliff Richard}}. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm|#308 Darn 'n' Blast It}}

During Blaster's run we learned he had a brother named [[Toaster]]{{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!|#310's letters page}} and a sister called [[Karmen]] {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}}, and about sports like the [[Iacon 5000]] and [[Mecha-soccer|Cybertron's football divisions]] (Primus League and Premier League). His team are the non-league no-hopers [[Throttlebot]] Wanderers {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}} and he lamented how badly they'd been fouled by Combaticon Hove Albion, ruining their chances of a cup win. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!|#320's letters page}}

He was unable to make a reader's birthday party due to the battle against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Exodus!|#326's letters page}}

{{-}}

=====''Combat Colin''=====
[[File:Combat colin 300.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
After [[Colin Doobrey-Smiff|Colin]] managed to defeat all of his recurring villains at once, he grew a bit too big for his boots and announced that he was going to boot out the [[Transformer]]s and take over the rest of the comic. Overhearing this, Blaster was forced to remind him of his place as a back-up strip character. {{storylink|Combat Colin issue 300}}
{{-}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Blaster and the Autobots defended the launch of a new space flight by human scientists. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

[[File:Recordicons12-everyone.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Blaster and his partners [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]], and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 12|Recordicons #12}}

Some time later on negative Cybertron, Blaster and [[Straxus (SG)|Straxus]] compared notes on their mirror universes, such as [[Straxus (G1)|the evil Straxus]]. {{storylink|Falling into Place}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery (Cybertron)|Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]], and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

[[File:Blaster soundwave destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|''Only one will survive. Beatle-based pop vs. New Romantic, History will decide.'']]
As the Decepticon invasion/uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s command vessel ''[[Priam]]'' during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinate [[Wreckers]] staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron to face an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The [[Dark Matrix|Anti-Matrix]] had consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into [[shadow-leech]]es. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the [[space bridge]] network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in [[Zero Space]], bringing an end to its machinations. On Nebulos, Blaster joined [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s troops in finishing off [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] once and for all. With their link to the [[multiverse]] and [[Primus]] himself permanently cut off, Blaster and the other remaining Transformers abandoned Cybertron, eventually growing old and dying. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Blaster and the Autobots protected the humans from a revenge attack by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticons.{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:ListeningtoBlaster-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left]]
Blaster received a message from Decepticon headquarters and conveyed it to Optimus Prime; the Decepticons had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] hostage, and were demanding the Autobots' surrender. The Autobots sent out a party to rescue their captured comrade, but the attempt failed. Afterwards, Blaster once more relayed a message from Megatron to Optimus; the Decepticon leader threatened to destroy all four captured Autobots and rebuild them into Decepticons if Optimus did not surrender before morning. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Attack of the Insecticons===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autobot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|left|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Blaster took orders from Optimus Prime as the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' launched. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}

Blaster and his team used an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Blaster was badly damaged, losing a leg in his fight against Megatron. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with his flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Blaster participated in a savage battle against the Decepticons, though he did not fare too well, already laying defeated on the battleground during the conflict's early stages.{{storylink|The Beast Within}}
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===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

Blaster was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}} He took a brief respite from reporting to work for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

[[File:Broadcast BlastersMoment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left]]
When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (event)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.9|thumb|right|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' ''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the war going into full swing, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, this time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|I dunno... sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wreckers]], suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]]
With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

[[File:IntimateBeheading BRILLIANT.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]] {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} and was one of the first people to use [[Swerve's]], being part of the grand secret opening. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[unspace|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Not that it would have mattered much, as Blaster went on to say that any attempt made with the subspace communicator to reach Cybertron met with failure. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus, {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} and the crew was ultimately overwhelmed by the Legislators. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Following the Tyrest crisis, Blaster was one of the dozens of Autobots who helped clean and fix up the [[Swerve's|devastated bar]] so that Swerve could reopen it. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:TwentyPlusOne BlasterLostRodimus.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|right]]
Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Fortunately, the new crew managed to reverse the quantum irregularity, and Blaster and the others quickly returned. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

On a quantum-duplicated ''Lost Light'', its version of Blaster was executed along with the rest of the crew, save their Rewind. He was forced to transform into vehicle mode to keep his transformation cog fresh, which was harvested from his body by the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]. His corpse was found among a large collection of bodies in a room by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds-LostLightmutiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Always [[Totaled!|first in line for mutiny.]]]]
Blaster gathered with most of the crew to hear Rodimus announce their rendezvous with the ''Vis Vitalis'' for the dying Thunderclash's "pre-wake". {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He later served as DJ for a dance party in Swerve's and accepted a song request from [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} After a life-size [[holomatter]] projection of Earth appeared to be tailing the ''Lost Light'', Blaster attempted to make radio contact with it, only to hear a "catchy" song being played back to them. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} When [[Getaway]] set up his mutiny, Blaster agreed to be part of it. He 'discovered' the source of a signal that would lure Megatron, Rodimus, and their 'loyalists' off the ''Light'', and later stood with Getaway in a broadcast to emphasize how the crew had turned on their captains. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Do one mutiny, get a second free.]]
During a team meeting regarding the [[Warren]], Blaster interrupted to report a distress signal came in from [[Frayus]], but was stunned when Getaway told him to respond that they couldn't assist. As Getaway and Thunderclash argued, Blaster and his teammates were horrified when a transmission from Rodimus revealed that Getaway had not only abandoned Rodimus's men to the mercies of the [[Galactic Council]], but to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With the command structure threatening to breakdown, Getaway had the mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] reprogram the memories of Blaster and the rest of the crew. They were coerced into believing that Rodimus and the others left of their own free will, abandoning the rest of the crew to find Cyberutopia faster on their own. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

As the use of the Warren drew the ''Lost Light'' closer to Cyberutopia, Blaster was instructed by Getaway to change their course so that they could make a rendezvous with their new Head of Security. Soon after, Blaster happily reported to Getaway that they had finally arrived at Cyberutopia. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:ADanceBeforeDying BlasterSparkeater.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"Hey folks, this is Blaster slaverin' at ya! ''Uhnnn, SPAAAAAAARKSSSSSSSS''..."]]
Everything collapsed, however, when they reached Cyberutopia. The promised land turned out to be a sham, and the ''Lost Light'' came under attack by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] and his [[Phantom Fleet]] of [[Worldsweeper]]s. Desperate to save his own skin, Getaway made a deal with the Architect to spare him in exchange for his help against Rodimus, who Getaway swore would try to stop the Grand Architect's plans. To that end, the Architect's ally [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was allowed to subject Blaster and the other Autobots to a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] virus, changing them into zombie-like minions with acid vomit, a thirst for sparks, and no will of their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

When Rodimus and the others ''did'' arrive on Cyberutopia, Blaster was dispatched with the first wave of Sparkeaters along with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to "greet" their friends. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Blaster and the Sparkeaters threatened Rodimus and his growing collection of allies as they opposed the Grand Architect's forces. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Eventually, First Aid discovered a form of concussive medicine that would transmit a kinetic program code to eliminate the Sparkeater virus. Blaster and the others were incapacitated, but seemingly cured of their infection. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} After Rodimus reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', he had Blaster and his ailing crew brought aboard for Ratchet and First Aid to continue treating as they confronted the Grand Architect. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

After the crisis was over, Blaster joined the rest of the crew for one last "victory lap" aboard the ''Lost Light''. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the Lost Light's adventures would never truly end. Rodimus put the notion to a vote, and the crew agreed to attempt it.

After returning to Cybertron and years in the future, Blaster was one of the attendees at Ratchet's funeral. He led the grieving Hound away after the service had concluded.

Unaware to everyone, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' with its version of Blaster had successfully materialized. Blaster excitedly reported that the navigation computers had no idea where they were, and everyone got ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
{{--}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Bugaloo}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:Blaster Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Blaster was seemingly escorting [[Lumina Hoshi|Lumina]] at the inauguration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Autobot City]], as he was holding her hand. {{Storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

Some time later, when [[Soundwave (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Soundwave]] tried to use his clones to brainwash humans, Blaster arrived alongside [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus]] and [[Jazz (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Jazz]] to stop him. Blaster turned to tape deck mode to help the Autobots in the battle of opposing sounds, and later (in a different blue coloration) played music at the ensuing hanami. {{Storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Blaster was a freedom fighter on a Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. He was one of the many thorns in Megatron's side that continuously evaded capture.

Enraged that the once great [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] was one of the many Autobots that had succumbed to Megatron's will, Blaster set out to confront his fellow Autobot at the planet's north pole. There, he berated and blasted Rodimus for his fall from grace. Rodimus retaliated and during the firefight, [[G.I.Rocket]]s began to rain down around them. One of the rockets' blasts caused debris to fall atop of Blaster, knocking him out. Rather than allow his friend to be captured by the Decepticons, Rodimus abandoned his post and hauled Blaster away. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Rodimus brought Blaster to Ratchet for repairs before seizing leadership of the Autobots from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

During the combined Autobot-Joe attack on the Decepticon army, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had Blaster deactivate [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s force shield by using his altmode to emit a sonic signal imbued with the shield's codes. Blaster then joined the battle by releasing his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|Recordobots]] against [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including his mentor Blaster, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
[[File:TPotTM BlasterStripesRewind.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
When the [[Titan Master]]s joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Blaster was partnered with the Titan Master [[Twin Cast]], the bot with the universe's most advanced cryptographic abilities. {{storylink|Blaster (G1)/toys#TitansReturn|''Titans Return'' Twin Cast/Blaster toy bio}} On the planet [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], Blaster, Stripes, and Rewind pursued [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]], [[Grax]], and [[Horri-Bull|Rot-Gut]] through the streets. They were ultimately forced to break off when Rot-Gut and Skullsmasher combined, allowing Skullsmasher to deploy a cloud of armor-eating rust and make good their escape. Blaster was later seen fighting off Soundwave's all-out attack on Cybertron. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

{{--}}

===''Win If You Dare''===
[[File:WinIfYouDare-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Blaster was playing music outside the crashed ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] returned from a test drive, part of Ratchet's experimental "music therapy" program. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|''Transformers'' #17]]}}

[[File:WarWorldHunt-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Blaster worked with [[Playback (G1)|Playback]] and [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] at the [[Titan Net]] primary hub in Iacon. When members of [[The Rise]] hacked their network to upload a powerful [[data-bomb]], Blaster and his crew found that the virus left them unable to awaken any of the dormant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s in Cybertron's orbit, and powerless to prevent the rogue Titan [[Vigilem]] from approaching the [[Winged Moon]]. With no other options, Blaster contacted [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] and her Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], who had only recently returned from beyond Cybertronian space and hadn't yet linked with the Titan Net, and ordered her to stop Vigilem by any means necessary.{{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Five}}

Despite their best efforts, the pair weren't able to stop Vigilem from severing the great [[Tether]] that connected the Winged Moon to Cybertron. Blaster and his crew did their best to re-establish a link with the Titans; despite receiving assistance from [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]], [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} they weren't able to repair the Titan Net before Megatron staged a coup, overthrew the [[Senate]], and killed [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] inherited the Matrix to become Optimus Prime, Blaster attended his first speech. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings}} Not long afterwards, the triumphant Decepticons moved to seize control of Iacon's infrastructure by planting loyalists in positions of power, and as a result [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]], and [[Sparkstalker]] took control of the Titan Net building and ousted Blaster and his crew. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

Blaster followed Optimus Prime and his followers when they abandoned Iacon entirely and decamped to [[Crystal City]]. There, Blaster received a proper [[Autobot]] insignia as part of a ceremony commemorating the rebirth of the Autobot faction. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} However, when the Decepticons turned their sights on Crystal City, Blaster and a number of other scientists and engineers retreated to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Radical Time}} There, Blaster helped [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] engineer a data-bomb that would disrupt the Insecticon neural network long enough for [[Termagax]] to transmit new instructions to the swarming [[Insecticon clone]]s and call off their rampage. {{storylink|End of Time}}

{{--}}

===Precursor World===
[[File:GodNeptuneComic1-Twincast.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Video killed the radio star.]]

A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling Twincast was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. When the traitorous [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus twins]] unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, he was slain in the ensuing brawl. Vanguard leader [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] later loaded the Warrior's lingering [[spark]]s into his [[Golden Noah]] in an attempt to ferry their souls to the [[G1 World|next world]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}} Unfortunately, this did not work. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
[[File:GoGo13-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Blaster was freestyling with the other Autobots when he encountered his old foe [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] came up with the idea of having the equally matched rivals settle their differences through a rap battle, where they eventually admitted their grudging respect for one another. However, the two soon went back to brawling when each accused the other of screwing up their conciliatory high five. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 13}}

One evening, Blaster invited Bumblebee to come outside and play, but Bumblebee had too much homework to do. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} Blaster and Eject took part in a snowball fight until Wheeljack's snowball-throwing robot went haywire. Jazz and Blaster provided covering fire so that Bumblebee could close the distance and switch off the machine, and that night the Autobots used the excess snow to construct an igloo where they could relax. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}}}}

{{ongoing}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Blaster wielding gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Tell my electro-scrambler I love her!"]]
During a battle on Cybertron, Blaster was shot in the chest. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}}

{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Blaster allowed himself to be found by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in his radio mode. The device caught Rumble's eye, and he decided to bring Blaster back to the Decepticons' headquarters. Soundwave wasn't as easily duped, and recognized Blaster as an Autobot intruder immediately upon seeing him. Blaster then had to contend with fending off [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Blaster|Blaster commercial}}
*When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led a squad of Decepticons on an attack on the Autobots' launch site, Blaster informed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] was off-planet, and so couldn't come to their aid. He stayed behind as Ultra Magnus carried several Autobots into battle to counter-attack. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*Blaster, Cosmos, and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations (Legends)|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Returning from a charity event, Blaster, Windcharger and Cliffjumper received a distress signal from a nearby human military base. Leading the charge, Blaster found a Decepticon raiding party scouring the base for the [[MacGuffin Generator]]. The Autobots fought the Decepticons to a stalemate until the evil robots managed to acquire the device. It proved more volatile than they expected however, and Blaster and his team helped rebuild the base after the Decepticons were blown away by the generator. {{storylink|Raiding Party}}

Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
[[File:Blaster-Bird.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{main|Bubbles#As Blaster}}

On an [[AllSpark|Eggspark]]-altered [[Piggy Island]], Blaster found himself fused with [[Bubbles]] of the [[Flock]], turning them into an [[Autobird]] that transforms into a van-like thing. Bubbles-Blaster launches a rapid-fire stream of sonic blasts that pack incredible punch and have a wide "splash damage" range, especially when paired up with his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|cassette]] partners.

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Accessory'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Rarity'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Rosanna (AB)|Rosanna]]
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +20% Explosive Force
|
|-
|Headphones
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Damage
|
|-
|Baseball Cap
|Head
|Common
|5 Common Crystals + 2,500 Coins
| +10% Vehicle Time
|
|-
|Santa Hat
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Defense
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Festive Deely Bopper
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Snowman
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Lion Hat
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +16% Defense
|Chinese New Year exclusive
|-
|[[Stripes]]
|Chest
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +40% Faster Reload
|
|-
|[[Sundor]]
|Arms
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
|
|}
</center>

[[File:Blaster accessory.jpeg|thumb|200px|But I'm already a [[Bubbles#As Blaster|character]] in the game!]]

Blaster is also an "Accessory" character, giving Autobirds he's attached to an increase to their EMP Rounds (probably due to his groovy, well-tuned personality). This bonus can be increased with level upgrades, won from random-prize Crates or in the "[[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower" mini-game.

He can be unlocked by purchasing him with Gems in the Barracks, with Tokens during specific [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)/Challenge Events|Challenge Events]], or won from Crates and [[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="15%" | '''Autobird'''
! scope="col" width="8%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Gem Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Red (AB)#As Blurr|Blurr]]
|Arms
|650
| EMP Rounds
|
|-
|}
</center>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Among the random Movie quotes a random bot says are: Two can Play! Sic' em! Don't know how much longer we can hold out. We're all going to look like burnt-out toaster ovens.]]
Blaster participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who first appeared in the "Sonic Clash" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal,100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Blaster-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Yo dawg! Let's build this base before the Cons show up!]]

Loud, proud and in-your-face, Blaster has a zest for life and an unquenchable appetite for action.
The louder and more intense it gets, the more it sparks his circuits.
The opposite of sneaky, he prefers to make his presence known, literally assaulting his enemies with sound and fury.
But his special passion is good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, and his ability to monitor multiple frequencies and channels has exposed him to a wide variety of music. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Blaster Bio}}

Blaster was in contact with Ironhide and Jetfire after the latter two and an ally raided a Decepticon outpost. Blaster suggested it would be great if they upgraded the HQ.
{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

Blaster then helped out in the many other battles that the Autobots participated in.

*'''Class:''': Special (Deployer)
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Weapons:''' Blaster uses a standard issue Photon blaster used by Jetfire and the Aerobots.
*'''Ability: Deploy Minions:''' Deploy Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn to attack targets! All have unique attacks.
**'''Cost''': 3 ability points +3 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:blaster Blaster at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

Blaster is one of two characters that has a unique ending victory pose, in which Blaster has a chance to perform a handstand, and then start break dancing.

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Impossible! Our laserfire is only making him '''stronger!'''"]]
In a surprising twist, Blaster isn't a clone of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], instead having his own unique animations and abilities. He fights using buffed-up energy attacks and his cassette allies, and, when awakened, can heal himself when struck with the enemy's ranged laser attacks.
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Blaster was head of Autobot communications and a master of sonic warfare. In his off-time, he was something of a party animal, and this laid-back approach to life has bled back into his career as a soldier. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers Roleplaying Game bonus material}}

Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were deployed to an abandoned railyard in [[Colorado]] to guard a shipment of [[energon cube]]s while [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] drew the attention of the Decepticons. However, their ruse failed; the Decepticons tracked the [[Union Pacific]] train back to its point of origin, and in the ensuing battle [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and his comrades defeated Blaster and stole the energon. {{storylink|The Great Energon Robbery}}

==Toys==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Blaster's finalized [[character model]] was apparently not available to artist [[Don Perlin]] when he first drew Blaster in the Marvel Comic. While the final model—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives Blaster a set of individual eyes, Perlin's interpretation of the toy reference material he had to work with saw him draw Blaster with a goggled visor. Perlin's visored head design would be used throughout the Marvel run, until the last few issues, when UK artists who had taken over drawing the book rendered Blaster with his finalized model's head. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in [[robot mode]], but four in [[alternate mode]]. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster. {{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious badass seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner [[Flight Pack]] did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
====Blaster====
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto''), '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), '''Blaster''' (ブラスター ''Burasutā'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub),
*''Czech:'' '''Reprák''' (Supermax dub, "Speaker")
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("Bombardment"), '''Lőmester''' ("Demolitions-Expert", alternate name used occasionally in the Marvel comics)
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters'')
*''Chinese:'' '''Lùyīnjī''' (China, 录音机, "Recorder"), '''Shuāng Lǚdài''' (''The Headmasters'', 双履带, "Double Pedrail")
*''Polish:'' '''Łoskot''' ("Rumble", sic!; in some episodes of cartoon)
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' ("Бластер", "Blaster", ''Transformers''), '''Billy''' ("Билли", ''The Headmasters'')

====Twincast====
*''Japanese:'' '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasto'')
*''English:'' '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Digital'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Platon'''
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' (Бластер, ''Blaster'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Autobirds]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Blue Order]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combat Colin characters]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Earthforce]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

Blaster (G1)

2025-08-06T14:04:59Z

Diodicon: /* Blaster */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|autobird|primusvanguard}}
{{disambigm|Blaster (disambiguation)|Twincast (disambiguation)}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]

'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in [[2005]]. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, [[you]]. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious, badass who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his [[alternate mode]], gathering the information they needed to launch an attack. After planting [[fission bomb]]s on the bridge, Blaster personally battled Straxus, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} Though [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and his troops spotted the Autobots upon their materialization on Earth, the Decepticons were distracted by a more pressing mission at the time, and left without attacking the new arrivals. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival; unfamiliar with Earth customs, Blaster's group first tried to communicate with RAAT's vehicles, leaving the humans an opening to blindside the Autobots with "electric snow" missiles. Circuit Breaker then delivered a powerful electric blast, short-circuiting the group. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Blaster and the others were disassembled, with their heads getting mounted on the wall of RAAT's headquarters. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Blaster's about to lay down some sick beats!]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his [[Batman]], Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found a crashed Decepticon ship, and befriended the scientist [[Charlie Fong]] in order to bypass the military blocked surrounding it. Upon approaching the crash-site, they ran afoul of the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s. As Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got [[Nerf]] guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned. Groove sped off and stashed Blaster away in a drainage pipe for retrieval after the battle's end, where he latter was found by four [[Spacehikers|human children]]. It took some convincing, but Blaster eventually talked the younglings to remove his mode lock. Despite once more being able to transform, Blaster was still no match for [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who had managed to fell Defensor in the meantime. Blaster was forced to rely on the children to put on a good show, and "proved" he was no longer loyal to the Autobots by making the Decepticon believe he shot one of them dead. The dimwitted colossus fooled, Blaster circled around him and collapsed an electrical tower onto Bruticus, knocking him offline. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free upon his recovery. In turn, Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} The humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[File:ClubCon-ptoo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a [[Egg transport|capsule]] in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb]]
A search of the waters where "Club Con" used to be proved fruitless, as the Decepticons quickly moved on after Blaster's incursion. Blaster berated himself for his "incompetence," which allowed the Decepticons to slip beyond their reach once more, though Optimus assured him they would track down their enemies in due course. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Soon after, the Autobots were drawn to the Arctic, where a Decepticon ambush awaited them. The warring factions struck a temporary truce when they learned that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had orchestrated the confrontation in order to distract everyone else from his own goals. The approaching object Blaster had learned about earlier, revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], would endow Starscream with godlike powers were he to absorb all of its cosmic energies. Though the Autobot/Decepticon alliance interrupted Starscream's absorption of the Underbase's power, the portion he did manage to take into himself was enough to grant him near-invincibility. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. Ratchet's nightmares came true for a short while, when the Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] managed to infiltrate the Ark and took control of the damaged Autobots' bodies to torment him. When this failed to make Ratchet snap completely, the Decepticons' plan was abandoned and Blaster was shut down once more. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, {{storylink|Still Life!}} with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. A meeting was called, with Blaster sharing the news to all present. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld. Blaster found Prowl wandering about outside, and cautioned his fellow Autobot to take shelter, as Cybertron's gradual self-destruction made the outdoors dangerous. His warning was met with laughter; Prowl had given up on living altogether, seeing no escape from the planet's death-throes. The pair were then surprised by Grimlock, who had foreseen the Decepticons' treachery and secured alternate transportation! {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} The Autobots followed the Decepticons to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Only five stragglers managed to escape this surprise attack: Blaster, Grimlock, Kup, Slag, and Prowl. Despite their best attempts to lose their pursuers, the Autobots found themselves hounded by a hunting party. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but persevered nonetheless. His group miraculously defeated the hunting party, and doubled back for a final stand against Bludgeon's forces. Upon arrival, they found a resurrected Optimus Prime already turning the tide of battle thanks to a new ally, the [[Last Autobot]]. Blaster was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] as the Decepticons were driven off into exile. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
[[File:Ultra magnus blaster big broadcast of 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived, they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was hypnotizing all the combatants into this aggressive behavior. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air, while Blaster would broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming all those affected by the signal. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|left|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} Upon his arrival however, Kup urged the other Autobots to hold their fire; he had deduced that it was Unicron acting through Rodimus, as the dark god had been imprisoned within the Matrix at a pervious date. Blaster and the other reinforcements stood back as Kup managed to rip the sacred talisman out of Rodimus's chest, severing Unicron's connection to him. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

=====Letters page=====
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|left|upright=0.8|thumb|FAKE NU(cleon)S]]
The relaxed and jovial Blaster of "yet another alternate future" was turned into an [[Action Master]] and somehow arrived on 1990s Earth, where he took a job answering letters for Marvel UK. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}} He had to recuperate in an acclimatisation unit as a result and a nameless human at the Marvel offices took it upon themselves to answer a letter about being an Action Master, copying [[Nucleon (substance)#Toy packaging blurb|the back of a toy box]] and claiming that was the origin of [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]. Don't trust it, kids! The ''real'' answer comes from an upcoming story, kids! {{storylink|The Human Factor!|#303's Darn 'n' Blast}}{{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

When Dreadwind refused to accept he'd been replaced as letters host and barricaded his office, Blaster, new host of ''Darn 'n' Blast'', took up a temporary office next door. Dreadwind kept banging on the wall to distract him. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Transformation}} The kids of 1990 Britain duly wrote to Blaster with rap and cool lingo, dude. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

Unlike Grimlock, he felt guilty about using the [[variable voltage harness]] to punish Marvel UK staff for bad work. Following a suggestion by a sadistic fan, he instead began tormenting people with hours of {{w|The Church (band)|''The Church}} and {{w|Cliff Richard}}. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm|#308 Darn 'n' Blast It}}

During Blaster's run we learned he had a brother named [[Toaster]]{{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!|#310's letters page}} and a sister called [[Karmen]] {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}}, and about sports like the [[Iacon 5000]] and [[Mecha-soccer|Cybertron's football divisions]] (Primus League and Premier League). His team are the non-league no-hopers [[Throttlebot]] Wanderers {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}} and he lamented how badly they'd been fouled by Combaticon Hove Albion, ruining their chances of a cup win. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!|#320's letters page}}

He was unable to make a reader's birthday party due to the battle against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Exodus!|#326's letters page}}

{{-}}

=====''Combat Colin''=====
[[File:Combat colin 300.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
After [[Colin Doobrey-Smiff|Colin]] managed to defeat all of his recurring villains at once, he grew a bit too big for his boots and announced that he was going to boot out the [[Transformer]]s and take over the rest of the comic. Overhearing this, Blaster was forced to remind him of his place as a back-up strip character. {{storylink|Combat Colin issue 300}}
{{-}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Blaster and the Autobots defended the launch of a new space flight by human scientists. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

[[File:Recordicons12-everyone.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Blaster and his partners [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]], and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 12|Recordicons #12}}

Some time later on negative Cybertron, Blaster and [[Straxus (SG)|Straxus]] compared notes on their mirror universes, such as [[Straxus (G1)|the evil Straxus]]. {{storylink|Falling into Place}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery (Cybertron)|Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]], and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

[[File:Blaster soundwave destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|''Only one will survive. Beatle-based pop vs. New Romantic, History will decide.'']]
As the Decepticon invasion/uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s command vessel ''[[Priam]]'' during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinate [[Wreckers]] staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron to face an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The [[Dark Matrix|Anti-Matrix]] had consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into [[shadow-leech]]es. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the [[space bridge]] network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in [[Zero Space]], bringing an end to its machinations. On Nebulos, Blaster joined [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s troops in finishing off [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] once and for all. With their link to the [[multiverse]] and [[Primus]] himself permanently cut off, Blaster and the other remaining Transformers abandoned Cybertron, eventually growing old and dying. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Blaster and the Autobots protected the humans from a revenge attack by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticons.{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:ListeningtoBlaster-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left]]
Blaster received a message from Decepticon headquarters and conveyed it to Optimus Prime; the Decepticons had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] hostage, and were demanding the Autobots' surrender. The Autobots sent out a party to rescue their captured comrade, but the attempt failed. Afterwards, Blaster once more relayed a message from Megatron to Optimus; the Decepticon leader threatened to destroy all four captured Autobots and rebuild them into Decepticons if Optimus did not surrender before morning. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Attack of the Insecticons===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autobot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|left|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Blaster took orders from Optimus Prime as the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' launched. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}

Blaster and his team used an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Blaster was badly damaged, losing a leg in his fight against Megatron. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with his flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Blaster participated in a savage battle against the Decepticons, though he did not fare too well, already laying defeated on the battleground during the conflict's early stages.{{storylink|The Beast Within}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

Blaster was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}} He took a brief respite from reporting to work for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

[[File:Broadcast BlastersMoment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left]]
When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (event)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.9|thumb|right|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' ''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the war going into full swing, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, this time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|I dunno... sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wreckers]], suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]]
With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

[[File:IntimateBeheading BRILLIANT.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]] {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} and was one of the first people to use [[Swerve's]], being part of the grand secret opening. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[unspace|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Not that it would have mattered much, as Blaster went on to say that any attempt made with the subspace communicator to reach Cybertron met with failure. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus, {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} and the crew was ultimately overwhelmed by the Legislators. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Following the Tyrest crisis, Blaster was one of the dozens of Autobots who helped clean and fix up the [[Swerve's|devastated bar]] so that Swerve could reopen it. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:TwentyPlusOne BlasterLostRodimus.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|right]]
Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Fortunately, the new crew managed to reverse the quantum irregularity, and Blaster and the others quickly returned. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

On a quantum-duplicated ''Lost Light'', its version of Blaster was executed along with the rest of the crew, save their Rewind. He was forced to transform into vehicle mode to keep his transformation cog fresh, which was harvested from his body by the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]. His corpse was found among a large collection of bodies in a room by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds-LostLightmutiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Always [[Totaled!|first in line for mutiny.]]]]
Blaster gathered with most of the crew to hear Rodimus announce their rendezvous with the ''Vis Vitalis'' for the dying Thunderclash's "pre-wake". {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He later served as DJ for a dance party in Swerve's and accepted a song request from [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} After a life-size [[holomatter]] projection of Earth appeared to be tailing the ''Lost Light'', Blaster attempted to make radio contact with it, only to hear a "catchy" song being played back to them. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} When [[Getaway]] set up his mutiny, Blaster agreed to be part of it. He 'discovered' the source of a signal that would lure Megatron, Rodimus, and their 'loyalists' off the ''Light'', and later stood with Getaway in a broadcast to emphasize how the crew had turned on their captains. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Do one mutiny, get a second free.]]
During a team meeting regarding the [[Warren]], Blaster interrupted to report a distress signal came in from [[Frayus]], but was stunned when Getaway told him to respond that they couldn't assist. As Getaway and Thunderclash argued, Blaster and his teammates were horrified when a transmission from Rodimus revealed that Getaway had not only abandoned Rodimus's men to the mercies of the [[Galactic Council]], but to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With the command structure threatening to breakdown, Getaway had the mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] reprogram the memories of Blaster and the rest of the crew. They were coerced into believing that Rodimus and the others left of their own free will, abandoning the rest of the crew to find Cyberutopia faster on their own. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

As the use of the Warren drew the ''Lost Light'' closer to Cyberutopia, Blaster was instructed by Getaway to change their course so that they could make a rendezvous with their new Head of Security. Soon after, Blaster happily reported to Getaway that they had finally arrived at Cyberutopia. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:ADanceBeforeDying BlasterSparkeater.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"Hey folks, this is Blaster slaverin' at ya! ''Uhnnn, SPAAAAAAARKSSSSSSSS''..."]]
Everything collapsed, however, when they reached Cyberutopia. The promised land turned out to be a sham, and the ''Lost Light'' came under attack by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] and his [[Phantom Fleet]] of [[Worldsweeper]]s. Desperate to save his own skin, Getaway made a deal with the Architect to spare him in exchange for his help against Rodimus, who Getaway swore would try to stop the Grand Architect's plans. To that end, the Architect's ally [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was allowed to subject Blaster and the other Autobots to a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] virus, changing them into zombie-like minions with acid vomit, a thirst for sparks, and no will of their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

When Rodimus and the others ''did'' arrive on Cyberutopia, Blaster was dispatched with the first wave of Sparkeaters along with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to "greet" their friends. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Blaster and the Sparkeaters threatened Rodimus and his growing collection of allies as they opposed the Grand Architect's forces. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Eventually, First Aid discovered a form of concussive medicine that would transmit a kinetic program code to eliminate the Sparkeater virus. Blaster and the others were incapacitated, but seemingly cured of their infection. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} After Rodimus reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', he had Blaster and his ailing crew brought aboard for Ratchet and First Aid to continue treating as they confronted the Grand Architect. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

After the crisis was over, Blaster joined the rest of the crew for one last "victory lap" aboard the ''Lost Light''. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the Lost Light's adventures would never truly end. Rodimus put the notion to a vote, and the crew agreed to attempt it.

After returning to Cybertron and years in the future, Blaster was one of the attendees at Ratchet's funeral. He led the grieving Hound away after the service had concluded.

Unaware to everyone, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' with its version of Blaster had successfully materialized. Blaster excitedly reported that the navigation computers had no idea where they were, and everyone got ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
{{--}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Bugaloo}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:Blaster Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Blaster was seemingly escorting [[Lumina Hoshi|Lumina]] at the inauguration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Autobot City]], as he was holding her hand. {{Storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

Some time later, when [[Soundwave (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Soundwave]] tried to use his clones to brainwash humans, Blaster arrived alongside [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus]] and [[Jazz (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Jazz]] to stop him. Blaster turned to tape deck mode to help the Autobots in the battle of opposing sounds, and later (in a different blue coloration) played music at the ensuing hanami. {{Storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Blaster was a freedom fighter on a Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. He was one of the many thorns in Megatron's side that continuously evaded capture.

Enraged that the once great [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] was one of the many Autobots that had succumbed to Megatron's will, Blaster set out to confront his fellow Autobot at the planet's north pole. There, he berated and blasted Rodimus for his fall from grace. Rodimus retaliated and during the firefight, [[G.I.Rocket]]s began to rain down around them. One of the rockets' blasts caused debris to fall atop of Blaster, knocking him out. Rather than allow his friend to be captured by the Decepticons, Rodimus abandoned his post and hauled Blaster away. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Rodimus brought Blaster to Ratchet for repairs before seizing leadership of the Autobots from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

During the combined Autobot-Joe attack on the Decepticon army, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had Blaster deactivate [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s force shield by using his altmode to emit a sonic signal imbued with the shield's codes. Blaster then joined the battle by releasing his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|Recordobots]] against [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including his mentor Blaster, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
[[File:TPotTM BlasterStripesRewind.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
When the [[Titan Master]]s joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Blaster was partnered with the Titan Master [[Twin Cast]], the bot with the universe's most advanced cryptographic abilities. {{storylink|Blaster (G1)/toys#TitansReturn|''Titans Return'' Twin Cast/Blaster toy bio}} On the planet [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], Blaster, Stripes, and Rewind pursued [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]], [[Grax]], and [[Horri-Bull|Rot-Gut]] through the streets. They were ultimately forced to break off when Rot-Gut and Skullsmasher combined, allowing Skullsmasher to deploy a cloud of armor-eating rust and make good their escape. Blaster was later seen fighting off Soundwave's all-out attack on Cybertron. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

{{--}}

===''Win If You Dare''===
[[File:WinIfYouDare-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Blaster was playing music outside the crashed ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] returned from a test drive, part of Ratchet's experimental "music therapy" program. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|''Transformers'' #17]]}}

[[File:WarWorldHunt-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Blaster worked with [[Playback (G1)|Playback]] and [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] at the [[Titan Net]] primary hub in Iacon. When members of [[The Rise]] hacked their network to upload a powerful [[data-bomb]], Blaster and his crew found that the virus left them unable to awaken any of the dormant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s in Cybertron's orbit, and powerless to prevent the rogue Titan [[Vigilem]] from approaching the [[Winged Moon]]. With no other options, Blaster contacted [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] and her Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], who had only recently returned from beyond Cybertronian space and hadn't yet linked with the Titan Net, and ordered her to stop Vigilem by any means necessary.{{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Five}}

Despite their best efforts, the pair weren't able to stop Vigilem from severing the great [[Tether]] that connected the Winged Moon to Cybertron. Blaster and his crew did their best to re-establish a link with the Titans; despite receiving assistance from [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]], [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} they weren't able to repair the Titan Net before Megatron staged a coup, overthrew the [[Senate]], and killed [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] inherited the Matrix to become Optimus Prime, Blaster attended his first speech. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings}} Not long afterwards, the triumphant Decepticons moved to seize control of Iacon's infrastructure by planting loyalists in positions of power, and as a result [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]], and [[Sparkstalker]] took control of the Titan Net building and ousted Blaster and his crew. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

Blaster followed Optimus Prime and his followers when they abandoned Iacon entirely and decamped to [[Crystal City]]. There, Blaster received a proper [[Autobot]] insignia as part of a ceremony commemorating the rebirth of the Autobot faction. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} However, when the Decepticons turned their sights on Crystal City, Blaster and a number of other scientists and engineers retreated to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Radical Time}} There, Blaster helped [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] engineer a data-bomb that would disrupt the Insecticon neural network long enough for [[Termagax]] to transmit new instructions to the swarming [[Insecticon clone]]s and call off their rampage. {{storylink|End of Time}}

{{--}}

===Precursor World===
[[File:GodNeptuneComic1-Twincast.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Video killed the radio star.]]

A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling Twincast was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. When the traitorous [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus twins]] unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, he was slain in the ensuing brawl. Vanguard leader [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] later loaded the Warrior's lingering [[spark]]s into his [[Golden Noah]] in an attempt to ferry their souls to the [[G1 World|next world]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}} Unfortunately, this did not work. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
[[File:GoGo13-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Blaster was freestyling with the other Autobots when he encountered his old foe [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] came up with the idea of having the equally matched rivals settle their differences through a rap battle, where they eventually admitted their grudging respect for one another. However, the two soon went back to brawling when each accused the other of screwing up their conciliatory high five. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 13}}

One evening, Blaster invited Bumblebee to come outside and play, but Bumblebee had too much homework to do. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} Blaster and Eject took part in a snowball fight until Wheeljack's snowball-throwing robot went haywire. Jazz and Blaster provided covering fire so that Bumblebee could close the distance and switch off the machine, and that night the Autobots used the excess snow to construct an igloo where they could relax. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}}}}

{{ongoing}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Blaster wielding gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Tell my electro-scrambler I love her!"]]
During a battle on Cybertron, Blaster was shot in the chest. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}}

{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Blaster allowed himself to be found by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in his radio mode. The device caught Rumble's eye, and he decided to bring Blaster back to the Decepticons' headquarters. Soundwave wasn't as easily duped, and recognized Blaster as an Autobot intruder immediately upon seeing him. Blaster then had to contend with fending off [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Blaster|Blaster commercial}}
*When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led a squad of Decepticons on an attack on the Autobots' launch site, Blaster informed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] was off-planet, and so couldn't come to their aid. He stayed behind as Ultra Magnus carried several Autobots into battle to counter-attack. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*Blaster, Cosmos, and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations (Legends)|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Returning from a charity event, Blaster, Windcharger and Cliffjumper received a distress signal from a nearby human military base. Leading the charge, Blaster found a Decepticon raiding party scouring the base for the [[MacGuffin Generator]]. The Autobots fought the Decepticons to a stalemate until the evil robots managed to acquire the device. It proved more volatile than they expected however, and Blaster and his team helped rebuild the base after the Decepticons were blown away by the generator. {{storylink|Raiding Party}}

Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
[[File:Blaster-Bird.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{main|Bubbles#As Blaster}}

On an [[AllSpark|Eggspark]]-altered [[Piggy Island]], Blaster found himself fused with [[Bubbles]] of the [[Flock]], turning them into an [[Autobird]] that transforms into a van-like thing. Bubbles-Blaster launches a rapid-fire stream of sonic blasts that pack incredible punch and have a wide "splash damage" range, especially when paired up with his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|cassette]] partners.

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Accessory'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Rarity'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Rosanna (AB)|Rosanna]]
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +20% Explosive Force
|
|-
|Headphones
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Damage
|
|-
|Baseball Cap
|Head
|Common
|5 Common Crystals + 2,500 Coins
| +10% Vehicle Time
|
|-
|Santa Hat
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Defense
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Festive Deely Bopper
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Snowman
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Lion Hat
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +16% Defense
|Chinese New Year exclusive
|-
|[[Stripes]]
|Chest
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +40% Faster Reload
|
|-
|[[Sundor]]
|Arms
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
|
|}
</center>

[[File:Blaster accessory.jpeg|thumb|200px|But I'm already a [[Bubbles#As Blaster|character]] in the game!]]

Blaster is also an "Accessory" character, giving Autobirds he's attached to an increase to their EMP Rounds (probably due to his groovy, well-tuned personality). This bonus can be increased with level upgrades, won from random-prize Crates or in the "[[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower" mini-game.

He can be unlocked by purchasing him with Gems in the Barracks, with Tokens during specific [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)/Challenge Events|Challenge Events]], or won from Crates and [[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="15%" | '''Autobird'''
! scope="col" width="8%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Gem Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Red (AB)#As Blurr|Blurr]]
|Arms
|650
| EMP Rounds
|
|-
|}
</center>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Among the random Movie quotes a random bot says are: Two can Play! Sic' em! Don't know how much longer we can hold out. We're all going to look like burnt-out toaster ovens.]]
Blaster participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who first appeared in the "Sonic Clash" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal,100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Blaster-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Yo dawg! Let's build this base before the Cons show up!]]

Loud, proud and in-your-face, Blaster has a zest for life and an unquenchable appetite for action.
The louder and more intense it gets, the more it sparks his circuits.
The opposite of sneaky, he prefers to make his presence known, literally assaulting his enemies with sound and fury.
But his special passion is good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, and his ability to monitor multiple frequencies and channels has exposed him to a wide variety of music. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Blaster Bio}}

Blaster was in contact with Ironhide and Jetfire after the latter two and an ally raided a Decepticon outpost. Blaster suggested it would be great if they upgraded the HQ.
{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

Blaster then helped out in the many other battles that the Autobots participated in.

*'''Class:''': Special (Deployer)
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Weapons:''' Blaster uses a standard issue Photon blaster used by Jetfire and the Aerobots.
*'''Ability: Deploy Minions:''' Deploy Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn to attack targets! All have unique attacks.
**'''Cost''': 3 ability points +3 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:blaster Blaster at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

Blaster is one of two characters that has a unique ending victory pose, in which Blaster has a chance to perform a handstand, and then start break dancing.

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Impossible! Our laserfire is only making him '''stronger!'''"]]
In a surprising twist, Blaster isn't a clone of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], instead having his own unique animations and abilities. He fights using buffed-up energy attacks and his cassette allies, and, when awakened, can heal himself when struck with the enemy's ranged laser attacks.
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Blaster was head of Autobot communications and a master of sonic warfare. In his off-time, he was something of a party animal, and this laid-back approach to life has bled back into his career as a soldier. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers Roleplaying Game bonus material}}

Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were deployed to an abandoned railyard in [[Colorado]] to guard a shipment of [[energon cube]]s while [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] drew the attention of the Decepticons. However, their ruse failed; the Decepticons tracked the [[Union Pacific]] train back to its point of origin, and in the ensuing battle [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and his comrades defeated Blaster and stole the energon. {{storylink|The Great Energon Robbery}}

==Toys==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Blaster's finalized [[character model]] was apparently not available to artist [[Don Perlin]] when he first drew Blaster in the Marvel Comic. While the final model—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives Blaster a set of individual eyes, Perlin's interpretation of the toy reference material he had to work with saw him draw Blaster with a goggled visor. Perlin's visored head design would be used throughout the Marvel run, until the last few issues, when UK artists who had taken over drawing the book rendered Blaster with his finalized model's head. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in [[robot mode]], but four in [[alternate mode]]. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster. {{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious badass seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner [[Flight Pack]] did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
====Blaster====
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto''), '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), '''Blaster''' (ブラスター ''Burasutā'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub),
*''Czech:'' '''Reprák''' (Supermax dub, "Speaker")
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("Bombardment"), '''Lőmester''' ("Demolitions-Expert", alternate name used occasionally in the Marvel comics)
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters'')
*''Chinese:'' '''Lùyīnjī''' (China, 录音机, "Recorder"), '''Shuāng Lǚdài''' (''The Headmasters'', 双履带, "Double Pedrail")
*''Polish:'' '''Łoskot''' ("Rumble", sic!; in some episodes of cartoon)
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' ("Бластер", "Blaster", ''Transformers''), '''Billy''' ("Билли", ''The Headmasters'')

====Twincast====
*''Japanese:'' '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasto'')
*''English:'' '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Digital'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Platon'''

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Autobirds]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Blue Order]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combat Colin characters]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Earthforce]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

Blaster (G1)

2025-08-06T14:04:37Z

Diodicon: /* Blaster */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|autobird|primusvanguard}}
{{disambigm|Blaster (disambiguation)|Twincast (disambiguation)}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]

'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly across different media; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
{{main|Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}
[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Beware my tweeters of doom!!]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was quick to immerse himself in Earth culture, and was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not—a trait that got him in trouble as often as it saved him and his Autobot allies. Developing a rivalry with his Decepticon opposite number, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], Blaster gained a cassette army of his own so he could fight Soundwave on equal footing, and he and little buddies were instrumental in ensuring reinforcements arrived in time to save [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when it was besieged in [[2005]]. Following this, Blaster was assigned command of the city, where his jive-talking jingles and jams saw the Autobots through crises like the attack of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Blaster's duties also took him to a variety of battlefields that were stranger than many other Transformers would experience, including millions of years into the past, into another dimension ruled by magic, and—a particular favorite of his—the musical planet of [[Eurythma]].

In some timelines which spin off from this one, Blaster joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] under the new name '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), and after perishing in a one-on-one battle with Soundwave, was reconstructed by the super-science of the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]] as '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto'').
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:BlasterUS17.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, [[you]]. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious, badass who hated Decepticons with a passion, whose reputation as one of the best fighters the [[Autobot]]s had was blemished by his vocal problems with authority figures. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] failed to make a rendezvous with him in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]], and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Although his fellow freedom fighters rallied behind him at first, the discovery that Scrounge had been taken to the Decepticon stronghold in [[Polyhex]] changed their minds, and Blaster went in alone. Captured by the forces of [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]], Blaster was sentenced to the [[smelting pool]], where he discovered the half-melted Scrounge, who clung to life just long enough to pass on to Blaster the data he had obtained, so that this death would not be in vain. Blaster was then saved from the pit by his comrades, and he claimed revenge for Scrounge by ripping out the pipes that fed the pool and blasting their Decepticon pursuers with molten slag.

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.3|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his [[alternate mode]], gathering the information they needed to launch an attack. After planting [[fission bomb]]s on the bridge, Blaster personally battled Straxus, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}} {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}} Though [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and his troops spotted the Autobots upon their materialization on Earth, the Decepticons were distracted by a more pressing mission at the time, and left without attacking the new arrivals. {{storylink|Command Performances!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival; unfamiliar with Earth customs, Blaster's group first tried to communicate with RAAT's vehicles, leaving the humans an opening to blindside the Autobots with "electric snow" missiles. Circuit Breaker then delivered a powerful electric blast, short-circuiting the group. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} Blaster and the others were disassembled, with their heads getting mounted on the wall of RAAT's headquarters. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Turn down that blasted music! THIS I COMMAND!!!]]
When Optimus Prime died for real soon after, Blaster got on the comm to pass the grim news on to [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], ordering him to break off his present engagement with the anti-terrorist team [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and return to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} After watching as [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] tried and failed to rebuild the Autobot leader, Blaster attended Prime's funeral, where his body was sent into space on a funeral bier. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Blaster gave a speech to mark Prime's passing, {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} then returned to the Ark with the Autobots, only to be attacked by the ship's own defense systems, co-opted by the human criminal, the [[Mechanic]]. Perceptor had to stop Blaster from damaging the ship until the situation could be brought under control. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} No sooner had ''that'' been dealt with than Blaster detected a fleet of human aircraft heading for the Ark, which the Autobots proceeded to intercept on the assumption of hostile intent. After a brief battle, the human revealed themselves to agents of [[Cobra]], who requested the Autobots' help in stopping the Decepticons from destroying the planet using [[Power Station Alpha]]. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} Suspecting the highly advanced Alpha could potentially be a sentient technological lifeform, Blaster opposed destroying it outright, and remained at the Ark to co-ordinate a combined Autobot/G.I. Joe/Cobra attack on the Decepticons to free Alpha from their control. The Joes and Cobra surreptitiously had Alpha destroyed to remove its threat, infuriating Blaster and leading him to wonder if ''any'' humans could be trusted. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

[[File:MarvelUS28 blaster cops.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Blaster's about to lay down some sick beats!]]
Turning to the matter of finding a new leader of the Autobots, Blaster and several other high-ranking Autobots were in the process of a holding a vote when the massive Decepticon battle station Trypticon attacked, and Blaster was shot down when he attempted to rush the giant. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] proceeded to secure victory over Trypticon, convincing Blaster and the other Autobots to appoint him the Autobots' new commander. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}} Unfortunately, Grimlock soon gave Blaster cause to regret his decision with increasingly hostile leadership methods and a callous disregard for human safety. Paired with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his [[Batman]], Blaster was charged with locating the Mechanic, but disobeyed orders and entered into alliance with some local human law enforcement to prevent the officers from being killed by the advanced Cybertronian weapons the criminal had stolen from the Ark. Playing the fool, Detective [[Greco]] carried Blaster into the Mechanic's hideout in tape-deck mode, where the Autobot used his electro scrambler to disable all the villain's weapons. Alas, the Mechanic escaped, and, realizing that Grimlock would not tolerate the news of their failure and their human alliances, Blaster and Goldbug elected to go AWOL. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

[[File:MarvelUS30 blaster and goldbug.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"MY PARTNERS ARE DEEEEAD!"]]
Rather than lay low, Blaster and Goldbug decided to take their fight to the Decepticons, and quickly tracked down the Autobots' human ally [[G.B. Blackrock]] in hope that he could provide them with both fuel and some hot tips on current 'Con activity. Following Blackrock's info, the two Autobots found a crashed Decepticon ship, and befriended the scientist [[Charlie Fong]] in order to bypass the military blocked surrounding it. Upon approaching the crash-site, they ran afoul of the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]]s. As Blaster took on all three of the villains at once, he discovered they were ravaged with [[Scraplet]]s, which soon infected him as well. Goldbug withdrew to seek a cure, but Blaster believed he had left him to die and swore vengeance against the little 'bot. {{storylink|Crater Critters}} Hooking up with the [[Throttlebot]]s and human scientist [[Charlie Fong]], Goldbug discovered that water could destroy the Scraplets, and surprised Blaster by returning to save him. Blaster refused to allow himself to be cured if it meant that the Decepticons would live as well, but when the Scraplets merged into a giant, Goldbug had no choice, and sprayed them all. A cured but furious Blaster smashed the water tank over the Scraplet-monster, killing it, then calmed down enough to apologize to Goldbug for doubting him. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

[[File:MarvelUS32 blaster arrested.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Check it out, Blaster, we all got [[Nerf]] guns for Christmas!]]
''Taking some time out of their life on the road to watch human television, Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots happened upon a news report about the discovery of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron, entombed in lava within the volcano, [[Mount Verona]]. Discovering that Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] were going to blow up the mountain to destroy them both, Blaster used his sonic powers to block Soundwave's detonation signal, preventing the bombs the Combaticons placed from going off.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}} Once they had evaded the pursuing Combaticons, Blaster and company found themselves in a scuffle with RAAT in [[California]], and hid out in [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]]'s used car lot. Unfortunately, their battle made the evening news and finally alerted Grimlock to their AWOL status, prompting him to brand them traitors and send the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. The car lot quickly turned into a three-way battleground between the Combaticons, Protectobots and RAAT, and despite Blaster's help in the battle, the Protectobots surrounded and apprehended him at the fight's end. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned. Groove sped off and stashed Blaster away in a drainage pipe for retrieval after the battle's end, where he latter was found by four [[Spacehikers|human children]]. It took some convincing, but Blaster eventually talked the younglings to remove his mode lock. Despite once more being able to transform, Blaster was still no match for [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], who had managed to fell Defensor in the meantime. Blaster was forced to rely on the children to put on a good show, and "proved" he was no longer loyal to the Autobots by making the Decepticon believe he shot one of them dead. The dimwitted colossus fooled, Blaster circled around him and collapsed an electrical tower onto Bruticus, knocking him offline. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free upon his recovery. In turn, Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} The humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[File:MarvelUS41 blaster vs grimlock.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] for some time as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. When [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Goldbug talked Blaster into taking the injured Fortress Maximus's place to get even with Grimlock once and for all. They proceeded to battle on the surface of Earth's [[moon (moon)|moon]], but their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Blaster pointed out that their feud had put all Autobots in danger. Grimlock agreed to call their duel a draw and declared a truce with Blaster as they fended off the Decepticons side by side. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

[[File:ClubCon-ptoo.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a [[Egg transport|capsule]] in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb]]
A search of the waters where "Club Con" used to be proved fruitless, as the Decepticons quickly moved on after Blaster's incursion. Blaster berated himself for his "incompetence," which allowed the Decepticons to slip beyond their reach once more, though Optimus assured him they would track down their enemies in due course. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Soon after, the Autobots were drawn to the Arctic, where a Decepticon ambush awaited them. The warring factions struck a temporary truce when they learned that [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had orchestrated the confrontation in order to distract everyone else from his own goals. The approaching object Blaster had learned about earlier, revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], would endow Starscream with godlike powers were he to absorb all of its cosmic energies. Though the Autobot/Decepticon alliance interrupted Starscream's absorption of the Underbase's power, the portion he did manage to take into himself was enough to grant him near-invincibility. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

[[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|left|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. Ratchet's nightmares came true for a short while, when the Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] managed to infiltrate the Ark and took control of the damaged Autobots' bodies to torment him. When this failed to make Ratchet snap completely, the Decepticons' plan was abandoned and Blaster was shut down once more. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, {{storylink|Still Life!}} with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. A meeting was called, with Blaster sharing the news to all present. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld. Blaster found Prowl wandering about outside, and cautioned his fellow Autobot to take shelter, as Cybertron's gradual self-destruction made the outdoors dangerous. His warning was met with laughter; Prowl had given up on living altogether, seeing no escape from the planet's death-throes. The pair were then surprised by Grimlock, who had foreseen the Decepticons' treachery and secured alternate transportation! {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} The Autobots followed the Decepticons to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Only five stragglers managed to escape this surprise attack: Blaster, Grimlock, Kup, Slag, and Prowl. Despite their best attempts to lose their pursuers, the Autobots found themselves hounded by a hunting party. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but persevered nonetheless. His group miraculously defeated the hunting party, and doubled back for a final stand against Bludgeon's forces. Upon arrival, they found a resurrected Optimus Prime already turning the tide of battle thanks to a new ally, the [[Last Autobot]]. Blaster was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] as the Decepticons were driven off into exile. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}
{{-}}

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
[[File:Ultra magnus blaster big broadcast of 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
In an alternate version of [[2006]], Blaster went with a group of Autobots to [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] to investigate strange happenings there. When they arrived, they discovered a chaotic scene where aliens from many worlds, including the Decepticons, were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was hypnotizing all the combatants into this aggressive behavior. He and Ultra Magnus came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air, while Blaster would broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming all those affected by the signal. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:SpacePirates blaster strung up.jpg|thumb|left|Help! He's touching my special area!]]
In the future of [[2008]], Blaster was present at Autobot City when the [[Quintesson]] [[Trident Attack Craft|Trident]] ships attacked. He attempted to transform Autobot City himself, but was stopped cold by General [[Ghyrik]]. He was deactivated in the battle that followed and his body strung up on the outer parapets as a warning to any Autobots who came to liberate the city. Although Blaster was inactive, his cassettes were not, and this fact gave [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] an edge when they began battling their way through the Quintesson occupants. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. He responded to [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} Upon his arrival however, Kup urged the other Autobots to hold their fire; he had deduced that it was Unicron acting through Rodimus, as the dark god had been imprisoned within the Matrix at a pervious date. Blaster and the other reinforcements stood back as Kup managed to rip the sacred talisman out of Rodimus's chest, severing Unicron's connection to him. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

=====Letters page=====
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|left|upright=0.8|thumb|FAKE NU(cleon)S]]
The relaxed and jovial Blaster of "yet another alternate future" was turned into an [[Action Master]] and somehow arrived on 1990s Earth, where he took a job answering letters for Marvel UK. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}} He had to recuperate in an acclimatisation unit as a result and a nameless human at the Marvel offices took it upon themselves to answer a letter about being an Action Master, copying [[Nucleon (substance)#Toy packaging blurb|the back of a toy box]] and claiming that was the origin of [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]. Don't trust it, kids! The ''real'' answer comes from an upcoming story, kids! {{storylink|The Human Factor!|#303's Darn 'n' Blast}}{{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

When Dreadwind refused to accept he'd been replaced as letters host and barricaded his office, Blaster, new host of ''Darn 'n' Blast'', took up a temporary office next door. Dreadwind kept banging on the wall to distract him. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Transformation}} The kids of 1990 Britain duly wrote to Blaster with rap and cool lingo, dude. {{storylink|Rhythms_of_Darkness!|#300's Darn 'n' Blast}}

Unlike Grimlock, he felt guilty about using the [[variable voltage harness]] to punish Marvel UK staff for bad work. Following a suggestion by a sadistic fan, he instead began tormenting people with hours of {{w|The Church (band)|''The Church}} and {{w|Cliff Richard}}. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm|#308 Darn 'n' Blast It}}

During Blaster's run we learned he had a brother named [[Toaster]]{{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!|#310's letters page}} and a sister called [[Karmen]] {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}}, and about sports like the [[Iacon 5000]] and [[Mecha-soccer|Cybertron's football divisions]] (Primus League and Premier League). His team are the non-league no-hopers [[Throttlebot]] Wanderers {{storylink|Out of Time!|#316's letters page}} and he lamented how badly they'd been fouled by Combaticon Hove Albion, ruining their chances of a cup win. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!|#320's letters page}}

He was unable to make a reader's birthday party due to the battle against [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Exodus!|#326's letters page}}

{{-}}

=====''Combat Colin''=====
[[File:Combat colin 300.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
After [[Colin Doobrey-Smiff|Colin]] managed to defeat all of his recurring villains at once, he grew a bit too big for his boots and announced that he was going to boot out the [[Transformer]]s and take over the rest of the comic. Overhearing this, Blaster was forced to remind him of his place as a back-up strip character. {{storylink|Combat Colin issue 300}}
{{-}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
[[File:Another Time Place Fangry.jpg|thumb|left|That's his hand on the left!]]
Blaster was part of the rescue unit who infiltrated [[Hydrus Four]] to defeat the Decepticons and rescue the Dinobots. He personally helped disarm and defeat [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Blaster and the Autobots defended the launch of a new space flight by human scientists. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}
{{-}}

====''Classics''====
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Blaster's happy? This can't be the Marvelverse.]]
{{noteclassics}}
Decades later in [[2012]], Blaster was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

[[File:Recordicons12-everyone.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Blaster and his partners [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]], and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons issue 12|Recordicons #12}}

Some time later on negative Cybertron, Blaster and [[Straxus (SG)|Straxus]] compared notes on their mirror universes, such as [[Straxus (G1)|the evil Straxus]]. {{storylink|Falling into Place}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery (Cybertron)|Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]], and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

[[File:Blaster soundwave destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|''Only one will survive. Beatle-based pop vs. New Romantic, History will decide.'']]
As the Decepticon invasion/uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s command vessel ''[[Priam]]'' during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinate [[Wreckers]] staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron to face an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The [[Dark Matrix|Anti-Matrix]] had consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into [[shadow-leech]]es. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the [[space bridge]] network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in [[Zero Space]], bringing an end to its machinations. On Nebulos, Blaster joined [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s troops in finishing off [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] once and for all. With their link to the [[multiverse]] and [[Primus]] himself permanently cut off, Blaster and the other remaining Transformers abandoned Cybertron, eventually growing old and dying. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
Blaster and the Autobots protected the humans from a revenge attack by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the Decepticons.{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:ListeningtoBlaster-ASW.jpeg|thumb|left]]
Blaster received a message from Decepticon headquarters and conveyed it to Optimus Prime; the Decepticons had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] hostage, and were demanding the Autobots' surrender. The Autobots sent out a party to rescue their captured comrade, but the attempt failed. Afterwards, Blaster once more relayed a message from Megatron to Optimus; the Decepticon leader threatened to destroy all four captured Autobots and rebuild them into Decepticons if Optimus did not surrender before morning. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Attack of the Insecticons===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autobot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

If it is decided to try and parlay with Megatron, omitting any mention of the Sun-Pak in their story, Megatron appears attentive at first, but demands that the Autobots fulfill their half of the trade before he takes action. If Blaster and Buster accept, Megatron arrives at the museum, and forces Starscream back to Decepticon base to be reprogrammed after releasing Sparkplug. If they insist to have Megatron release Sparkplug from Decepticon custody first, Blaster and Buster are powerless to stop Sparkplug from becoming a mind-controlled slave.

If Blaster and Buster decide to fetch Bumblebee, the trio quickly formulate a plan to rescue Sparkplug. Using his Electro-Scramblers at a key moment, Blaster causes Starscream to be the recipient of the Cerebro-Shell instead of Sparkplug, and then convinces the now easily influenced Decepticon to release Sparkplug and hold back Bombshell while Sparkplug, Buster, Blaster and Bumblebee happily ride back to Autobot headquarters.
{{storylink|Attack of the Insecticons}}
{{-}}

===Milton Bradley mini-comic===
Blaster was among the Autobots under [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s command who launched in the [[Ark (G1)|ark]] to clear a path through an asteroid belt. When the Decepticons attacked the ship, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sent it crashing into [[Earth]], knocking everyone aboard offline. Four million years later, they were repaired when the ship's systems were reactivated by a volcanic eruption. {{storylink|The Transformers (Milton Bradley comic)|The Transformers}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
[[File:WarAgainstDestructions blaster plays.jpg|thumb|left|That's right kids, this is what 3D used to look like.]]
When Hot Rod and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] returned from [[Tau-Ursa]] with a strange recording, Blaster was able to play it. The recording revealed the existence of the [[Destructon]]s, [[Logicon]]s, and the location of [[Metascan Alpha]], the Logicons' storehouse of [[Energon]]. At Optimus Prime's command, Blaster contacted Ultra Magnus at Metroplex on Earth to pass the information along. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===
Blaster took orders from Optimus Prime as the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' launched. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 5|Beast Wars Metals #5}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

Seeking to capture one of Megatron's drones in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]], Blaster oversaw his unit on the mission from a distance, using his abilities to jam any emergency transmissions while [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and several other Autobots engaged the drone in battle long enough to attach an inhibitor claw, immobilizing it. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3}}

{{Unreleased WW comic}}

Blaster and his team used an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}} Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.5}} Blaster was badly damaged, losing a leg in his fight against Megatron. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.6}}

Blaster remained on Cybertron when the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' left four million years ago, and eventually entered stasis along with the rest of the planet when it finally ran out of energy during the [[Great Shutdown]]. The planet was reawakened by Shockwave in roughly the Earth year 1000 BC, and the Autobots and Decepticons put aside their differences to begin rebuilding their world. [[File:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]] Suspecting that Shockwave had more sinister motives, Blaster was one of the first Autobots to join an underground resistance movement against him, using his communications skills to discover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet that was aggravating the violent tendencies of the entire population. Despite his feelings for Shockwave, Blaster still developed a strong taste for information from the Earth culture Shockwave was introducing to Cybertron, and even modified his alternate mode into an Earthly boom box. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

In the year [[2003]], when Shockwave's forces brought Optimus Prime and the crew of the Ark back to Cybertron to be tried as war criminals, double agents inside the United Cybertronian force delivered Prime and his crew to Blaster and the others at their headquarters in the [[Wastelands]]. With the help of Cybertron's greatest hero, the resistance movement began an open insurrection against Shockwave's loyal Decepticon forces and the [[Guardian robot]]s under his control. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DividedFront1 bots found.jpg|thumb|Comfortable?]]
In the year [[1985]], Blaster and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] hastily took off for [[Earth]] in an starship poorly-suited for interstellar travel. Upon arrival, they unsurprisingly crashed, landing in the forests of [[Oregon]] near [[Mount St. Hilary]]. Their deactivated bodies were found by the forces of [[Cobra]] and bundled up to be airlifted out, but a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] soon intervened. [[Blowtorch]] knocked the chopper carrying their bodies out of the air with his flamethrower, and [[Barbecue]] extinguished the flames before the two Autobots could be consumed by the blaze. Blaster and Perceptor's bodies were then taken back to G.I. Joe headquarters. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}
{{note|Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant this story was never finished.}}
{{-}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:HeartsofSteel blaster.jpg|left|thumb|No, no, don't get up.]]
Blaster and his fellow Autobots fought the Decepticons on Earth in the distant past until an incoming ice age threatened to deactivate all the Transformers. Both sides went into hiding underground until the danger had passed, remaining in stasis until the mid-19th century. When they woke up, the war against the Decepticons started anew, though Blaster was not seen getting involved. {{storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 1|Hearts of Steel #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}

===''The Beast Within''===
Blaster participated in a savage battle against the Decepticons, though he did not fare too well, already laying defeated on the battleground during the conflict's early stages.{{storylink|The Beast Within}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

Blaster was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}} He took a brief respite from reporting to work for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

[[File:Broadcast BlastersMoment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|left]]
When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (event)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.9|thumb|right|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' ''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

With the war going into full swing, Blaster joined Optimus Prime's Autobots, and initially served as a soldier who was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy four million years ago. {{storylink|The Iron Age}} Eventually, however, he returned to his broadcasting roots and became a patriotic radio personality, broadcasting propaganda across the galaxy to rally the Autobot forces as they struggled on the war's many battlefronts. Known as "The Voice" for his widespread positive influence, Blaster became the target of a Decepticon assassination attempt, this time to prevent him from making an important broadcast on the eve of a major Autobot offensive. Although the assassin failed, Blaster's wounded body was ejected into space, and he was believed dead by his faction.

[[File:SpotlightBlaster altmode.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Blaster used to transform into a kaboombox.]]
Some time later, Blaster was found by a passing [[Yar|trawler]] and delivered home, where it was revealed that he had to have been attacked by an Autobot. In an effort to flush the traitor out, Blaster went back on the air. The attempt worked, and his would-be killer was revealed: [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], forced into the act by a mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]] implanted by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] at the direction of [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. However, he was able to resist when Blaster used his greatest weapon: his voice. As a damaged Beachcomber was brought in for repairs, Blaster swore he'd find Soundwave and that the last thing he'd ever hear would be... the Voice. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|I dunno... sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wreckers]], suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]], so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}}

[[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]]
With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

[[File:IntimateBeheading BRILLIANT.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]] {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} and was one of the first people to use [[Swerve's]], being part of the grand secret opening. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[unspace|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Not that it would have mattered much, as Blaster went on to say that any attempt made with the subspace communicator to reach Cybertron met with failure. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus, {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} and the crew was ultimately overwhelmed by the Legislators. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Following the Tyrest crisis, Blaster was one of the dozens of Autobots who helped clean and fix up the [[Swerve's|devastated bar]] so that Swerve could reopen it. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Blaster was present on bridge when Ultra Magnus made the decision to search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} The crew tracked the [[Titan (group)|Titan]] to the oceans of [[Hydrophena]] where they were attacked by [[Ammonite]]s, {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} prompting Blaster to participate in the underwater battle. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Upon finding Metroplex, they used his [[space bridge]] to return the ''Lost Light'' to Cybertron, where they were reunited with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Once the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] plaguing Cybertron was defeated, Blaster celebrated alongside the rest of the population. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} He went on to attend the trial of Megatron at [[Raskol Arena]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:TwentyPlusOne BlasterLostRodimus.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|right]]
Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} Fortunately, the new crew managed to reverse the quantum irregularity, and Blaster and the others quickly returned. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

On a quantum-duplicated ''Lost Light'', its version of Blaster was executed along with the rest of the crew, save their Rewind. He was forced to transform into vehicle mode to keep his transformation cog fresh, which was harvested from his body by the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]. His corpse was found among a large collection of bodies in a room by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:HowBrightTheirFrailDeeds-LostLightmutiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|Always [[Totaled!|first in line for mutiny.]]]]
Blaster gathered with most of the crew to hear Rodimus announce their rendezvous with the ''Vis Vitalis'' for the dying Thunderclash's "pre-wake". {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He later served as DJ for a dance party in Swerve's and accepted a song request from [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} After a life-size [[holomatter]] projection of Earth appeared to be tailing the ''Lost Light'', Blaster attempted to make radio contact with it, only to hear a "catchy" song being played back to them. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} When [[Getaway]] set up his mutiny, Blaster agreed to be part of it. He 'discovered' the source of a signal that would lure Megatron, Rodimus, and their 'loyalists' off the ''Light'', and later stood with Getaway in a broadcast to emphasize how the crew had turned on their captains. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:FillingInTheBlanks GetawayFakeNews.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Do one mutiny, get a second free.]]
During a team meeting regarding the [[Warren]], Blaster interrupted to report a distress signal came in from [[Frayus]], but was stunned when Getaway told him to respond that they couldn't assist. As Getaway and Thunderclash argued, Blaster and his teammates were horrified when a transmission from Rodimus revealed that Getaway had not only abandoned Rodimus's men to the mercies of the [[Galactic Council]], but to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. With the command structure threatening to breakdown, Getaway had the mnemosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] reprogram the memories of Blaster and the rest of the crew. They were coerced into believing that Rodimus and the others left of their own free will, abandoning the rest of the crew to find Cyberutopia faster on their own. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|Filling in the Blanks}}

As the use of the Warren drew the ''Lost Light'' closer to Cyberutopia, Blaster was instructed by Getaway to change their course so that they could make a rendezvous with their new Head of Security. Soon after, Blaster happily reported to Getaway that they had finally arrived at Cyberutopia. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

[[File:ADanceBeforeDying BlasterSparkeater.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|"Hey folks, this is Blaster slaverin' at ya! ''Uhnnn, SPAAAAAAARKSSSSSSSS''..."]]
Everything collapsed, however, when they reached Cyberutopia. The promised land turned out to be a sham, and the ''Lost Light'' came under attack by the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] and his [[Phantom Fleet]] of [[Worldsweeper]]s. Desperate to save his own skin, Getaway made a deal with the Architect to spare him in exchange for his help against Rodimus, who Getaway swore would try to stop the Grand Architect's plans. To that end, the Architect's ally [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was allowed to subject Blaster and the other Autobots to a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] virus, changing them into zombie-like minions with acid vomit, a thirst for sparks, and no will of their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}

When Rodimus and the others ''did'' arrive on Cyberutopia, Blaster was dispatched with the first wave of Sparkeaters along with [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to "greet" their friends. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Blaster and the Sparkeaters threatened Rodimus and his growing collection of allies as they opposed the Grand Architect's forces. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Eventually, First Aid discovered a form of concussive medicine that would transmit a kinetic program code to eliminate the Sparkeater virus. Blaster and the others were incapacitated, but seemingly cured of their infection. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} After Rodimus reclaimed the ''Lost Light'', he had Blaster and his ailing crew brought aboard for Ratchet and First Aid to continue treating as they confronted the Grand Architect. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

After the crisis was over, Blaster joined the rest of the crew for one last "victory lap" aboard the ''Lost Light''. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the Lost Light's adventures would never truly end. Rodimus put the notion to a vote, and the crew agreed to attempt it.

After returning to Cybertron and years in the future, Blaster was one of the attendees at Ratchet's funeral. He led the grieving Hound away after the service had concluded.

Unaware to everyone, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' with its version of Blaster had successfully materialized. Blaster excitedly reported that the navigation computers had no idea where they were, and everyone got ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
{{--}}

===''TransTech''===
{{voiceactor|[[Buster Jones]] (English)}}

{{charstubfiction}}
{{storylink|Bee in the City 2: Electric Bugaloo}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:Blaster Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Blaster was seemingly escorting [[Lumina Hoshi|Lumina]] at the inauguration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Autobot City]], as he was holding her hand. {{Storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

Some time later, when [[Soundwave (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Soundwave]] tried to use his clones to brainwash humans, Blaster arrived alongside [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)|Optimus]] and [[Jazz (G1)#Kre-O online manga|Jazz]] to stop him. Blaster turned to tape deck mode to help the Autobots in the battle of opposing sounds, and later (in a different blue coloration) played music at the ensuing hanami. {{Storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:FormFollowsFunction-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Blaster was a freedom fighter on a Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. He was one of the many thorns in Megatron's side that continuously evaded capture.

Enraged that the once great [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] was one of the many Autobots that had succumbed to Megatron's will, Blaster set out to confront his fellow Autobot at the planet's north pole. There, he berated and blasted Rodimus for his fall from grace. Rodimus retaliated and during the firefight, [[G.I.Rocket]]s began to rain down around them. One of the rockets' blasts caused debris to fall atop of Blaster, knocking him out. Rather than allow his friend to be captured by the Decepticons, Rodimus abandoned his post and hauled Blaster away. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Rodimus brought Blaster to Ratchet for repairs before seizing leadership of the Autobots from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

During the combined Autobot-Joe attack on the Decepticon army, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] had Blaster deactivate [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s force shield by using his altmode to emit a sonic signal imbued with the shield's codes. Blaster then joined the battle by releasing his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|Recordobots]] against [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] lamented that all the great and famous Cybertronians, including his mentor Blaster, were long gone by the time Cybertron was controlled by the [[Builder Assembly]]. {{storylink|Broken Windshields}}

===''Titans Return'' marketing material===
[[File:TPotTM BlasterStripesRewind.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right]]
When the [[Titan Master]]s joined the Autobot-Decepticon war, Blaster was partnered with the Titan Master [[Twin Cast]], the bot with the universe's most advanced cryptographic abilities. {{storylink|Blaster (G1)/toys#TitansReturn|''Titans Return'' Twin Cast/Blaster toy bio}} On the planet [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], Blaster, Stripes, and Rewind pursued [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]], [[Grax]], and [[Horri-Bull|Rot-Gut]] through the streets. They were ultimately forced to break off when Rot-Gut and Skullsmasher combined, allowing Skullsmasher to deploy a cloud of armor-eating rust and make good their escape. Blaster was later seen fighting off Soundwave's all-out attack on Cybertron. {{storylink|Titans Return: The Power of the Titan Masters}}

{{--}}

===''Win If You Dare''===
[[File:WinIfYouDare-Blaster.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Blaster was playing music outside the crashed ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] returned from a test drive, part of Ratchet's experimental "music therapy" program. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare|Win If You Dare}}

{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|''Transformers'' #17]]}}

[[File:WarWorldHunt-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Blaster worked with [[Playback (G1)|Playback]] and [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] at the [[Titan Net]] primary hub in Iacon. When members of [[The Rise]] hacked their network to upload a powerful [[data-bomb]], Blaster and his crew found that the virus left them unable to awaken any of the dormant [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s in Cybertron's orbit, and powerless to prevent the rogue Titan [[Vigilem]] from approaching the [[Winged Moon]]. With no other options, Blaster contacted [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] and her Titan [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], who had only recently returned from beyond Cybertronian space and hadn't yet linked with the Titan Net, and ordered her to stop Vigilem by any means necessary.{{storylink|The Change In Your Nature Part Five}}

Despite their best efforts, the pair weren't able to stop Vigilem from severing the great [[Tether]] that connected the Winged Moon to Cybertron. Blaster and his crew did their best to re-establish a link with the Titans; despite receiving assistance from [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]], [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] {{storylink|Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|Tremors}} they weren't able to repair the Titan Net before Megatron staged a coup, overthrew the [[Senate]], and killed [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]. When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] inherited the Matrix to become Optimus Prime, Blaster attended his first speech. {{storylink|War World: Awakenings}} Not long afterwards, the triumphant Decepticons moved to seize control of Iacon's infrastructure by planting loyalists in positions of power, and as a result [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]], and [[Sparkstalker]] took control of the Titan Net building and ousted Blaster and his crew. {{storylink|War World: Hunt|Hunt}}

Blaster followed Optimus Prime and his followers when they abandoned Iacon entirely and decamped to [[Crystal City]]. There, Blaster received a proper [[Autobot]] insignia as part of a ceremony commemorating the rebirth of the Autobot faction. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|Sea of Rust I}} However, when the Decepticons turned their sights on Crystal City, Blaster and a number of other scientists and engineers retreated to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]. {{storylink|Radical Time}} There, Blaster helped [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] engineer a data-bomb that would disrupt the Insecticon neural network long enough for [[Termagax]] to transmit new instructions to the swarming [[Insecticon clone]]s and call off their rampage. {{storylink|End of Time}}

{{--}}

===Precursor World===
[[File:GodNeptuneComic1-Twincast.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Video killed the radio star.]]

A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling Twincast was a member of the [[Blue Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. When the traitorous [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus twins]] unleashed a rage virus to destroy the corps from within, he was slain in the ensuing brawl. Vanguard leader [[Primus#The old universe|Primus]] later loaded the Warrior's lingering [[spark]]s into his [[Golden Noah]] in an attempt to ferry their souls to the [[G1 World|next world]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}} Unfortunately, this did not work. {{storylink|Generations Selects Special Comic Finale|Finale}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Go! Go!''===
[[File:GoGo13-Blaster.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

Blaster was freestyling with the other Autobots when he encountered his old foe [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] came up with the idea of having the equally matched rivals settle their differences through a rap battle, where they eventually admitted their grudging respect for one another. However, the two soon went back to brawling when each accused the other of screwing up their conciliatory high five. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 13}}

One evening, Blaster invited Bumblebee to come outside and play, but Bumblebee had too much homework to do. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 14}} Blaster and Eject took part in a snowball fight until Wheeljack's snowball-throwing robot went haywire. Jazz and Blaster provided covering fire so that Bumblebee could close the distance and switch off the machine, and that night the Autobots used the excess snow to construct an igloo where they could relax. {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 18}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Go! Go! Extra Volume|Extra Volume}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 39}} {{storylink|The Transformers Go! Go! Search Quiz is Here!|Search Quiz}} {{storylink|Go! Go! issue 46}}}}

{{ongoing}}

===Energon Universe===
[[File:TF2023 no. 5 – Blaster wielding gun.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Tell my electro-scrambler I love her!"]]
During a battle on Cybertron, Blaster was shot in the chest. {{storylink|Transformers (2023) issue 5|Transformers #5}}

{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Blaster allowed himself to be found by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in his radio mode. The device caught Rumble's eye, and he decided to bring Blaster back to the Decepticons' headquarters. Soundwave wasn't as easily duped, and recognized Blaster as an Autobot intruder immediately upon seeing him. Blaster then had to contend with fending off [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Blaster|Blaster commercial}}
*When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] led a squad of Decepticons on an attack on the Autobots' launch site, Blaster informed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] was off-planet, and so couldn't come to their aid. He stayed behind as Ultra Magnus carried several Autobots into battle to counter-attack. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus commercial}}
*Blaster, Cosmos, and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening blaster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
Blaster was among the Autobots who left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and spent four million years in stasis after it was shot down over Earth by the Decepticons. Though Ratchet soon had him fixed up, the Autobots lacked the [[energon]] that he needed to get operational. They had gathered enough by the time the Autobots were preparing to assault the Decepticon fortress on Cybertron to free their enslaved fellows, and Blaster took part in the operation to take out the fortress's main power plants. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
When the Decepticons seemed to be having a run of luck, Blaster and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] found this pattern so suspicious that they teamed up with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to investigate. They eventually uncovered [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s infiltration and sent the Decepticon and his tapes packing. {{storylink|Covert Operations (Legends)|Covert Operations}} Concerned that the Decepticons might be after the technology at a scientific facility, Blaster and his tapes infiltrated the base only to find that Soundwave was already concealed inside and after the tech. {{storylink|Espionage}} Returning from a charity event, Blaster, Windcharger and Cliffjumper received a distress signal from a nearby human military base. Leading the charge, Blaster found a Decepticon raiding party scouring the base for the [[MacGuffin Generator]]. The Autobots fought the Decepticons to a stalemate until the evil robots managed to acquire the device. It proved more volatile than they expected however, and Blaster and his team helped rebuild the base after the Decepticons were blown away by the generator. {{storylink|Raiding Party}}

Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
[[File:Blaster-Bird.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{main|Bubbles#As Blaster}}

On an [[AllSpark|Eggspark]]-altered [[Piggy Island]], Blaster found himself fused with [[Bubbles]] of the [[Flock]], turning them into an [[Autobird]] that transforms into a van-like thing. Bubbles-Blaster launches a rapid-fire stream of sonic blasts that pack incredible punch and have a wide "splash damage" range, especially when paired up with his [[Autobot Mini-Cassette|cassette]] partners.

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Accessory'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Rarity'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Rosanna (AB)|Rosanna]]
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +20% Explosive Force
|
|-
|Headphones
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Damage
|
|-
|Baseball Cap
|Head
|Common
|5 Common Crystals + 2,500 Coins
| +10% Vehicle Time
|
|-
|Santa Hat
|Head
|Uncommon
|5 Uncommon Crystals + 8,000 Coins
| +10% Defense
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Festive Deely Bopper
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Snowman
|Head
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
| Holiday Event exclusive
|-
|Lion Hat
|Head
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +16% Defense
|Chinese New Year exclusive
|-
|[[Stripes]]
|Chest
|Epic
|5 Epic Crystals + 60,000 Coins
| +40% Faster Reload
|
|-
|[[Sundor]]
|Arms
|Rare
|5 Rare Crystals + 20,000 Coins
| +20% Damage
|
|}
</center>

[[File:Blaster accessory.jpeg|thumb|200px|But I'm already a [[Bubbles#As Blaster|character]] in the game!]]

Blaster is also an "Accessory" character, giving Autobirds he's attached to an increase to their EMP Rounds (probably due to his groovy, well-tuned personality). This bonus can be increased with level upgrades, won from random-prize Crates or in the "[[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower" mini-game.

He can be unlocked by purchasing him with Gems in the Barracks, with Tokens during specific [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)/Challenge Events|Challenge Events]], or won from Crates and [[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="15%" | '''Autobird'''
! scope="col" width="8%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Gem Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Red (AB)#As Blurr|Blurr]]
|Arms
|650
| EMP Rounds
|
|-
|}
</center>
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Among the random Movie quotes a random bot says are: Two can Play! Sic' em! Don't know how much longer we can hold out. We're all going to look like burnt-out toaster ovens.]]
Blaster participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who first appeared in the "Sonic Clash" event, and could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal,100 event cores, and 50 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Blaster-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Yo dawg! Let's build this base before the Cons show up!]]

Loud, proud and in-your-face, Blaster has a zest for life and an unquenchable appetite for action.
The louder and more intense it gets, the more it sparks his circuits.
The opposite of sneaky, he prefers to make his presence known, literally assaulting his enemies with sound and fury.
But his special passion is good old fashioned rock 'n' roll, and his ability to monitor multiple frequencies and channels has exposed him to a wide variety of music. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Blaster Bio}}

Blaster was in contact with Ironhide and Jetfire after the latter two and an ally raided a Decepticon outpost. Blaster suggested it would be great if they upgraded the HQ.
{{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

Blaster then helped out in the many other battles that the Autobots participated in.

*'''Class:''': Special (Deployer)
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 stars
*'''Weapons:''' Blaster uses a standard issue Photon blaster used by Jetfire and the Aerobots.
*'''Ability: Deploy Minions:''' Deploy Eject, Rewind, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn to attack targets! All have unique attacks.
**'''Cost''': 3 ability points +3 for reuses.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:blaster Blaster at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

Blaster is one of two characters that has a unique ending victory pose, in which Blaster has a chance to perform a handstand, and then start break dancing.

{{-}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:ForgedToFight-Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Impossible! Our laserfire is only making him '''stronger!'''"]]
In a surprising twist, Blaster isn't a clone of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], instead having his own unique animations and abilities. He fights using buffed-up energy attacks and his cassette allies, and, when awakened, can heal himself when struck with the enemy's ranged laser attacks.
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}}}

{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Blaster was head of Autobot communications and a master of sonic warfare. In his off-time, he was something of a party animal, and this laid-back approach to life has bled back into his career as a soldier. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game|Transformers Roleplaying Game bonus material}}

Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were deployed to an abandoned railyard in [[Colorado]] to guard a shipment of [[energon cube]]s while [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] drew the attention of the Decepticons. However, their ruse failed; the Decepticons tracked the [[Union Pacific]] train back to its point of origin, and in the ensuing battle [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and his comrades defeated Blaster and stole the energon. {{storylink|The Great Energon Robbery}}

==Toys==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Blaster (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Blaster's finalized [[character model]] was apparently not available to artist [[Don Perlin]] when he first drew Blaster in the Marvel Comic. While the final model—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives Blaster a set of individual eyes, Perlin's interpretation of the toy reference material he had to work with saw him draw Blaster with a goggled visor. Perlin's visored head design would be used throughout the Marvel run, until the last few issues, when UK artists who had taken over drawing the book rendered Blaster with his finalized model's head. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in [[robot mode]], but four in [[alternate mode]]. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster. {{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious badass seen in the comics. He arrived on the letters page in advance of his resurrection in the comics itself, which did not occur until [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #321]]. He was explicitly identified as being a non-transformer Action Master, though his partner [[Flight Pack]] did not appear.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty [[Washington, D.C.|D.C.]] hardcore"), it references "his hatred of the Decepticons", because "the war they started killed the music scene (and most of the musicians) on Cybertron"—combining Blaster's varying personalities from these two continuities into one.
**This also means Blaster is a fan of Bad Brains and Minor Threat. That rules '''so hard.'''

===Foreign names===
====Blaster====
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto''), '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto''), '''Blaster''' (ブラスター ''Burasutā'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub),
*''Czech:'' '''Reprák''' (Supermax dub, "Speaker")
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("Bombardment"), '''Lőmester''' ("Demolitions-Expert", alternate name used occasionally in the Marvel comics)
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters'')
*''Chinese:'' '''Lùyīnjī''' (China, 录音机, "Recorder"), '''Shuāng Lǚdài''' (''The Headmasters'', 双履带, "Double Pedrail")
*''Polish:'' '''Łoskot''' ("Rumble", sic!; in some episodes of cartoon)
*''Russian:'' '''Bluster''' ("Бластер", "Blaster", ''Transformers''), ''Billy'' ("Билли", ''The Headmasters'')

====Twincast====
*''Japanese:'' '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasto'')
*''English:'' '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Digital'''
*''Spanish:'' '''Platon'''

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Autobirds]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Blue Order]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combat Colin characters]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Autobots]]
[[Category:Earth Wars Earthforce]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Go! Go! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:TransTech Autobots]]
[[Category:Zombies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement]]

The Dweller in the Depths

2025-04-09T14:20:04Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig3|Dweller in the Depths}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=87
|series2=2010
|ep2=18
|prev2=Webworld
|next2=The Quintesson Journal
|image=DwellerDepths Dweller surface.jpg
|caption=Cthulhu fhtagn!
|title="The Dweller in the Depths"
|season=3
|season ep=22
|production code=700-107
|airdate=[[October 30]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Dini]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTiB-r1o_Ns
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Quintessons, as part of a new attempt at regaining Cybertron, unleash the most dangerous creature known.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:QuintessonDepth.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Start with some amoral scientists meddling with powers they cannot possibly comprehend, let alone hope to control.]]
On Cybertron, the [[Autobot]]s have just successfully activated [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]]'s new power core, which should be able to triple the planet’s energy reserves. A short distance away in their ship, the [[Quintesson]]s watch, disgusted by the success and progress of their creations. One Quintesson unveils a plan to release the [[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]], one of the early biomechanical experiments called [[Trans-Organic]]s that were developed by the Quintessons that predate the creation of the Transformers. Unable to even perform rudimentary assignments, the Trans-Organics were unstable monsters that were eventually sealed away in a hibernation chamber deep within Cybertron.

[[File:Dweller-in-the-depths-autobots-tunnelentrance.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Add a group of plucky, quirky friends who can't resist exploring the old abandoned place up the road. (Pictured: the Oddball Buddy, the Final Girl, the All-American Jock, the Creepy Old Groundskeeper, and the Responsible One.)]]
On [[Chaar]], [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is lamenting his [[Decepticon]] troops' incompetence when the Quintessons beam down to talk. The Quintessons inform Galvatron about the Autobots' new power core but purposely give him the wrong location. Galvatron, [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] arrive on Cybertron, and break into the tunnel that leads below, soon pursued by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].

In the planet's lowest levels, the Decepticons uncover a chamber full of strange organic pods, but no power core. Realizing they've been tricked, a furious Galvatron blasts the chamber's machinery... releasing the Trans-Organics from their long slumber! The motley horrors tear into the Decepticons, then turn on the Autobots when they arrive moments later.

[[File:Dweller-in-the-depths-decepticons-aiming.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Be sure to include a bunch of interchangeable nobodies who can serve as bodycount fodder. Also, a certified crazy guy who nobody really wants to be around.]]
Leaving the Autobots to deal with the creatures, the battered Decepticons flee to another chamber, searching for a way out.. only to encounter the most powerful of the monstrous experiments: The Dweller, a giant energy leech that drains living creatures of their energy.

[[File:TransOrganics.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Together they stumble across the terrors that lurk in the dark places of the world!]]
In quick order, the Dweller drains several Sweeps, all the Trans-Organics (which vaporizes their organic parts, leaving nothing but a few mechanical bits behind) and Wreck-Gar. When Springer tries to rescue him from a storage pod on the monster's back, the zombiefied Junkion drains ''his'' energy too: all the victimized Transformers have been turned into shambling [[energy vampire]]s! Kup is lost to the vampire horde as the battle continues; Arcee and Magnus finally manage to escape.

[[File:DwellerCartoon1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Then have them unleash an eldritch horror from the darkest depths of the lands below!]]
Lost in the maze of chambers and tunnels in the dark depths of Cybertron, unable to find their way back to the surface, the Decepticons find their numbers quickly whittled down by the Dweller until only Galvatron is left (it doesn't help when Galvatron starts throwing Sweeps at it to buy time for himself.)

[[File:ArceeDepth.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Go, Final Girl! Kick his tail in!]]
Even hunted by the subterranean nightmare, Galvatron can't resist the chance to attack the two last Autobots when he comes across them. Their struggle is soon interrupted by the arrival of the Dweller, which dislodges Galvatron's cannon and knocks him out. Arcee turns Galvatron's weapon against the Dweller, blasting through a wall... but rather than continuing the fight, the Dweller heads toward the power core.

[[File:VampireDepth.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Said eldritch abomination has its own army of zombies, made of the shambling corpses that were once your friends!]]
The two Autobots make it back to headquarters where they update [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and Perceptor on the situation, the energy vampires bursting in right behind them. Perceptor determines that the vampires are suffering from a unique form of energy depletion and that a power surge should restabilize their levels. The Autobots form a chain with Perceptor at the end, who plugs himself into the console and they inject the crowd of vampire with an [[energon]] surge. The surge returns the Autobots and Decepticons to normal. Cyclonus, [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]], and the Sweeps quickly escape and rejoin Galvatron in fleeing the planet.

Meanwhile, The Dweller is breaking free to the surface, getting bigger from its energy absorption, and heading for Perceptor’s generator. Knowing that it will be unstoppable once it has attached itself to the generator, Perceptor uses the emergency eject switch to launch both the generator and The Dweller on top of it into space.

As the Quintessons who hatched the plot approach Cybertron, they are puzzled to still find energy readings coming from the planet. Then they detect something else: the Dweller has been propelled directly at their ship, and soon drains it dry...

The Autobots work to recover from the loss of the power core, but consider it a small price to pay to be rid of the creature.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (1)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (5)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (11)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (12)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (7)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (8)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (10)
|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (6)
*[[Trans-Organic]]s (13)
*[[Dweller (G1)|Dweller]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:GalvatronDepth.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|I warned you kids about that place! Don't ever let me catch you near the old campground again! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MESSING WITH!!]]
"You cringy, cowardly, weak-willed fools! Why am I still stuck on this worthless, cosmic trash bin! Why have I not retaken Cybertron?! And most importantly, why have I been saddled with such a useless pile of rusting junk for followers!" 
"But, mighty Galvatron, we humble Sweeps need energon to—" 
"It's power you want?! I will give you power!"
:—'''Galvatron''' in his rage demands to know from '''Scourge''' and the Sweeps why he isn't victorious. He takes out his frustrations on them until the Quintessons arrive.

"Quintesson! You have betrayed us to the Autobots once before. Why should I trust you?" 
"Heh heh. Please, Galvatron, you can't lay one bad experience on the doorstep of the whole Quintesson race. Besides, how can you be so certain that we were the ones who betrayed you?" 
"Well...you all do look alike."
:—'''Galvatron''' and the '''Quintessons''' as the latter manipulate the Decepticon leader as part of their new plan to retake Cybertron

"YO, JOE! Here I come to save the day. ¡Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay! Can this be...the end...of little Wreck-Gar? Oh, no!"
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' saves Ultra Magnus from the Dweller's energy-draining web, only to get trapped in it himself and be drained.

[[File:DwellerDepth.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Cybertron has a C.H.U.D. problem too.]]
"Come on, Wreck-Gar, buddy! They haven't canceled your series yet!"
:—'''Springer''' frees the energy-drained Wreck-Gar from the Dweller's rear pouch.

"Be a good soldier, help him." 
"Galvatron, NO! I beg you!"
:—'''Galvatron''' sacrifices another '''Sweep''' to the energy vampires that are approaching.

"I don't know what that thing is back in the tunnels, but even if it gets me as well, I'll die with the satisfaction that the universe will have two more Autobots to mourn!"
:—'''Galvatron''' as he is about to attack Ultra Magnus and Arcee, not realising that the Dweller is fast approaching.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Along with "[[Grimlock's New Brain]]" and "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]", this is one of several episodes in which the Autobots are hard at work restoring Cybertron.
[[File:Quint rentacops.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Creepy Old Groundskeeper tells everyone the old stories about the awful things that are supposed to have happened there, but nobody believes him.]]
*We get a rare look into Cybertron's early history:
**The two-headed Quintesson recounts the story of the Trans-organics, who preceded the Transformers. (There's a parallel, doubtless unintentional, with the [[demon]]s of the Marvel Comics continuity - they were likewise an organic-esque race created before the Transformers, subsequently deemed a failure by their creator and locked away deep within the planet, only to be released in the modern day to terrorize the Transformers.)
**We also see a whole crowd of Quintessons who seem to be bearing weapons.
**The Quintessons remark on the Autobots' ancestors being the ones responsible for their exile from Cybertron.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Springer's rocket-assisted jump from underneath a pile of rubble appears to have been scripted as a rare use of his bio's "springing" power... which is undercut by the animation showing '''''all''''' the trapped Autobots making the same rocket-jump as Springer does to get themselves free.
*When the Dweller drains all the energy from a Transformer, it turns grey - a convention that normally represents death for a Transformer.
*The two Quintessons arrive on Chaar in a blazing column of energy, as if teleporting.
*Standing over the fallen Galvatron, Magnus makes the curious remark that "We'll send the Junkions around for him later." Were they going to salvage Galvatron for spare parts?
*The shot of the Autobots watching the core get blasted away is very similar to the shot of them watching Unicron's head get blasted away (in "[[Ghost in the Machine (G1)|Ghost in the Machine]]"). Only, here they aren't cheering and Wreck-Gar is standing where Kup was.
* There is an unusual hint of sarcasm in Cyclonus' voice when he delivers the line, "Galvatron, I'm relieved you got away, my lord." It's almost as if the unquestionably loyal Cyclonus is getting a bit tired of being used as cannon fodder.

===Real-world references===
*This episode is heavily influenced by the writings of [[H. P. Lovecraft]]. In particular, the Dweller appears to be based on {{w|Cthulhu}} and the Trans-Organics' backstory is similar to the {{w|Shoggoth}}s.
*Wreck-Gar quotes the catchphrases of both the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team and {{w|Mighty Mouse}}.
**"¡Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!" is a Spanish-Cuban quote popularized by Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) in ''{{w|I Love Lucy}}''.
**"Can this be...the end...of little Wreck-Gar?" parodies the dying words of Edward G. Robinson's title character in ''{{w|Little Caesar (film)|Little Caeser}}''.
**Wreck-Gar even stays in character after he's a vampire, crying out "Feed me!" before latching on to Springer - a moment of genre-savvy gallows humor, as he's quoting the ravenous plant Audrey II from ''Little Shop of Horrors''.
**"Y'all don't come back now, ya hear?" plays on a line made famous in the closing theme song of ''The Beverly Hillbillies''.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**Lots of clashing and sparking [[lightsaber]]s when people's energy is being drained (or restored), and again when Magnus blasts the pile of rubble away from the Dweller chamber.
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as the power core is jettisoned.

===Animation and technical errors===
*The episode's second shot shows either a monstrously huge Springer (hovering over a building), or an absolutely ''tiny'' Magnus, Arcee and Perceptor (barely visible in the building's windows.)
*"It's completed at last!" This peculiar shot seems intended to show the ''reflections'' of Magnus, Perceptor and Arcee as they watch Springer place the power core through the building's window (Perceptor's cannon is on the opposite side from usual; and the trio's placement is reversed in the next shot, which includes their reflections.) But they're drawn totally solid, making it look like they've turned their backs on the very event they're so happy to be watching.
*"There's Rodimus Prime's signal" - Arcee is looking right at ''Springer'' as she says this.
**And where is Rodimus during all this, anyway?
*Five Voices of Doom:
**With no Judges in this episode, their usual voices are reassigned to other makes of [[Quintesson]]. [[Regis Cordic]]'s "Quintesson #1" voice is given to the Prosecutor type, while [[Roger C. Carmel]]'s "Quintesson #2" voice emanates from the bulbous-headed Scientist. The two-faced Engineer exclusive to this episode, performed by [[Tony Pope]], shares his voice with [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] from "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]."
**When the Quintessons detect the Dweller approaching their ship, the Scientist speaks with the Prosecutor's voice.
*"Surely you have not forgotten our first experiments" - none of the three Quintessons' energy beams are actually reaching the floor. The two-headed one also moves to the controls at an incredibly slow pace.
*As usual, Galvatron's chin changes from dark grey to grey throughout the episode.
*As the Quintesson scientist notes that the power core mission is a "peace offering" to Galvatron, the Prosecutor Quintesson's face is brown instead of green; he's also standing there with his mouth gaping wide open.
[[File:DwellerDepths Hibernation chamber.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The strange, ominous devices that you don't know what they do but it surely can't be good? Be SURE to mess with those. Preferably for no good reason at all.]]
*Magically appearing Sweeps:
**4 Sweeps are shown entering the tunnels, and entering the Trans-Organic chamber.
**5 Sweeps are shown fleeing the Trans-Organic chamber, and having their energy drained at subsequent points.
**6 Sweeps are shown departing Cybertron.
*When Galvatron and the Sweeps are entering the abandoned shaft, Galvatron's head is tiny.
*The intent seems to be that Springer used his springing power, or a rocket-powered equivalent, to smash a path out of the rubble... but the animation shows ''all'' the Autobots leaping free all at once. Arcee and Magnus both get rocket thruster trails in addition to Springer.
*Two Sweeps, and Cyclonus, suffer visible damage as they battle the Trans-Organics, including a ''very'' badly mauled shoulder for one of the Sweeps. None of their injuries are visible after the shots where they happen.
*Just before a commercial break, as Cyclonus is being chased by a Trans-Organic, the rectangle on his chest isn't colored (it should be orange).
*"Galvatron, stop him! Noooooo!" Cyclonus's cry goes on well after the Trans-Organic that's assaulting him is blasted away.
*A recycled shot makes it look like the spike-mouthed bear creature has been standing there the whole time, with the bird-creature still perched on his shoulder the whole time.
[[File:Dweller-in-the-depths-autobots-mauledsweep.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Be sure to show a ton of gory, horrific injuries for maximum shock effect!]]
*As the Autobots enter the chamber where the Decepticons are battling the Trans-Organics, Magnus has a visor instead of separate optics.
*The first Sweep to be drained by the Dweller emits some garbled gibberish after saying "Where?!", before anything's happened to him. Then he screams in Galvatron's voice, despite having had a much higher-pitched raspy voice a second earlier.
*"Have to try and transform!" - Arcee's mouth doesn't move for the first part of this line.
*Kup has red eyes when the vampires grab him.
*"So much for them!" - the opening of Galvatron's cannon is colored solid orange.
*When Galvatron throws the last Sweep at the group of "vampires," the Sweep's Decepticon logo has an overly large crest.
*Cyclonus is running away from the Dweller when he swats off its first netting attempt; when the second attempt snares him in the next shot, he's just standing there, facing the Dweller.
*"I don't know what that thing is back in the tunnels" - the opening of Galvatron's cannon is light gray.
*When Magnus leaps at Galvatron, Arcee - previously on his right - has vanished.
*Galvatron is then inexplicably lying on the ground before Magnus even gets to him; he was standing up, aiming his cannon at the two Autobots, just a second before.
*As he walks toward the fallen Galvatron, Ultra Magnus's Autobot logo is missing, briefly flashes into existence, then disappears again.
*When Arcee and Magnus note that they'll come for Galvatron later, both of them are missing their Autobot logos (and most of their detailing as well).
*When Perceptor notes the "unknown force," his Autobot logo is lined in black instead of white. This happens several more times over the rest of episode.
*The next shot has the lights going dim, well before the Dweller has reached the power core.
*Ultra Magnus and Arcee arrive a shot later, Arcee's Autobot logo disappears for a frame.
*As Magnus explains about the Dweller, Rodimus is missing his spoiler.
*As Magnus says, "So what can we do about it?," Arcee is missing her "wings."
*When he hits the console with his arm tool, Perceptor's chest is white instead of red; it briefly flashes red as he pulls out of the console.
*When the vampire-bots are restored, Kup and Springer's glowing red eye effects are misaligned with their eyes. It looks like they're wearing reading glasses. (EVIL reading glasses!) The glow effects also remain after they return to their otherwise-normal colors.
[[File:Dwelleroptimusgeneric.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The police and military are helpless against this viperous malevolence!]]
*When the Dweller bursts out, two successive shots show [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] and [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] firing on it, but they're completely miscolored. Groove is two shades of orange; Streetwise has Ultra Magnus's colors in the first shot, and is mostly medium blue in the second. [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] is also briefly visible in the first shot, miscolored as [[Eject (G1)|Eject]].
*As he notes releasing the power core is the only way to stop the creature, Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line.
*As the Dweller reaches the core, its eyes are black instead of glowing yellow.
*"Now!" - Rodimus' helmet is missing its horizontal line.
*As the Autobots watch the core blast off, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
*As the Dweller drains the Quintesson ship, its glowing-eye effect flashes off and on, in synch with the lights on the ship. It also doesn't actually affix its mouth to the ship. The glow-effect is still missing when the shot is recycled at the episode's end.
*As Perceptor works on the auxiliary generator, his right hand can be seen ''through'' a pillar.
*In the next shot, Arcee's nose is missing its bridge.

===Continuity errors===
*"Through the ages, many groups of Quintessons have tried to retake Cybertron, but none have succeeded." Their efforts must have been ''very'' subtle, as nobody, on either the Autobot or Decepticon sides has had any awareness of them over the last 9 million years. There was even a [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|four million year period]] where most of them were offline on a distant planet, yet they still don't seem to have done much about this ambition. Unless [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] and his [[Cybertron Guard|crew]] fended them off and never told anyone.
*Galvatron's claim that the Quintessons "betrayed us ''to the Autobots''" doesn't really describe any of the Decepticons' encounters with them; presumably it's in reference to their deceitful alliance in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".
*Why are Arcee and Magnus ''trembling'' at Galvatron's approach? Even if it was in character for either of them, they've already had like two fights with him in this episode alone!
*Galvatron and the Decepticons were trounced by the Dweller - but then Arcee is able to use Galvatron's cannon to blast the Dweller through a wall and force it to retreat.

===Trivia===
[[File:Dweller-in-the-depths-sweep-lastmanstanding.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Give the lesser bad guys some endearing traits so we feel bad when they inevitably fall victim to the woebegotten wyrm.]]
[[File:Quint two faced.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|The amoral scientists, of course, get it in the end.]]
*There is some notably lovely artwork in this episode. Shots such as the Quintesson's face being destroyed, Arcee straining against the Dweller's web, and the damaged Sweep falling to the ground, get extra amounts of loving mechanical detail. There's careful shading on lots of characters, and plenty of dynamic poses and well-proportioned characters.
*The eyes on the last two Sweeps standing are absolutely huge - normally we'd call it an animation error, but it seems intended to show their state of complete terror.
*When Cyclonus calls for help from Galvatron after the Dweller grabs him, Galvatron turns and...actually ''hesitates'' for a moment before moving on. The animation even makes it look like Galvatron's 'eyebrows' raise up in shock/horror.
*Galvatron comments that all Quintessons look the same, yet this episode features some of the more disparate designs in place of the usual five-faced Quints.
*In similar fashion to "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]", this episode was adapted by Marvel as a fill-in comic issue. It was never published, but held in reserve as a "backup" in case of a deadline emergency. Inked and uncolored pages from the adaptation [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.897077043664280.1073741917.166738590031466&type=1 surfaced online] in 2015; while generally faithful to the episode, several differences are notable:
**Rodimus, not Springer, is shown giving the signal to activate the power core, and reacting with a "Wow!"
**The Quintessons have a completely different design.
**When Magnus orders Galvatron to halt, Galvatron's "Of course, Ultra Magnus!" response has a logical concluding line, "It gives me better aim!" - presumably cut from the episode for whatever reason.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le monstre des profondeurs'''" ("The Monster of the Depths")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode has been dubbed (or maybe re-dubbed) in the 2000s by a brand new team (including voice actors from the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' dubbing team like [[Bruno Magne]] and [[Frédéric Cerdal]]). This was probably on demand from [[Déclic Images]] for their DVD collection. That may be because the original dub was lost or not usable. It is unknown if a dubbing of this episode was made in the 1980s and if so, where it is.
::*Despite this new dub being made in France, all the robots are called by their Canadian French names.
::*Interestingly, the names "Autobots" and "Decepticons" are pronounced the English way. At the time of this late dub, French audience was used to hear "Autobots" the French way and "Decepticans", in the G1 dub but also in the Unicron Trilogy dubs.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Moloch der Tiefe'''" ("The Dweller in the Depths")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Terrore dal profondo'''" ("Terror from the Deep")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Colui che dimora nelle profondità'''" ("He who Lives in the Depths")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' セイバートロン星の吸血鬼 (''Cybertron-sei no Kyūketsuki'', "The Vampires of Planet Cybertron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 27]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shēnyuān lǐ de Jūzhùzhě '''" (深渊里的居住者, "The Dweller in the Depths")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Morador das Profundezas'''" ("The Dweller in the Depths")
:*''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 "das Profundezas", but it's a safe bet that the full title is a direct translation from the original English.

'''Latin Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El Morador de las Profundidades'''" ("The Dweller in the Depths")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Obeetuhtel' nedr '''" (Обитатель недр, "The Dweller of the Depths")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 18 ([[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=1HO3LosGtnq8VyV99uWKqjelWVe0-Su91 Episode dialogue script]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dweller in the Depths}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Fight or Flee (episode)

2025-04-09T14:17:58Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 episode|the ''Punishment'' issue|Fight or Flee (issue)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|ep=86
|series2=2010
|ep2=15
|prev2=Carnage in C-Minor
|next2=Ghost in the Machine (G1)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=24
|prev3=The Ultimate Weapon
|next3=Transport to Oblivion
|image=Fight or Flee Paradrons enslaved.JPG
|caption="Man, I hate menial labor. Don't they have machines that can do this?"
|title="Fight or Flee"
|production code=700-106
|airdate=[[October 15]], 1986
|season=3
|season ep=21
|written by=[[Tony Cinciripini]] [[Larry Leahy]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-8bI8joNCQ
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Decepticons conquer Paradron, a world inhabited by pacifistic Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Fightorflee Cyclonus Scourge Superion.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|He looks smaller in person.]]
In space, [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] are pursuing [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]. Following him into an asteroid field, the two Decepticons are surprised to see the other [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. In the firefight, Scourge is damaged, so Cyclonus argues that they charge them. However, the Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and do further damage to the Decepticons. Cyclonus spots a vortex and decides to take refuge in it. Once they've passed through, they find a planet that looks similar to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] during the [[Golden Age]]. Further analysis is discontinued, however, as they crash hard.

Nursed back to health by the natives, the Decepticons discover that the planet, called [[Paradron]], is inhabited by Autobots. Native [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] greets the two Decepticons, explaining their pacifistic ways, but Cyclonus and Scourge get a little too much [[energon]]... of which the planet has an unlimited supply. Contacting [[Chaar]], they inform [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] of the discovery. Sandstorm calls an assembly, warning the populace that Cyclonus and Scourge are dangerous, but the others ignore his warnings. Soon enough, the Decepticons arrive and declare the planet a part of the [[Decepticon Empire]]. Naturally, the Paradrons don't agree with that, one claiming outright that the planet is a [[democracy]]. Galvatron shoots the dissenter.

[[File:Fightorflee Sandstorm spacecraft.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Gotta get to Facebook! My crops aren't going to harvest themselves!"]]
Taken to a prison, Sandstorm manages to escape, but [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] follow him. They knock him off a bridge, but Sandstorm flies away and manages to lose the two Decepticons. Heading for a long-abandoned spaceship, Sandstorm manages to power it up and take off, narrowly avoiding [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]].

Making contact with the Autobots, Sandstorm explains that his ancestors left Cybertron during the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|fourth great war]] to escape the violence. The Autobots, knowing that they can't let the Decepticons have Paradron's energon, head for the planet. By now, the Decepticons have dug in and are using the Paradrons as slave labor. Detecting an incoming Autobot ship, the Decepticons use their [[molecular cannon]] to fire right through one of Paradron's moons, utterly obliterating the ship and the moon. Believing the Autobots destroyed, they carry on with business - but the ship is a decoy, and the Autobots launch their actual invasion from the other moon. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes a team to secure the energon, while [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] takes [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], Sandstorm, and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to rescue the prisoners.

[[File:Fightorflee Rodimus explosion.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Dreamwave... The New Wave of Comics]]
Breaking through the prison defenses, the Autobots present the Paradrons with weapons, but the latter are reluctant to fight. Sandstorm claims that their forefathers would fight as well. The Autobot leader gives them a simpler choice: fight or flee. Reluctantly, the Paradrons take up arms.

[[File:Fightorflee Ultramagnus Sandstorm bomb.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Nice scenery." "Yeah, let's waste it! I hate nice things!"]]
Unfortunately, the Decepticons' control over the planet is too firm. Unwilling to let them have Paradron, Rodimus orders Ultra Magnus to destroy the energon core, which will destroy the planet. Sandstorm objects at first, but agrees to the plan when he learns that the Paradrons can live on Cybertron. Using escape pods, the Paradrons flee the planet, while Magnus and Sandstorm head for the core. Planting a time bomb, the two Autobots hightail it out of there. Galvatron sneers at their cowardice, then remembers that Magnus is anything but a coward. Realizing that something is wrong, Galvatron orders the Decepticons to abandon the planet.

From space, the Autobots watch the planet explode. Sandstorm remarks that even in death, it's still beautiful. Rodimus callously says that Cybertron is better anyway.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (3)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (4)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (5)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (9)
*[[Paradron Medic]] (10)
*[[Playback (G1)|Communication Autobot]] (11)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (22)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (23)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (26)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (1)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (2)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (14)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (15)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (16)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (17)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (18)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (19)
*"[[Blast (G1)|Black Thrust]]" (25)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (27)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (29)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (30)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (31)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (32)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (33)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (34)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (35)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Scourge:''' "Are they gonna take us prisoner, or blow us away?" 
'''Sandstorm:''' "Welcome to Paradron, friends!" 
'''Scourge:''' "You don't think this is what happens when you get deactivated, do you?" 
'''Cyclonus:''' "Who knows, Scourge, who knows..." 
:- '''Scourge''' and '''Cyclonus''' are very confused.

"Hey! I'm stuck up here!" 
"Everybody's got to be somewhere."
:—A '''Paradronian''' and '''Cyclonus''', after Scourge kicks the former into a wall.

[[File:FightOrFlee Galvatron orders.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Before a society can move forward, everyone must agree on the rules. Now kneel!"
:—Come, sons of Paradron, kneel before '''Galvatron'''!

[[File:FightorFlee future autobots.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"I-is there something wrong with his timing program?"
:—'''Sandstorm''', asking the question we're all thinking about Blurr.

"What do we have here?" 
"I believe it is an Autobot invasion party." 
"I KNOW what it is." 
"Didn't you just ask me what we had here?!" 
"It was just a figure of speech! TURN THE MOLECULAR CANNON ON THEM!!"
:—'''Galvatron''''s high-falutin' fancy talk is just too much for '''Bruticus''' to grasp.

"I've never seen anything this beautiful in the entire galaxy.... All right, give me the bomb."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' with one of the greatest lines in the multiverse.

"Run, you Autobot cowards! Hhh...but he isn't a coward.... Something's wrong here!"
:—'''Galvatron''' mocks Ultra Magnus, then realizes they're in deep [[Slag (slang)|slag]].

"It's as beautiful in death as it was in life." 
"Well, no need to get all mushy. Cybertron's a better place anyway — not so...perfect!"
:—A solemn '''Sandstorm''' witnessing the destruction of his home while '''Rodimus Prime''' callously mocks him for it. Jerk.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script: 11th July 1986
* Script finalised by [[Flint Dille]]: 11th July 1986; at this point, it is titled "Fight or Die"
* Dialogue recording: 31st July 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:ParadronMedicCartoon1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Helloooooo, Nurse!]]
*The [[Paradron Medic]]s are basically a recycled version of [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]]'s character model.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Sandstorm unveils a hidden wrist cutter.
**[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] has the same hidden camera gimmick in his [[beast mode]]'s forehead as [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]].
*Paradron would appear in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Micromasters|''Micromasters'' comic]] and be the location of [[Golden Disk (Paradron)|an important plot device]].

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects - all from Divebomb's one scene:
**[[TIE Fighter]] roar as he first appears, closing in on Sandstorm...
**[[Death Star]] superlaser as he climbs to attack...
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as he loops around...
**[[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] whine as he dives toward the ship...
**and [[Darth Vader]] TIE Fighter roar as he closes in.

===Animation and technical errors===
*At the beginning of the episode, Cyclonus's gun sounds like Galvatron's cannon. This occurs throughout the scene, though in some shots it has the typical Decepticon laser sound.
*One shot of Air Raid standing on an asteroid shows him coloured as Superion.
*The other four Aerialbots get a transformation sound as they emerge from behind the asteroid, but they aren't actually transforming.
*[[Surprise Party|Once again]], Cyclonus's face looks different. Here, he has no "beard" and his eyebrows are white (except in certain shots, such as when he and Scourge spot the vortex, where he has the purple beard again).
*Coloring errors:
**Silverbolt has Superion's color scheme (red arms, dark gray head) just before he transforms into Superion's torso.
**When Scourge delivers his line "The same goes for me..." as Cyclonus finishes drinking from the energon fountain, Cyclonus has Sandstorm's color scheme. Sandstorm himself is also colored entirely orange during this moment.
**The optic visor of one of the muttering Paradronians flashes from cream to blue and back as he steps forward.
**"Too bad we didn't get to bump him around more" - Brawl's mouthplate changes from the correct deep orange to the same yellow as his eyeband. Razorclaw's visor is colored the darker yellow of his helmet instead of the correct lighter yellow.
**When Razorclaw and Brawl dive into the gorge, Razorclaw's black bits (arms, legs) are light gray.
**When they land a few shots later, Razorclaw still has light gray arms and legs; Brawl has white hands and lots of light gray in places it shouldn't be.
**Sandstorm's helmet is light gray instead of black as he gets his escape ship operational.
***And again as he starts to tell Paradron's history.
**"Make the slaves work faster!" - Blitzwing's helmet is purple instead of yellow.
**Rodimus's gun is light gray instead of black as he takes out the security camera.
**When Rodimus opens the door to the prison, Sky Lynx's upper portion is colored like this lower portion.
**When Rodimus tells Sandstorm to give the Paradrons the weapons, his spoiler is all-yellow. (It should be orange in the middle.)
**Scrapper and Long Haul are colored in Sweep-esque shades of blue as Galvatron gives the order to charge.
**When Magnus, Wheelie, and Blurr are ambushed, a shot panning across a group of Decepticons gives us Long Haul in [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|a bizarre blue-and-orange color scheme]], previously seen in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", which persists throughout this scene. Also present are Soundwave with a white cannon, no mouthplate and two fuzzy dots for eyes, Scrapper in a Predacon color scheme, and Galvatron with a white cannon.
[[File:ParadronGenerics.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:FightorFlee Paradron communicator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*The Paradronians are a peculiar lot. Often they're portrayed as extremely generic robots across the board, with optic visors, mouthplates, and utterly generic bodies. And then once in a while, a highly detailed guy like the [[Playback|communication Autobot]] will turn up in their midst.
**Likewise, their colors change around a lot. In some shots they're all in an off-white color scheme, while in other shots of the same groups, they're more colorful - most notable as an all-cream group aboard an escape ship changes to multiple colors in the following shot.
**The Paradronians' Autobot logos are drawn/colored inconsistently throughout the episode. Some are missing areas of the symbol, others are colored only halfway, and others are drawn in rather poorly (especially during the assembly). In most group shots, they're missing entirely (only to show up when we get a close-up).
*As Cyclonus draws his weapon and notes that the Paradronians are not armed, the Decepticon brand usually seen on his chest is missing; meanwhile, Scourge's head seems to have sunk into his shoulders.
*When Cyclonus and Scourge contact Chaar, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] turns around and speaks - in [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]'s voice! He even uses Shrapnel's unique repetition of dialogue, dialogue.
*When Cyclonus and Scourge plot against the Paradronians during Sandstorm's assembly, [[Scale|Scourge is drawn way shorter than Cyclonus.]]
*Scourge is drawn in the head-sticking-up version of his hovercraft mode as he transforms in the auditorium.
*Scourge returns to [[robot mode]] without any transformation sound.
*The Decepticons shown landing on the stage with Galvatron all appear to be generic. (Their color schemes bear some resemblance to [[Krok (G1)|Krok]], [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]], [[Horri-Bull]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]], [[Roadgrabber]], and [[Cloudburst]], though almost none of those characters had yet been created!)
*When the Decepticons land on Paradron, Soundwave is missing all his cassette player buttons.
*Galvatron's chin is darker than the rest of his face in this episode.
*A generic asks "What about Sandstorm?" His faceplate is woobering both before and after he speaks.
*Sandstorm is shown to have escaped through a barred window that's much, much smaller than he is.
[[File:FightorFlee RazorclawBrawl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As Razorclaw and Brawl chase Sandstorm, one shot of Brawl shows a starry night sky, but the rest show a blue, Earth-like sky.
*Divebomb never actually fires on Sandstorm; his eyes flash once, and then in the next shot we see some missiles flying at the launch site. No visual of him firing; no firing sound effects.
*Divebomb's eagle mode is consistently drawn with his robot legs not folded up correctly, leaving them trailing behind him. As he goes back into robot mode, the transformation sound is cut off at the end.
*When Bruticus says, "I believe it is an Autobot invasion party," Galvatron mouths the line simultaneously. Bruticus's mouthplate is off-center, revealing the same red as his optics beneath it, and it flashes out a couple of times as he speaks. Galvatron's left arm isn't completely drawn as it only shows the shoulder to the elbow. Everything below is missing until he turns to face Bruticus.
*After the decoy ship is destroyed, Galvatron is suddenly a head shorter than Bruticus. The next frame has him being properly shorter than Bruticus.
*As Rodimus addresses the Autobots on Paradron's moon, a whole host of goofs can be spotted:
**The late [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] are in the crowd. Ratchet's headcrest is white instead of gray.
**Hot Spot is two shades of gray with a helmet in two shades of blue. He should be almost entirely light blue.
**Streetwise(?) is colored like Red Alert.
**Groove's head is light blue instead of black, and his body appears to be orange.
**Sunstreaker's shoulders and back are in the crowd, but not his head; he's got some light blue that shouldn't be there.
**Springer, or something like him, is colored orange instead of green.
**Wheeljack also appears in this scene, at the far right edge of the crowd.
*When Rodimus gives the ultimatum for the Paradronians to "Fight...or flee!", and the slaves kneel to pick up weapons off of the floor... the weapons aren't there! They appear in the slaves' hands as they take them up - making it appear as if they're plucking weapons from thin air.
*Also, when Rodimus gives the order, his left shoulder is missing its white detailing.
*The mis-colored Long Haul fires a rocket at a stand labeled, "NEWS PAPEP."
*When Rodimus gets the transmission from Ultra Magnus, his head crest is yellow, then lined incorrectly, then ''missing'' all lines in subsequent shots.
*When Wheelie finds the door in the floor, the lines around Magnus's eyes are too thick (like he's wearing mascara!).
*Sandstorm's size relative to the other Autobots varies drastically: When interrogated, he looks huge; when descending the steps to the core chamber, he's half the size of Ultra Magnus; when handing Magnus the bomb, they're roughly the same size.
*When Sandstorm and Magnus duck from the missile, the top of Magnus's back is red instead of (the now-established) grey.
*Galvatron fires on Magnus and Sandstorm with no sound effect. The Kid Rhino version fixes this by not having him fire at all, but in return, the shot pans down in a way that looks like the camera was simply moved down a stationary animation cel.
*During his "but he isn't a coward" line, Galvatron's chin is back to being the same color as the rest of his face.
*While Rodimus counts down to Paradron's destruction, Sandstorm and Ultra Magnus get transformation sound effects as they leap down into the shot. Did they drive all the way to the moon?
*As Rodimus counts down the final seconds of the bomb, his head crest is missing its lines.
*Galvatron has a Predacon color scheme as he takes off from the collapsing tower.
*Paradron starts to explode - then the shot changes, and the planet is gone! The explosion is still there, but there's no trace of the planet's globe.
*As the Autobots watch the explosion, Magnus's Autobot logo is colored solid blue.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:FightOrFlee Molecular Cannon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"I will not be deprived of this fun! Even if it means being in two places at once!"]]
*Although this episode gives Sandstorm's origin, he first appeared in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]". [[Starscream's Brigade|Gee, that's ''never'' happened before.]] [[To sell toys|Wonder why]]?
*Bruticus's role in this episode is utterly bizarre; it is tempting to assume that Cyclonus was supposed to be scripted in his place:
**He's shown hanging out with Galvatron in a control center, acting as Galvatron's right hand man.
**He's depicted as only slightly taller than Galvatron.
**He is noticeably eloquent, speaking in full, normal sentences, in his otherwise normal voice.
**His components are seen separately from him throughout - most notably, we see him in the control room, then see Brawl (Bruticus's leg) firing the molecular cannon, then immediately cut back to Bruticus in the control room.
*[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|Despite being banished by Galvatron earlier]], [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] can be seen among Galvatron's troops when he orders them to make the slaves work faster.
*Flying Autobots:
**The Autobots burst out of the moon and fly down to Paradron's surface, each trailing rocket exhaust.
*Sandstorm claims his ancestors left during the fourth great war. According to "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", the [[Great War (G1)|current war]] is the ''Third'' Cybertronian War. The terminology does leave some leeway, though.
*Ultra Magnus gives a five-minute countdown after setting the bomb. Not the usual ''astro''-minutes, just minutes.

===Trivia===
[[File:Fight-or-flee-springer-magnus-rodimus-sandstorm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Well, no need to get all GEEWUNny. Rodimus Prime's a better leader, anyway. Not so... perfect!]]
*So, that whole ending with the Autobots destroying Paradron. It's not exactly a great look, is it? Well, that's because it's a holdover from an earlier version of the script, which contained a subplot deleted from the finished version of the episode. In this extended version of the story, the Decepticons turned Paradron into a colossal mobile battle fortress, with Galvatron forcing a Paradronian scientist to build huge [[planetary engine|ion thrusters]] that would move the planet through space. With that in mind, it's a lot easier to understand why the Autobots felt it necessary to destroy the converted planet.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oWp-XGPd1Ogf4zZJ4B0BMeFRZsGbSGcz/view "Fight or Flee" script] via the [https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/mp-700-transformers-part-2-1986-1987.html Sunbow and Marvel Productions Script/Storyboard Archive].</ref>
*Some interesting generics appear for a split second during Sandstorm's story: Blitzwing colored like Fireflight, Ramjet colored as Air Raid, and an all-black Dirge and [[Blast (G1)|Thrust]].
*Unlike the [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|two]] [[The Dweller in the Depths|episodes]] that surround it, this episode uses none of the new background music tracks that were introduced to the series beginning with "[[Nightmare Planet]]". As this episode also depicts the formal introduction of Sandstorm, who is otherwise first seen in "Starscream's Ghost", ostensibly produced 11 episodes prior, it is ''possible'' that this episode suffered production delays and was subsequently assigned a different production number (a not unheard of occurrence in television production). As yet, however, no production documentation has surfaced to confirm this.
*Rodimus Prime destroys an entire planet rather than let the Decepticons have it, and isn't too kind to Sandstorm as he mourns its loss. And people wonder why so many prefer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]!

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''Se battre ou s'enfuir'''" ("Fight or Flee")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost. The French DVD editions use the Canadian French dub instead.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*The effect on the robot voices is stronger than usual, making them sound more like aliens.
:::*Soundwave delivers his only line with a very funny voice and way of speaking.
:::*Rodimus Prime is called by his toy name "Rodimus Primo" instead of "Rodimus Primus".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wenn du nicht kämpfst, wirst du sterben!'''" ('"If you don't fight, you're going to die!")
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' '''Eine vollkommene Welt''' ("A perfect World")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Il paradiso perduto'''" ("Paradise Lost")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Brawl's line: «I will not be deprived of this fun» is changed to: «I won't deprive you of this fun», while he should have said: «You won't deprive me of this fun» instead.
::*Although Rodimus's countdown is dubbed, the numbers are strangely still in English.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Combattere o fuggire'''" ("Fight or Flee")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 戦いか死か!? (''Tatakai ka Shi ka!?'', "Fight or Death!?")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 6]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title'': ''Jué Sǐ Yī Zhàn'' (决死一战, "Fight or Death")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Lutar ou Morrer'''" ("Fight or Die")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title'': ''Sruzhuites' eelee begiteh'' (Сражайтесь или бегите, "Fight or Run")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:TFSS-5.0-Lifeline-with-Quickslinger.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''''Transformers Collectors' Club'' [[Lifeline (G1)#COmbiner Wars|Lifeline]] with [[Quickslinger (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]] (TFSS 5.0, 2016)}}</ul>
:A [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Arcee (G1)/toys#Generations|Arcee]], ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Lifeline is packaged with her [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] partner [[Quickslinger (G1)#Generations|Quickslinger]].

:This figure is intended to represent not only the new comic character Lifeline but also the [[Paradron Medic]] (making her a potential [[army-building]] toy). Due to the nature of the mold, Lifeline has Arcee's shoulder kibble while the cartoon model for the Paradron Medic, [[:File:ParadronMedicCartoon1.jpg|seen above]], doesn't.

{{-}}
[[File:TF-Legacy-United-Leader-Sandstorm.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''G1 Triple Changer Sandstorm''' (Leader Class, [[2024]])}}</ul>

{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Koki Yamada]] (TakaraTomy)<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/markclonus/p/C3RMSAAMAlo/ Design notes on ''Legacy'' Sandstorm] from [[Hasbro]] designer [[Mark Maher]] on Instagram.</ref>|[[Matthew Cohen]] (photography)<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Honing in on Transformers! Here's my photos of the newly revealed Legacy United Leader Sandstorm! This shoot represents my first serious Transformers dio since joining the company. Hopefully the first of more to come!|link=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3B7Zp5s-Ao/|site=Instagram|name=Matthew Cohen|year=2024|month=2|day=6}}</ref>}}

:''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: United]]'' Leader Class "G1 Triple Changer Sandstorm" comes with a small pistol modeled after the soldering iron tool he uses to cut jail cell bars while imprisoned.

{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — The Action Adventure Collection IV (Tempo Video) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / Fight or Flee (Tempo Video)
;{{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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 19 ([[Déclic Images]]) — Canadian 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)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oWp-XGPd1Ogf4zZJ4B0BMeFRZsGbSGcz Full episode script submitted 11th July 1986]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)

2025-04-09T14:15:55Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the comic adaptation of this episode|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|image=Big Broadcast subliminal message.JPG
|caption=The judge is on the court, bweeeeeeeeeoooop!
|prev=The Ultimate Weapon
|next=Fight or Flee (episode)
|ep=85
|series2=2010
|ep2=21
|prev2=The Ultimate Weapon
|next2=Only Human
|title="The Big Broadcast of 2006"
|season=3
|season ep=20
|production code=700-105
|airdate=[[November 12]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Reaves]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lmRZ1RnWg
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Attempting to retrieve their lost records journal, the Quintessons use subliminal messages on the Junkions, and inadvertently the entire galaxy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Sharkticons journal.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"THE PRIME RIB IS GONE!"]]

On the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and his [[Nancy|special lady friend]] are concluding a fine day of watching television... as observed by the inquisitive [[Quintesson]]s, who are searching for one of their lost [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. After observing the native [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], the Quintessons send a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] retrieval team. The Sharkticons locate the journal quickly, but Wreck-Gar leads a force of Junkions against them and drives them off.

The Quintessons hijack the [[television]] [[Space-Age Jack|broadcasts]] the Junkions watch, planting subliminal messages telling the Junkions that being neat is a good thing... and the other races are their enemies. Wreck-Gar and his people are soon cleaning up and sorting out their accumulated detritus, and soon find the journal that the Quintessons seek.

[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Nancy explodes.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|They always fall for the exploding machine trick.]]

Travelling through the Junkion sector, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] comes under attack by [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. While the two battle, the Junkions fire on ''both'' [[Transformer]]s. Sky Lynx races back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and informs [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to investigate. Astrotrain also returns to [[Chaar]] to report his encounter, but [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] doesn't care. [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], however, is interested, and takes [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] to investigate.

The Aerialbots arrive over Junkion, and are attacked by both the Junkions and the Quintessons. The Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and target the Quintessons. Superion inflicts massive damage on the Quintesson ship, but is knocked out in the process and rescued by Sky Lynx. The Quintessons withdraw.

Wreck-Gar and his cohort are eager to get back to watching television, but Cyclonus and the Sweeps arrive to investigate, prompting another battle. The Decepticons withdraw after Cyclonus is satisfied with his observations.

[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Omega Supreme looming.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Omega Supreme has yet to realise that he isn't good at playing Hide and Seek.]]

The Quintessons discover that Superion's attack damaged the transmitter sending the messages to the Junkions, causing the Junkions to believe that they should transmit their broadcasts to other races. The [[Delta Pavonis IV|affected races]] soon begin lashing out at their neighbors, causing what promises to become an interstellar dark age. The Quintessons see a good possibility here, as they can sell weapons to the warring races, but decide that the recovery of the journal is the higher priority.

Back on Chaar, Galvatron displays anger at Cyclonus for going to investigate Junkion, but Cyclonus continues on, believing that to turn the Junkions on the [[Autobot]]s is too good an opportunity for the [[Decepticon]]s. Hoping to find answers, Rodimus, Magnus, [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] head to investigate in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], but come under attack by Cyclonus and the Sweeps. Omega is damaged, and the Autobots draw the Decepticons away from the wounded [[Guardian robot]]. Finally, Omega Supreme is repaired, and the Decepticons retreat.

[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Junkions Blaster broadcast.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|We're sorry, but this wiki has exceeded its quota of "compensating for something" jokes.]]

Meanwhile, the affected races have converged on Junkion, and are firing on everyone in sight. Chaar has also been targeted, and Galvatron is drawn into the bedlam. Knowing they have one chance, the Quintessons make a move for the journal, but a stray blast from Galvatron damages their shuttle and sends the journal hurtling into the void. Arriving, Blaster determines that the transmissions are the cause of the violence, and sends out transmissions to counter them. Their senses restored, the Junkions stop fighting everyone... and start concentrating on the Decepticons, who retreat. Rodimus asks Wreck-Gar what happened, but Wreck-Gar doesn't know.

Returning to their ship, the two Quintessons prepare to accept their punishment, but their superior declares that finding the journal is now their priority... before their clients do.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (12)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (14)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (15)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (16)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (17)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (19)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (21)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (22)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (23)
|c2=
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (8)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (18)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (20)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (25)

|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (1)
*[[Nancy]] (2)
*[[Short Junkion]] (11)
|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (3)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"I know you're bored, Rodimus, but with the mantle of leadership comes obligations." 
"Mmm. Don't suppose I could interest you in a used mantle?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"Life support functional. Weapon system: charred beyond recognition!"
:—The '''Quintesson''' sense of humor is wry indeed

"To share is to care. To care is to share."
:—'''Quintesson'''

"Mrs. Peel, we're needed. Our five year mission: to boldly share our signal with all the sloppy lifeforms who are our enemies. There is nothing wrong with your television set. We are controlling transmission. We control the horizontal. We control the vertical. We've got the touch!" 
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' channeling Stan Bush and being badass in his own way.

"Mighty Galvatron, where are you going?" 
"To the signal. To be a winner! Because I believe in me!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron''' discuss the latter's newfound belief in positive thinking.

'''Blaster''': We're outgunned, man! We don't have a chance! 
'''Kup''': Boy, that's what makes life interesting. 
'''Rodimus''': Or over! 
:—The Autobots discuss their situation.

"It's a war! And it looks like half the galaxy's involved!" 
"Whatever happened to the good old uninvolved galaxy I used to know?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''', awestruck, and '''Rodimus Prime''', cavalier

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Final script: 9th July 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Nancy2006.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The first bit of television that Wreck Gar watches, in the first scene, features a very brief cameo by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]! He's trading shots with [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (and his blue jet bits are colored gray. And he's missing his wing stripes. But it's definitely Starscream!) It seems to be a direct reference to the opening scene of "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" from the second season.
*Nancy's character model is actually a recycled, recolored [[Lithone (species)|Lithone]].
*Gadgets and powers:
**The Sharkticons are shown - [[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|again]] - to be flight-capable in their shark modes, however absurd and ungainly it may be.
**The Aerialbots are shown having flown all the way from Cybertron to Junkion. Interstellar flight has not been part of their skillset till now.
**Nancy gets blown up and instantly flies back together, a variant on the Junkions' ability to reassemble themselves during battle.
*Places affected by the subliminals include [[Delta Pavonis IV]], the Green Moon of [[Antar]], and [[Cygnus Seven]].
*This episode is Omega Supreme's only Season 3 appearance, and last appearance in the cartoon. Consistent with pretty much every other appearance, he transforms from just his rocket ship section (his arms) into his full robot self. Future episode "[[Grimlock's New Brain]]" will mention in passing that Omega is "away on a mission", perhaps an attempt to explain his absence for most of the season.
*The adventures of the Quintesson journal will continue in (you guessed it) "[[The Quintesson Journal]]".

===Real-world references===
*The title is a takeoff of the {{w|The Big Broadcast|"Big Broadcast" series of movies}} in the 1930s.
*The ''[[If You Can Name That Price]]'' game show is an obvious parody of ''{{w|The Price is Right}}''.
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Wreck-Gar journal.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Omnidirectional Relay.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*As a Junkion-centric episode, this story is positively ''drowning'' in pop culture references. In addition to generic phrases like "this concludes our broadcast day," "it slices, it dices" and "waxy yellow build-up," specific references spewed by the various Junkions include:
**"Here's looking at you, kid." – Humphrey Bogart's famous line from ''{{w|Casablanca (1942)|Casablanca}}''.
**"For a transcript, send $1 to [[Merkle Press]]." Merkle Press used to charge $1 to print the weekly transcript of ''{{w|Meet the Press}}''.
**"Live from New York, it's… your hit parade!" – a dual reference to ''{{w|Saturday Night Live}}'' and ''{{w|Your Hit Parade}}''.
**"Say goodnight, Gracie!" – a reference to comedienne {{w|Gracie Allen}}.
**"Oh, Cisco!" and "Oh, Pancho!" refer to {{w|The Cisco Kid}} and his sidekick, but Wreck-Gar and his lady friend use the names in a swooning, romantic way, which is... not... right.
**"Fly somebody else's friendly skies!" – a warped version of the United Airlines slogan, "Fly the Friendly Skies."
**"And that's the name of that tune!" – the catchphrase of the titular character in 1970s detective show ''{{w|Baretta}}'', itself a reference to ''{{w|Name That Tune}}''.
**"Tenk you veddy much!" – the catchphrase of Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) on the sitcom ''{{w|Taxi (TV series)|Taxi}}''.
**"Your mission, should you choose to accept it…" – the famous introductory line from the ''{{w|Mission: Impossible}}'' TV series.
**Wreck-Gar and his little buddy assume the roles of {{w|Perry White}} and {{w|Jimmy Olsen}} from [[Superman]], respectively. "Jimmy" refers to Wreck-Gar as "Chief", at which point Wreck-Gar quotes Perry by shouting "And don't call me Chief!"
**Following on from Wreck-Gar's insistence that he not be called "Chief," the "Jimmy" Junkion responds with "Sorry about that, Chief!", in the style of Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) from 1960s spy comedy, ''{{w|Get Smart}}''. Wreck-Gar also later mimics Smart with a cry of "Missed me by ''that'' much!"
**"Warning, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!" – the famous line from ''{{w|Lost in Space}}.''
**Wreck-Gar assumes the role of Jimmy Olsen when he refers to "{{w|Clark Kent|Mr. Kent}}".
**"I pity the fool!" – catchphrase of {{w|Mr. T}}.
**"Let's consume mass quantities of TV!" – ''Saturday Night Live'' sketch characters the {{w|Coneheads}} liked consuming mass quantities of stuff.
**Finally, Nancy takes the role of Jimmy Olsen when she screams: "Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...", and Wreck-Gar quotes Perry's catchphrase, "Great Caesar's Ghost!"
**Wreck-Gar cries out to his lady by calling her "{{w|Lassie}}."
**"Baby, you're the greatest!" – common catchphrase of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) from ''[[The Honeymooners]]''.
**"Mrs. Peel, we're needed." – Wreck-Gar adopts the role of John Steed (Patrick Macnee) from ''{{w|The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers}}'' and calls on his teammate Emma Peel (Diana Rigg).
**"Our five-year mission...to boldly share..." – ''[[Star Trek]]'', naturally.
**"There is nothing wrong with your television set..." – Wreck-Gar recites verbatim several lines from the opening narrative of ''{{w|The Outer Limits}}''.
**"We've got the touch!" — Possibly a callback to the [[The Touch|rock anthem]] from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' but also identical to an old CBS tagline in the 80s.
**"Lookin' goooood!" – catchphrase of Chico Rodriguez (Freddie Prinze Sr.) on ''{{w|Chico and the Man}}''.
**"Laser Wars...nothing but Laser Wars...!" – Wreck-Gar parodies a parody, mimicking Bill Murray's comedic rendition of the ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' [[theme song|theme]] on ''Saturday Night Live''.
**"Ward, I think we've been a little rough on the Beaver." – reference to the 1950s sitcom ''{{w|Leave It to Beaver}}''.
**{{w|Go ahead, make my day|"Go ahead...make my day."}} – Clint Eastwood's famous line from ''{{w|Sudden Impact}}''.
**"I dunno! I wuz a victim of soicumstance! Yuk yuk yuk!" – banter in the style of the {{w|Three Stooges}}.
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Space-Age Jack.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The television show "Space Age Jack" that is broadcast is a parody of [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]], with the titular "Jacks" facing off against "[[Cobra|those lousy reptiles]]" while screaming the battlecry "Yo, Jack!" [[Michael Bell]], who voiced [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] in the ''G.I. Joe'' animated series (and numerous Transformers), plays the part of the battlecrying Space-Age Jack.
*And then, to cap it all off, the Quintessons emphatically tell one another that the journal was "''{{w|Lost in Space}}.''"
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**[[Death Star]] superlaser as Cyclonus and the Sweeps take off from Chaar.
**Deactivating [[lightsaber]] as Omega's hatch opens.
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as the Quintessons launch their recovery ship.
**Snowspeeder engines as the Decepticons flee Junkion.

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[File:BigBroadcast Magnus generator.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Magnus the Red-Mouthed Robot Had a very AKOM mouth'']]
*AKOM episode. Stock errors to watch for include:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's 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, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**Colored character mouths. Magnus = red (sometimes blue), Cyclonus = purple
**Cyclonus's eyebrows (and sometimes "eyelids") are dark purple.
**The Sweeps are drawn with the heads-sticking-up model in their hovercraft forms.
*Five voices of doom:
**Several unique and recurring voices were cast for the five-faced Quintesson Judges, who, in AKOM episodes, were keyed to specific faces. [[Regis Cordic]] voices "Quintesson #1," speaking from the face of Doubt; [[Roger C. Carmel]] performs "Quintesson #2," who uses the face of Laughter; and [[Jack Angel]] portrays "Quintesson #3," represented by the face of Death. Of course, it's hard to call any divergence from this an ''error'', since the voices are those of a specific individual ''Quintesson'', not a specific ''face'', and the Quintessons can change faces as they please, but "Big Broadcast" does stand out as an episode with larger number of instances than normal of the face and voice not "matching up."
**[[Charlie Adler]] jumps in to voice a fourth Quintesson this episode. He speaks only one line while talking with his fellows, delivered by the face of Bitterness; otherwise, his voice is the one that delivers the Quintessons' subliminal message, which is shown being spoken by the face of Death.
*While driving off the Sharkticons in the beginning, Wreck-Gar is shooting lasers from his axe. It changes to a gun in the last shot.
*Wreck-Gar shoots the journal out of one of the Sharkticon's hands. A moment later, he ''slices'' it out of the Sharkticon's hands again with his shield-wheel.
*Sky Lynx's transporter section sort of gets shoved out of the way when he transforms to bird mode.
*Astrotrain appears to be the same size as Sky Lynx while in his robot form. Sky Lynx usually appears to be the size of a combiner. (This ''does'' continue a trend of the Movie/post-Movie era occasionally treating Astrotrain as this enormous looming threat... but probably it's just cruddy animation.)
*After the Junkions drive off the Sharkticons, Wreck-Gar is shown standing next to... Wreck-Gar and Wreck-Gar.
*As he notes Rodimus' boredom, Ultra Magnus has an Autobot logo on each shoulder. There should only be one on his right shoulder.
*Ultra Magnus' back is shown as plain red in several scenes, where it should have a grey panel with differently colored squares.
*After Sky Lynx's (unheard) report, Rodimus's spoiler seems to have rotated to one side.
*Astrotrain transforms and lands without any transformation sound effect.
*Astrotrain's missing the fin on his back as he "reports" to Galvatron.
*In the same scene, Cyclonus is missing the lower orange shape on his waist, and Galvatron mouths part of his dialogue.
*Astrotrain's face is the same light gray as his helmet as he flees from Galvatron, rather than white.
*The Quintessons open fire on the Aerialbots, who do not react ''at all''. Then the Junkions also open fire, and the Aerialbots still ''do not react in the slightest''.
*After the commercial break, Silverbolt and Air Raid are suddenly combined as 2/5ths of Superion, while Silverbolt still gives orders in his own voice. Then they're shot, knocking Air Raid loose - but even as he tumbles off in another direction, most of him is still attached to Silverbolt!
*As Superion's blast overloads the Quintesson ship, a red alarm light flashes on a console and is visible through a Quintesson standing in front of it.
*Superion's face is rounded (missing all its angles) and all-black (should have a gray mouthplate) as Sky Lynx deposits him on Cybertron.
[[File:DogAliens.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|The cat aliens actually attacked them because ''they hate the 1940s''.]]
*A sign on the dog planet reads "Lee,s Restrant" {{sic}}.
*During the montage of the transmission's effects, one shot shows the Quintessons subliminal message as if it's a hologram, when it should be inside of the tv screen.
*In the last few shots of the Quintessons discussing the effects of the transmission on different planets, the Death faces on the Quintessons have orange-framed eyes (instead of green).
*"He hasn't change his mind?" - Cyclonus' back windows are not colored in (they should be orange).
*The first shots of Blaster show him with five buttons on his chest instead of three.
*Voice problems:
**Throughout the episode, Omega Supreme's voice is missing its usual self-echo reverberation and bass-heavy modulation. He sounds a lot less impressive without it.
**Blaster is likewise missing his usual voice modulation.
*When Omega comes under attack, Rodimus starts asking what happened to Omega before anything actually happens.
*As he and Kup fire back at the Decepticons, Blaster's hips are ''massive''. We then pan over to Ultra Magnus, who is just standing there doing nothing while the Decepticons shoot at him.
*"War rages everywhere!" - in the next shot, the lower half of a Quintesson's orange face disappears as he leans to push a button.
*When we return to the same shot a second later, the same Quintesson's mouth is lined in orange when only the inside should be orange.
*As he looks at Omega Supreme's panel, Magnus is missing most of his detailing as well as his Autobot logo.
*"Draw them away from Omega Supreme" - Rodimus's spoiler vanishes as he turns toward Kup.
*When Ultra Magnus is repairing Omega Supreme, one shot is missing... well... everything but Magnus's hands. He appears to be repairing empty space.
*As he finishes the repairs, Magnus closes a panel that's already closed.
*Galvatron comes to a halt when he encounters Cyclonus in space; however, the closeup shot shows the stars still moving behind him. He then swats Cyclonus out of the way with no sound effect.
*As the Quintessons watch the big space battle, the display shows a grey background behind the ships instead of space.
*As Omega Supreme approaches the battle, one of his rocket fins is gray instead of orange.
*After he blasts Omega, Galvatron returns to robot mode without a transformation sound effect.
*When he lands on Junkion, Cyclonus is missing the lower orange shape on his waist.
*When Galvatron lifts Rodimus to throw him, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle.
*The Quintesson scout ship is hit by Galvatron's blast, sending the ship one way and the journal the other. Except... the animation shows them drifting away from entirely different spots, as if they had never been anywhere close!
*After Galvatron blows up the hypnotic TV, the next shot shows a poorly drawn and miscolored Soundwave, Cyclonus missing the orange shapes on his chest, and Rodimus' spoiler in all-yellow.
*As the Decepticons retreat, Soundwave's chest is white instead of blue and is missing its Decepticon logo. There's also three Cyclonuses (Cycloni?) in the shot.
*The last shot shows the Death faces on the Quintessons with orange-framed eyes again.


===Continuity errors===
*This episode aired out of order, as its ending scene leads directly into "[[The Quintesson Journal]]" - which had already aired. It is [[Aerial Assault|hardly the first time]] the cartoon [[Thief in the Night|had goofed up]] on such simple continuity beats.
*The episode was badly butchered in the editing stages, a fact made more evident by its alternate incarnation as an issue of the Marvel comic book series (see Trivia, below):
**The opening scenes are mis-ordered. The more logical ordering appears in the comic, which features the Sharkticons seeking the journal and being repulsed, ''then'' the Quintessons analyzing the Junkions and concluding that they must be subtle in their attack - triggering the whole subliminal message plot. In the cartoon, the analysis comes first - "we must resort to more subtle means" - and is immediately followed by the Sharkticons' flagrantly un-subtle invasion.
**Where the scene of the Sharkticon attack occurs in the finished episode is where the scene introducing the episode's central McGuffin, the hypnotic television that the Quintessons place on Junkion, ''ought'' to be. As seen in the Marvel comic, the scene features Wreck-Gar and Nancy waking up to find it having been left for them during the night. The television does appear in the finished episode multiple times, but without the introductory scene, it never appears to be anything more than a normal Junkion TV, and nothing connects it to the Quintessons' vague explication about "subliminals" until Galvatron declares it to be the source of the problem and blows it up at the episode's end.
**Astrotrain's report seems to be badly edited: Astrotrain: "I have something strange to report, Galvatron!" [long pause] Galvatron: "Fool! Do you think I care w" It would seem that Astrotrain's report got cut out completely, and the end of Galvatron's line clipped off. In the comic book version, Galvatron's line is "Fool! Do you think I care what the Junkions do? Leave me!" In the episode, Cyclonus then tries to reason with Galvatron - with information Astrotrain hasn't actually shared!
**A plot point included in the comic involves Fireflight disrupting local vision fields with his [[photon displacer gun]], giving the Aerialbots time to recover and combine. With the scene cut, Wreck-Gar's "Jeepers, Mr. Kent! Where'd they go?" line becomes a non-sequitur.

===Trivia===
*When the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US comic]] needed a fill-in issue, this episode was chosen and script adapted. While the UK offices were in no position to pass up on any US material being produced, this issue also completely conflicted with the Movie-Future they had established. To sidestep continuity problems, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a framing sequence establishing [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|US #43]] as an imaginary story dreamed up by Wreck-Gar, as part of a lead in to his "[[Space Pirates!]]" arc.
*The EDC officer that gets dragged off on Cygnus Seven is pretty much [[Marissa Faireborn]]'s character model, with a screechy Southern belle accent so we know it's not actually her.
*Blast Off's appearance serves ''absolutely no purpose at all''. He's not shown fighting or speaking or ''anything''. All he does is follow Galvatron around, then discharge his lone passenger Soundwave - who ''also'' proceeds to serve absolutely no purpose at all.
*Interesting that while the warring forces are drawn in by messages of violence and destruction, Galvatron responds to a message about "believing in himself".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''2006 - L'année des émissions mystérieuses'''" ("2006 - The Year of Mysterious Broadcasts")
:*''Title (European French DVD release):'' "'''La grande émission de 2006'''" ("The Big Broadcast of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost. The French DVD editions use the Canadian French dub instead.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*The Junkions' line ""Live from New York, it's… your hit parade!" is replaced by "Live from New York, here is the ''Top 50''!". In France, the Top 50 is the official ranking of music single sales.
:::*Wreck-Gar's line "It slices, it dices!" is present but way too low, it is impossible to hear what he is saying.
:::*As always, Rodimus Prime is called by his toy name "Rodimus Primo" instead of his usual cartoon name "Rodimus Primus".
:::*Sky Lynx is once again called by his English name instead of his Canadian name "Chaînon".
:::*When Nancy sees Cyclonus and the Sweeps arriving, she says in English "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's-". The dub missed the reference and said "It's not a bird, it's a plane!". Yes, it technically works, but it's a pity.
:::*Omega Supreme's line "Attack confirmed!" is dubbed by "We confirm the attack!", as if it was him and some other people confirming.
:::*Wreck-Gar's line "Ward, I think we've been a little rough on the Beaver" is hidden under the Quintesson message, it's also impossible to hear what he's saying. We can only hear the beginning of the phrase, in which asks "J-R" to search for something, but without the full phrase it's difficult to find the reference.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das Hyperraumprogramm'''" ("The Hyperspace-Program")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Messaggi subliminali'''" ("Subliminal Messages")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Il grande programma del 2006'''" ("The Great TV Show of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 2010年の大放送 (''2010 Nen no Daihōsō'', "The Big Broadcast of 2010")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 30]], [[1987]]
::*A "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment unique to Japan was attached to this episode. This segment recapped the events of "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]". It replaces the original "Secret Files" segment which focused on the Autobots.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''2006 Nián Zhòngyào Guǎngbō '''" (2006年重要广播, "The Significant Broadcast of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Grande Transmissão'''" ("The Big Broadcast")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Superveschanie 2006 r. '''" (Супервещание 2006 г. , "The Super-Broadcast of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video (Tempo Video)
;{{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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 21 ([[Déclic Images]]) — Canadian 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=1dRPwrLoEMCsay7mncLx14-6v3rk09WZR Episode dialogue script]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Broadcast of 2006}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)

2025-04-09T14:15:31Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the comic adaptation of this episode|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|image=Big Broadcast subliminal message.JPG
|caption=The judge is on the court, bweeeeeeeeeoooop!
|prev=The Ultimate Weapon
|next=Fight or Flee (episode)
|ep=85
|series2=2010
|ep2=21
|prev2=The Ultimate Weapon
|next2=Only Human
|title="The Big Broadcast of 2006"
|season=3
|season ep=20
|production code=700-105
|airdate=[[November 12]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Reaves]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lmRZ1RnWg
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Attempting to retrieve their lost records journal, the Quintessons use subliminal messages on the Junkions, and inadvertently the entire galaxy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Sharkticons journal.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"THE PRIME RIB IS GONE!"]]

On the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and his [[Nancy|special lady friend]] are concluding a fine day of watching television... as observed by the inquisitive [[Quintesson]]s, who are searching for one of their lost [[Quintesson Journal|journals]]. After observing the native [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], the Quintessons send a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] retrieval team. The Sharkticons locate the journal quickly, but Wreck-Gar leads a force of Junkions against them and drives them off.

The Quintessons hijack the [[television]] [[Space-Age Jack|broadcasts]] the Junkions watch, planting subliminal messages telling the Junkions that being neat is a good thing... and the other races are their enemies. Wreck-Gar and his people are soon cleaning up and sorting out their accumulated detritus, and soon find the journal that the Quintessons seek.

[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Nancy explodes.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|They always fall for the exploding machine trick.]]

Travelling through the Junkion sector, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] comes under attack by [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]. While the two battle, the Junkions fire on ''both'' [[Transformer]]s. Sky Lynx races back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and informs [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. The [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] sends the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to investigate. Astrotrain also returns to [[Chaar]] to report his encounter, but [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] doesn't care. [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], however, is interested, and takes [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] to investigate.

The Aerialbots arrive over Junkion, and are attacked by both the Junkions and the Quintessons. The Aerialbots form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and target the Quintessons. Superion inflicts massive damage on the Quintesson ship, but is knocked out in the process and rescued by Sky Lynx. The Quintessons withdraw.

Wreck-Gar and his cohort are eager to get back to watching television, but Cyclonus and the Sweeps arrive to investigate, prompting another battle. The Decepticons withdraw after Cyclonus is satisfied with his observations.

[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Omega Supreme looming.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Omega Supreme has yet to realise that he isn't good at playing Hide and Seek.]]

The Quintessons discover that Superion's attack damaged the transmitter sending the messages to the Junkions, causing the Junkions to believe that they should transmit their broadcasts to other races. The [[Delta Pavonis IV|affected races]] soon begin lashing out at their neighbors, causing what promises to become an interstellar dark age. The Quintessons see a good possibility here, as they can sell weapons to the warring races, but decide that the recovery of the journal is the higher priority.

Back on Chaar, Galvatron displays anger at Cyclonus for going to investigate Junkion, but Cyclonus continues on, believing that to turn the Junkions on the [[Autobot]]s is too good an opportunity for the [[Decepticon]]s. Hoping to find answers, Rodimus, Magnus, [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] head to investigate in [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], but come under attack by Cyclonus and the Sweeps. Omega is damaged, and the Autobots draw the Decepticons away from the wounded [[Guardian robot]]. Finally, Omega Supreme is repaired, and the Decepticons retreat.

[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Junkions Blaster broadcast.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|We're sorry, but this wiki has exceeded its quota of "compensating for something" jokes.]]

Meanwhile, the affected races have converged on Junkion, and are firing on everyone in sight. Chaar has also been targeted, and Galvatron is drawn into the bedlam. Knowing they have one chance, the Quintessons make a move for the journal, but a stray blast from Galvatron damages their shuttle and sends the journal hurtling into the void. Arriving, Blaster determines that the transmissions are the cause of the violence, and sends out transmissions to counter them. Their senses restored, the Junkions stop fighting everyone... and start concentrating on the Decepticons, who retreat. Rodimus asks Wreck-Gar what happened, but Wreck-Gar doesn't know.

Returning to their ship, the two Quintessons prepare to accept their punishment, but their superior declares that finding the journal is now their priority... before their clients do.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (12)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (14)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (15)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (16)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (17)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (19)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (21)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (22)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (23)
|c2=
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (8)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (18)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (20)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (25)

|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (1)
*[[Nancy]] (2)
*[[Short Junkion]] (11)
|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (3)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"I know you're bored, Rodimus, but with the mantle of leadership comes obligations." 
"Mmm. Don't suppose I could interest you in a used mantle?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

"Life support functional. Weapon system: charred beyond recognition!"
:—The '''Quintesson''' sense of humor is wry indeed

"To share is to care. To care is to share."
:—'''Quintesson'''

"Mrs. Peel, we're needed. Our five year mission: to boldly share our signal with all the sloppy lifeforms who are our enemies. There is nothing wrong with your television set. We are controlling transmission. We control the horizontal. We control the vertical. We've got the touch!" 
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' channeling Stan Bush and being badass in his own way.

"Mighty Galvatron, where are you going?" 
"To the signal. To be a winner! Because I believe in me!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron''' discuss the latter's newfound belief in positive thinking.

'''Blaster''': We're outgunned, man! We don't have a chance! 
'''Kup''': Boy, that's what makes life interesting. 
'''Rodimus''': Or over! 
:—The Autobots discuss their situation.

"It's a war! And it looks like half the galaxy's involved!" 
"Whatever happened to the good old uninvolved galaxy I used to know?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''', awestruck, and '''Rodimus Prime''', cavalier

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Final script: 9th July 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Nancy2006.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The first bit of television that Wreck Gar watches, in the first scene, features a very brief cameo by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]! He's trading shots with [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (and his blue jet bits are colored gray. And he's missing his wing stripes. But it's definitely Starscream!) It seems to be a direct reference to the opening scene of "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" from the second season.
*Nancy's character model is actually a recycled, recolored [[Lithone (species)|Lithone]].
*Gadgets and powers:
**The Sharkticons are shown - [[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|again]] - to be flight-capable in their shark modes, however absurd and ungainly it may be.
**The Aerialbots are shown having flown all the way from Cybertron to Junkion. Interstellar flight has not been part of their skillset till now.
**Nancy gets blown up and instantly flies back together, a variant on the Junkions' ability to reassemble themselves during battle.
*Places affected by the subliminals include [[Delta Pavonis IV]], the Green Moon of [[Antar]], and [[Cygnus Seven]].
*This episode is Omega Supreme's only Season 3 appearance, and last appearance in the cartoon. Consistent with pretty much every other appearance, he transforms from just his rocket ship section (his arms) into his full robot self. Future episode "[[Grimlock's New Brain]]" will mention in passing that Omega is "away on a mission", perhaps an attempt to explain his absence for most of the season.
*The adventures of the Quintesson journal will continue in (you guessed it) "[[The Quintesson Journal]]".

===Real-world references===
*The title is a takeoff of the {{w|The Big Broadcast|"Big Broadcast" series of movies}} in the 1930s.
*The ''[[If You Can Name That Price]]'' game show is an obvious parody of ''{{w|The Price is Right}}''.
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Wreck-Gar journal.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Omnidirectional Relay.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*As a Junkion-centric episode, this story is positively ''drowning'' in pop culture references. In addition to generic phrases like "this concludes our broadcast day," "it slices, it dices" and "waxy yellow build-up," specific references spewed by the various Junkions include:
**"Here's looking at you, kid." – Humphrey Bogart's famous line from ''{{w|Casablanca (1942)|Casablanca}}''.
**"For a transcript, send $1 to [[Merkle Press]]." Merkle Press used to charge $1 to print the weekly transcript of ''{{w|Meet the Press}}''.
**"Live from New York, it's… your hit parade!" – a dual reference to ''{{w|Saturday Night Live}}'' and ''{{w|Your Hit Parade}}''.
**"Say goodnight, Gracie!" – a reference to comedienne {{w|Gracie Allen}}.
**"Oh, Cisco!" and "Oh, Pancho!" refer to {{w|The Cisco Kid}} and his sidekick, but Wreck-Gar and his lady friend use the names in a swooning, romantic way, which is... not... right.
**"Fly somebody else's friendly skies!" – a warped version of the United Airlines slogan, "Fly the Friendly Skies."
**"And that's the name of that tune!" – the catchphrase of the titular character in 1970s detective show ''{{w|Baretta}}'', itself a reference to ''{{w|Name That Tune}}''.
**"Tenk you veddy much!" – the catchphrase of Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman) on the sitcom ''{{w|Taxi (TV series)|Taxi}}''.
**"Your mission, should you choose to accept it…" – the famous introductory line from the ''{{w|Mission: Impossible}}'' TV series.
**Wreck-Gar and his little buddy assume the roles of {{w|Perry White}} and {{w|Jimmy Olsen}} from [[Superman]], respectively. "Jimmy" refers to Wreck-Gar as "Chief", at which point Wreck-Gar quotes Perry by shouting "And don't call me Chief!"
**Following on from Wreck-Gar's insistence that he not be called "Chief," the "Jimmy" Junkion responds with "Sorry about that, Chief!", in the style of Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) from 1960s spy comedy, ''{{w|Get Smart}}''. Wreck-Gar also later mimics Smart with a cry of "Missed me by ''that'' much!"
**"Warning, Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!" – the famous line from ''{{w|Lost in Space}}.''
**Wreck-Gar assumes the role of Jimmy Olsen when he refers to "{{w|Clark Kent|Mr. Kent}}".
**"I pity the fool!" – catchphrase of {{w|Mr. T}}.
**"Let's consume mass quantities of TV!" – ''Saturday Night Live'' sketch characters the {{w|Coneheads}} liked consuming mass quantities of stuff.
**Finally, Nancy takes the role of Jimmy Olsen when she screams: "Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...", and Wreck-Gar quotes Perry's catchphrase, "Great Caesar's Ghost!"
**Wreck-Gar cries out to his lady by calling her "{{w|Lassie}}."
**"Baby, you're the greatest!" – common catchphrase of Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) from ''[[The Honeymooners]]''.
**"Mrs. Peel, we're needed." – Wreck-Gar adopts the role of John Steed (Patrick Macnee) from ''{{w|The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers}}'' and calls on his teammate Emma Peel (Diana Rigg).
**"Our five-year mission...to boldly share..." – ''[[Star Trek]]'', naturally.
**"There is nothing wrong with your television set..." – Wreck-Gar recites verbatim several lines from the opening narrative of ''{{w|The Outer Limits}}''.
**"We've got the touch!" — Possibly a callback to the [[The Touch|rock anthem]] from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' but also identical to an old CBS tagline in the 80s.
**"Lookin' goooood!" – catchphrase of Chico Rodriguez (Freddie Prinze Sr.) on ''{{w|Chico and the Man}}''.
**"Laser Wars...nothing but Laser Wars...!" – Wreck-Gar parodies a parody, mimicking Bill Murray's comedic rendition of the ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' [[theme song|theme]] on ''Saturday Night Live''.
**"Ward, I think we've been a little rough on the Beaver." – reference to the 1950s sitcom ''{{w|Leave It to Beaver}}''.
**{{w|Go ahead, make my day|"Go ahead...make my day."}} – Clint Eastwood's famous line from ''{{w|Sudden Impact}}''.
**"I dunno! I wuz a victim of soicumstance! Yuk yuk yuk!" – banter in the style of the {{w|Three Stooges}}.
[[File:G1-BigBroadcast Space-Age Jack.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The television show "Space Age Jack" that is broadcast is a parody of [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]], with the titular "Jacks" facing off against "[[Cobra|those lousy reptiles]]" while screaming the battlecry "Yo, Jack!" [[Michael Bell]], who voiced [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] in the ''G.I. Joe'' animated series (and numerous Transformers), plays the part of the battlecrying Space-Age Jack.
*And then, to cap it all off, the Quintessons emphatically tell one another that the journal was "''{{w|Lost in Space}}.''"
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**[[Death Star]] superlaser as Cyclonus and the Sweeps take off from Chaar.
**Deactivating [[lightsaber]] as Omega's hatch opens.
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as the Quintessons launch their recovery ship.
**Snowspeeder engines as the Decepticons flee Junkion.

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[File:BigBroadcast Magnus generator.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Magnus the Red-Mouthed Robot Had a very AKOM mouth'']]
*AKOM episode. Stock errors to watch for include:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's 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, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**Colored character mouths. Magnus = red (sometimes blue), Cyclonus = purple
**Cyclonus's eyebrows (and sometimes "eyelids") are dark purple.
**The Sweeps are drawn with the heads-sticking-up model in their hovercraft forms.
*Five voices of doom:
**Several unique and recurring voices were cast for the five-faced Quintesson Judges, who, in AKOM episodes, were keyed to specific faces. [[Regis Cordic]] voices "Quintesson #1," speaking from the face of Doubt; [[Roger C. Carmel]] performs "Quintesson #2," who uses the face of Laughter; and [[Jack Angel]] portrays "Quintesson #3," represented by the face of Death. Of course, it's hard to call any divergence from this an ''error'', since the voices are those of a specific individual ''Quintesson'', not a specific ''face'', and the Quintessons can change faces as they please, but "Big Broadcast" does stand out as an episode with larger number of instances than normal of the face and voice not "matching up."
**[[Charlie Adler]] jumps in to voice a fourth Quintesson this episode. He speaks only one line while talking with his fellows, delivered by the face of Bitterness; otherwise, his voice is the one that delivers the Quintessons' subliminal message, which is shown being spoken by the face of Death.
*While driving off the Sharkticons in the beginning, Wreck-Gar is shooting lasers from his axe. It changes to a gun in the last shot.
*Wreck-Gar shoots the journal out of one of the Sharkticon's hands. A moment later, he ''slices'' it out of the Sharkticon's hands again with his shield-wheel.
*Sky Lynx's transporter section sort of gets shoved out of the way when he transforms to bird mode.
*Astrotrain appears to be the same size as Sky Lynx while in his robot form. Sky Lynx usually appears to be the size of a combiner. (This ''does'' continue a trend of the Movie/post-Movie era occasionally treating Astrotrain as this enormous looming threat... but probably it's just cruddy animation.)
*After the Junkions drive off the Sharkticons, Wreck-Gar is shown standing next to... Wreck-Gar and Wreck-Gar.
*As he notes Rodimus' boredom, Ultra Magnus has an Autobot logo on each shoulder. There should only be one on his right shoulder.
*Ultra Magnus' back is shown as plain red in several scenes, where it should have a grey panel with differently colored squares.
*After Sky Lynx's (unheard) report, Rodimus's spoiler seems to have rotated to one side.
*Astrotrain transforms and lands without any transformation sound effect.
*Astrotrain's missing the fin on his back as he "reports" to Galvatron.
*In the same scene, Cyclonus is missing the lower orange shape on his waist, and Galvatron mouths part of his dialogue.
*Astrotrain's face is the same light gray as his helmet as he flees from Galvatron, rather than white.
*The Quintessons open fire on the Aerialbots, who do not react ''at all''. Then the Junkions also open fire, and the Aerialbots still ''do not react in the slightest''.
*After the commercial break, Silverbolt and Air Raid are suddenly combined as 2/5ths of Superion, while Silverbolt still gives orders in his own voice. Then they're shot, knocking Air Raid loose - but even as he tumbles off in another direction, most of him is still attached to Silverbolt!
*As Superion's blast overloads the Quintesson ship, a red alarm light flashes on a console and is visible through a Quintesson standing in front of it.
*Superion's face is rounded (missing all its angles) and all-black (should have a gray mouthplate) as Sky Lynx deposits him on Cybertron.
[[File:DogAliens.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|The cat aliens actually attacked them because ''they hate the 1940s''.]]
*A sign on the dog planet reads "Lee,s Restrant" {{sic}}.
*During the montage of the transmission's effects, one shot shows the Quintessons subliminal message as if it's a hologram, when it should be inside of the tv screen.
*In the last few shots of the Quintessons discussing the effects of the transmission on different planets, the Death faces on the Quintessons have orange-framed eyes (instead of green).
*"He hasn't change his mind?" - Cyclonus' back windows are not colored in (they should be orange).
*The first shots of Blaster show him with five buttons on his chest instead of three.
*Voice problems:
**Throughout the episode, Omega Supreme's voice is missing its usual self-echo reverberation and bass-heavy modulation. He sounds a lot less impressive without it.
**Blaster is likewise missing his usual voice modulation.
*When Omega comes under attack, Rodimus starts asking what happened to Omega before anything actually happens.
*As he and Kup fire back at the Decepticons, Blaster's hips are ''massive''. We then pan over to Ultra Magnus, who is just standing there doing nothing while the Decepticons shoot at him.
*"War rages everywhere!" - in the next shot, the lower half of a Quintesson's orange face disappears as he leans to push a button.
*When we return to the same shot a second later, the same Quintesson's mouth is lined in orange when only the inside should be orange.
*As he looks at Omega Supreme's panel, Magnus is missing most of his detailing as well as his Autobot logo.
*"Draw them away from Omega Supreme" - Rodimus's spoiler vanishes as he turns toward Kup.
*When Ultra Magnus is repairing Omega Supreme, one shot is missing... well... everything but Magnus's hands. He appears to be repairing empty space.
*As he finishes the repairs, Magnus closes a panel that's already closed.
*Galvatron comes to a halt when he encounters Cyclonus in space; however, the closeup shot shows the stars still moving behind him. He then swats Cyclonus out of the way with no sound effect.
*As the Quintessons watch the big space battle, the display shows a grey background behind the ships instead of space.
*As Omega Supreme approaches the battle, one of his rocket fins is gray instead of orange.
*After he blasts Omega, Galvatron returns to robot mode without a transformation sound effect.
*When he lands on Junkion, Cyclonus is missing the lower orange shape on his waist.
*When Galvatron lifts Rodimus to throw him, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle.
*The Quintesson scout ship is hit by Galvatron's blast, sending the ship one way and the journal the other. Except... the animation shows them drifting away from entirely different spots, as if they had never been anywhere close!
*After Galvatron blows up the hypnotic TV, the next shot shows a poorly drawn and miscolored Soundwave, Cyclonus missing the orange shapes on his chest, and Rodimus' spoiler in all-yellow.
*As the Decepticons retreat, Soundwave's chest is white instead of blue and is missing its Decepticon logo. There's also three Cyclonuses (Cycloni?) in the shot.
*The last shot shows the Death faces on the Quintessons with orange-framed eyes again.


===Continuity errors===
*This episode aired out of order, as its ending scene leads directly into "[[The Quintesson Journal]]" - which had already aired. It is [[Aerial Assault|hardly the first time]] the cartoon [[Thief in the Night|had goofed up]] on such simple continuity beats.
*The episode was badly butchered in the editing stages, a fact made more evident by its alternate incarnation as an issue of the Marvel comic book series (see Trivia, below):
**The opening scenes are mis-ordered. The more logical ordering appears in the comic, which features the Sharkticons seeking the journal and being repulsed, ''then'' the Quintessons analyzing the Junkions and concluding that they must be subtle in their attack - triggering the whole subliminal message plot. In the cartoon, the analysis comes first - "we must resort to more subtle means" - and is immediately followed by the Sharkticons' flagrantly un-subtle invasion.
**Where the scene of the Sharkticon attack occurs in the finished episode is where the scene introducing the episode's central McGuffin, the hypnotic television that the Quintessons place on Junkion, ''ought'' to be. As seen in the Marvel comic, the scene features Wreck-Gar and Nancy waking up to find it having been left for them during the night. The television does appear in the finished episode multiple times, but without the introductory scene, it never appears to be anything more than a normal Junkion TV, and nothing connects it to the Quintessons' vague explication about "subliminals" until Galvatron declares it to be the source of the problem and blows it up at the episode's end.
**Astrotrain's report seems to be badly edited: Astrotrain: "I have something strange to report, Galvatron!" [long pause] Galvatron: "Fool! Do you think I care w" It would seem that Astrotrain's report got cut out completely, and the end of Galvatron's line clipped off. In the comic book version, Galvatron's line is "Fool! Do you think I care what the Junkions do? Leave me!" In the episode, Cyclonus then tries to reason with Galvatron - with information Astrotrain hasn't actually shared!
**A plot point included in the comic involves Fireflight disrupting local vision fields with his [[photon displacer gun]], giving the Aerialbots time to recover and combine. With the scene cut, Wreck-Gar's "Jeepers, Mr. Kent! Where'd they go?" line becomes a non-sequitur.

===Trivia===
*When the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US comic]] needed a fill-in issue, this episode was chosen and script adapted. While the UK offices were in no position to pass up on any US material being produced, this issue also completely conflicted with the Movie-Future they had established. To sidestep continuity problems, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a framing sequence establishing [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|US #43]] as an imaginary story dreamed up by Wreck-Gar, as part of a lead in to his "[[Space Pirates!]]" arc.
*The EDC officer that gets dragged off on Cygnus Seven is pretty much [[Marissa Faireborn]]'s character model, with a screechy Southern belle accent so we know it's not actually her.
*Blast Off's appearance serves ''absolutely no purpose at all''. He's not shown fighting or speaking or ''anything''. All he does is follow Galvatron around, then discharge his lone passenger Soundwave - who ''also'' proceeds to serve absolutely no purpose at all.
*Interesting that while the warring forces are drawn in by messages of violence and destruction, Galvatron responds to a message about "believing in himself".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''2006 - L'année des émissions mystérieuses'''" ("2006 - The Year of Mysterious Broadcasts")
:*''Title (European French DVD release):'' "'''La grande émission de 2006'''" ("The Big Broadcast of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost. The French DVD editions use the Canadian French dub instead.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*The Junkions' line ""Live from New York, it's… your hit parade!" is replaced by "Live from New York, here is the ''Top 50''!". In France, the Top 50 is the official ranking of music single sales.
:::*Wreck-Gar's line "It slices, it dices!" is present but way too low, it is impossible to hear what he is saying.
:::*As always, Rodimus Prime is called by his toy name "Rodimus Primo" instead of his usual cartoon name "Rodimus Primus".
:::*Sky Lynx is once again called by his English name instead of his Canadian name "Chaînon".
:::*When Nancy sees Cyclonus and the Sweeps arriving, she says in English "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's-". The dub missed the reference and said "It's not a bird, it's a plane!". Yes, it technically works, but it's a pity.
:::*Omega Supreme's line "Attack confirmed!" is dubbed by "We confirm the attack!", as if it was him and some other people confirming.
:::*Wreck-Gar's line "Ward, I think we've been a little rough on the Beaver" is hidden under the Quintesson message, it's also impossible to hear what he's saying. We can only hear the beginning of the phrase, in which asks "J-R" to search for something, but without the full phrase it's difficult to find the reference.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das Hyperraumprogramm'''" ("The Hyperspace-Program")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Messaggi subliminali'''" ("Subliminal Messages")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Il grande programma del 2006'''" ("The Great TV Show of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 2010年の大放送 (''2010 Nen no Daihōsō'', "The Big Broadcast of 2010")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 30]], [[1987]]
::*A "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment unique to Japan was attached to this episode. This segment recapped the events of "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]". It replaces the original "Secret Files" segment which focused on the Autobots.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''2006 Nián Zhòngyào Guǎngbō '''" (2006年重要广播, "The Significant Broadcast of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Grande Transmissão'''" ("The Big Broadcast")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Superveschanie 2006 r. '''" (Суперващание 2006 г. , "The Super-Broadcast of 2006")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1989 — ''Transformers'' — The Big Broadcast of 2006 / Fight or Flee ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video (Tempo Video)
;{{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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 21 ([[Déclic Images]]) — Canadian 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=1dRPwrLoEMCsay7mncLx14-6v3rk09WZR Episode dialogue script]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Broadcast of 2006}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

The Quintesson Journal

2025-04-09T14:11:57Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=83
|ep2=19
|prev2=The Dweller in the Depths
|next2=The Ultimate Weapon
|image=Quintesson Journal Autobots journal.JPG
|caption=Look, I just found a [[Food|big golden ham]]! Don't worry, I'm sure it's not a bomb.
|title="The Quintesson Journal"
|season=3
|season ep=18
|production code=700-103
|airdate=[[November 11]], 1986
|written by=[[Richard Merwin]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]], [[Sam Young Studio]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baQmh5f34h0
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''A Quintesson device may just be the key to peace between two worlds.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:QuintessonJournal Delegate struggle.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Someone's Ritalin is just kicking in.]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Autobot]]s are hosting a peace conference for two neighboring planets, [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]], which have been at war for centuries and will wipe each other out within a generation, as explained by [[Melkorr]]. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] asks the leaders of the two delegations to shake hands. They take the opportunity to grapple with each other. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] remarks that it's going well so far.

Elsewhere, a [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|lost]] [[Quintesson Journal]] tumbles from space and lands on an unknown world. [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] detects the journal's strange [[Quintesson]] signal. He contacts [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], who intends to meet him at the coordinates. However, [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] has also detected the signal, and he sends [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], who is carrying [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]], to the [[Angarrix sector]] to investigate. The foliage is too thick for Sky Lynx to land, so Blaster and Outback head out on foot. Blaster ejects [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] to help in the search. Meanwhile, Predaking separates into the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to cover more ground. The Autobots are suddenly attacked by vines, but are able to free themselves and find the source of the signal, a strange golden cylinder. Just then, a tree nearly falls on the device, and Outback blasts it, causing the device to activate. The Autobots learn that the cylinder is a [[Quintesson Journal]], a record of their commercial activities on various planets. The Predacons then arrive and attack. Sky Lynx arrives to rescue the Autobots, and the Predacons unite. The Autobots are able to board Sky Lynx and escape, only to be attacked by Cyclonus and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]. Suddenly, an energy field grabs Sky Lynx through an unseen [[warp gate]], which closes.

[[File:QuintessonJournal Outback sharkticon energon.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb]]

On the other side of the warp gate, a Quintesson ship captures Sky Lynx, disabling his ability to [[Transformation|transform]]. The Quintessons reclaim the journal and take Outback, Blaster, and the cassettes prisoner. Outback is able to trick a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] into opening the cell for some [[energon]], and Blaster then...uh, blasts the Sharkticon. Outback grabs the journal, and the Autobots escape aboard Sky Lynx, only to discover that [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], Cyclonus, the Sweeps, and Predaking have located them. The [[Decepticon]]s manage to steal the journal and flee. At the peace conference, the two delegations leave, intending to purchase doomsday weapons from their suppliers...the Quintessons.

[[File:QuintessonJournal Galvatron watching journal.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"You must see this droid safely delivered to my father on Alderaan."]]

On an unnamed planet, the Decepticons begin to examine the journal. Upon discovering it is economic in nature, Galvatron is angry—well, angrier than usual. However, the Autobots have tracked the Decepticons down, and they learn that the war between Xetaxxis and Lanarq is among the journal's archives. Knowing that this could end the war, the Autobots attempt to steal the journal back, only for the Quintessons to steal it back ''again''. On Cybertron, the delegations begin fighting each other. Rodimus is so frustrated that the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] fires his weapon and orders the two delegations to sit down. Furious, the Xetaxxan and Lanarqan leaders request the Quintessons to bring their [[omega bomb]]s. The Quintessons decide that they will deliver ''both'' bombs once they have been paid. However, the Autobots manage to break into their ship and steal back the journal.

[[File:QuintessonJournal Outback journal conference.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Well, wait a minute. Where'd she go? Bring her back! Play back the entire message!"]]

Arriving on Cybertron, Blaster and Outback show the recordings to the delegations, who are horrified to discover that their worlds have suffered to finance the Quintessons. Having been found out, the Quintessons contact the peace conference, announcing that they will deliver the omega bombs—right into Xetaxxis and Lanarq. This is a big mistake on the Quintessons' part, for they're passing right by Cybertron at that moment. Rodimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] jump aboard Sky Lynx and follow the Quintessons, destroying their ship before the bombs can be launched. On Cybertron, a peace is negotiated between Xetaxxis and Lanarq. However, Rodimus notes that the only real winners of the conflict were the Quintessons.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (9)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (10)
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]] (11)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (12)
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (13)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (14)

|c2=
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (7)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (8)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (15)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (16)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (17)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (18)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (19)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (21)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (23)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (3)

|c4=
*[[Melkorr]] (1)
*[[Aagar]] (2)
*[[Chief Lanarqan]] (5)
*[[Quintesson]]s (20)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] (22)
*[[Allicon]] (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"I don't think this is how a peace process is supposed to begin."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' as the delegates begin struggling with each other.

"I could really learn to hate cholorophyl in this place!"
:—'''Outback''', after a run-in with some vines

"But you said no mercy, Galvatron!" 
"Very true! So I shall show none!" ''[hits Predaking]''
:—'''Predaking''' just wants to break something, and '''Galvatron''' is psychotic, as usual.

"Uh, this... might be a good time for a break." 
"Yeah. Couldn't hurt. Seeing as how everybody's already left anyway."
:—'''Spike''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' find diplomacy ain't so easy

"Item four hundred and fifty-seven. Planet: [[Tyxlara|Tixlara]]." 
"This is it! The secrets of the Quintessons are ours!" 
"A large fleet of Quintesson transport vessels were sold to Tixlara. The primitive nuclear fuel requirements drained the planet's mineral resources, bringing the Tixlarian economy under Quintesson control." 
"This is ''useless!!''"
:—Obtaining the '''Quintesson journal''' is not '''Galvatron''''s greatest victory

[[File:Quintessonjournal diplomacy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"My wives now!"]]
"Don't you know any gentler games?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' to the rambunctious delegates.

"Congratulations. It's taken you only a few thousand years to comprehend your folly, and we shall reward your perceptiveness by providing you your 'ultimate weapons' as promised—already armed, and set to explode on impact. Are you ready to take delivery?"
:—'''Quintesson'''

"It's sad, really. All those centuries of war..." 
"And the only winners... were the Quintessons."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus Prime''' state the moral of the story.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*It's never stated outright, but it would seem this is intended to be the same journal from "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]", last seen tumbling away through space (even though, as noted below, they messed up the color scheme.)
*Predaking is presumably hungry for revenge against Sky Lynx after his previous defeats in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" and "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]". Sky Lynx evidently didn't rate the latter face-off, though, as he specifically refers to only "one thorough drubbing".
*Blaster is first shown riding inside Sky Lynx in boombox mode. He doesn't seem to have size-changed, as he is very large compared to Outback. Ramhorn and Steeljaw are both in mini-cassette mode resting against Blaster. The three of them sort of bounce towards Sky Lynx's exit and freefall to a planet surface before finally transforming. Later on, Blaster rides in Sky Lynx in robot mode with no problem.
*The Quintessons' economic victims include the planets [[Tyxlara]] and [[Alaxuu]], as well as [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]].
*The Quintessons can apparently summon up warp gates out of the ether at will.
*This episode features an intelligent [[Allicon]]... possibly by accident. Though the finished episode depicts an Allicon talking strategy with a judge-type Quintesson on equal terms, the [[dialogue script]] refers to the speaker as the "Quintesson Navigator". This might mean the storyboard artist or animators simply grabbed the pre-existing Allicon model to fill the required character role.
*The Quintesson cruiser crashes into an asteroid with two fully armed omega bombs. It blows the hell up, taking the asteroid with it. Anyone who was on board is '''definitely''' dead!

===Real-world references===
*Rodimus Prime says that the fight between the Xetaxxis and Lanarqs reminds him of pro-wrestling, but Spike corrects him by telling him that those are at least faked.
*The Quintessons are depicted as {{w|War profiteering|war profiteers}}.
*The architecture on Xetaxxis owes more than a little to {{w|Saint Basil's Cathedral}} in [[Moscow]].
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**Deactivating [[lightsaber]] as the Quintesson ship's hatch seals behind Sky Lynx.
**[[Death Star]] defense cannons as the Autobots and Decepticons battle on the uncharted planet.
**Death Star superlaser as Galvatron takes off in pursuit of the Quintesson ship.
*And speaking of, the projecting eyes, turban-wrapped heads, and oddly-shaped mouths of the Xetaxxians point to the [[wikia:starwars:Tusken Raider|Sandpeople]] as design inspiration. Years later, the ''[[Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor|Shining Armor]]'' miniseries would take the reference further by reimagining them as organic creatures wearing Tusken Raider-esque headgear.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:QuintessonJournal Outback Steeljaw.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Crikey! It's a wild Steeljaw!"]]
*It's an AKOM episode, with all the usual cruddy art and incorrect character models:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's 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, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**Spike has [[Nightmare Planet|black eyebrows]] again.
**While Outback's optics are blue in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]", in this episode they're consistently the same grey as the rest of his face.
**The first time we see him, Cyclonus has his purple chin again, which changes to gray as he turns his head. His eyebrows alternate between purple and grey in different shots in the episode. He's got a pinkish-purple neck when he lands on the uncharted planet.
**The Sweeps fly around in hovercraft mode with their heads sticking out of the top.
**The inside of Galvatron's and Cyclonus's mouths are purple; Magnus's is red.
*Five voices of doom:
**In AKOM episodes, individual Quintessons usually speak only from a single face, with the most frequently heard being [[Regis Cordic]]'s "Quintesson #1" speaking from the face of Doubt. For the lines "I've never seen two planets more eager to blow each other to dust!" and "To say nothing of vaporizing half our profits!", however, the voice emanates from the face of Death (which is usually used by [[Jack Angel]]'s "Quintesson #3", who can be heard delivering only a single line this episode, beginning with "Simultaneous delivery!")
**At the episode's end, as "Quintesson #1" congratulates the Xetaxxans and Lanarqans on their realization, he speaks using the face of Laughter (usually reserved for [[Roger C. Carmel]]'s "Quintesson #2"), before an animation error sees it cross-fade into the face of Death, instead of rotate.
**The Quintesson who provides narration for the journal, meanwhile, is voiced by [[Paul Eiding]]. It's not strictly an error, but he uses the face of Death, rather than one of the other two "unclaimed" faces.
*Ventriloquist bots:
**Predaking's mouthplate doesn't move for any of his lines.
**Likewise, Divebomb and Headstrong both speak in beast mode without moving their mouths.
**"Do the best you can!" - Sky Lynx's mouth doesn't move for this line.
**"Look at the canister!" - Outback's mouth doesn't move.
**Ramhorn growls at the Quintesson hologram without moving his mouth.
*Blaster's voice is missing its usual modulation throughout the episode.
*Predaking's head and face can't make up their mind how to be drawn and colored in his first few shots. The first shot shows his face half-buried in his torso, without his black eyeband. The second shot, a closeup, puts a second orange mouthplate on top of the first red one. As he replies to Cyclonus, his shoulder guns are drawn mounted to his armpits.
*After Cyclonus transforms and lands, the star background behind him in a closeup is drifting by him for no apparent reason.
*Sudden starry night:
**As Outback runs toward Sky Lynx's exit, a starry sky is visible outside, while Sky Lynx is flying through fog and clouds.
**"One thorough drubbing wasn't enough" - Sky Lynx has a starry sky behind him instead of daylit clouds, and again when the shot is recycled a moment later.
*From the inside, Sky Lynx has a vertical hatch; in the next shot, from the outside, it's a horizontal hatch.
*Blaster and the tapes get the wrong transformation sound; as they are going from a small, compact form to a taller, larger robot form, it should be the ascending-pitch version.
*"Must make more speed!" - Predaking's face is missing completely, replaced by an orange block.
*Divebomb's wings separate from Predaking, transforming into ''all'' of Divebomb's form - and leaving the rest of him still attached as Predaking's arm!
[[File:QuintessonJournal blaster vines.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Blaster was so very grateful this episode wasn't part of the Japanese continuity.]]
*Blaster's belly:
**As he struggles against the vines, Blaster's switches disappear, and his Autobot logo bounces around and morphs into a series of almost-random lines.
**While spying on the Decepticons, Blaster has five switches on his chest instead of three.
**After Sky Lynx grabs the journal, a reaction shot shows Blaster with five switches again, and his Autobot logo is colored somewhat randomly.
**When he arrives at the conference, Blaster has 6-8 switches on his chest!
*During the first Quintesson journal playback, we see a projection of Cyclonus and two Sweeps standing on a planet for no clear reason.
*When the Decepticons attack Blaster, his Autobot symbol is missing.
*As the Predacons combine, Divebomb transforms into Predaking's head, which should be part of Razorclaw.
*Sky Lynx gets a lot of non-standard laser sound effects as he battles Predaking.
*Predaking's face is missing again as he recovers from Sky Lynx's blast.
*Sky Lynx the morphobot:
**Sky Lynx ''grows'' his Lynx part when escaping from Predaking.
**His lynx section grows the bird part when transforming back to spaceship mode to pursue the Quintessons.
*In the second shot of Cyclonus and the Sweeps flying through space, Cyclonus is flying upside down (relative to both the screen and the group he's leading.) The shots before and after have him oriented correctly.
*After the Sweeps turn to pursue Sky Lynx, Sky Lynx is shown flying over a planetary surface when he's supposed to be in deep space.
*Because of a layer error, a Sharkticon's arm is sticking into the Autobots' prison cell.
*Outback's energon cube starts out pink, but is the old multi-colored hue (seen way back in early Season 1) in subsequent shots.
*When running towards Sky Lynx, Outback's legs don't reach the bottom of the cel. Neither do Cyclonus's a couple of scenes later after he's grabbed the journal.
*Sky Lynx is missing all his panel lines as he sits in the Quintesson hangar bay.
*As Predaking fumbles with the journal, most of Razorclaw's lion face is missing from his chest.
*When the Autobots attack, the first salvo uses Optimus Prime's gun sound effect.
*"Doom to the intruders!" - Scourge (or a Sweep) is missing his wings in two shots.
*When one of the Quintessons picks up the container with his ray gun, the "beam" from the gun is missing. Then the canister suddenly jumps into the Quintesson's grasp, and is suddenly encased in energy beams.

*As Sky Lynx and Outback (!!) take off, Galvatron is shown flying alongside them! The next shot shows him turning to fire ''back'' at them.
*As Rodimus tries to reconvene the peace conference, Magnus pushes two random aliens back into their seats. Only... there are no seats! And we've never seen either of these aliens before and have no idea what they're doing there or why Magnus is mad at them or anything.
*Outback bangs on the journal without any sound effects; as it activates, its beam is layered over his arm when it should be behind it.
*When he jumps on Sky Lynx, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow (it should be orange in the middle).
*As they watch the Quintesson ship explode, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow, and the back of Magnus' arm has a square of gray (when it should be all-blue).
*In the episode's super-way-dramatic finale, Rodimus and Magnus fire one shot each at the Quintesson ship, declare "It's working!!", and urge themselves on to fire "''One last burst!!''", that being one more shot each. Don't wear yourselves out there, guys.
*The Lanarqans vanish from the shot before leaving the frame in the last shot of the episode.

===Continuity errors===
*At the beginning of the episode, the Quintesson journal falls from space, bumps into a tree and lands on the ground. It should have made a huge meteor impact.
*The Quintessons are the worst jailers ''ever'' - they don't disarm Blaster before locking him up, and don't even bother tethering up Sky Lynx.
*Assuming this is the same journal from "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]", it's a completely different color.
*Now why would the Quintessons let the journal float just outside the prison cells?
*Flying Autobots:
**As both sides pursue the Quintessons, Outback takes off into space alongside Sky Lynx!

===Trivia===
*This episode is full of names and terms that the [[fandom]] would be unable to properly spell until the dialogue script surfaced in the mid-2000s. Damn you, Richard Merwin!

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''Le journal des Quintessons'''" ("The Quintessons' Journal")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost. The French DVD editions use the Canadian French dub instead.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*Predaking still calls himself "King of the Predacons" instead of "Prédaroi".
:::*Strangely, Sky Lynx is called by his English name all episode long. He has been called by his Canadian French name "Chaînon" in all the other episodes.
:::*Only during Predaking's phrase "Must make more speed!", he pronounces the "R" the Russian way.
:::*The first time they pronounce it, the Quintessons say "Tuxlara" instead of "Tixlara".
:::*During the secret file, Metroplex is called by his English name too instead of his Canadian French name "Métropole".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das Geheimnis der Quintessons'''" ("The Secret of the Quintessons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Il giornale Quintessenziano'''" ("The Quintesson Magazine")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Il diario di bordo dei Quintesson'''" ("The Quintesson Journal")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 死の商人クインテッサ (''Shi no Shōnin Quintessa'', "The Quintessons, the Merchants of Death")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 17]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài Rìzhì '''" (五面怪日志, "The Journal of the Quintessons")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Jornal Quintesson'''" ("The Quintesson Journal")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode's original translated title is currently lost due to a glitch in the only known surviving copy of the audio track.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Khroneekee Kvintessonov'''" (Хроники квинтессонов, "The Quintessons' Chronicles")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — Super Video ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{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]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[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 France.png|20px|France]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Le Journal des Quintessons ([[UFG Junior]]) — Canadian French audio only. 
[[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=1U2sLcOE0YtTxfoQoMN7X5-JQna9MJyYJ Episode dialogue script]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quintesson Journal}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Carnage in C-Minor

2025-04-09T14:09:42Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=82
|ep2=14
|prev2=Surprise Party
|next2=Fight or Flee (episode)
|image=Carnage C-Minor Autobots harmonic attack.JPG
|caption=[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime|Hey, what is that awful noise? Okay, let me straighten him out!]]
|title="Carnage in C-Minor"
|season=3
|season ep=17
|production code=700-102
|airdate=[[October 14]], 1986
|written by=[[Buzz Dixon]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm4ZFBIV4gM
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Several Autobots and Decepticons battle over a planet whose civilization revolves around music and whose inhabitants can use sound as a powerful weapon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Broadsidecrushesdevastator.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Die, Atlas!]]
The [[Decepticon]]s are building engines into the side of a comet in order to alter its course and crash it on top of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. As they fire up the engines, a group of [[Autobot]]s close in, led there by [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]]. The Autobots attack, much to [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s dismay. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] form [[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]], who is promptly flattened when [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] drops on him in ship mode. In the ensuing battle, the engines are destroyed, and the comet is sent hurtling towards a small planet, which Perceptor reports is inhabited.

The Autobots attempt unsuccessfully to stop the comet before Galvatron again orders his men to engage their foe. While Galvatron and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] are grappling, waves of [[Harmony|sound energy]] destroy the comet and cause both groups of Transformers to plummet to the planet's surface. In a nearby city, three aliens are having a disagreement. One of them, [[Allegra]], storms out, saying that she's going to her retreat.

The Transformers recover from their crash, wondering what hit them. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] describes it as the most perfect harmony ever, but Galvatron is more interested in its destructive power. Broadside breaks up the discussion by punching Galvatron, and the fight resumes. As the Constructicons form Devastator again, Perceptor blows the giant apart with one shot from his cannon. Galvatron and Soundwave depart in search of the source of the harmony they heard earlier, but Ultra Magnus spots them leaving and takes Broadside and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] in pursuit. Perceptor reflects that unless the trio are swift, there might not be much of them left.

[[File:Carnage CMinor Blaster Magnus Basso.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"I now pronounce you bot and wife. You may kiss the bride."]]

Broadside swiftly passes the two Decepticons and overflies the city, which Blaster realises is laid out like a musical harmony. Magnus and Blaster meet with [[Basso Profundo]], leader of the planet [[Eurythma]], but Basso refuses to help them, believing that the harmony is all his people need to protect themselves. He drops a hint that Allegra might be able to help them, a fact overheard by Galvatron and Soundwave, who are spying outside. As the three Autobots go in search of Allegra, the Decepticons drop a bridge on them. To make sure, Galvatron blasts the wreckage, and the pair fly off to find Allegra.

Basso watches the two Decepticons leave, and fellow [[Eurythman]] [[Zebop Skandana]] uses a harmony to help the Autobots out of the rubble. Blaster realises that Zebop was creating part of the harmony which originally blew the Autobots out of space, and Zebop says he's sympathetic to their cause and will help them find Allegra.

[[File:Carnage CMinor Galvatron Soundwave Allegra.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Galvatron loved going to the opera. He always showed his appreciation by blowing the theater to kingdom come afterwards.]]

The two Decepticons meet Allegra, offering to help her overthrow Basso in return for the secret of the harmony. She obliges and Soundwave records it, but to Galvatron's rage, it turns out that she is only one part of the harmony; Basso and Zebop make up the other two thirds. Still, when the Autobots arrive with Zebop, Soundwave is testing the part of the harmony he has by destroying a rock. The Autobots set up an ambush, but Zebop is so distressed by the fact that Allegra is working with the Decepticons that he gives away their position. Galvatron starts firing, and Zebop takes refuge in Ultra Magnus's cab. Soundwave begins battering the Autobots with the harmony. When Zebop counters with ''his'' part of the harmony, Soundwave promptly records it and uses the resulting two-thirds of the harmony to devastating effect.

[[File:Carnage CMinor Allegra Zebop.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Alas, poor Zebop. We knew him we- Wait. No, we didn't.]]

With the Autobots apparently gone, Galvatron terminates the alliance with Allegra. She attempts to attack them with her part of the harmony, but Soundwave retaliates, knocking her out. The Autobots climb out of their hole in time to prevent Galvatron from terminating the Eurythman, but during the resulting fight, Blaster and Soundwave struggle and accidentally fall on Zebop. Galvatron grabs his minion and departs, leaving Allegra cradling Zebop in her arms. Though the Autobots believe he's had it, Allegra uses a harmony to revive him. The Autobots leave for the city.

Back at the landing site, the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons are still fighting. Hot Spot voices his hope that Magnus, Blaster and Broadside hurry. The Eurythmans have spotted the battle, and Basso uses an amplifier to direct a destructive harmony at it. [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] is forced to disassemble, but the two factions fight on. Basso is depressed, and his aide points out he needs Allegra and Zebop to complete the harmony. Arriving, Soundwave begins playing two-thirds of the harmony, shaking the city and provoking Basso into using the third part again, which Soundwave promptly records. He is subsequently able to use the complete harmonic weapon to attack the city. Pleased, Galvatron announces their next targets are Metroplex and then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[File:Carnage CMinor Soundwave harmony.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave finds himself too big to fly through the rings in the Training Stage.]]

Ultra Magnus's party arrives back at the city to find it devastated and their fellow Autobots badly damaged. The Eurythmans are able to repair Perceptor and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] with a harmony, and the Autobots set off for Earth.

Galvatron and Soundwave attack Metroplex with the harmony, but the Autobots soon arrive with the three Eurythmans, who nullify Soundwave's weapon with anti-sound. Blaster grabs Soundwave and uses his buttons to erase the harmony from Soundwave's tapes. Despite Galvatron raging that he hasn't ordered a retreat, the Decepticons flee anyway. The Autobots return the Eurythmans to their world, where Ultra Magnus tells them they need to learn to live in harmony.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (10)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (11)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (16)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (17)
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (21)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (22)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (23)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (24)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (25)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (26)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (27)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (28)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (29)
*[[Scamper]] (30)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (31)

|c2=
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (1)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]] (14)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)

|c4=
*[[Basso Profundo]] (18)
*[[Allegra]] (19)
*[[Zebop Skandana]] (20)
*[[Eurythman communicator]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"What was that?!" 
"That was heaven. The purest, most vibrant, most perfect harmony I've ever heard."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Soundwave''' wonder what hit them, to the latter's monotoned enjoyment.

"You! Because of you, I got blasted out of space. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THAT DID TO MY PAINT JOB?!"
:—'''Broadside''', right before he sucker-punches Galvatron

"Broadside! Blaster! Galvatron and Soundwave went to find the weapon that knocked us out of space!" 
"Weapon? That was no weapon. That was harmonic bliss! A musical kiss!" 
"Whatever."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''', who doesn't have any soul, and '''Blaster''', who does.

"Blaster, you picking up anything?" 
"Yeah, yeah! Beauty like you wouldn't believe, Broadside. Sweet soul music. It's their art, their commerce, their philosophy, their whole—uh-oh, bummer. Galvatron and Soundwave are here."
:—'''Broadside''' and '''Blaster''' get their vibes harshed.

"I don't wanna see your ugly face, just the button that says 'ERASE'!" 
"My tapes! You've erased my tapes!"
:—'''Blaster''' destroys '''Soundwave'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s tapes, to the Decepticon's monotoned horror.

==Notes==
"Carnage in C-Minor" is perhaps the most famously error-laden episode in the series, and a regular contender among fans for "worst G1 episode". Even by the cartoon's own low standards, the art and animation are of poor quality, while the sheer volume of animation errors — many of them glaringly obvious — is almost unmatched. Add to that the irritating sing-song speech and shrilly modulated voices of the alien protagonists, and you've got an episode that is pretty widely loathed. Despite all this, the actual script and plot are certainly not the weakest to grace the cartoon series — certainly not at level of, say, "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]".

===Real-world references===
*Galvatron's plan to smash Metroplex with a comet is based on the popular sci-fi idea of "kinetic bombardment". The trope would see use in [[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|an issue of]] IDW's 2010 ongoing series.
*The Decepticons are said to be working in an Oort cloud, referring to the swarm of comets and proto-planet stuff believed to be orbiting the sun far beyond Pluto (not ''the'' Oort cloud, however, since it's close to the alien planet Eurythma — which raises the question of why the Decepticons didn't pick a comet in Earth's own solar system instead.)
*The Eurythman characters' names are all music-related puns. Allegra is named after either the Italian operetta and opera composer {{w|Salvatore Allegra}} or {{w|Tempo#Italian tempo markings|Italian tempo marking "allegro"}}, while Basso Profundo is derived from the singing style {{w|Bass (voice type)|basso prof'''o'''ndo}}. While these are all related to classical music, Zebop Skandana is named after popular music guitarist {{w|Carlos Santana}} and his 1981 album {{w|Zebop!}}... and the difference shows.
*Eurythma was possibly named after the popular '80s band The {{w|Eurythmics}}.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Broadside takes off after the Decepticons.
**[[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] whine and [[Death Star]] superlaser as Galvatron and Soundwave take off after burying the Autobots, again as the Autobots pursue them back to the city, and again as the Decepticons depart for Earth.

===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:Carnage CMinor Allegra Zebop.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|This episode ensured that no kid would ever, ever, ever want Broadside's toy.]]
*Like much of Season 3, this episode was animated by AKOM, using their usual incorrect character models:
**Galvatron is consistently colored using an outdated color model that gives him pale purple "underpants".
**Throughout the entire episode, Broadside is drawn using [[:File:Broadsidecharactermodels.jpg|his pre-final robot and jet mode]] [[character model]]s. On the other hand, his aircraft carrier mode is actually that of his final model colored like the pre-final version with a purple Autobot insignia.
**Soundwave's head crest is supposed to be the same blue as his body, but its lines and/or triangle randomly turn grey throughout the episode. His back piece is also grey when it should be blue, and his hands are colored black instead of blue.
**Magnus's gun is blue instead of white. Remarkably, he doesn't have a colored mouth like AKOM gives him in so many other episodes.
*Other episode-wide errors:
**The Transformation sound effects are frequently cut off.
**Soundwave's face plate doesn't move when he speaks for most of this episode.
**The harmony's effects are rarely consistent from scene to scene. Sometimes it's a ray or beam; other times it's a whispy wave or radiating circle of light. Sometimes it's actually sung; other times it's shown as a sort of telepathic ray. When Galvatron attacks the Autobots with it at the running battle, it's a green woobery line moving backwards through the air.
*Freeze-frame-o-vision:
**Bonecrusher pulls the engine activation lever with a serial freeze-frame effect, as if it were some great epic act.
**The comet's explosion is likewise "animated" with successive freeze-frames.
**Metroplex's transformation to battle station mode is also done this way.
*Grimlock is drawn with a mouth as he and the others fly toward the comet.
*An Autobot of made-up model is shown approaching the comet to Magnus's right, where Grimlock had been a couple of shots prior.
*Two more generic Autobots are shown alongside Magnus as they come into view above the Decepticons. Only Galvatron, Soundwave and Bonecrusher are shown on the comet, but more Decepticons will appear out of nowhere as the battle rolls on.
*In that same shot, Galvatron and Soundwave are facing away from the engine; in the next shot, as they react to the first shots, they're facing towards it.
*Combiner issues:
**Superion is consistently shown as the same size as the other Autobots; he should be twice as large even without any size changing.
**Devastator is exactly the same size as Soundwave as they return fire on the approaching Autobots.
**Devastator is shown firing alongside Soundwave in the first salvos of the comet battle; a moment later, the Constructicons are shown combining into Devastator.
**When the Constructicons form Devastator for the second time, the first shot shows Scavenger (''not'' Scrapper) and Mixmaster forming the legs, Bonecrusher forming the pelvis, and Long Haul forming the torso. The second shot shows Bonecrusher and Scavenger forming the arms and Hook forming the upper torso. This means that Scrapper, the Constructicon leader, didn't contribute to Devastator, but ''two'' Bonecrushers and Scavengers did, and [[Devastator (ROTF)|''seven'' Constructicons formed Devastator.]]
**Devastator doesn't just de-combine when Perceptor shoots him — he actually explodes into a bunch of little pieces!
**When the Protectobots are combined as Defensor, Hot Spot (Defensor's torso) is fighting alongside his combined self!
*Ultra Magnus has Optimus Prime's rifle sound effect as he dives toward the comet.
[[File:DeceptiBrawn1.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|AKOM, it's really simple. Dead guys don't get to fight. Because they're dead. You know what 'dead' is, right?]]
[[File:Hotspot defensor.jpg|'ey you! Get back in mah belleh!|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Appearing/disappearing robots: The cast fluctuates so much it's almost impossible to tell who's actually supposed to be there. Autobots routinely appear for only a shot or two; it's hard to know if the appearances were scripted or not.
**Grimlock vanishes after the first couple of shots.
**Cyclonus appears for one shot, firing alongside Soundwave and Bonecrusher, and is never seen again.
**In the episode's most infamous shot, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (who should both be dead) show up alive and well. And it seems [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] has switched sides, as he's helping them shoot at the giant Decepticon rocket engine he just helped build! (Huffer's orange is so dark it appears red, to boot.)
**Hot Spot suddenly appears after the rocket explodes.
**In one shot, only four Transformers are shown falling out of the sky; a second shot shows six or seven. Eight are shown in the subsequent crater; there should be at least half a dozen more.
**Perceptor and Hot Spot seem to be the only ones left fighting once Broadside and company depart.
**Hot Spot abruptly replaces Broadside for several shots during the end of the battle at Allegra's retreat.
**Soundwave appears alongside the Constructicons for several shots during the ongoing firefight; at this point he's still running around with Galvatron.
**Defensor suddenly appears in the battle as Basso Profundo uses the harmonic amplifier on the Transformers. He separates into his components, who then show up in several more shots, so it's clearly a scripted appearance. (And as noted elsewhere, Hot Spot — his torso — is standing right next to him!)
*Galvatron sees Magnus flying right at him... then transforms to cannon mode and ''turns the other way''.
*During or after the ensuing cloud-obscured struggle, Galvatron returns to [[robot mode]], but no transformation sound is heard.
*When the engine explodes, it vanishes without a trace, leaving only a smooth metal platform behind — no debris, no crater, no damage.
*As observed by Perceptor, the comet seems to have a tiny moon following it! We also get Perceptor's microscope-vision before he's actually transformed.
[[File:Carnage C-minor Magnus Broadside.JPG|{{w|Monty Python's Life of Brian|"Hail Caesar!" "Hail Thaethar."}}|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*While the Autobots are shooting at the meteor, they are so badly drawn that they appear to have only one leg each, left arms starting from the elbows, and enormous heads...and Superion and Broadside (whose hugeness was a plot point just a couple of shots ago) are tiny. Perceptor's also drawn with a visor instead of single eyes.
*In a subsequent shot, the Autobots' lasers aren't actually reaching the comet they're firing at.
*"They thwarted me" — Soundwave's head crest is colored as though it were his face! The result is that he looks like an excited guy with a gaping-open mouth and the biggest chin strap this side of ''Animated''. Mixmaster also appears to have stolen [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]]'s goggles and beard.
*Sudden starry night:
**When he picks up Galvatron, Broadside has starry night sky behind him in his closeup shot, but dusky clouds in the wide shots.
**Perceptor has night sky behind him in the same scene.
**Magnus gets random night sky as he asks about finding "the bandleader".
**Starry night as Galvatron drops and dismisses Allegra.
**Starry night as Superion prepares to tackle Galvatron.
*When Bonecrusher orders the formation of Devastator, he's wearing an Autobot insignia. See also the continuity error below.
*After Devastator gets blown apart by Perceptor, there are two Long Hauls firing at the Autobots, one with a malformed face.
[[File:Bigmagnus tinyconst.jpg|We'll take revenge by merging into Devastator! That can't possibly fail!|thumb|right|upright=1.1|'Kids, did I ever tell you the story of how I met your mother?']]
*After watching Galvatron and Soundwave leave, Ultra Magnus dispatches Hook and Scrapper—by picking them up in his hands and bashing them together. Magnus is supposed to be big, but not ''that'' big. (It's ''possible'' that the animators used the [[toy]]s for reference, unaware that the cartoon [[scale]] traditionally doesn't match the toys' scale in this case.)
*Blaster's voice is missing its usual modulation.
*Perceptor and Hot Spot seem to jump all over the place as they fight:
**They're beside each other in the crater as Perceptor takes out Devastator.
**A tiny Superion takes Hot Spot's place in a subsequent shot.
**Then Hot Spot is by himself as he turns and fires.
**Then Perceptor is back beside him as he continues firing.
**Then they turn and jump into the crater they were already in.
**The pair run from the firefight (not transform and drive, but ''run'')... then suddenly are standing still, rising up as though from a crouch.
*As Broadside overtakes the Decepticons, Blaster and Ultra Magnus aren't shown.
*As they approach the city, Blaster and Magnus have gone from hanging onto the back edges of Broadside's wings to hanging onto the (much more logical) front edges.
**In the same shot, Blaster's torso — hidden by the wing — has to be about twice as long as his legs to actually connect to them.
**And Magnus's mouth doesn't move as he delivers his lines.
*As Blaster and Ultra Magnus talk to Basso, Blaster is Magnus's height in closeup shots but (correctly) shorter than him in the long shots.
*As Galvatron shoots the bridge, his cannon has the usual Decepticon laser sound effect rather than its own sound effect.
*Broadside's eyes are yellow when he gets up from under the rubble on the bridge.
*Allegra is waving her arms around for several seconds before Galvatron walks in on her. It's not clear if she's supposed to be singing — in which case the vocals are completely missing — or if she's supposed to be playing music from the device in front of her, in which case she would be ''playing the show's own background music!'' Either way, it seems like a total non-sequitur when Galvatron walks in and says "Very impressive!"
[[File:Carnage CMinor Galvatron Soundwave Allegra.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Very impressive arm-waving!"]]
*When Galvatron and Soundwave first talk to Allegra, Soundwave has eyes rather than a visor, and his face is colored blue instead of grey.
**As he receives the first part of the haromony, his "nose" goes up so high into his visor that it appears as separate eyes again.
*Allegra goes from standing up (in bold defiance) to casually laying down in the span of two shots.
[[File:Soundwaveautobotgalvy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Very impressive shrinking!"]]
*Soundwave has a purple Autobot [[insignia]] after recording Allegra's harmony section.
*Soundwave successively shrinks through this scene — at first he's the same height as Galvatron, then he's a head shorter, then only comes up to Galvatron's waist when Galvatron picks him up.
*After learning that they only have one third of the harmony, a recycled shot makes Galvatron look quite happy as he snarls in angry frustration.
*"Everybody's a critic" — Broadside is missing the passengers who are supposed to be hanging onto his wings.
*"I'm not so sure this is a good idea anymore" — Soundwave is missing his Decepticon symbol, and his headcrest comes down so far it separates his visor.
*Blaster is drawn delivering Broadside's line about "scorch-marks on top of everything else".
*The open parts of Magnus's trailer are misdrawn, making the entire trailer appear solid.
*Many of Magnus's white truck parts are colored light gray.
[[File:Carnage C-Minor Autobots harmonic attack.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Remember that shot a while back, where Broadside was twice as tall as Magnus in robot mode?]]
*A wide shot of Magnus advancing against the harmony has Blaster and Broadside at human scale, shorter — ''much'' shorter — than Magnus's truck mode.
*Allegra reacts to being grabbed by Galvatron a couple of seconds before it actually happens.
*While singing his harmony, Zebop goes from inside Magnus's cab to outside between shots.
**After Magnus frees himself from the pit a moment later, Zebop jumps out of the cab ''again''.
*After Soundwave blasts the Autobots into the ground, he transforms and walks toward the edge of the frame — but disappears ''before'' leaving the frame.
*While Soundwave and Blaster are fighting, Soundwave's grunts are unprocessed, making him sound like Dr. Claw.
*Galvatron has the standard Decepticon laser sound effect as he blasts Magnus, rather than his own signature sound.
*The script presumably calls for Zebop to move Allegra to safety; instead, the animation shows him putting her down and standing right over her, as Blaster and Soundwave fall on what would seem to be both of them.
*Blue face on Soundwave after he and Blaster fall on Zebop.
*When Blaster explains that the Eurythmans use the harmony even for healing, Ultra Magnus is the one mouthing the words; Magnus also has a visor instead of eyes.
*Our first shot of the still-going battle features lasers being fired at a forest, with nobody from either side in view.
*Hot Spot has consistently had a faceplate till now, but as he asks Perceptor about the other Autobots, he's suddenly got a mouth.
*When Perceptor gets shot, he grunts in a voice like that of Ultra Magnus.
*The running battle is in a forest, but when Galvatron and Soundwave intervene it's suddenly in the city.
*When Galvatron orders Soundwave to play the harmonics on Earth, Soundwave's tape deck door is the same color as his body (it should be light blue).
[[File:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|It's his little shoulder-angel.|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*When Soundwave plays the harmonics to disrupt Metroplex, the waves are shown emanating from ''Galvatron's head''! We then pan over to Metroplex, who is hardly any bigger than the two Decepticons.
*Metroplex does a sort of malformed half-transformation out of battle station mode, then stops; a shot later he's in robot mode with no additional animation or sound.
*"Autobots! Impossible!" — Galvatron's mouth doesn't move.
*Soundwave suddenly has a Decepticon symbol on his back as he <s>dances</s> struggles with Blaster.
*As Blaster flies off after erasing Soundwave's tapes, a cel-layering error causes him to appear smaller than Soundwave's head!
*As the Decepticons retreat, Blaster is shown flying away (again!) behind two Constructicons.
*"The Decepticons won't be back" — Magnus's eyes change size and shape between successive shots.

...And all this is overlooking the frequently malformed bodies, incorrect proportions, minor coloring foul-ups, and just generally poor artwork that marks the whole episode.

===Continuity errors===
*Flying Autobots:
**The entire Autobot assault force flies through space to the comet. As usual, no rocket packs are in evidence, nor are they mentioned. Only Superion and Grimlock are usually capable of robot mode flight.
**Despite this, Blaster and Magnus have to hang on to Broadside to fly after the Decepticons once they're on the planet.
**Despite ''this'', they both take off alongside Broadside after Allegra heals Zebop, and are seen flying along on Earth too. Blaster even has a whole fight sequence with Soundwave while floating in the air.
*The Decepticons all fly away from the comet as the rocket activates. As the Autobots approach, they're back alongside it — well, three of them, anyway.
*Anyone bothered that this "sonic weapon" was used to destroy a comet IN SPACE?
*Bonecrusher is shown ordering the Constructicons to combine. Scrapper is supposed to be their leader. Granted, it's in line with Mixmaster giving the orders back in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".
*Since when does Perceptor pack enough firepower to blast the once-invincible Devastator to pieces?
**Likewise, how come one little shot from the Constructicons knocks Superion apart?
*Much like the Season 2 episode "[[Kremzeek!]]", once characters start hanging on to another character to get around, the script seems to forget that there's any other way for them to travel. Blaster and Magnus ride around on Broadside's wings for the rest of the episode, and even poor Zebop has to do so once he joins them!
[[File:Carnage CMinor Blaster Magnus Basso.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"No." "What did he say?" "He said 'no'."]]
*Despite the aliens' dialog being in perfectly understandable English (or Galactic Standard or whatever), because they say everything in a sing-song rhythm, apparently none of the Transformers except Blaster and Soundwave can understand them, and the two tape decks spend a large (and annoying) amount of time translating Eurythman to "non-sing-song" for everyone else — at times repeating the same lines word-for-word.
**Blaster also somehow extrapolates quite a bit of information from short lines like "This is your war, not ours."
*At one point [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] states the Autobots are "outnumbered two to one", but even excluding oddities like Brawn and Huffer, the ''Autobots'' actually ''seen'' in this episode outnumber the ''Decepticons''. See also Appearing/Disappearing Robots, above.
*"Soundwave, are you getting this?" "I am... I am!" "Never mind that. Did you get the harmony?" Did a line get dropped?
*Superhuman aliens:
**Allegra is still in Galvatron's hands when Magnus shoots him in the back, causing Galvatron to drop her from what looks like a height of 30 or 40 feet. Despite this, she's up and running about a moment later.
**It's an animation error, not a scripted one, but she seems to survive being smushed by two Transformers just fine.
*When the Decepticons reach Earth, they ''pass'' Autobot City (in the usual lush valley) to reach Metroplex, who seems to be hanging out in a barren desert for no reason.
*The Autobots (Scamper, anyway) don't notice the Decepticons till they're literally already there and firing at them. Nobody noticed the Decepticons fly to Earth? What happened to the Earth Defense Command satellites?
*Why does Soundwave even ''have'' an 'erase' option? Better hope his [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|tapes]] had their copy-protection tabs removed!

===Trivia===
*Galvatron is ''weirdly'' chummy with Soundwave throughout the episode, never once abusing him in the ways he ordinarily treats his lieutenants. They're even briefly shown holding hands while flying! Perhaps there might be some lingering fondness from the former's previous life coming through?
*This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 1999]].
*[[Ask Vector Prime]] [[Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 30, 2015|identified]] the [[Eurythma|Eurythmic]] [[Harmony]] as an especially potent source of [[animation error|time-space anomalies]]. This retroactively means that every single "error" that occurred in this episode actually happened.
*This episode marks the only time Broadside is shown in jet mode in the US cartoon. Further, the model that was used is actually his pre-final model which had previously only been used in the 1986 [[Triple Changer]] [[commercial]]. His final jet mode model wouldn't actually be used until ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' cartoon.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''Massacre en do mineur'''" ("Massacre in C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Galvatron calls Metroplex "Métropolésie". That is the first and the last time this name is used in the cartoon.
:::*Once again, a lot of battle grunts and screams are recovered from the original version.
:::*The Eurythmans talk normally, the singing side was removed. However, their harmonies were recovered from the original version.
:::*Before Allegra sings for Galvatron and Soundwave, the cut to recover the original version was made too soon, we can hear the ending of the English voice actress' "harmonyyyyy!".
:::*Despite being called "Zebop" in the rest of the episode, Allegra calls him "Zebob" when telling the Decepticons about him.
:::*The dialogue between Broadside and Blaster as they approach the island is missing.
:::*After falling on Zebop, Blaster's "Zebop!" is dubbed by a satisfied "My dear Zebop!", which sounds pretty weird.
:::*The voice actors did not fall in the trap of the animation error where Ultra Magnus moves the lips when Blaster is talking. Like in English, it's indeed Blaster's voice actor who delivers his line.
:::*Soundwave's line "My tapes! You've erased my tapes!" is dubbed by "Oh no, I can't believe it! I was so happy! And he erased everything!".
:::*Despite the final joke about living in harmony also working in French, Blaster does not comment it, his line was replaced by "I sing too out of tune, I wouldn't live with them!".
:::*Name-dodging:
::::*Ultra Magnus' phrase "Ah, very good Perceptor, and that comet can serve as their prison" is dubbed by "Yes, you were not wrong. I hope that this way we will manage to surprise them".
::::*Bonecrusher's line "Constructicons! Form Devastator!" is replaced by "Quickly, regroup! We will have more strength by forming a single robot, let's hurry!".
::::*Galvatron saying "Soundwave! Soundwave!" is dubbed by "Ah, they are too many! They are resisting us!".
::::*Broadside's line "Blaster, you picking up anything?" is dubbed by "Maybe '''you''' can show us the way".
::::*Galvatron's "Soundwave, are you getting this?" is replaced by "Go, record this! And I advise you not to miss". Soundwave's answer "I am. I am" is dubbed by "Yeah, do not worry, we'll record this".
::::*Later, Galvatron's "Soundwave!" about the second harmony is dubbed by "Listen to this!" Record it!". Of course, the next "Soundwave" is missing too.
::::*Again, his "Soundwave!" about the third harmony is dubbed by "No but listen to this!".
::::*Ultra Magnus does not name Perceptor when telling him "It's a long story, I'll tell you on the way back to Earth".
::::*Galvatron's "Soundwave! The harmonics now!" is dubbed by "Come on, go ahead! Quickly play the magic harmonies!".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das Gemetzel in Cis-Moll'''" ("The Slaughter in Cis-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Sinfonia mortale'''" ("Deadly Symphony")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Ultra Magnus's line: «I told you: they use their harmonies for everything, even healing!» is voiced by Blaster and Galvatron's actor, [[Angelo Nicotra]]. The fact that, immediately after, he talks again with his usual voice makes the scene pretty odd.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Massacro in do minore'''" ("Carnage in C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''音楽惑星の挑戦'''" (''Ongaku Wakusei no Chōsen'', "Challenge of the Music Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 20]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''C Xiǎodiào Dàtúshā '''" (C小调大屠杀, "The Slaughter in C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' '''?'''
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode's original translated title is currently lost due to a glitch in the only known surviving copy of the audio track.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skhvutkuh nuh see-meenor'''" (Схватка на Си-минор, "The Battle on C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[1989]] — ''Transformers'' — Carnage in C Minor / The Ultimate Weapon ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{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]] [[2004]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|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 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 19 ([[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==
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808817/ IMDb's page for this episode]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=118hXiMvCPKsu45gR_be5DtX2mBId8W5A Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Nightmare Planet

2025-04-09T13:55:45Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=79
|ep2=24
|prev2=Money Is Everything (episode)
|next2=Grimlock's New Brain
|image=NightmarePlanet Quintessons watch Daniel.jpg
|caption="But it wasn't a dream. It was a place. And you and you and you...and you were there!"
|title="Nightmare Planet"
|season=3
|season ep=14
|production code=700-99
|airdate=[[October 31]], 1986
|written by=[[Beth Bornstein]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Studio Look]], [[Nakamura Production]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CV_gB4p6dE
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''A recurring nightmare of Daniel's turns out to be an experiment by the Quintessons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] has been having nightmares involving a giant [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. Worried, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] ask [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] to come visit him. Rodimus manages to calm Daniel, suggesting that should a huge Galvatron menace Daniel again, to imagine a huge Rodimus to fight him off. After he falls back asleep, a tentacle grabs Daniel...

[[File:NightmarePlanet Dragon drop.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Rule Two: No make-believe things like, oh, pink dragons and stuff.]]

Meanwhile, Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] are driving through some thick fog when the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] attack the [[Autobot]]s. However, both factions of [[Transformer]]s are suddenly attacked by monsters on which their weapons have no effect. It turns out that the [[Quintesson]]s are using Daniel's nightmares to create chaotic monsters which will destroy the unpredictable Autobots and [[Decepticon]]s.

Springer and [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] are captured by a [[dragon]] and taken to a castle. While there, they meet a [[Fairy-tale princess|princess]] chained in a dungeon, whom Springer unbinds. She tells them of a magic [[lance]] that can kill the dragon and claims that her father will give them [[gold]] if they free her. Springer agrees to free the Princess and slay the dragon regardless of the reward, while Razorclaw acts like he's on the verge of coughing up a hairball.

[[File:Nightmare Planet snake monster.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|This scene would probably have played out much differently in ''Kiss Players''.]]

Back at the battle, Rodimus, Magnus, and the Predacons are being threatened by a witch and giant. They manage to dodge a blast from the witch that turns the giant into a toad and Magnus finds a bucket of water which destroys the witch. However, a giant snake monster appears from the ground and nearly swallows the Transformers before a plane, piloted by a familiar face, rescues them. The Quintessons realize that Daniel's subconscious mind is assisting the Autobots, so they increase the power to suppress his help. At the castle, Springer is trying to find way out, while Razorclaw has decided to wait until the guards come. Suddenly, Springer thinks of a plan, but requires Razorclaw's help.

[[File:NightmarePlanetSteed.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|This is like a Frazetta painting. With giant robots.]]

Elsewhere, Rodimus, Magnus, and the Predacons find an abandoned amusement park. Heading into the fun house, [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] are attacked by the mirrors, while [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] falls down a large hole. Rodimus and [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] are attacked by a giant Galvatron, which is then defeated by a giant Rodimus Prime. Rodimus realizes that they are somehow in Daniel's dream, due to the situation matching the advice he'd previously given. At the castle, Springer is fighting the dragon but needs help. Razorclaw refuses to help, but the Princess reminds Razorclaw that the dragon will kill him as well. Razorclaw reluctantly serves as Springer's mount and he stabs the dragon, killing it. The castle also disappears and a yellow brick road appears.

[[File:NightmarePlanet Rodimus Daniel in bed.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"You won't tell anyone I wet the bed, will you, Rodimus?"]]

Meanwhile, Rodimus is calling out to Daniel. Shocked by the revelation that Daniel is trying to help save the Transformers in his nightmares, the Quintessons set the machine on its highest level, which will kill Daniel. The dream world begins to deteriorate, but the Princess guides them through the storm. Daniel is able to draw the Quintessons in subconsciously and the Autobots rescue him. Razorclaw wants to scrap the Autobots, but Headstrong cannot [[Transformation|transform]], preventing them from becoming [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. Razorclaw orders the Predacons to retreat.

Back at home, Daniel wakes up, not remembering what happened, and tells Rodimus that he took control of the dream. Rodimus tells Daniel that he won't have any more nightmares: "No more giant Galvatrons, and no more snake monsters." Daniel looks confused: "Hey... how'd you know about the snake monsters?"
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (7)

|c2=
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (8)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (9)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (10)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (11)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (12)
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (13)

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

|c4=
*Dream giant [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (2)
*[[Quintesson]]s (14)
*Dream witch (15)
*Dream giant (16)
*Dream [[dragon]] (17)
*Dream [[fairy-tale princess]] (18)
*Dream giant [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'll do it, my lady, and for no reward!" 
"...Bleh, you're making me ''sick'', Autobot."
:— '''Springer''''s heroic antics aren't much to '''Razorclaw''''s liking

"How did you know that would work?!" 
"I spent time talking TV with [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus'''

[[File:Nightmare-planet-galvatron-anysizehewants.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|This is just one of those times when no caption we post will ever be as hilarious as the actual quote.]]
"Hold up, Headstrong! It's not the real thing! Look at how big he is!" 
"FOOL! Galvatron can be any size he wants!"
:— '''Rodimus Prime''' and '''"Galvatron"''' debate the [[Size changing|mass-shifting]] issue.

"Get him, Rodimus!"
:— '''Rodimus Prime''' cheering for (giant) himself battling Galvatron.

"The fantasy's over, Rodimus Prime. Enough fun for one day." 
"If that's his idea of fun, what does he consider a bad time?"
:— '''Razorclaw''' and '''Springer''' have differing definitions of "fun".

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The Witwickys have a giant-scale home (presumably on Cybertron), with halls, ceilings and doors big enough to accommodate their robotic friends.
*Razorclaw seems awfully interested in the princess's offer of gold. Whether this means it has actual value among the Decepticons, or he just likes shiny things, is unknown. But he probably just likes shiny things.
*The princess is pretty much Carly in a pink gown.

===Real-world references===
*The yellow brick road and the witch being defeated with a bucket of water are both references to ''{{w|The Wizard of Oz}}''.
*The giant recites the famous lines from ''Jack and the Beanstalk'': "Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman!"
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**[[Death Star]] superlaser as Divebomb flies over the clowns.

===Animation and technical errors===
There's evidence to suggest this episode had a troubled production:
*The finished animation is missing in-between cels in several scenes (leaving the keyframes only), such as when Springer climbs onto Razorclaw.
*The episode under-runs to such an extent that ''two'' [[Secret Files of Teletraan II|secret files]] are tagged onto the end rather than one, presumably to make up for various missing shots.
*The artistic style is all over the map. Sometimes it's standard [[Toei Animation|Toei]] style; sometimes it's the upgraded style used in the animated Movie; and for a few shots, it's a highly stylized anime rendering of the characters. The differing styles alternate from scene to scene and sometimes shot to shot. Suggesting the use of more than one animation team and/or studio to help out (as was usually common, but not to this extent).[[File:Nightmare-planet-springer-razorclaw.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"We're gonna get out of here by skipping a few scenes ahead."]]
*At least one scene seems to be missing from the episode. When Springer, Razorclaw and the princess are still locked up and know they need the magic lance to defeat the dragon, Springer says he has an idea to break out. The next time we see the trio, they're free, they have the magic lance and Springer is fighting the dragon.
*The battles with the dream-creatures are generally a bit disjointed and nonsensical; though it could have been scripted that way for surreal, dream-like effect, ''The Transformers'' usually wasn't that edgy:
**The first batch of dream-creatures get no introduction at all - the camera shot changes, and they're just ''there'', just strolling along. None of the Transformers seem too concerned that a madhouse of giant organic creatures just waltzed in out of nowhere, either - literally ''nobody'' comments on it.
**When the witch appears, Rodimus yells "Hold it! Don't fire!" at the other Transformers present... and the witch replies "For THAT I shall cast a spell on all of you!" Presumably one of the Predacons was supposed to have fired on her, provoking her reaction.
**No context is provided for the battle with the flytrap plants; the battle is already in progress when the episode rejoins the characters, the monster plants having appeared and attacked between scenes. Rampage and Tantrum's fight with them also seems to be missing a few shots or lines of dialog or ''something''. Rampage's "Get away from me!" seems to have been (p)recycled from his later encounter in the house of mirrors, as it doesn't entirely make sense in this context. Likewise, Tantrum's "I thought you could do it too!" seems like it should be a reply or follow-on from another line.
**Rodimus calmly floats up into the air where Headstrong is trapped in a plant. The plant then explodes for no reason.[[File:Nightmare-planet-ultramagnus-rodimus-gardner.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Fighting clowns? Yeah, it's pretty undignified. Could be worse, I guess. It's not like I'm having to do something really humiliating, like flex my mouth pistons to destroy a swarm of nanocons."]]
**Magnus is never shown getting the weed-killer tank he uses against the Venus flytrap-style plants; likewise, the plants aren't actually shown wilting or freezing or anything; they just kind of flash and jump back and forth.
**Magnus's "Look!" - possibly meant for him finding the weed killer tank - doesn't correspond to anything happening on-screen.
**A plant clamps onto Rodimus's leg. Magnus then freezes a bunch of ''other'' plants, and Rodimus's predicament is magically over.
**When Daniel dreams up the clowns, only three are shown appearing at first - but each subsequent shot shows another clown, a different one in every shot, for over half a dozen total.

More commonplace errors include:
*Rodimus Prime's head crest is missing the line through it for most of the episode.
*Spike's eyebrows are black instead of brown.
*Rodimus's hand is yellow instead of gray as he rests it on Daniel's shoulder.
*Rodimus's vehicle form is strangely flattened as he and the others drive into the fog.
*"Not the best place for a party" - The sides of Springer's helmet are light gray instead of green.
*Rampage's weapons use a modulated version of the Galvatron cannon sound when he fires on Magnus. So does Predaking's gun.
*Headstrong somehow lands in a puddle of muck, despite the battle happening on a metal surface.
[[File:Nightmare-planet-predaking-badart.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|We call it "bad art" but it's still way better than AKOM!]]
[[File:Nightmare-planet-predaking-goodart.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Predaking HAS the crotch thrust! He needs nothing more!"]]
*Predaking's combination sequence is a re-drawn copy of his sequence from "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", skipping the robot modes. Recycled footage isn't ''technically'' an error, but the previous shot had the Predacons scattered and grappling with various Autobots; then suddenly they're all together and combining.
**Both of Predaking's footplates are drawn incorrectly, and instead of both being light gray, one is red and the other white.
**And then, with a loud mechanical whirring sound, Predaking's shoulder guns tilt a tiny bit forward for no reason.
**The next shot has Predaking's weapons facing all the way forward. It's also in a ''completely'' different art style from the previous shot.
*"Predaking has the power" - what he ''lacks'', however, is facial coloration - his black eyeband changes to orange as he flexes and starts to turn.
**Predaking then fires a weapon from his chest while his back is turned to us - but he doesn't have any weapons there!
*As Magnus yells, "Look out!," Rodimus is missing his Autobot symbol (of course, at the tiny size of the shot, it would just be a red smudge anyway.)
*Tantrum is colored blue and gray as he and the others look up at the giant.
*Rodimus has red eyes as he and Rampage leap out of the way of the witch's spell.
**And again as he comments on the giant's destruction.
**Again as he tries to convince Headstrong about the giant Galvatron.
**Giant Rodimus has red eyes as he first confronts the giant Galvatron.
**"This is gonna sound bizarre, Magnus..." Rodimus has red eyes... then the next shot, a nearly-identical closeup, has him with the correct blue eyes. Then back to red when the first shot is recycled.
*"A bucket of water...but why?" is spoken by Magnus, but Rodimus' mouth is moving. Rodimus has yellow hands again, too.
*"How did you know that would work?" - Both Magnus and Rodimus's hands are drawn abnormally huge compared to their bodies.
*"When this experiment is completed" - the Quintesson's death face has two panels that flash between light and dark gray, in synch with the motion of his mouth.
*"You're setting it too high! It might damage the human's brain!" - Only the Quintessons' speaking faces are colored; the other faces are grayed out.
**The same shot, and the same error, recurs when the Quintessons set the machine to its highest setting.
*When Rodimus Prime remarks the giant Rodimus fighting the giant Galvatron is like in Daniel's nightmare, his voice is enhanced to sound like the giant Rodimus.
*Just before the yellow brick road appears, the sides of Springer's helmet are gold all around (not just inside). This is corrected a moment later.
*"The human brain still defies us" - the Quintesson's body is missing, leaving his face floating in air as he talks.
*The Quintesson's display has a setting marked "over''lord''" instead of "over''load''".
*"Hang on, Danny! I'm coming!" Rodimus's spoiler is missing.
*When Daniel "wakes up," for two shots Rodimus' Autobot symbol is above his chest flame instead of inside it, drawn to the specifications of an earlier character design that also crops up in Hot Rod's [[Commercial#1986|commercial]], [[The Transformers: The Movie promo]], and "[[The Killing Jar (episode)|The Killing Jar]]".
*Tantrum's eyeband is red instead of yellow as he stands behind Razorclaw.

===Continuity errors===
*Based on the scenery, and the Quintessons' gloating that the experiment will allow them to take control of Cybertron, the entire episode ''seems'' to happen on that world. Assuming that's the case, it raises the question of how the Predacons are able to run around unhindered on the Autobot-controlled planet. Ditto for the Quintessons, who appear to be operating on the same planet.
*Likewise, just how the Quintessons' magical machine works is never given any explanation. If it can project a real-life version of anything at all, wouldn't it make more sense to just hook it up to one of the Quintessons and have them imagine a really big Transformer-eating Sharkticon, instead of grabbing Daniel, aka "one of the most heavily-guarded-by-the-Autobots humans alive"? And if the human brain was really the vital component to make it work, wouldn't any other random unguarded human do just as well? Or better yet, one who ''hated'' the Autobots so they wouldn't try to save them in their dreams?
*Even if this loony scheme had succeeded, the Quintessons would have destroyed all of eight Transformers for their troubles.
*What's all this Danny stuff? Granted, Danny is a nickname for Daniel, but he's never been Danny before and he's never Danny again.

===Trivia===
*This episode is the first to use the new, more heavily synthesized Season 3 background music.
*It's a coincidence that this episode is horror themed and it aired on [[Halloween]]. Then again, the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' episode "Nightmare Assault" aired the previous day... so maybe not.
*Springer acting as a knight is at least an unintentional pun: the German word for knight in a chess game is "Springer".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''La planète des cauchemars'''" ("The Nightmare Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost. The French DVD editions use the Canadian French dub instead.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*Unlike the original version, Predaking does not say his name, but says "The king of the Predacons".
:::*Instead of telling Divebomb that they need to free Springer and Razorclaw, Rodimus Prime says that "they need to free Springer, Razorclaw", as if he was talking to Razorclaw himself.
:::*Rodimus Prime's line "I've spend time talking TV with Wreck-Gar" is dubbed by "I took the time to study what happens on television".
:::*The princess tells Springer to follow the yellow-brick road, and Springer says "Like in the Wizard of Oz... I can't believe it!".
:::*Daniel's breathing is missing as he wakes up.
:::*Rodimus Prime is still called Rodimus Primo instead of Rodimus Primus.
:::*During the secret file, Soundwave ejects Laserbeak and calls him "Warrior bird". His Canadian French name is usually Vautour.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Alptraum Planet'''" ("The Nightmare Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Incubi'''" ("Nightmares")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Sometimes in this episode Springer speaks in rhymes, although not always.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Il pianeta dell'incubo'''" ("The Planet of the Nightmare")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese''' To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost. The French DVD editions use the Canadian French dub instead.
:*''Title:'' 悪夢の惑星 (''Akumu no Wakusei'', "Nightmare Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 22]], [[1987]]
::*This episode features an original "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment exclusive to the Japanese version. It focuses on the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], Aerialbots, [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] and is ''really'' long. This replaces the original "Secret Files" segments which focused on the Decepticons and [[Quintesson]]s & [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]s.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''È Mèng'''" (噩梦, "Nightmare")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' '''?'''
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode's original translated title is currently lost due to a glitch in the only known surviving copy of the audio track.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Plunetuh nochneekh koshmurov'''" (Планета ночных кошмаров, "A Planet of Nightmares")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Starscream's Ghost / The Nightmare Planet / The Ghost in the Machine ([[St. Michael Video Library]]) 
[[File:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 1987 — ''Transformers'' — Der Alptraum-Planet ([[Polyband]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Nightmare Planet ([[Tempo Video|Collins Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1992 — ''Transformers'' — The Nightmare Planet ([[Tempo Video|Tempo Kids Club]])
;{{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]]) — Canadian 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 Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[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://web.archive.org/web/20230305021923/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-99.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VSj2XtAeSbsKbQkVfAE_v76fTyGsm1TN Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Thief in the Night

2025-04-09T13:52:52Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=76
|ep2=6
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
|next2=Starscream's Ghost
|image=ThiefNight Trypticon monuments.JPG
|caption=Looks more like a "Thief in the Day" to us.
|season=3
|season ep=11
|title="Thief in the Night"
|production code=700-96
|airdate=[[October 6]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Davids]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJRbObSEAIY
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Octane steals Trypticon in an attempt to use him to control the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:ThiefNight Seaspray Broadside.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Thundersub! Oh wait, wrong universe.]]
[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]], and the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] are reviewing the footage of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|battle with]] [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Grimlock declares that he wants to see the "good part", where Metroplex destroyed Trypticon, but [[Teletraan II]] states that Trypticon survived the encounter. [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] travel to where Trypticon landed in the ocean, and learn that he walked underwater to avoid being caught.

Meanwhile, the [[Triple Changer]] [[Octane]] is nursing Trypticon back to health, using [[energon]] made from the [[oil]] of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]]. Octane hopes that with Trypticon to back him up, he can overthrow [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] and become [[Decepticon leader|leader]] of the [[Decepticon]]s. However, [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]], the leader of the desert nation, is unhappy with Trypticon's constant consumption of oil. Fakkadi demands that the two Decepticons leave, or he will call the [[Autobot]]s. Octane offers to bring Fakkadi [[gold]] in exchange for being able to stay, but Fakkadi declares that it would take all the gold of the [[United States of America|United States]] to allow them to stay. The simple answer? Octane has Trypticon steal [[Fort Knox]].

Pacified, Fakkadi agrees to allow the Decepticons to remain in Carbombya until the next crescent moon, and Trypticon is put under strict ration of one thousand barrels a day. Octane declares that Trypticon will starve, and negotiates a new plan: give Fakkadi a new palace, and he will let them stay and have more oil. To make Fakkadi "more happy", Trypticon steals the [[Taj Mahal]].

[[File:ThiefNight Autobots investigate.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Meanwhile, in the barren deserts of Kentucky...]]
While the Autobots investigate the disappearance of Fort Knox ('cause that's something that directly involves the Autobots), Grimlock finds [[energon cube]]s which he says "smell different". As Perceptor begins analyzing the energon, Grimlock also smells [[dinosaur transform static]], and fears one of his own [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] may have been involved. Metroplex decides to interrogate all the Dinobots.

At Carbombya, Fakkadi is pleased, declaring that with enough monuments, they will soon have a thriving tourist attraction. However, Galvatron has been tracking down Trypticon. He declares Octane a traitor, saying he stole Trypticon from [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]]. Thinking fast, Octane claims that he brought Trypticon to Carbombya to help him get better, with a more powerful form of energon, and tosses Galvatron a cube. As Trypticon says nothing to contradict the story, Galvatron takes a swig, and finds that it ''is'' stronger.

Meanwhile, [[Six-Gun]] and [[Scamper]] are interrogating the Dinobots, as well as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], under the watchful eye of Metroplex. Sky Lynx angrily objects to being called a Dinobot, and refuses to participate. Perceptor runs in declaring that the energon Grimlock found was made via a Decepticon formula, with Carbombyan oil. Perceptor believes that Trypticon is responsible for the thefts. Broadside takes the Aerialbots to investigate, and spots the two stolen buildings. However, Trypticon surfaces, carrying the [[Eiffel Tower]]. Galvatron and Octane are explaining to Fakkadi that the Decepticons will supply Carbombya with more buildings, such as the [[Kremlin]], while they take over the oil fields. However, Trypticon spots the Aerialbots, and converts to battle mode, forcing the Aerialbots to retreat.

[[File:ThiefNight Metroplex Kremlin.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to become a tall building in a single bound!]]
Having learned that Trypticon intends to take the Kremlin, the Autobots head to [[Moscow]], but Metroplex is late. In the night fog, Trypticon arrives and steals the Kremlin, but Metroplex interrupts him. Metroplex takes back the Kremlin while Trypticon flees, and the [[Soviet Union|Soviet government]] accuses the Autobots of the theft, as does [[India]]. Grimlock laments the Autobots' sad fate.

[[File:ThiefNight Metroplex Trypticon.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Trypticon, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could thr—uh, wait..."]]
At Carbombya, Fakkadi is recording a message to send to the Autobots, authorizing them to invade Carbombya and attack the Decepticons. Galvatron, however, simply locks up the dictator. Rodimus, the Dinobots, the Aerialbots, Metroplex, and Broadside arrive to fight off the Decepticons, and Metroplex throws Trypticon into the ocean (again). Without Trypticon to even the odds, Galvatron orders the 'Cons to retreat. Metroplex returns the monuments, clearing the Autobots' name. Rodimus asks Fakkadi to never ally with the Decepticons again. Fakkadi promises the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that he will not, swearing by the livestock of his various family members.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (4)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (5)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (6)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (7)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (8)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (9)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (10)
*[[Teletraan II]] (11)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (12)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (13)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (21)
*[[Slammer]] (28)
*[[Six-Gun]] (29)
*[[Scamper]] (30)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (31)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (32)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (33)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (34)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (35)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (40)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (41)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (42)
}}
|c2=
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (1)
*[[Octane]] (16)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (22)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (23)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (25)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (26)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (27)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (39)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]] (43)
|c3=
*[[Luxury Cruises]] captain (14)
*Luxury Cruises passengers (15)
*[[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] (17)
*Fakkadi's lackeys (18)
*US Army officer (19)
*Private [[Dixson]] (20)
*Soviet army officer (36)
*Soviet news broadcaster (37)
*Indian news broadcaster (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Don't go overexertin' yourself so much! You're just beginning to recover! I don't want you wearin' yourself out, Trypti-babes!" 
"Am big hero now. Attack enemy boat!" 
"Yeah? You're wastin' all your energy shootin' at vacation cruise ships!" 
"No waste! Destroy dangerous enemy!"
:—'''Octane''' has all the style of a big-shot ad exec. '''Trypticon''' has all the brains of a rock.

"Trypticon and me wanna turn your country into a paradise!" 
"It already ''is'' a paradise." 
"Just a minute, just a minute—I mean a ''rich'' paradise! Uh, do you like gold?" 
"Gold? Yes! This is something that interests Abdul Fakkadi. But it would take all the gold of the United States to persuade me to let you stay here another day." 
"Hmm. You sure ain't easy to please, your Excellency!"
:—'''Octane'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s offer elicits an icy response from '''Abdul Fakkadi'''.

"Hold on there, Supreme Whatever!" 
"But in the meantime, we gotta keep his Worthiness, the imperial master of slaves, happy!"
:—Tell us how you really feel about Abdul Fakkadi, '''Octane'''.

'''Galvatron''': You're a traitor, Octane! You had no permission to take Trypticon away from Dinobot Island! I needed Trypticon for my plans of conquering the Earth. Now, thanks to you, he may never recover! 
'''Octane''': But you got it all wrong, Galvatron! Me and Trypticon found this fantastic new type of energon. It's helping Trypticon get all better real quick! Try some, you'll love it! 
'''Trypticon''': Drink! Drink and CRUSH! 
'''Galvatron''': That's good! Makes me feel stronger, more powerful!
:—Galvatron is soothed by Octane and Trypticon

"Why am I under investigation? I'm not a Dinobot." 
"Ya got Dinosaur electrons in yer circuits, Sky Lynx." 
"Never the less, I am ''definitely'' not a Dinobot! I refuse to participate in this...kangaroo court!"
:—'''Sky Lynx''' denounces '''Six-Gun''''s prosecution skills.

"Me Grimlock say this grim. Whole world thinks Autobots are building snatchers."
:—'''Grimlock''' laments the Autobots' sad fate.

==Notes==
===Production information===
Revised script submitted: 30th May 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Sandstorm ThiefInTheNight.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
[[File:Slammer sixgun scamper.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Metroplex mostly uses Scamper, Six-Gun, and Slammer to scout and defend his periphery, although occasionally he'll send one or more to put random Autobots on trial for flimsy pretexts.]]
*The battle shown at the episode's beginning ostensibly happened in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"—however, see Continuity Errors, below.
*Trypticon had been taken to [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] in an attempt to help him recover. When the Decepticons last [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|visited the island]], they had been attacked by the [[Dinosaur (dinosaur)|natives]].
*As related by Abdul Fakkadi, 1,000 barrels of oil is required to make ''one'' energon cube—and Trypticon consumes ''fifty cubes an hour''! This is, of course, vastly out of line with what we saw in previous seasons of the show—in "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2", for example, just a few barrels of oil seemed to be enough to make a cube.
**That totals up to 1.2 million barrels a day to keep Trypticon running. For comparison, the daily crude output of Libya in 1990 was 1.4 million barrels a day. [http://wiki.openoil.net/index.php?title=Sanctions_Against_Libya]
***And that's just with him sitting around shooting at cruise ships. How much does he burn when he flies to other planets?!
*There are apparently different formulas for energon, some used by Decepticons and others by the Autobots.
*Something called [[dinosaur transform static]] exists. We didn't make it up; we're just documenting.
*Octane actually fulfills his tech spec function of "fueler", carrying along some energon cubes for Trypticon as they approach Fort Knox.
*Sandstorm puts in an appearance, which would chronologically place this episode after his debut in "[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]"; that episode had yet to air, however, and came later in the show's production order.
*This is the only appearance of Six-Gun.
*Galvatron claims that he's "stronger than ever" thanks to Carbombyian oil. The claim was more impressive when he made it having bathed in the plasma baths of Thrull. If you are inclined to account for his ''Transformers Universe'' profile, he could once call on the power of Unicron himself, too, definitely a better power source than crude oil.
*If we want to trust the animation, the shot of Metroplex setting down the Eiffel Tower pegs his height at around 1,100 feet, give or take. He's only a fraction of that when holding the (much shorter) St. Basil's.

===Real-world references===
[[File:Fakkadi.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|This feckless dictator steals monuments, cooperates with the bad guys, rides around on a camel and swears "on the grave of my mother's camel, and my uncle's goat, and even my sister's donkeys". Your wiki editors can't especially blame Mr. Kasem for walking off.]]
[[File:ThiefintheNight Taj Mahal.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|In India, the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] is unusually huge.]]
*While the title is a rather literal description of Trypticon's activities, the phrase comes from the {{w|Bible}}, regarding the second coming of [[Jesus]]: [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%204:16-5:2;&version=31; "The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."]
*The nation of Carbombya (and its mercurial military ruler) is a thin pastiche of the north African nation of Libya, whose ruler Ghadafi was supporting any number of terrorist activities around the world at the time—hence the car bomb pun. The US bombed Libya in early 1986, bringing the country and its military dictator to popular attention right around the time frame when this episode was likely being written.
**Said pastiche drove [[Casey Kasem]] to leave the show, as he declined to work on an episode that contained what he felt were offensive stereotypes of Arabs without any good Arabs to balance them out.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, hate crimes and threats against Arab-Americans were reported across the United States. '"America’s DJ,"' Casey Kasem, writes about how anti-Arab stereotypes on television and in movies create a climate for such violence.|link=https://www.ameu.org/1990/12/21/arab-defamation-in-the-media/|name=Kasem, Casey|site=Americans for Middle East Understanding|title=Arab Defamation in the Media|year=1990|month=12|day=05}}</ref> As a result, despite Kasem having already been cast as Teletraan II, the computer had all its lines re-dubbed by [[Frank Welker]], who continued to voice it in later appearances.
*Monuments stolen by Trypticon include:
**The U.S. Gold Bullion Depository building from Fort Knox, Kentucky. The actual building is a similar shape to that shown in episode, though the details and proportions are different. Also, it has a full military base around it, not just empty desert. And it doesn't actually contain all the United States' gold.
**The Taj Mahal
**The Eiffel Tower
**A failed attempt on the Kremlin, rendered as the more visually famous Saint Basil's Cathedral.
*A whole scene is set in [[Moscow]]; [[Siberia]] gets a mention; and the [[Soviet Union]] and its ruling Politburo get a newsfeed story, complete with the USSR's flag in the background. We also see some Red Army troops in action and something that's supposed to be Russian folk dancing. Although this episode is set in the year 2006, the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 out here in the real world.
[[File:ThiefNight Metroplex returns Eiffel Tower.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Metroplex does Paris in a day.]]
*[[Paris]] also puts in a one-shot appearance as Metroplex returns the Eiffel Tower.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**[[AT-AT]] lasers as the Decepticons fire on the Aerialbots.
**[[C-3PO]] "NO!" laser as the Decepticons fire at Air Raid.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:ThiefNight Fakkadi holding gold.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|I said, when I woke up this morning, I heard a disturbing sound! What I heard was the jingle-jangle of a thousand lost souls!]]
[[File:G1 Six-Gun.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|Don't be lost when the time comes!]]
*Per the AKOM standard, the following characters have non-standard color or design models:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's 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, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**The inside of Galvatron's mouth is dark purple.
**Broadside's aircraft carrier mode is depicted as his pre-final model's, but the cabin is that of the final model. Weird.
*As usual for large-scale characters, Trypticon's size fluctuates all over the place. Sometimes Octane comes up to his ankle, sometimes to his toe, sometimes to his knee.
*In the second shot of the episode (people running away from Trypticon), the woman in orange is missing her eyes.
*When we first see the Autobots watching the city-bot battle footage, Grimlock is seen in [[robot mode]] from behind (and his head is light gray instead of black). When he starts to talk, he is in dinosaur mode.
*Rodimus is missing his spoiler as he clarifies Grimlock's request.
*The Luxury Cruises captain says that Carbombya is off the ship's starboard bow. The country is actually on the port side of the ship (and the ship is shown a few hundred yards from shore at most—definitely not the "three mile limit" the tour guide describes.)
*In the closeup shot of him reporting to Broadside, Seaspray is missing the crossbar between his propellers.
*Abdul's throne has five steps in front of it. When he starts talking to his men about Octane and Trypticon, he walks down three of the steps. Two shots later, he takes two steps forwards, and then the shot changes and he's suddenly only on the third step and needs to take three more to reach the main floor.
*Speaking of the steps, they start out as a small platform around his throne but are much larger a few shots later.
*Once again, the commercial bumpers have an extra second or two of music at the start.
*Abdul's medals (especially the one with white and red stripes) change colors and shapes during his chat with Octane after the Fort Knox heist.
*Fort Knox is orange as Trypticon approaches it (a painted matte background), but gray as he picks it up (a cel animated drawing.) It also is a much simpler shape as he picks it up.
*The American flag doesn't flutter or move at all throughout the entire scene.
*"Pitiful." "Outrageous."—Silverbolt and Skydive's voices are both off.
*As Grimlock notices the energon cubes around the Fort Knox site, the top of his head disappears a few times.
*As Octane notes their partnership, there are six lines around the top of his Decepticon logo instead of four.
*The Taj Mahal is initially shown at night; then it's daytime as Trypticon approaches it. The minarets surrounding it are also missing in the same shot.
*Trypticon clips through the left side of the Taj Mahal as he steals it.
*Coloring errors:
**The first shot of the Decepticons flying into Carbombya  includes an upside-down [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], miscolored as [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]].
**As Galvatron first challenges Octane, Ramjet is miscolored as Thrust, who is right in front of him.
**As Perceptor notes that the Dinobots are innocent, his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white.
**Two mis-drawn, mis-colored Aerialbots are shown taking off from the water after Air Raid's brief ditching maneuver. One seems to be a pointy-nosed Fireflight colored as Skydive, and the other is the same model colored as Air Raid.
**The Moscow establishing shot shows a Springer-like green robot, but closeups show Grimlock in his place.
*As Octane explains himself, there are a couple of hairs in the top of the frame.
*When we pan down from Metroplex (in robot mode) to see Six-Gun for his first (and only) animated appearance, Metroplex is still wearing the shoulder cannons that supposedly form Six-Gun's arms.
*As Scamper drives along the row of Dinobots, Swoop is laying belly-down on the ground rather than standing on his [[beast mode]] feet; his torso is also huge and fat. Beside him, Sky Lynx's lander section is white instead of blue, and Grimlock is missing his lower jaw.
*Trypticon steals the Taj Mahal without its minarets, and is shown without them when we first see it in Carbombya—but it suddenly has them when Galvatron arrives at the palace.
[[File:Thiefinthenight trypticon steals kremlin.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Well let us all, all go back Back to the old, old landmark!'']]
*Only the Taj Mahal is in Abdul's compound when Air Raid flies over it—no Fort Knox, no original palace.
*When Octane smashes out of the Taj Mahal's dome, we see night sky through the hole—even though there's daylight coming in through the windows in the same shot!
*Trypticon and all the Decepticons get a non-standard laser sound effect as they attack the Aerialbots.
*Metroplex's mouth doesn't move for his "Hold your fire!" line.
*After blowing up Abdul's TV camera, Galvatron, Ramjet and Dirge are shown standing between a pair of ''huge'' but otherwise normal looking glass doors. The three Decepticons don't even come up to the door handles!
*Despite the dialogue, the building Trypticon attempts to steal from Moscow is not the {{w|Moscow Kremlin|Kremlin}} but nearby {{w|Saint Basil's Cathedral}}.
*The sentence of the Soviet officer pronounced in Russian is actually not Russian at all, it's just some gibberish ''supposed to sound like Russian''.
*Wheelie's canopy is open as he rides on Broadside, and again as he jumps off.
*When the Autobots jump off Broadside, Grimlock disappears from the shot.
*When the Autobots are shown firing after Trypticon is hurled into the ocean, there are various colouration errors: Grimlock coloured as Rodimus Prime (and one other featuring his colours that cannot be identified), Springer coloured as Perceptor, and an unidentifiable Autobot coloured as [[Blurr (G1)#Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]].
*On the Metrodome and Shout! Factory DVD releases, a series of vertical lines appears in the center of the screen in several shots—including the jeep approaching Fort Knox, at the end of the Dinobot interrogation, and the Aerialbots launching off of Broadside.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:MetroplexvsTrypticonFFODvsThiefintheNight.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|You thought Rhino's DVD release of G1 screwed things up? Check out the version that the Autobots wound up with!]]
*This episode is actually set before "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" as it explains why Galvatron has it in for Octane. Except it doesn't actually explain that—Galvatron is no longer on bad terms with Octane at the end of the episode. Put it down to Galvatron's insanity. In real-life production terms, Octane's role in "Starscream's Ghost" was originally meant for Blitzwing, accounting for the somewhat wonky continuity with this episode.
*The Autobots watch a version of Trypticon and Metroplex's battle that is very different from what happened in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"; though the general outline is correct, the details are totally off:
**Both city-bots have different dialogue than they did in the original.
**Metroplex first challenges Trypticon as he's randomly stomping his way through an Earth city; in the original, Trypticon was about to stomp the disabled Metroplex when the fight began.
**Metroplex is shown throwing Trypticon over an icy environment (it was actually more like a desert), and Trypticon slides over a flat-topped brown cliffside on his way into the ocean (he actually ''bounced'' over some ''grey'' cliffs).
*It's pretty weird that Teletraan II didn't immediately inform the Autobots that a robot as dangerous as Trypticon was still alive.
*First Trypticon crunches the energon cubes, then they melt in his mouth, then he drinks from them.
*In this episode, energon cubes take on a rusted brownish color when emptied. Previously, they became clear when drained of energy, such as when the Decepticons got "over-energized" during the episode "[[Microbots]]".
[[File:ThiefNight Fort Knox.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Normally we're all in favor of sound effect consistency, but the ''gong gong gong'' sound that plays every single time Metroplex or Trypticon takes a step gets ''really annoying'' by the end of the episode.]]
*Given their need for the energon cubes, why did Octane and Trypticon just leave several laying there at Fort Knox?
*Trypticon lifts the Fort Knox building straight up; the next two shots show the inside tilting and gold spilling everywhere.
*The episode's central premise, of Trypticon stealing famous buildings and carrying them back to north Africa, strains credibility. More accurately, it takes credibility and drags it outside, gives it a thorough beating, and launches it into the sun:
**''Nobody'' noticed Trypticon as he just strolled up to Fort Knox (after making his way to the interior of the USA)? None of the guards bothered to call the Autobots?
**Buildings can apparently just be picked up and carried around. Masonry buildings do not crumble into rubble or implode into dust when grasped by their walls and ripped from their foundations. The cast iron Eiffel Tower does not shatter or snap when manhandled like a toy. None of them are harmed by being carried through the bottom of the ocean or being deluged by salt water.
**Amazing that after being carried by hand to a separate hemisphere (through the ocean!!) the gold bars are still stacked neatly in Fort Knox.
**Amazing that the gold bars are still stacked neatly when it was last seen falling on the guards.
**Amazing that the gold bars are not slathered in human blood after crushing and smashing the guards.
**Amazing that St. Basil's Cathedral can be ''thrown''—and ''caught''—without suffering catastrophic damage.
*It should be unsurprising, given the presence of citybots and real-world landmarks, that the [[scale]] in this episode is hilariously bad. While stealing the 47.5-meter St. Basil's Cathedral, Trypticon looks to be give-or-take twice that, but while tussling over the 300-meter Eiffel Tower, both Metroplex and Trypticon are about the same height as it.
*Considering that Fakkadi hired Trypticon and Octane to keep the American "imperialist fanatic" tourists away from Carbombya, it is rather unclear why he would desire his nation to become a tourist mecca via the appropriated world monuments. Did he suddenly realize the economic potential of having foreigners bringing their money to his country?
**It seems like a bad idea regardless of that, since he would have to publicly admit that his country was now home to several stolen monuments.
[[File:SixGunCartoon1.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Well, Slag is well known as a connoisseur of fine art, and Sludge moonlights in architecture and design. They have to have done it!"]]
*Trypticon apparently didn't leave a single footprint? No trail of destruction? No snapped trees, no crushed buildings, no shell-shocked witnesses, no flattened victims, no... ''anything'' that would tip the Autobots off?
**No, the only clue left behind is... [[dinosaur transform static]]!
***Who finds it? That Sherlock of Sherlocks, the ever-observant Grimlock!
****What dinosaur-bots do the Autobots immediately suspect of carrying off a giant building? Why, the Dinobots, naturally!
*Air Raid's "I'm a goner! Goodbye cruel world!" is more than a little hyperbolic, considering he just touches the water for half a second then flies off normally.

===Trivia===
*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]].
*Trypticon is the most energy inefficient robot ever. Seriously.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''Le voleur de la nuit'''" ("Thief of the Night")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''Le vol dans la nuit'''" ("Thief in the Night")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*The song that the young woman hums is present, although it is barely audible.
:::*Perceptor's phrase "He must be the dinosaur behind all this!" is dubbed by "Il doit y avoir dinosaure sous roche!" ("There must be a dinosaur under the rock"), a pun with French idiomatic expression "There is an eel under the rock", meaning "There's something fishy".
:::*Like in the original version, the voice actor dubbing the Russian officer did not talk Russian at all, but provided some gibberish supposed to sound like Russian.
:::*Like in ''[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]'', Rodimus Prime is still called Rodimus Primo instead of Rodimus Primus.
:::*Strangely, despite the fact that Fakkadi's final tirade is well translated, there is a few differences: his uncle owns a goose instead of a goat, and his nephew has a fine coyote instead of fine roosters.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wie ein Dieb in der Nacht'''" ("Like a Thief in the Night")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Il tradimento di Triplex 3'''" ("Octane's Betrayal")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*In English Fakkadi says that one thousand barrels of oil makes a single energon cube, and that Trypticon drinks 50 cubes an hour, which is an absurd quantity. The Italian dub makes it slightly more realistic by having Fakkadi saying that he drinks 50 cubes '''a day'''.
::*When he's talking to Grimlock, Perceptor's line: «That's highly improbable, Grimlock» becomes: «That's highly '''probable''', Grimlock», saying exactly the opposite! This, of course, doesn't stick with what Perceptor himself says after.
::*In the last scene, Fakkadi doesn't talk about his relatives' animals' tombs, but rather about the tombs of his actual mother, sister and brother. The dub also gives names to them: his mother's name is Ashmahara, his sister's is Ishmahala and his brother's is Shabac. He doesn't talk about his nephew, though; instead, he finishes his line by saying: «I have no one else to swear on».
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Ladro nella notte'''" ("Thief in the Night")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Metroflex vs Dinosaurer'''" (メトロフレックスVSダイナザウラー, "Metroplex vs Trypticon")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 19]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yèjiān Dàozéi'''" (夜间盗贼, "Thief in the Night")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ladrão Noturno'''" ("Night Thief")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vor v nochee'''" (Вор в ночи, "A Thief in The Night")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Thief in the Night / Surprise Party ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{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! Studios|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)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20230305021917/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-96.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pFH7H3b1UJVTSu-vA8aZTqxvckoJV204 Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)

2025-04-09T13:48:54Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{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"
|season=3
|season ep=9
|production code=700-94
|airdate=[[October 8]], 1986
|written by=[[Gerry Conway]] [[Carla Conway]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]], [[Sam Young Studio]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8FkCvWUhUY
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''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''': Shhh! Four-out-of-five robots agree, exceptional headache number one is a mad Dark Guardian. 
'''Blaster''': Right on, but we still gotta lure 'em away from the walls so Beta and the rebels can attack. 
'''Blurr''': Yep, that's what we said we'd do, and I always do what I say I'll do, because I have to, so we'd better do it, because if we say we do and then we don't— 
''[Ramhorn roars and charges the Dark Guardians]'' 
'''Rewind''': I think 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 number one" is a take on the "{{w|Excedrin}} headache number" 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===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''L'éternité est plus longue qu'on ne croit'''" ("Eternity is longer than you think")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''La fenêtre du temps'''" ("The Time Window")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*To date, and although there is probably one in existence, the European French dub of this episode is lost.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*Beta and Rewind both use "Cybertron" in a plural form, like if it was a race of its own.
:::*The noises of the race spectators are missing.
:::*Despite being called "Aérobots" in the dub, Rodimus Prime calls them "Aerialbots" in this episode. Still concerning names, the Primes are called "Rodimus Primo" and "Optimus Primo", when the Canadian dub usually calls them "Rodimus Primus" and "Optimus Primus".

'''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 (first dub):'' "'''La finestra del tempo'''" ("The Time Window")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Starting from this episode, the Aerialbots members (Superion included) are called by their Italian names rather than the English ones like in season 2. On the other hand, the name "Aerialbot" is left in English (although as an invariable noun) despite being previously changed to "Aerobot".
:*''Title (second dub):''"'''L'eternità giungerà tra molto tempo'''" ("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:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Para Sempre é Exagero'''" ("Forever is an Overstatement")
:*''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 "Sempre é Exagero", but it's more plausible that the narrator says "para sempre" as it's a more direct translation from "forever" and makes more sense in context than just "sempre" (which means "ever" or "always").

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' Do boodooschego eschyo daleko (До будущего ещё далеко, "It's A Long Way to The Future")
:*''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://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]]

Madman's Paradise

2025-04-01T19:15:42Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{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]]", 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 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]]

Surprise Party

2025-04-01T19:11:16Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=77
|ep2=13
|prev2=Madman's Paradise
|next2=Carnage in C-Minor
|image=Danielvsshadows.jpg
|caption=Zelda II: The Adventure of Daniel
|title="Surprise Party"
|season=3
|season ep=12
|production code=700-97
|airdate=[[October 9]], 1986
|written by=[[Steve Mitchell]] [[Barbara Petty]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Sei Young Animation Co. Ltd.]]<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/TheRoboplasticApocalypse/photos/a.2329350367103600/2329351747103462/?type=3&theater "The Transformers" status update document identifying "Surprise Party" as a Sei Young episode, photograph by the Roboplastic Apocalypse on Facebook]</ref>
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twnTerxqlUI
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Daniel and Wheelie's first team-up! Oh noes!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Firstaidfixesmultramagnus.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|It's a good thing you called me, they've stolen your cyber-kidney.]]
[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and the [[Autobot]]s throw a surprise party for [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]], but it is interrupted by an attack from the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]]. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] gets caught in the crossfire and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] throws himself over the boy Autobot to save him from being shot. After hitting the shuttle bay and destroying several ships, the Combaticons retreat. The attack was a coordinated effort by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] to disrupt a [[First Inter Galactic Peace Conference|peace conference]] to be hosted on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] the next day.

[[File:Nafromlibrarianbot.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|That's a karaoke machine. Right now it's playing the end of "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" by Journey.]]
Daniel and Wheelie want to throw Ultra Magnus a surprise party, but no one knows the date of his creation and it isn’t on file in the [[Hall of Records]]. An annoying and clumsy [[Custodiobot]] tells them that the information must be stored on the lost Autobot storage asteroid. Daniel and Wheelie steal a garbage ship and head out to find the asteroid and the info. Unbeknownst to them, their movements are being watched by [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]], who evidently doesn’t have anything better to do than spy on garbage ships. Galvatron orders his troops to follow it.

Stuck in a meteor shower, Daniel and Wheelie crash on an asteroid that—surprise!—happens to be the asteroid they were looking for. While they are exploring they are attacked by scaly flying eels and take refuge in a cave, which turns out to be the opening to the records. Inside, sentry robots attack them for asking for the wrong file name. To make matters worse, the eels have found their way inside and attach themselves to Wheelie. Just as they are about to be shot by the drones and eaten by the eels, both menaces are destroyed by Cyclonus and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]], who take the pair hostage and interrogate them.

[[File:Cyclonus&daniel.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Apparently Deathsaurus isn't the only Decepticon who likes small children.]]
Cyclonus reprograms the asteroid into a collision course for Cybertron and then sends Spike a message that he’s holding Daniel hostage. The Autobots have two choices: destroy the asteroid and kill Daniel, or let the asteroid hit the planet and kill all the peace delegates.

Ultra Magnus takes [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] to the asteroid. The Sweeps attack, but Magnus makes short work of them, then heads after Cyclonus. They pound on each other as Wheelie sneaks by and presses the convenient self-destruct button. Cyclonus runs off and the Autobots and Daniel escape in Sky Lynx as the asteroid blows up.

Safe on Cybertron, Daniel explains how they got into this mess, looking for Ultra Magnus' [[birthday]]. Spike declares today as Ultra Magnus' birthday and everyone cheers.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (2)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (3)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (5)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (6)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (17)
*[[Custodiobot]] (18)
*Sentry drones (20)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (22)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (23)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (9)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (10)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (11)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (13)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (14)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (15)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (16)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (21)
|c3=
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (8)
*Old peace delegate (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"I don't know, Wheelie. This seems an awful lot like stealing to me." 
"A ship we'll only borrow! We'll have it back tomorrow."
:—'''Daniel''' is led into a life of crime by '''Wheelie'''.

"Invalid file name! Invalid file name! Invalid file name!"
:—The asteroid '''security drones''' are pissed over Daniel's use of incorrect syntax.

"You are insolent, Earth boy." 
"Heh, thanks."
:—'''Cyclonus''' vs. '''Daniel Witwicky'''

"If my superb physique would pass through the tunnels I would join you." 
"Forget it."
:—'''Sky Lynx''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"Happy birthday, Ultra Magnus! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
:—The Autobots and humans make merry.

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}
[[File:TommysBirthday.jpg|thumb|Sweet, sweet Tommy, today is the day on your fake I.D.|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Optimus offers to tell Tommy any kind of story he wants. Tommy asks if he knows any ''[[birthday]]'' stories... specifically, stories about ''forgetting'' somebody's birthday. Hmm? ''HMMM?'' Seemingly not getting the hint, Optimus says he has just such a story...

After concluding the story, Prime notices that Tommy looks sullen and asks him what's wrong. Tommy asks Prime how he could forget his birthday. Prime then surprises him with a birthday cake, saying that it's from all the Autobots. As Tommy blows out the candles (15 of them, for the record), several other Autobots cheer him on.

{{note|By recycling animation from the episode, the cake appears to be presented to Tommy by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Groove (G1)|Groove]].}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*So Blast Off can apparently become a huge troop-carrying shuttle, Astrotrain-style. Animation error, bad scripting, or little-used ability? You alone can choose!
*This isn't the [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|first time]] that Wheelie has almost been done in by a swarm of little flying brown alien [[lightpole|creatures]] on some [[Io|desolate rock]].

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:SurpriseParty Magnus smiling.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Smiled once and regretted it ever since.]]
[[File:Supriseparty 2rodimuses.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Hi, I'm Rodimus, and this is my twin, Not-Optimus"]]
*Wheelie's transformations are very inconsistent across the episode, and his driving stunts don't seem to be anywhere close to what the script presumably called for. When trying to shake loose the eel creatures, for example, he just drives along with hardly any swerving, breaking, etc. Magnus's proportions, eye shape, and face details are likewise inconsistent.
*Daniel consistently pronounces Wheelie's name as "WHEE-LEE", rather than "WHEEL-ee" like all the other characters.
*The "CONTROL ROOM" that Daniel enters is labeled with jumbled hand-written letters when we first see it, but squared computer-font letters as Daniel approaches it. Its control panel has circular yellow buttons beside it (in the long shot) that change to square red buttons (when he presses them).
*When Daniel opens the door, space is seen behind him - twice - even though he was just in an enclosed hallway.
*Daniel then starts feeling around on a totally blank wall for a on/off switch that only appears in a closeup shot of his hand.
*The lights make a bizarrely loud noise when they turn on.
*Coloring errors:
**Groove's helmet is white instead of black during the "SURPRISE!" pan; it's black in the next shot as Spike steps forward.
**Cyclonus's cockpit windows are lavender instead of orange as he watches Galvatron declare that "there shall be no peace".
**In the first shot of the Combaticons firing on the shuttle bay, Swindle is colored green. Since he's in jeep mode, it makes him look just like [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]]! He's also missing his right rear wheel. Behind him, Brawl's rear tank mode section is colored like Onslaught.
***Green Swindle reappears in a closeup shot a moment later.
**As the Autobots fire on the attacking Combaticons, First Aid's chest is colored mostly white instead of red.
**After the Combaticons retreat, in the foreground, one of the wrecked shuttles is colored like Blast Off!
**As Daniel talks to Wheelie about setting up the party for Magnus, the white circles on Magnus' waist are red.
**As Daniel and Wheelie ask him about Magnus' birthday, Perceptor's chin is white.
**"Do you think he's lost?" - Ultra Magnus's chin guards are white instead of blue.
**In a wide shot of Blaster and Spike at the monitor, Blaster's helmet is almost completely white.
**As Spike reacts to Cyclonus's appearance, Blaster's arm and shoulder are in Cyclonus's colors.
**Magnus's eyes are too small as he launches a missile at the Sweeps; his launcher is also mis-drawn, and colored blue instead of white. He's also missing the launcher on his other shoulder.
*Ultra Magnus is missing the white circles on his waist as he stands behind Wheelie during the surprise party.
*Vortex fires on Wheelie with a non-standard laser sound effect.
[[File:SurpriseParty GiantBlastOff.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The worse the episode, the bigger Blast Off's shuttle mode is.]]
*When the Combaticons retreat, Bruticus is seen running with them instead of Onslaught. See Continuity Errors as well, below.
*Onslaught's voice is missing its electronic processing.
*In the pan across the damaged shuttle bay, Hot Rod is drawn and colored instead of Rodimus Prime. Nearby, another robot's waist and legs are colored like Rodimus.
*As Daniel asks if the shuttle can still fly, Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
*Magnus is missing his missile launchers as First Aid repairs him.
[[File:First Inter Galactic Peace Conference.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Well come on down! You're the next delegate on... The Peace Is Right!]]
*Spelling errors:
**Over the entrance to the peace conference, the word "welcome" is spelt "wellcome".
**Wheelie activates the asteroid's "auto destrut sequences".
*During Daniel and Wheelie's conversation with the librarian bot, Wheelie makes their request but it's Daniel's mouth and hands that are moving.
*Near as anybody can tell, Cyclonus' face, neck and eyebrows are all supposed to be a light gray. In this episode, like many others, they are light lavender instead. He's also got a purple "goatee"/chin.
**As Cyclonus pounds a control panel, his chin ''is'' the same color as his face.
*The garbage scow jumps from empty space to inside the meteor shower between shots, with no transition.
**Then after the ship is damaged, it's suddenly back in empty space again.
***Then all of a sudden it's crash-landing on the storage asteroid.
*The head delegate's fist clips through the matte painted table as he bangs his gavel.
*Wheelie's canopy usually slides into place from the back of his cabin, but as Daniel jumps out on the asteroid it hinges up to the side (and again as they flee from the crazed librarian robots.)
*As Daniel and Wheelie enter the cave, a [[scene transition]] runs, but the background music and sound effects play over it instead of the usual flip-change music.
*In two closeups of Daniel inside Wheelie's cabin, he's drawn with the wall of a full-sized room behind him.
*As he shoots the sentry-bots, Scourge's gun uses the sound effect from Megatron's cannon.
*Daniel's reaction dialog is oddly patched together: "Cyclonus! ...huh? Come on, Wheelie! ...Wheelie, I think we'd better get out of here."
*Cyclonus' eyebrows are missing as repeats the name of the Storage Asteroid, and again as he comments on Wheelie activating the auto destruct.
*As Spike runs up, Blaster's mouth moves, but there's no dialogue, and Blaster's helmet rims are white instead of red.
*When Ultra Magnus points at Cyclonus through the monitor he has six fingers.
*Just before Ultra Magnus enlists Sky Lynx's help in finding Daniel, two Rodimus Primes can be seen guarding the entrance to the Peace Conference.
*Sky Lynx's cockpit appears tiny - just big enough for Magnus to ride in, like a fighter jet. Though it's much more scale appropriate, in nearly every other episode (see the earlier episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", for example) he has a much roomier interior.
*Sky Lynx's lynx mode seems to have developed a rash! He's got a bunch of black dots on his face as he points at the remains of the garbage scow, and again as he fires at the Sweeps, and yet again as he waits for Magnus to return.
*While Ultra Magnus and Sky Lynx are fighting the eels, Sky Lynx has a red Decepticon logo in two shots.
*Ultra Magnus is drawn mouthing Sky Lynx's "disgusting creatures" line.
*Cyclonus orders the Sweeps to attack with deep space sky behind him in two successive shots... and then the Sweeps are shown charging out of a cave.
*The first shot fired by Ultra Magnus at the Sweeps uses the sound effect from Optimus/Rodimus Prime's rifle. The subsequent shots have the usual Autobot laser sound. Then Magnus fires his shoulder rockets, and they too use Prime's rifle sound (they had their own distinct "fwoosh" earlier in the show).
*When Wheelie drives through the cell door, it's missing the line down its the middle.
*Sky Lynx's mouth doesn't move during his "superb physique" line.
*When Cyclonus runs up to Magnus (who is embedded in a wall), he's a bit taller and more massive than Magnus, when he should be at least a head shorter.
*As Wheelie, Daniel, and Sky Lynx wait for Ultra Magnus, Sky Lynx speaks but it's Wheelie whose mouth is moving.
*As Daniel and Wheelie worry about Magnus, Sky Lynx (filling the background behind them) is colored entirely white in one shot, then orange in the next.
*As Ultra Magnus fights Cyclonus, his shoulder missiles appear and disappear between shots. As he looks after the retreating Cyclonus, he's got only one of his launchers.
*Right after Wheelie presses the button, Ultra Magnus' head is all-white. As he stoops over, his face morphs into an indistinct shape (Cyclonus is missing his Decepticon symbol during this shot).
*Cyclonus's wing clips through the door as he transforms and flees.
*Since Ultra Magnus's mouth is moving at the end of the episode, it looks like he's wishing himself a happy birthday!

===Continuity errors===
*Nice of Warpath to have a conveniently loud squeak in his joints just as the plot needs something to draw Daniel's attention.
*Just how is Daniel unable to recognize the highly distinctive profiles of Warpath, Rodimus, Magnus, etc?
*The Combaticons fire at the Autobots from some kind of rocky outcropping next to the shuttle hangar. A rocky outcropping on a machine planet.
*First Aid, the pacifist, sure loves shooting guns!
*Blast Off's shuttle mode is ''huge'' as the Combaticons retreat - they run inside him with plenty of room to spare. He's usually shown to have little or no size-changing when he transforms - as in "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", when [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] rode astride him.
[[File:Surprise Party Hall of Records.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*The super-advanced space robots' record keeping systems are a little dodgy:
**Central Records doesn't have any access to the electronic data in the Hall of Records.
**The Hall of Records has stacks of printed-on-paper books inside.
**Nobody seems to have kept a copy of the storage asteroid's contents on Cybertron.
*The automated, unmanned Cybertronian garbage ship has a cabin suitable for humans (and a human-ish sized [[Mini Vehicle|Minibot]].)
*So Cyclonus just stands around watching Garbage Scow TV all day, waiting for something to happen? Not only does he spend his time watching garbage ships, but the fact that one of them is off course is apparently reason to alert Galvatron. Okay...
*Wheelie just flies the shuttle right into a meteor shower. Was he not paying attention at the controls?
[[File:Daniel&wheeliesurpriseparty.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I'm a Witwicky, and I can breathe in space.]]
*Does the asteroid have an oxygen-rich atmosphere? Because Daniel doesn't have a space suit...and neither the vacuum of space, nor a lack of oxygen if there is air, seem to have an effect. Maybe it's part of those superhuman abilities those Witwickys have...
*Cyclonus's hostage-taking plan isn't executed very well:
**He plans to crash the asteroid into Cybertron, betting the Autobots won't stop it for fear of endangering Wheelie and Daniel. Wouldn't they be more at risk by being left ''on'' the crashing asteroid?
**He puts Wheelie and Daniel in a cell that Wheelie can escape from by just ''driving through the door''. Cyclonus is totally unaware of their escape, not having assigned a guard or anything to watch them.
*After landing at the asteroid, Sky Lynx's combined shuttle/lander form transforms into just the lander's lynx mode. His shuttle portion doesn't reappear until the Autobots are flying away from the exploding asteroid. He was portrayed this way in the Marvel comics - akin to a Triple Changer - but the cartoon is generally consistent in showing him with two components that split and combine (yet again, refer to "Chaos" to see it done correctly. Heck, even "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|Five Faces of Darkness]]" got this one right!)

===Trivia===
[[File:SurpriseParty Daniel and Wheelie.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Daniel!! WHEELIE!!! The thrilling team-up that YOU didn't demand!!]]
*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]].
*Apparently no one is sad that the storage asteroid has been destroyed. How many priceless pieces of information have been lost?
*Fly off into space with no plan. Fly right into an asteroid cluster. Run right into a meteor. Crash land at random. Still find your objective. Daniel and Wheelie are the worst - and ''luckiest'' - searchers in the entire universe.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''La fête'''" ("The Party")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Onslaught's line "Aim your salvos at the shuttle bay!" is missing.
:::*Wheelie's line "Trying to fight, but they hold tight!" is missing.
:::*In English, Daniel tells Cyclonus that the place is an ice cream factory, in the dub he says it's a chocolate factory.
:::*Ultra Magnus' line "Cyclonus, if you harm that boy..." is dubbed by "Release this buffoon and don't hurt him, do you hear me?". What??
:::*For the first time, the grunts from the original version are recovered several times, notably when the eels attack Ultra Magnus and when he confronts Cyclonus.
:::*Name-dodging:
::::*Instead of starting his phrase with "First Aid", Spike says "Say, I would like you to repair this device, it's very urgent".
::::*Daniel's line "Ultra Magnus always thinks of others before he thinks of himself, doesn't he?" is dubbed by "It's amazing to see that, he always thinks of others before thinking of himself". That is strange since usually, Ultra Magnus is one of the rare robots to have his name regularly pronounced in the dub.
::::*Daniel's line "Perceptor, are you sure you can't tell us when Ultra Magnus was created?" is dubbed by "So you can't tell us when it was built either?".
::::*Wheelie's phrase "Daniel my friend, our journey is at an end!" is replaced by "What are we going to do? I don't want to stay here", which kinda goes against the original version.
::::*Ultra Magnus does not name Sky Lynx when telling him to fuel up, he just says "Get ready, the future of Cybertron is up to us!".
::::*Daniel's "Wheelie, no!" is dubbed by "No, wait for me!".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Geburtstagsparty"'''" ("The Birthday Party")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Il compleanno di Convoy'''" ("Ultra Magnus's Birthday")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Festa a sorpresa'''" ("Surprise Party")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' ビックリパーティー ("Surprise Party")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 13]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shēngrì Kuàilè '''" (生日快乐, "Happy Birthday")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Festa Surpresa'''" ("Surprise Party")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Latin Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La fiesta de cumpleaños'''" ("The Birthday Party")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Prazdnik s sjoorpreezom'''" (Праздник с сюрпризом, "A Celebration with a Surprise")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''Transformers'' — Thief in the Night / Surprise Party ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{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 France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 18 ([[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 France.png|20px|France]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Le Fantôme dans la Machine ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[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)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WJrpiqgXwLFJGKszKAC_lKc5lNYvCngJ Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Triple Changer

2025-04-01T19:05:23Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign names */

[[File:5 blitzwing new world order.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Blitzwing demonstrates his triple-changing abilities, transforming from an ''incredibly'' unconvincing jet into a tank that's only ''slightly'' unconvincing.]]
In their quest for ever-greater machines of war, the [[Decepticon]]s developed warriors with two distinct [[alternate mode]]s. These '''Triple Changers''' can travel by land and air with equal ease and in the heat of battle they can rapidly change form to confuse and outflank the enemy. To counter this threat, the [[Autobot]]s also developed their own group of Triple Changers.

The Triple Changers are:

<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Octane]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]}}
</ul>

{{note|In Transformers fiction, the term "Triple Changer" refers almost exclusively to these two subgroups which are the only such characters ever shown as cohesive teams. However, other official sources such as toy packaging, catalogs, [[Hasbro]] spokespersons and commercials have applied the term "Triple Changer" rather haphazardly to other characters from [[Continuity family|various continuities]]. Further muddying the waters, a few characters with three distinct modes have never been labeled as Triple Changers in toys or fiction even in cases where it would really make sense to do so.}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:TripleTakeover Blitzwing Astrotrain stadium.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
The Triple Changers [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] joined [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s forces sometime after their leader woke up from a 4-million year sleep. Blitzwing took part in the sacking of [[Dinobot Island (G1)|Dinobot Island]] {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} while Astrotrain helped take over [[Earth]] after the Autobots were exiled. {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}} The pair were soon integrated into Megatron's forces with Astrotrain regularly providing transport {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}} {{storylink|The Gambler}} {{storylink|Sea Change}} and Blitzwing providing extra muscle. {{storylink|The Golden Lagoon (episode)|The Golden Lagoon}} {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} Astrotrain had the opportunity to command a mission after shooting down [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] over [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] and took advantage of [[Titan (species)|the native species]]' [[Religion|superstitions]] by posing as one of their [[Sky God]]s. {{storylink|The God Gambit}}

It wasn't long before the two Triple Changers fell in with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and plotted to overthrow Megatron. What their co-conspirator didn't realize was that Astrotrain and Blitzwing intended to rule alone and once both he and their leader were out of the way the Triple Changers attempted to take over Earth in their own fashion. Astrotrain created a number of trains he controlled while Blitzwing took over a football stadium. Their rule lasted roughly as long as it took for Megatron and Starscream to thaw themselves out and then the pair found they faced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{storylink|Triple Takeover}}

The two Triple Changers were dispatched to negotiate with [[Chumley|Lord Chumley]] for his help in destroying the Autobots, but the pair instead fell foul of the traps Chumley had intended for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Chumley released them when it became clear he'd lost against Optimus, but instead of attacking the Autobots as he assumed they would the two Decepticons went after him. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}} Astrotrain largely returned to transportation duties following this {{storylink|The Search for Alpha Trion}} {{storylink|Hoist Goes Hollywood (episode)|Hoist Goes Hollywood}} {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} even transporting Starscream into exile. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

By [[2005]], the Autobot Triple Changer [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] had arrived on Earth and was at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] when the Decepticons, including Astrotrain and Blitzwing attacked it. Following the climactic battle between Megatron and Prime, Astrotrain served as getaway ship taking the surviving Decepticons back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. After a second attack on Autobot City, Springer fled Earth with the other Autobots and after a stopover on [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]] took part in the effort to defeat [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}} Following Unicron's defeat the Decepticons including Astrotrain, Blitzwing and [[Octane]] ended up seeking refuge on [[Chaar]] where they survived in an [[energon]]-starved state. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} The Quintessons took advantage of this and manipulated both sides to attempt to destroy them all. Blitzwing, in the process of helping halt the Quintesson plan effectively turned traitor in [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s eyes and was banished from the Decepticon ranks. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

[[File:SandstormOctane BFF.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] also arrived on Earth and helped take part in investigations when Octane took control of [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], using the huge Transformer's might to secure him a deal with [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]]. At the end of the affair Octane was also banished from the Decepticon ranks. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}} The Autobots encountered another Triple Changer, [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] on the planet [[Paradron]]. Sandstorm was descended from early Cybertronian migrants who had come to Paradron fleeing the war. After Paradron's destruction, Sandstorm joined the Autobot forces on Earth. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} It was while on Earth that he befriended Octane though he was unable to prevent the Decepticons tracking the renegade down. Octane eventually fell in with Starscream, who had been reduced to an apparition and was trying to resurrect Unicron. This didn't go well. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} Broadside continued to work with the Autobots as transport and occasionally muscle {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}} {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}} and for the Decepticons so did both Astrotrain {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}} and apparently Octane. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}
{{groupstub}}
====Marvel Comics continuity====
=====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics=====
{{noteukonly}}
''[[Steamhammer (G1)|Steamhammer]] fought Autobots in a battle near the town of [[Yuss]] using both his jet and tank modes. He was killed.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}

[[File:Ratbatcratercritters.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Didja ever wonder what guys like Astrotrain do if they have an itch in the middle of their back? That's gotta ''suck'' for 'em. There is ''no way'' he can reach back there.]]
''The Decepticon Triple Changers served alongside the [[Conehead]]s and [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where Octane and Blitzwing developed a reputation as two of the Decepticons' [[Ten Deadliest Killers|deadliest killers]]: key targets in [[Operation: Volcano]].'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}} ''The deadly killer Octane would later oversee a [[Decepticon fuel store|fuel store]] and run away screaming from Autobots.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

The Decepticon Triple Changers were called into service by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] when a freighter that he had sent to [[Earth]] failed to make contact upon its arrival. The three Triple Changers traveled to Earth via [[space bridge]] and located the crashed freighter at the bottom of an impact crater. They quickly discovered that the pilot had become infected with [[scraplet]]s...which immediately infected ''them'' as well. Despite the rapidly spreading disease, they were happy to attack two Autobots who arrived to investigate the crater. One of the Autobots fled while the other proved to be a fair match for the trio. {{storylink|Crater Critters}}

Eventually, they overpowered and captured [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], taking him prisoner. Astrotrain contacted Ratbat on Cybertron, requesting a cure. Instead, Ratbat dispatched a group of captured Autobots with orders to destroy all the infected Transformers on Earth with canisters of acid... including his own troops! Weakened by the disease, the Triple Changers could do little but sit around in the crater and wait for the end to come, whether by acid melting or scraplet consumption.

Luckily for the Triple Changers, the other Autobot, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], had managed to find a cure for the disease. Though Blaster demanded that Goldbug kill him along with the Decepticons rather than curing them, Goldbug's hand was forced the other way when the scraplets merged into a titanic combined form. He sprayed [[water|the cure]] on all the crater's occupants, including the Decepticons. Quickly recovering, the Triple Changers rallied to the attack, bringing down the combined scraplet monster with their weapons. Subsequently, they grabbed the cargo of the crashed freighter and made good their escape. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

The Triple Changers subsequently joined the main force of Decepticons on Earth, initially under [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s command, then later Ratbat's. They participated in the great battle against the Autobots on the Moon, {{storylink|Totaled!}} played host to human guests at [[Club Con]], {{storylink|Club Con!}} and battled [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s forces in the [[Arctic]], a battle in which they fared particularly well. {{storylink|Cold War!}} They didn't fare so well against the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], however, who slaughtered all three of them in a single blast. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

In a dystopian future, they served under [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] and killed [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]]. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

[[File:Triplechangerstarget2006.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
''The Autobot Triple Changers first came to prominence in the days leading up to [[Operation: Volcano]]; they were called into service by [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] to fill in for Ultra Magnus, should the latter not return from Earth in time to participate in the mission. They convinced the [[Wreckers]]' leader, [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], that they would be up to the challenge by beating the stuffing out of him before rocketing back to the Autobot base, [[Debris]]. When Impactor was killed in the aborted mission, Triple Changer Springer took over as Wrecker leader, with the other two becoming part of the force as well.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''The Triple Changers participated in several of the Wreckers' missions on Cybertron'' {{storylink|City of Fear!}} ''and Earth.'' {{storylink|Wrecking Havoc}} ''After the latter mission turned into a near-disaster, Sandstorm and Broadside were sent to Earth along with Inferno as an advance guard.'' {{storylink|Firebug!}} {{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''They were still with the Wreckers during the catastrophic battle against [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], which saw Sandstorm destroyed. Broadside and Springer survived ''{{storylink|Time Wars}} ''eventually going on to form the [[Survivors]] group.'' {{storylink|Survivors!}}
{{note|The Survivors' storyline then suffered a minor continuity switch ending up in the Earthforce continuity as seen below.}}
{{-}}

======Earthforce======
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Triple changers shockwave secrets.jpg|left|thumb]]
During the [[Decepticon Civil War]] on Earth, the Decepticon Triple Changers would serve under Shockwave. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}} Their great highlights were helping beat the snot out of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] {{storylink|Secrets (G1)|Secrets}} and joining the massed attack on Autobot [[Earthbase]]. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}} Their lowlight was Octane getting stuck on a military firing range while full of fuel, and Astrotrain and Blitzwing leaving him behind out of annoyance. {{storylink|Manoeuvres!}}

Meanwhile, Springer and Broadside had to deal with the Decepticon [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] leaving the Survivors to avenge his friend [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]]'s death at the hands of the new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], {{storylink|Wolf in the Fold!}} hooking up with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s [[Earthforce]] to assist him in defeating the Decepticon unit. {{storylink|Where Wolf?}} They would go on to defend an [[oil tanker]] from Starscream in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. {{storylink|Divide and Conquer!}}
{{-}}

======Marvel UK future timelines======
[[File:Rodimus technobots wreckers peace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
In one possible future, Broadside, Springer and Sandstorm would be three of the last Autobots when the war ended in [[2510]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] made Springer his successor, only for fighting to break out over it; Sandstorm fired the second shot, killing [[Triton]]. {{storylink|Peace}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic=====
Broadside was part of a team of "[[Firestormer]]s" that raided various Decepticon outposts across the galaxy. {{storylink|War Without End!}} Springer, meanwhile, had apparently joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s main force of Autobots and participated in a counter-Decepticon raid on [[Ethos]] {{storylink|Escalation!}} as well as the final battle against the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] on Earth. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

Octane was also present in the conflict, but [[Death|not for long]]. {{storylink|Total War!}}

=====''Regeneration One''=====
{{NoteRG1}}
Megatron reanimated and lobotomized all three Decepticon Triple Changers after recovering their remains from the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and utilized them as part of his [[zombie]] army. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}} The Autobot Triple Changers, as part of the Wreckers, travelled to Earth to combat this threat, though Megatron executed Springer in cold blood to provoke Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5}} With Megatron dead and [[Aunty|Auntie]] deactivated, the inert zombies were dumped into a pit and vaporised from orbit. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

Sandstorm and the injured Broadside returned to Cybertron aboard the ''[[Valiant (G1)|Valiant]]'' {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}} where Sandstorm continued to serve with the Wreckers; keeping the peace at [[Eugenesis Plaza]] {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} and [[Auto-artery RG1]] {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} and participating in a failed attack at [[Fort Scyk]] to root out [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}} With the arrival of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s ''[[Warworld]]'' above the planet, he formed part of a raid on the Decepticon ship but was caught unawares by the master of [[Metallikato]] and found himself impaled by a sword. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Both Broadside and Sandstorm were well enough recovered to join Rodimus Prime's assault on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]], with the Wreckers operating separately from the main Autobot forces and using the Hub's interplanetary "[[slam rail]]" tube system to avoid detection while causing massive explosions to detach planets from its superstructure. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}}

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
[[File:BlitzwingDissectionDreamwave.jpg|thumb|This detailed scientific cutaway view reveals that underneath all that armor Blitzwing is... made of [[:Category:Transformer anatomy|mechanical stuff]].]]
Triple Changers Blitzwing, Octane, Astrotrain and [[Fumes]] were involved in Decepticon battle operations around the time that Optimus Prime rose to command the Autobots. They participated in a major attack on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] {{storylink|The War Within issue 3|The War Within #3}} and came close to victory {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} before [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] managed to destroy the entire [[Polities of Cybertron|city-state]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}

{{note|Blitzwing is shown to transform into all three modes during the attack on Iacon though this would seem to be retconned away by subsequent issues.}}

Blitzwing was a dangerous experiment of Shockwave's captured and kept in containment by the Autobots. He possessed unique qualities that led [[the Fallen]] to seek him out for the [[Unbinding]]. During this time, Springer led the splinter faction the Wreckers. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

Later, Blitzwing and Astrotrain spontaneously began to grow new parts perhaps heralding their evolution into Triple Changers. (Yes, we know this makes no sense.) {{storylink|Recipe for Hate}}

Obsessed with improving the Cybertronian race, Shockwave created the [[Duocon]]s and though they were unstable it convinced him to go one stage further and modify several other Transformers into Triple Changers starting with Springer. Triple Changers can change between modes three times as fast as a normal Transformer. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye}}

Sandstorm, Broadside, Octane and Blitzwing formed Shockwave's Triple Changer Strike Team and travelled to Earth to apprehend the rogue crews of the ''Ark'' and ''Nemesis''. {{storylink|New World Order}} On their return to Cybertron it was revealed the Autobots had doubts about their alliance with the former Decepticons and released Prime's crew to the Autobot resistance though Sandstorm was killed by [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]]. Meanwhile, Octane chanced across the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and provoked [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] into decapitating him. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} When [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] returned to wrest control of the Decepticons from Shockwave, Blitzwing remained steadfastly loyal to the one-eyed commander and so was torn apart by the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] for his trouble. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}
====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:Overcharge shadowplay.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67]]
Long before the war started Blitzwing and [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] were members of the [[Triorian Guard]], the [[Senate]]'s unit of multi-terrain Triple Changers charged with guarding the body of [[Nominus Prime]] as it lay in the [[Primal Basilica]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} Around the same time, [[Trepan]]'s [[Relinquishment Clinic]] was running a special offer on Triple Changers that proved very popular. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}}

Astrotrain and Blitzwing joined the Decepticons early in the war {{storylink|The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy}} and [[Octane|Tankor]] transported energy for the Decepticon army on several occasions. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}} {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

The orphaned [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] [[Stardrive]] was a Triple Changer able to turn into both a car and jet. After meeting more Cybertronians, she was surprised and confused to learn not all of them possessed this ability. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 3|Shining Armor #3}}

Astrotrain and Blitzwing were part of Starscream's [[Infiltration protocol|infiltration unit]] on Earth. {{storylink|The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration}} They survived attacks by the [[Reaper]]s and Autobots before they were driven from the planet. {{storylink|The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation}} When the Autobots returned with Omega Supreme the Decepticons retreated into space ferried by Astrotrain. {{storylink|The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron}} Tankor was left behind until [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] returned to Earth and reunited his army. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}}

[[File:Wreckersstormbringer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
The Autobot Triple Changers were part of the [[Wreckers]] until the team fractured leaving only Springer {{storylink|Bullets}} who was then put in a coma by [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]. {{storylink|Zero Point}} Broadside and Sandstorm ended up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s forces on Earth after the [[Surge (event)|Surge]]. {{storylink|The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers}} After the war formally ended, Broadside aided [[Autobot High Command]] in rebuilding society on Cybertron. Astrotrain and Blitzwing aided [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] in preparing for Megatron's return while Tankor fell in with [[NAIL|the neutrals]] and left the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Verge}}

The two remaining Decepticons would then fall under the command of [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} and returned to Earth as part of his plan to locate [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} Broadside and Sandstorm served as Megatron's guards during his trial on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]]; {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Broadside then went on to serve under Megatron as part of the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Meanwhile, Tankor joined a motley crew of former Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron who would become allied with the Camiens [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]. {{storylink|Windblade issue 3|Windblade #3}}

The [[Hydrobot (G1)|Hydrobots]] counted at least two Triple Changers among their number: [[Aquabat]] and "the other one". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

===Live-action film series===
According to hypotheses chronicled in [[Vector Sigma]]'s [[datatrax]], the ability to have two or even more alternate modes may be connected to a Transformer's [[CNA|genetics]].<ref>Hasbro's online [http://web.archive.org/web/20100330183135/http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/TRANSFORMERS-Glossary.cfm Transformers glossary].</ref>

When resurrected by an [[AllSpark]] fragment, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] gained the altmode of a flying Cybertronian tank thanks to an infusion of new parts from [[Scrapmetal (ROTF)|ze little one]], in addition to his Cybertronian jet mode from [[Transformers (film)|before]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation|Revenge of the Fallen comic adaptation}}

[[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] is shown contorting into a gun-emplacement artillery mode during [[Operation: Firestorm]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

[[Laserbeak (DOTM)|Laserbeak]] takes on many different disguises including a printer, TV and human-sized pink [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

[[Drift (AOE)|Drift]] is shown to be able to transform into both a helicopter and a Bugatti Veyron at will without having to [[scanning|scan]] a new form. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}} Since switching into a Mercedes AMG GT R, it is currently unknown if he still possesses a third mode. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

[[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] is also a Triple Changer, following along with [[Blitzwing (G1)|his]] [[Blitzwing (Animated)|roots]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|Bumblebee Movie Prequel}}

[[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] were originally standard Transformers, each with their own muscle car mode, before upgrading into Triple Changers by scanning a {{w|Harrier Jump Jet|Harrier jet}} and a {{w|Bell AH-1 SuperCobra}} helicopter, respectively. {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}

===''Animated''===
[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] was experimented on by [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] and rebuilt as a Triple Changer, but this had the result of fracturing his mind into three distinct personalities: "Icy" Blitzwing, a cold, cunning and stone-faced tactician; "Hothead" Blitzwing, a destructively uncontained vent of rage; and "Random" Blitzwing, a comically insane and rambling maniac. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}} However, when it came to an [[Earth]]-based alternate mode two of his personalities, Icy and Hothead were unable to choose between a jet for the former and a tank for the latter until his Random side suggested scanning ''both'' of them. Unfortunately, his personalities changed primarily in sync with his vehicle modes, especially if he converted from Icy or Random to Hothead, which [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] later noticed and exploited via [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s obnoxious personality, causing Blitzwing to crash when he converted from jet mode to tank mode mid-flight. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}} {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

After Blitzwing placed a bounty on [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], the bounty hunter [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] noted to himself there was an old Decepticon saying to "never make a deal with a triple-changer". {{storylink|The Arrival issue 4|A Few Loose Strands}}

It is unknown if [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime/Shockwave]] counts as a Triple Changer since his "Longarm" form had a crane-alternate mode while his default "Shockwave" form had a tank-alternate mode. This may have been due to his unique [[size changing]] abilities he employed during his extended infiltration of the Autobot ranks. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}} {{storylink|TransWarped}}

===''Cloud''===
Within [[Cloud World]], the ability to triple change was an inborn ability possessed by a few, including [[Blitzwing (Cloud)|Blitzwing]] {{Storylink|Crisis (Armada)|Crisis}} and [[Astrotrain (Cloud)|Astrotrain]]. {{Storylink|Lightwave}} Many were envious of this capability, including [[Starscream (Cloud)|Starscream]], which influenced his upgrade into a Triple Changer body by [[SARA]]'s energies. {{Storylink|Transfiguration}} [[Hot Rodimus]] would also attain a third mode through SARA's energies, although his body did not change form. {{Storylink|Awakening (Cloud)|Awakening}}

It was possible to modify one's body to gain a third mode, but this carried a large risk of terminating one's life. [[Shockwave (Cloud)|Shockwave]], being a mad logician, was able to endure the pain of modifying himself to attain a "battle mode" that combined advantages of his two natural modes. {{Storylink|Shock (Cloud)|Shock}}

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
Transformers can readily scan additional modes bringing up their total to three or more. {{storylink|Changes}} {{storylink|Land Before Prime (episode)|Land Before Prime}} [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]], [[Boulder]], [[Chase (RB)|Chase]], and [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] are all eventually referred to as Triple Changers, having each taken on third Dinobot forms. {{storylink|Quarry's Quarry}} Blades believes the use of Triple-Changing is unfair when used in a game of [[Rescue Ball]]. {{storylink|Rise of the Heroes}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:Blitzwingg1toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|In a line cut from ''The Transformers: The Movie'', Blitzwing says that as a Triple Changer he's worth any two of his comrades. But it turns out that he retailed for a bit less than the Seekers.]]
*'''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1985)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]}}

*'''Autobot Triple Changers''' (1986)
{{Bp-a1|[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]}}

*'''Decepticon Triple Changers''' (1986)
{{Bp-d1|[[Octane]]}}
</ul>

:The original Triple Changers were released in the second year of Generation 1, and were sufficiently popular to inspire four more in [[1986]]. Springer, Sandstorm, Astrotrain, and Octane were re-released in [[1991]] as part of the [[Europe]]an ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line.

===''Classics''===
[[File:ClassicsAstrotrain.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#Classics|Astrotrain]]

===''Universe'' (2008)===
*[[Octane|Tankor]]
:Octane with a new name.

===''Generations''===
*[[Blitzwing (G1)/toys#Generations|Blitzwing]]
*[[Sandstorm (G1)#Generations|Sandstorm]]
*[[Springer (G1)/toys#Thrilling 30|Autobot Springer]]
*All [[Titans Return]] Voyagers.
{{note|This list includes only toys that actually have three modes. Several of the Triple Changer characters have had later releases in other toy molds, most notably Sandstorm and Springer, but these forms lacked the third mode required to qualify as Triple Changers.}}

===Subsequent toys labeled as "Triple Changers"===
[[File:G1 Scorponok toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
;Generation 1
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (called a "Headmaster Triple Changer base" in a commercial and in "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]].")

;''Generation 2''
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (1994)
:The bomber/tank/robot describes himself as "triple-changing Dreadwing" in a television [[commercial]]. Another commercial has the announcer saying "Dreadwing is a Triple Changer."

;''Beast Wars''
[[File:BW-toy Depthcharge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]: a triple-changing [[Transmetal]] from the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'']]
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] (1998)
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1998)
:Although the packaging says "3 mode conversion", the commercial announcer says that each of these characters "triple changes".

;''Armada''
[[File:Arm-toy Laserbeak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The only Triple Changer from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'': [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]]]]
*[[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] (2002)

;''Energon''
*[[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (2004)
*[[Shockblast]] (2004)
*[[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] (2005)

;''Cybertron''
*[[Megatron (Armada)/toys|Megatron]] (2005)
*[[Anti-Blaze]] (2006)
*[[Checkpoint (Cybertron)|Checkpoint]] (2006)
*[[Scythe (Cybertron)|Scythe]] (2006)
*[[Scourge (Cybertron)|Cryo Scourge]] (2006)
*[[Megatron (Armada)/toys|Galvatron]] (2006)

;''Animated''
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (2008)

;''Revenge of the Fallen''
[[File:Soundwaverotfpreviewtoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Triple-changing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]], superior!]]
*[[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (2009)
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)/toys|Soundwave]] (2009)
*[[Megatron (Movie)/toys|Megatron]]<ref>Megatron was identified as a Triple Changer in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe|Revenge of the Fallen: The Movie Universe]]'' and was shown with two alternate modes in [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation|''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic adaption]]. He did not display this ability in [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|the film]], nor [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|his toys]].</ref> (2009)

;''Dark of the Moon''
[[File:DOTM-toy Backfire SpikeWitwicky.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Triple-changing [[Backfire (TF 2010)|Backfire]], who's being ridden by [[Spike Witwicky (DOTM)|some guy]].]]
*[[Thunderhead]] (2011)
*[[Sandstorm (TF 2010)|Sandstorm]] (2011)
*[[Icepick (PCC)|Icepick]] (2011)
*[[Backfire (TF 2010)|Backfire]] (2011)
*[[Whirl (ROTF)|Whirl]] (2011)
*[[Tailpipe (DOTM)|Tailpipe]] & [[Pinpointer (DOTM)|Pinpointer]] (2011)
*[[Drag Strip (DOTM)|Drag Strip]] (2011)
*[[Half-Track (DOTM)|Half-Track]] (2011)
*[[Reverb (DOTM)|Reverb]] (2011)
*[[Crosshairs (Movie)|Crosshairs]] (2011)
:''All'' the [[Human Alliance]] Basic-class robot figures are Triple Changers.
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys#Leader Class toys 4|Striker Optimus]] (2011)

;''Construct-Bots''
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Construct-Bots|Bumblebee]]
*[[Blitzwing (G1)/toys#Construct-Bots|Blitzwing]]

;Unreleased
*"[[Dropshot (Armada)|Dropshot]]"
*"[[Fumes]]"
*ATB Megatron (called a Triple Changer by a Hasbro pitch man.)
*Marauder Megatron

===Retroactively labeled as Triple Changers===
[[File:G1toy Snapdragon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' profile book series identifies [[Apeface]] and [[Snapdragon (G1)|''G1'' Snapdragon]] as Triple Changers.
**This is further acknowledged in ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars|Earth Wars]]'' game where both Horrorcons are classified as Triple Changer class. Snapdragon, depicted as a Mercenary, is also available on Autobot side with the same abilities.
*[[Doubledealer]]'s rendition in WFC trilogy (which is also applied for his character in '''Earth Wars ''' game) is classified as a Triple Changer with his bird mode being air-based alternate mode rather than his Decepticon mode.
*Since Scorponok is classified as a Headmaster Triple Changer base, his primary adversary - Fortress Maximus is technically a Headmaster Triple Changer base as well.
*Dreamwave's ''[[More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada|More Than Meets The Eye: Armada]]'' book labels [[Over-Run (Armada)|''Armada'' Over-Run]] as a Triple Changer, also stating that other Mini-Cons with a third mode are Triple Changers.
*[[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook|Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' labels [[B'Boom]] as a Triple Changer but not [[Apache]].
*The mobile game ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars|Earth Wars]]'' identifies [[Sky Lynx (G1)|''G1'' Sky Lynx]] as a Triple Changer, with the appropriate in-game ability boost.
{{-}}

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Triple Changer''' (トリプルチェンジャー ''Toripuru Chenjā''), '''Triplebot''' (Autobots, トリプルボット ''Toripurubotto''), '''Tripletron''' (Decepticons, トリプルトロン ''Toripurutoron'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Triplaváltozók'''
*''Italian:'' '''Tripla Azione''' ("Triple Action")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Sānbiàn Rén''' (Taiwan, 三變人, "Triple Changer"), '''Sānbiàn Jīngāng''' (Taiwan, 三變金剛, "Triple-change Vajra"), '''Sānbiàn Zhànshì''' (China, 三变战士, "Triple-change Fighter")
*''Polish:'' '''Trójzmienny'''
*''Russian:'' '''Tryokhrezhimnik''' (Трёхрежимник, "Three-Moder", from Prime Target episode)

==See also==
*[[Super Mode]]
*[[Attack mode]]
*[[Transportation mode]]
*[[:Category:Transformers with three modes|Transformers with three modes]]
*[[Transmetal]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars subgroups]]
[[Category:Cloud subgroups]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Gimmicks]]
[[Category:Subgroups]]
[[Category:Toys]]
[[Category:Triple Changers| ]]

Dark Awakening (episode)

2025-04-01T18:35:58Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{featured}}
{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|Dark Awakening (Legends)}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=73
|ep2=8
|prev2=Starscream's Ghost
|next2=Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)
|image=Optimusg1zombie.jpg
|caption=Yeah, let ''this'' be how the kids remember their hero.
|title="Dark Awakening"
|season=3
|season ep=8
|production code=700-93
|airdate=[[October 1]], [[1986]]
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOFKJPQUKRw
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Optimus Prime is revived as a zombie by Quintessons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:G1-screencap darkawakening Optimus empty tomb.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't you hate when your stuff goes missing?]]
On the run from [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] try the old "detonate three-quarters of the ship" trick to lose their pursuers. What's left of the ship can't support human life for long, however, so they take refuge on board the nearby [[Autobot Mausoleum]], an interstellar tomb containing many of their deceased comrades, most notably the venerated [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].

While exploring by himself, Daniel is stuck in a dark room with robot corpses and gets appropriately creeped out... particularly when he sees what looks like the fully animated form of Optimus Prime. When he finds the others he swears he has seen Optimus Prime alive. To satisfy his curiosity and against the opinions of the other Autobots, Rodimus opens Prime's tomb, only to find it empty. However, they cannot investigate further because the Decepticons have followed them inside and attack them (turns out Galvatron has wised up to the detonate-three-quarters thing.) The fierce battle that follows appears lost for the Autobots, when suddenly they are saved by none other than Optimus Prime. With their ranks bolstered by the mighty warrior's firepower, they quickly drive the freaked out Decepticons into retreat.

[[File:OptimusMatrixAwakening.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Uh uh. Nope. Had it. Done with it.]]
The Autobots are amazed and confused at Prime's presence. Optimus can give them no explanation to his apparent resurrection, just the typical near-death experience of seeing darkness and then a light at the end of the tunnel. Rodimus Prime eagerly (too eagerly) returns the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to him, despite Prime's bizarre behavior and damaged appearance, and against the advice of Kup and Ultra Magnus. Without the Matrix inside him, Rodimus reverts to Hot Rod and declares, "Let's party!" Optimus evidently has other plans and attacks the Autobots and sets the auto-destruct sequence to the mausoleum ship. He then departs and leaves the others stranded.

After returning to Cybertron, Optimus informs the [[Autobot]]s that Rodimus and the others were killed by the Quintessons. This puts everyone in a pretty bad mood ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]] swears vengeance - particularly for Arcee - while [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] spends at least a minute stomping and thumping his tail). Optimus re-assumes command and orders an all-out attack on a supposed Quintesson base.

[[File:G1-screencap DarkAwakening Quintessons missiles.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Our budget only ran to six missiles.]]
Hot Rod and his group manage to escape, mere moments before the mausoleum ship plunges into a star and explodes. They return to Cybertron, but find nobody around but the Dinobots. Turns out most of the Autobots have left to attack the Quintessons. They pursue their friends in their own ship, but arrive to find the [[Autobot fleet]] already being decimated by Quintesson missile fire. Their frantic calls to stop the attack are dismissed by Optimus as Quintesson tricks.

Hot Rod and the others finally manage to board the lead ship, and the former Rodimus goes "Optimus hunting" after his [[zombie|zombified]] mentor. When the two meet, Optimus starts to pound on Hot Rod, but as he's kicking Hot Rod's tailpipe he begs Hot Rod to defeat him.

[[File:Zombiesmatrixmakesmetoostrong.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|And that's for getting me killed!]]
Fighting against both Hot Rod and himself, Optimus flashes back to his own reanimation at the hands of the Quintessons, who stole his corpse and reanimated it with their own evil programming to lead all Autobots into a trap.
Optimus is nothing more than a "robotic zombie", combined with "lingering remnants" of his personality and memories. Hot Rod puts up a brave fight in a moment of compassion trying to help Optimus, Hot Rod is physically overcome by Optimus, but the influence of the Matrix allows Prime to overcome the Quintessons' programming. Ending the fight, Optimus returns the Matrix to Hot Rod's chest cavity, restoring him to his status as Rodimus Prime.
As Optimus Prime takes his leave, the other Autobots find their battered leader and inform him that the equally battered ship is being evacuated.

Optimus Prime takes control of the ship, and orders the Autobot fleet away from the Quintesson trap.

As the stunned Quintessons watch, the Autobot fleet escapes. Optimus's final act is to pilot the Autobot flagship into the trigger zone of the Quintesson trap; ensuring the safety of the retreating Autobot ships and craft.
Closing the distance piloting the command ship, Optimus Prime suffers horrendous damage as the Quintessons bombard the ship with missile fire and explosions and flames erupt from various points in the command ship on top of the battle damage Optimus had incurred previously from his fight with Hot Rod; losing an arm namely.

With a massive explosion, the solar system is destroyed.
As Kup bids his old friend farewell and the other Autobots mourn their lost leader a second time, Magnus remarks that the nova will be Optimus's memorial. Rodimus doubts he'll be the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that Optimus Prime was, but vows to try.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (9)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (15)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (16)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (17)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (21)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (22)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (23)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (24)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (25)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (26)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (27)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (5)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (6)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (8)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (12)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (10)
|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Great. What'll Daniel and I do when the air runs out?" 
"Basically you'll have two choices: suffocate, or smother."
:—As '''Spike''' wonders about the limited oxygen for the first time in life in the Autobot life pod, '''Rodimus Prime''' takes "deadpan" to a whole new level.

"How convenient, Rodimus! We can lay your wreckage beside that of your mentor!"
:—'''Galvatron''' wants to add insult to injury.

"Decepticons... leave this place... or die!"
:— For just one brief chill-bump moment, '''Optimus Prime''' is back.

"Hey, he's here, he's back, and who cares how!" 
"Must... complete... plan..." ''Optimus abruptly walks offscreen.'' 
"Yeah! What's the plan?"
:—'''Rodimus''' misses some critical clues from '''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> behavior.

'''Arcee''': Sludge! Snarl! Oh, are we glad to see you. 
'''Sludge''': Me Sludge not glad to see ''you''. 
'''Snarl''': You all dead! Rarrr! 
'''Sludge''': ...Maybe ''we'' dead.
:—Arcee freaks out the Dinobots.

'''Kup''': Where is everybody? 
'''Sludge''': All go smash Quintessons. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': Quintessons? What have Quintessons got to do with any of this? 
'''Snarl''': They kill you! Optimus Prime say so! ...Uh-oh. Something not right.
:—The Dinobots start to comprehend that all is not well.

"This won't even be a war." 
"Merely an exercise in... extermination."
:—The '''Quintessons''' nonchalantly slaughter the Autobot fleet

"Not a game! ...Matrix makes me ''too strong''!" 
"Now ''there's'' a unique complaint!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' wails on '''Hot Rod''', who takes it in stride

"Monsters... they made me a weapon, to destroy the very ones I loved in life. But you will save them... Rodimus Prime."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' hands over the Matrix.

"I don't know if I'll ever be the leader that you were, but for sure... I'm gonna try. So long... Prime."
:—'''Rodimus''' gives a eulogy in his own inimitable fashion.

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}
[[File:TommyInterviewsPrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland where Tommy, apparently a reporter for [[Autobot City News]], asks to interview Prime. Tommy asks for the inside scoop on how Prime came back from the dead. Prime recalls how it all began...

{{bigquote|Okay, what would you like me to tell you?}}
{{bigquote|Tell us the real scoop! The behind the scenes, super secret story of how '''you''' came back from the dead!}}

:''22 minutes later...''

{{bigquote|You said you were going to tell me how you were brought back to life and instead you tell me a story where you weren't ''really'' brought back to life at all! And even if you ''were'', you'd be dead again by now!}}

Tommy is furious, accusing Prime of dodging the question and not telling him how he ''really'' cheated death. Prime informs him that there's "more than meets the eye" to this story. In fact, the story has only just begun. Tommy stops him, as his recorder has run out of tape. Tommy and Prime then blast off into outer space to... go to the store to buy more tape. Okay.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
*Dialogue recording: 29th May 1986
*This episode originally aired early in season 3, but was strategically re-aired in February 1987 to promote the broadcast of "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]." The rerun featured new closing narration from [[Victor Caroli]] added to the final scene: "But is this really the end of Optimus Prime? Find out in tomorrow's exciting episode, 'The Return of Optimus Prime!'" Caroli's line replaced the original final line of the episode, delivered by Rodimus: "So long, Prime." The original version was released on VHS by [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]], but when the company released the episode on DVD, the altered ending was the only one included. Observing the frustration this caused among American fans, DVD consultant [[Chris McFeely]] helped ensure the restoration of the original ending for the [[Metrodome]] DVD release of the episode, with the alternate ending included as an easter egg. The original ending is also the version featured on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD sets, but when Hasbro put the episode up on YouTube in 2021, the altered version was used.

===Continuity notes===
*Galvatron still has some degree of alliance with the Quintessons, despite their betrayal in "Five Faces of Darkness". (Of course, it's leading to ''another'' betrayal, as the Quintessons are presumably luring him and the Autobots to zombie Optimus's trap.)
*As an episode built around the events of the animated movie, Galvatron's order to examine the debris of the destroyed Autobot ship is almost certainly a callback to the last time he blew up an Autobot vessel from afar - he's wised up to the Autobots' "detonate three quarters of the ship" trick!
*Kup alludes to the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] when Daniel asks about Optimus Prime's inclusion in the Mausoleum.
*The Autobot Mausoleum includes the Veil of Remembrance, a "memorial to the Autobot heroes whose chassis and servos rest here". Optimus Prime's tomb rested in a burial chamber on the other side of it.
*Besides Optimus, the interred Autobots whose names are read off by Daniel are [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]], [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]. The first three were killed off in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', all in the same scene, in fact. This is the first time we learn of Huffer's death, however. The absence of [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (also killed off in the same scene) has led to joking fandom speculation that he must have survived getting shot in the shoulder (bolstered by his and Huffer's animation-error appearance in "[[Carnage in C-Minor]]"). [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'s bodies weren't even mentioned, despite their offscreen deaths in the movie.
[[File:DarkAwakening dead Autobot.jpg|thumb|200px]]
*The dead Autobot that nearly squashes Daniel isn't Ironhide, but follows his general design pattern: rounded head helmet, boxy torso with a front window chest. The details are off, though, and of course he's got a totally different color scheme (mostly gray, with an olive green chest).
*Cyclonus pulls his gun out of thin air during the fight on the mausoleum; it simply appears in his hand in a flash of light, another instance supporting the fan-theories of "subspace" and the like.
*Arcee suffers an "exo-structure" wound.
*Springer reacts pointedly to the supposed death of Arcee, continuing the romantic overtones between them that first showed up back in "Five Faces of Darkness".
*The ship Optimus Prime takes command of is the [[Autobot Flagship|Flagship]] of the Autobot Fleet, with the bridge being called its Command Center. Do we see the ship before or again? Iunno.
*The Quintessons propose and enact an "anticipatory snicker of triumph", recalling their celebratory chuckle from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3]]".
*Later, the Quintessons repeat the "perhaps we should seek some cover / no, place your faith in our defense systems" exchange from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]".
*The Autobot fleet shown in this episode is weird. Character models for the Aerialbots, Powerglide, and Skyfire are used to pad out the fleet's ranks and many of these "ships" are shown getting annihilated by the Quintessons.
*The ship Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, et al. take to get to the Autobot Flagship is an Interceptor called [[Intercept-One]].
*Daniel wears his [[exosuit]] from the movie while aboard Intercept-One, which protects him from the vacuum of space when the ship gets blown up.

===Real-world references===
[[File:Autobot shuttle lifepod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Writer Antoni Zalewski recycled his own work for the opening scene of this episode, which is copied almost note-for-note from the 1985 "Ghost Ship" episode of ''The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians''. The parallels include a pursuit through space, launching an escape pod ("We turned the cockpit into an escape ship just in time!"), right up to Spike's verbatim quote "It's the size of... Manhattan!"
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**The ''Star Wars'' effects are of a much higher fidelity of sound than the rest of the episode's effects, music and voiceovers, sitting higher in the mix and sounding rather out of place. Some are mixed to the point of being unidentifiable.
**A long [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] whine - from the Rebel squads approaching the [[Death Star]] - is heard in the opening shot as the Autobot ship flies past camera.
**As the Decepticons launch torpedos, sounds from one of the firefights on the Death Star can be heard.
**The whine of Luke's X-Wing about to crash on Dagobah (a rare use of a sound effect from ''Empire'') plays as the Mausoleum approaches the sun; the sound of branches hitting the fighter's canopy can still be heard.
**Death Star superlaser as the Autobots escape from the Mausoleum.
**X-Wing engine whine as the Quintesson asteroid-ship moves into firing position.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:DarkAwakening Magnus hands.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't look at me either. I had my shot. I'm out.]]
[[File:DarkAwakening-Springer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*An AKOM episode. Watch for off-model characters including:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's 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, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**Movie characters have colored mouths, such as Ultra Magnus with a red mouth, Cyclonus with purple, Blurr with blue and Springer with green.
**Optimus's running light rims are white, and the lights themselves are red, rather than vice versa; his backpack is white instead of red.
**The top part of Ultra Magnus' back is sometimes colored grey when it should be red (such as when he shoots at Galvatron).
*Coloring errors:
**In the first shot of the Decepticon mothership shooting at the Autobot shuttle, one of the two Sweeps flying alongside it is colored all white.
**"They're getting away!" - Cyclonus's jet windows are colored white instead of orange.
**As Rodimus delivers the "I'd hoped never to see it again" line, Kup's eyes are gray and the triangles below them blue, rather than the other way around.
**Rodimus's eyes flash blue-gray-blue as he details the location of Optimus's tomb.
**After driving the Decepticons off, Optimus walks up to the Autobots and the left side of his helmet is grey instead of blue.
**Right after Optimus Prime shoots Hot Rod, Kup, Arcee, Daniel and Spike, the top of his helmet is colored gray.
**As Optimus walks up to Hot Rod, his Autobot symbol is grey instead of red.
**Just before Optimus' flashback, his crotch piece and lower legs are dark grey instead of blue.
**When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus' face is entirely colored in blue. As he lands, the top of Optimus' helmet is grey.
*As the "torpedos" close in on the Autobot ship, it's suddenly no longer in the asteroid field, but in open space.
*The life pod's engine-roar sound effect flies past the camera long before the ship itself does.
*After they blow up the Autobot ship, a shot of the Decepticons flying shows their group to contain a 1984 Seeker design with Dirge's color-scheme. Thrust and Dirge are also flying alongside the ship - the first and only time they've been shown to be space flight capable. The Decepticon ship isn't all that much bigger than the Decepticons around it, either.
*As the Decepticon ship turns to intercept, the squad of Decepticons are no longer flying alongside it.
*The mausoleum first appears floating in empty open space, but as the Autobots approach it, it's suddenly got asteroids and a red sun nearby.
*As they approach the Mausoleum in their ship, the Autobots keep changing positions between shots. First Kup is up front on the right, then he's behind Rodimus on the left, then Rodimus is in the back right with Kup in front of him. Arcee moves from the front right to the back left, then back to the front right again.
**Also during the approach, the seats at the front of the ship appear and disappear between shots.
***''Also'' during the approach, the large door with the Autobot symbol has a grey frame around it (with parts that overlap the right and left sides), but when it opens, the frame is gone.
*As he walks up behind Daniel, Optimus is supposed to be obscured by darkness - but since the animation portrays the scene as not really dark at all, Optimus simply ''appears out of thin air'' when Daniel turns the lights back on.
**Also, he's covered with cobwebs, as if he's been standing immobile in one spot for ages, even though he was just walking around. Some of them even connect to the wall behind and above him! The cobwebs are gone in a closeup view in the very next shot. (Dare we even ''ask'' how there are ''spiders'' inside a Cybertronian tomb in space? What are they eating?)
*In that first closeup shot, Optimus has a much more damaged look (both his chest windows are broken, showing internal circuitry; his mouthplate is broken; and the overall look of the chest area is more worn out. For the remainder of the episode, he is drawn with the damaged look from the movie.
*After discovering Optimus's empty tomb, the Autobots are apparently supposed to be reacting to some sound, indicating the Decepticons' arrival - but there's no such sound. They just all turn at once in response to nothing.
*Rodimus is missing his spoiler after yelling "Take cover!"
*When Cyclonus shoots Arcee, the blast comes from WAY too low to be from the gun, coming instead from his third knuckle.
*When Optimus shoots at the Decepticons, Galvatron's Decepticon logo is missing its "eyes."
*Cyclonus steals Galvatron's cannon sound effect as he drags his wounded leader away.
*Ultra Magnus yells at the other Autobots to "Hold your fire, we've driven them off!" but they've already stopped shooting!
*After driving the Decepticons off, Spike is not in the shot, even though he was right next to Daniel earlier.
*After driving the Decepticons off, Optimus is still holding his gun, but when he asks about the Matrix, it's suddenly gone.
*Some weird shadows are drawn over Rodimus's face as he opens his chest to return the Matrix - but there's no light source shown to cause them.
*Layering problem: The flame pattern on Rodimus's chest opens sideways, leaving what ''appears'' to be a cavity in the same shape as the flame pattern - yet instead of reaching ''inside'', Rodimus's hand reaches ''behind'' it to retrieve the Matrix!
*After Optimus shoots him, Hot Rod lands on what seems to be the exterior surface of a planet, rather than the hangar bay of the Mausoleum.
*Optimus's mouthplate often doesn't move when he speaks, as when he relates the supposed fate of Rodimus and the others to the Autobots. After the Matrix overrides the Quintessons' programming, it consistently moves when he speaks. If it was an intentional effect, however, it's thrown off by the fact that it ''does'' move when he first appears and threatens the Decepticons.
*As Springer comments on going after the Quintessons, his lip flap stops a bit before his words do.
*When boarding Ultra Magnus' "little improvisation," the camera shake isn't synced with the frames of animation, so it looks like there are two Arcees, Kups and Hot Rods.
*The Autobot fleet contains all sorts of strange stuff; see also Continuity Notes, above:
**In the first pan shot: two Skydive, two Slingshots, an Air Raid, and lots of black-colored jets that may be various Aerialbot models.
**In the fly-over shot, the (much smaller) fleet is entirely light gray ships, some loosely based on Broadside's jet mode, but mostly generic science fiction style.
**As the Quintessons open fire, Skydive and two black jets are destroyed.
***On board one of those ships, a [[generic]] Autobot with Dead End's color scheme - including a purple Autobot symbol - gets blown away, followed by two more generics based on Dead End and Scamper.
**Next shot: Powerglide and Slingshot are destroyed. An all-white Skyfire, another Skyfire in Skydive's colore scheme, and a black jet are nearby.
**After the commercial break: the same shot repeats, but this time the missiles fly in and past without hitting anybody.
**Next shot: an all-white Skyfire with orange tailfins gets pummeled by missiles.
**Next shot: several generic white jets are blown up.
**Next shot: a generic white jet and Slingshot (again!) are destroyed. Two Skydives, two Air Raids, and someone in Powerglide's colors go untouched.
**A moment later, Skydive and Air Raid are seen manning laser cannons to destroy the interceptor ship.
**Four generic jets in white, gray and black are shown escaping at the end. In a second shot, two of them are loosely based on Skyfire's design.
**In the final shot, the escaping ships include generic ship/jets with Skydive and Air Raid's color schemes.
*When Perceptor shouts "They're alive!", Blaster (with a white helmet) and [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] - completely miscolored in light and dark blue - are standing in the background. The space behind Perceptor was totally empty in the previous shot.
*Not a glitch so much as a strange shortcut: the Quintessons' lines, "Perhaps we should seek some cover." and "No. Place your faith in our defense systems." are both recycled from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]".
*As Hot Rod announces he's going "Optimus hunting," Wheelie is missing his Autobot symbol.
*"Optimus, front and center!" - Hot Rod is drawn as his Rodimus self for a couple of shots.
**After Optimus returns the Matrix to him and walks off, Rodimus is still drawn as Hot Rod for the rest of the scene.
*When he puts Rodimus in the wrestling hold, Optimus' nose isn't drawn in.
*When Rodimus tosses him, Optimus clearly hits a display monitor (which doesn't break) in its upper left corner, but when he lands, he's way over on the right side of the console.
*Whatever the burbling thing that melts through Hot Rod's torso is, it's gone in the next shot - then back again, then gone for good in the following shots.
*When Optimus gives the Matrix back to Hot Rod, Hot Rod's door is made up of the entire yellow (flame) part of his chest. In "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4," the door was split in half and opened around the center of his chest.
*When Optimus is in control of the flagship and orders the other Autobots to return, he has his left arm again... and the hand colored wrong (red).
**In the first shot of him on the bridge, the bridge design is completely different than the one shown at the start of the attack.
*As the Autobots watch the explosion, Ultra Magnus' (red) mouth is shown gaping open and not moving when he speaks; his eyes are connected together like a visor.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:DarkAwakening Mausoleum.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Just in case you weren't clear that Prowl, Ratchet, etc. are dead - this episode goes and kills them ''even more dead''.]]
*[[Revenge (G1)|Galvatron's starship]] is shown to be perfectly intact here, despite being smashed by Unicron in the movie.
*Rodimus Prime and his crew were surprised to find the Autobot Mausoleum, suggesting they forgot where it was. Why didn't the Autobots just put the Mausoleum somewhere on Cybertron?
*Why are the tomb's light controls at human child level?
*Rodimus Prime states that Optimus has been dead "for years". While it's not always wise to take the flippant Rodimus [[The Burden Hardest to Bear|at face value]], Prime has actually been dead for a year at most. (The cartoon's timeframe is rarely made explicit, but "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" was stated in narration to take place in [[2005]], while later episodes like "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" indicate the series has moved on into [[2006]] as time has gone on. Also, Daniel hasn't visibly aged since Optimus died. This works better in Japan, though, where the series takes place in [[2010]].)
*It's never explained where Hot Rod and company obtained the ship that carries them away from the Mausoleum. Magnus just comments vaguely about "this little improvisation" in reference to the vessel.
*Optimus returns to Cybertron still beat to hell, fine. But... then he rushes everyone off into battle and ''nobody'' stops him to say, hey, get yourself to repair bay first?
*During the flashback to the Quintessons discussing Optimus Prime over his dead body, shouldn't the body still be grey (as it appeared after his death in the movie)? It's the usual colors instead.
*Kup tells Rodimus the ship is being blown to pieces, but it seems perfectly calm (until the Quintessons notice it's heading for the detonator and fire on it, of course).

===Other trivia===
*Interviews included in the 20th anniversary DVD release of ''The Transformers - The Movie'' reveal that this episode had already begun production at the time of the film's theatrical release, unaware of just how deeply the [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|death of Optimus Prime]] would have ultimately affected the audience, or how such an episode might have compounded it.
*The [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|''Transformers 2010'' story pages]] would run with this story's events, having the Quintessons analyze Optimus Prime's specifications and use them to build [[Gilthor]].
*"Ask Vector Prime" would build off the original ending, giving us the splinter timeline of [[Primax 1086.01 Alpha]].
*This is easily the most gruesome episode of the original cartoon, and perhaps the only one with a certifiable body count - even if you don't include the named character models that are shown.
*That sure is some chipper, happy, peppy, upbeat music that plays as Daniel walks about reading the names of the dead, opening tombs, and running into zombies!
*As of August 20, 2019, this episode is not included in the "Transformers: Season 3" lineup as featured in the Starz online streaming service for the United States. The episode numbers in the Starz lineup for Season 3 skip from #307 ("Chaos") to #309 ("Starscream's Ghost"), which appears out of order. The order and numbering of other episodes in the season have also been changed.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sombre réveil'''" ("Dark Awakening")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Arcee is dubbed by ''a man'' during this episode. Despite trying to lighten his voice, this is very disturbing to hear.
:::*Rodimus Prime's line "Well basically you'll have two choices: suffocate or smother" is dubbed by "Actually, you'll only have two solutions: suffocate or ''commit suicide''". Wow.
:::*Daniel calls Ironhide "Irox", but he was called "Irok" during seasons 1 and 2.
:::*The Autobots call the Matrix la "Matrix", despite calling it la "Matrice" in previous episodes. However, "Matrix" was the term used in ''The Movie''.
:::*Arcee's scream is missing as she gets hit by Cyclonus.
:::*For some reason, Optimus Prime calls Arcee "Archère" ("Archer"). Like for Wreck-Gar and Sky Lynx who also got made-up names in previous episodes, this name will never be used ever again.
:::*Before saying "This nova will be his memorial", Ultra Magnus adds "Do not cry" to Daniel.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das Erwachen im Dunkeln'''" ("The Awakening in the Dark")
:*''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 (first dub):'' "'''Fantasmi dal passato'''" ("Ghosts from the Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Spike talks about Manhattan using a past tense, making it look like it doesn't exists anymore.
::*Hot Rod's name is never pronounced in this episode.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Risveglio oscuro'''" ("Dark Awakening")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' コンボイの影 (''Convoy no Kage'', "Convoy's Shadow")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 9]], [[1987]]
::*As Kup explains about the Autobot Mausoleum, he mentions the [[Unicron War]] instead of the Great War.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' Wǔmiànguài de Guǐjì (五面怪的诡计, "Quintesson's Ruse")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Despertar Sombrio'''" ("Dark Awakening")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Probuzhdenie vo tjme'''" (Пробуждение во тьме, "The Awakening in the Dark")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[1988]] — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[1990]] — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening ([[Tempo Video|Collins Video]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Dark Awakening / Grimlock's New Brain ([[Tempo Video|Abbey Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[1999]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 2: Revenge of the Decepticons ([[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 France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 15 ([[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]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2007]] — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (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://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808822/ IMDb's page for this episode]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1_CN1s80MHOZDFaY1ZWV2Y4UUk/view?usp=sharing Orignal dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Chaos (episode)

2025-04-01T10:28:09Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig3.5|the Generation 1 cartoon episode|the alien creature featured in the episode|Chaos (alien)|Chaos}}
{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep2=11
|prev2=The Killing Jar (episode)
|next2=Madman's Paradise
|image=G1 Chaos.JPG
|caption=Kup discovers a very distant cousin (twice removed) of [[Godzilla|that big green, fire-snortin' lizard]].
|ep=72
|title="Chaos"
|season=3
|season ep=7
|production code=700-92
|airdate=[[September 30]], 1986
|written by=[[Paul Davids]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbATwtlvPzI
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''A discovery on Goo forces Kup to face a demon from his past.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Chaos Blastoff Skuxxoid.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Give me your snack, kid."]]

Near Goo, a [[Skuxxoid]] is using a bazooka to fire strange crystals at random pieces of junk. However, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] spots him and they start firing at each other. Cornering the Skuxxoid on Goo, Blast Off demands to know with what he was being shot. The Skuxxoid shows him the crystals. He says that they are hard to find, but he knows where the planet is.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] is telling a story about one of his encounters with an [[Ick-Yak]] to [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]], [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], and [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. An Ick-Yak had cornered Kup on [[Dread (planet)|Dread]], but Kup managed to trick it into walking into the quick-mud. Grimlock says he heard that a monster named [[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] lived on Dread, and asks Kup if that's true. Kup freaks out and tells Grimlock never to speak of Chaos again. However, [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] contacts Cybertron, telling them of a discovery he made. Using [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], the [[Autobot]]s go to investigate. On [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]], they discover a destroyed [[Earth Defense Command]] station. Grimlock is shocked, as the station was made of the strongest metal in the galaxy. Kup, however, recognizes what did it: [[Death crystal]]s. The Autobots ask what death crystals are, but Kup is hesitant. At that moment, Blast Off appears with [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] riding on him, firing death crystals. Escaping on Sky Lynx, the two [[Transformer]] shuttles play a game of cat and mouse, until Runamuck destroys a comet, allowing Sky Lynx to escape.

[[File:Chaos Kup prisoners.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Kup finds all the UK exclusive characters.]]

After escaping, the Autobots demand answers. Kup explains that one hundred-thousand years ago, when he was on Dread, he was captured by [[Orb]]s, a slaver race. He was forced to work in the death crystal mines under extremely hazardous conditions, facing attacks by wrecks of [[shrikebat]]s. Kup managed to sneak away from his work detail, heading into the caves, where he found a group of imprisoned robots. As he was preparing to free them, Chaos appeared. Kup was so frightened that he fled, leaving the robots behind. He's never forgiven himself for leaving those other robots behind, and now the [[Decepticon]]s know about the death crystals. The Autobots resolve to stop the Decepticons before disaster should strike.

[[File:Chaos Kup Predacons.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Kup's early years as a Lion Tamer weren't going too well]]

On Dread, it turns out that [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is not content to use them merely as ammunition—he's building a [[Death crystal cannon|cannon]] that will fire death crystals at Cybertron, destroying the planet with one shot. Landing away from the Decepticon camp, Kup takes Blurr to do some recon. During their search, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] arrive, with [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] taking on Kup, with the others knocking Blurr into the quick-mud (which has the benefit of shutting him up). Grimlock, Wheelie, and Wreck-Gar head to help, while Sky Lynx separates. Heading for the two Autobots, Grimlock mauls Razorclaw as Wheelie and Wreck-Gar fire, while Sky Lynx rescues Blurr from the mud. As the Predacons retreat to inform Galvatron, Sky Lynx follows to further investigate.

[[File:Chaos Kup enters cave.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"What's in there?" "Only what you take with you."]]

Heading for the camp, the other Autobots arrive to attack the Decepticons, and the Predacons form [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], managing to get a lucky shot on Sky Lynx. Kup is trapped in the mines of [[Queeg Mountain]] due to a random shot, and immediately goes to find Chaos. Finding imprisoned robots, he frees them, just as Chaos arrives. The beast has death crystals embedded into his skin, but Kup has a plan. Using another opening in the volcano, Kup leads the robots to freedom, and uses Galvatron's death crystal cannon on Chaos, which also causes the volcano to erupt. Sky Lynx manages to rescue the Autobots, who flee into space. Sky Lynx has been injured, but Kup is sure that he'll be okay. It actually reminds him of the time he was riding the shuttle ''[[Jonagar]]'' and was trapped in a [[space whale]]. As the other Autobots bemoan another tale, Grimlock commands them to be quiet, as he loves Kup's war stories.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (3)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (4)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (5)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (6)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (7)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (8)

|c2=
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (2)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (9)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (12)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (13)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (14)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (15)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (16)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (17)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (18)
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (19)

|c4=
*[[Skuxxoid]] (1)
*[[Dread slaves]] (10)
*[[Chaos (alien)|Chaos]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Chaos SkyLynx liftoff.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a lynx! It's Sky Lynx!"]]

"This could be the galaxy-busting case I've been waiting to sink my sensors into."
:—'''Kup''', thinking he's [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]].

"Secret-keepers always weepers! Tell a friend or heads will bend!"
:—'''Wheelie''' starts getting violent.

"Sky Lynx! If he's come after the cannon, he's gonna get himself obliterated!" 
"Obliterated? By you grubby Predacons? That'll be the day!"
:—'''Tantrum''' and '''Sky Lynx''' trade barbs.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 12th April 1986
* Revised script submitted: 28th April 1986
* Script finalised by [[Flint Dille]]: 29th April 1986
* Dialogue recording: 19th May 1986
* First draft storyboards completed: 4th June 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Ick-Yak01.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*This is the second time that Kup would narrate an encounter with an [[Ick-Yak]]. He first mentions them in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]].
*The Ick-Yak was not the only monster Kup mentioned in the movie to make an appearance. The bat creatures that harried Kup and the other slaves were labeled "[[shrikebat]]s" on their [[character model]]s.
*Galvatron orders the Predacons to merge into Predaking before sending them off to get the Autobots, but when they encounter the Autobots, they are back in their individual beast modes.
*When Kup first mentions Dread, Grimlock asks about the rumors of Chaos living there; Kup tells the Dinobot to forget he ever heard the name. Later, Kup mentions Chaos, and Grimlock asks who that is. Apparently he took Kup's instructions a little ''too'' literally.
*Having learned from [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3|their previous adventure on Goo]], the Autobots send Blurr to "shut off the goo" so they can walk on the planetoid's surface.
*Predaking shows some rather flagrant on-screen size-changing - he forms, then grows visibly larger.
*Sky Lynx's cabin includes a pair of piloting yokes. Apparently he can be piloted like a standard ship, as Wreck-Gar and Blurr are shown manning them.
*Predaking uses a snazzy purple lightsaber in this episode to slice off a boulder and cave in the Autobots.

===Real-world references===
*Wreck-Gar's quips and quotes are mostly generic:
**He paraphrases cigarette health warnings with the "Nine out of ten doctors and the surgeon general agree, that death crystals can be hazardous to your health."
**He laments getting shot with a cry of "Zip-Lock bag not locking!"
*The story of Jonagar and the space whale is a thinly papered version of the Biblical story of {{w|Jonah|Jonah and the Whale}}.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst both times that Sky Lynx takes off from Goo's surface.
**Diving [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wings]] and [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Blast Off and Sky Lynx chase through the planetary ring system, and again as Sky Lynx transforms to his separate modes on Dread, and again as he takes off for his "recon mission". If one listens very closely during the latter, at the very end of the sound, the sound of Darth Vader's breathing and the TIE engine when heard from inside can be picked out.
**''Falcon'' engine whine as the Predacons return from their fight with Sky Lynx.
**Clashing and sparking [[lightsaber]]s as Predaking slices a boulder loose.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Chaos Kup Blurr piloting ship.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Distinguishing characteristics of a non-AKOM episode: 1) Doesn't suck.]]
The animation and artwork is among the show's best. Characters are consistently drawn and colored; they're generally well proportioned and on-model. Minor details abound: characters stay in the correct relative positions between shots, Kup hangs on to his detector device during the battle until he puts it down, Headstrong paws the ground before charging, and Blurr even gets his blurred visual trail effect, which every other episode forgot about.
*There's an odd silent moment at around 3:13, as the computer beeps and blurbs without any dialogue. This space was originally occupied with dialogue from [[Casey Kasem]] as [[Teletraan II]], which was deleted after he departed the series following behind-the-scenes issues on "[[Thief in the Night]]". One of Kasem's lines actually does survive, that of Imprisoned Robot #2, who begs, "We've got to get back to our home planet!"
*Coloring errors:
**Kup's helmet rims are the same light gray as his face as Blurr transforms lands on Goo.
**As Kup and Blurr exit Sky Lynx on the planet, Kup's Autobot symbol is purple instead of red.
**Sky Lynx is missing all his red bits just before he transforms on Goo - they're colored white and blue instead.
**Tantrum's head becomes all-black as he transforms into Predaking form, then returns to its correct red.
**Predaking's eyeband is the same orange as his helmet when he first forms; combined with how low his helmet sits, it makes it look like he doesn't have a face at all!
**Blurr's helmet flashes between light and dark blue as he sinks into the swamp.
**Headstrong's beast legs are yellow instead of black as the Predacons return from their first fight with the Autobots.
**As he says, "Commence hunting season!," Galvatron's Decepticon symbol is red instead of purple. This happens again just after Sky Lynx passes by him.
**Just before firing the crystals at Chaos, the triangles under Kup's eyes are the same color as his eyes (they should be white like the rest of his face). The same error occurs several shots later, as Wheelie worries about getting Sky Lynx patched up.
*Blast Off's vehicle form is swollen up like a balloon, and missing its tailfin, as Runamuck tells him to dive lower.
*A whole series of shots repeats after the first commercial break. Mostly it's just characters shooting at each other, but in one, Kup puts aside his detector and dodges a death crystal blast - meaning he puts the detector down twice in a row!
*As Kup remembers his first encounter with Chaos (over 100,000 years ago), there's a camera pan over the slaves in the mine. Later, when we first see that Galvatron is on the planet, the ''same pan'' is played in reverse. In fact, almost every scene from Kup's story is recycled to show the present day. Not much changes on Dread, apparently.
*Blurr sinks entirely into the mud puddle, but he's half out of it and is able to grab Sky Lynx a few shots later.
*As he delivers the "9 out of 10 Autobots" line, Wreck-Gar only has 6 fingers extended.
*When Kup frees the imprisoned robots, one of them, round in shape, keeps appearing and disappearing between frames.

===Continuity errors===
*Kup has his early model (the one used for flashbacks in this episode) in the present while examining the damage on Goo. He is colored gray like he should be in the present.
*Just as the voicing of minor characters took a hit in consistency after the Movie, so too did the appearance of the series' various planets. Primarily, this means Cybertron and [[Chaar]], which both appear in many episodes. In this episode, Cybertron's actually moderately consistent with its pre-Movie appearance, but it is shown with two moons. The pre-Movie episodes never showed it with any moons at all, while the Movie showed at least three - though the dialog and action implied only two, both devoured by Unicron. The existence of other moons was vaguely hinted at by [[Victor Caroli]] in the prologue to ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*Wasn't [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]] destroyed in a [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|previous episode]]? Of course, this might not have been #8739-B.
*Kup sure extrapolates a lot of info from Wreck-Gar's short and cryptic statements about what's been happening on Goo!
*Kup and three slaves are saved by Sky Lynx, but what about the rest of the slaves still on the planet? They've still got Galvatron, Astrotrain and the Predacons to deal with, if they weren't burned to a crisp by the lava!
*We get that the damage caused by the cannon was bad, but Sky Lynx's monitor shows the whole planet belching a plume smoke ''into space''.

===Trivia===
[[File:Chaos Kup's jailbreak.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*This episode would be the last time [[Casey Kasem]] would ever voice a character in ''Transformers''. He can briefly be heard as one of the robot slaves in Kup's first flashback to Chaos, screaming, "We have to return to our home planets!" The voice actor call sheet for this episode shows that he performed for Teletraan II, only to have his lines deleted.
[[File:Kup model comparison Chaos.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|Note his knees, belt and backpack.]]
*Like most movie characters, Kup had an alternate [[character model]]. In "Chaos", the animators cleverly used the alternate model for Kup's flashbacks.
*An early title for the episode (as well as the titular antagonist) was "Mayhem".
*The early script also called for organic alien slaves, who even had character models developed. The final, aired version replaced these organic slaves with robots. [[Jim Sorenson]] posted their designs on his [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2008/11/blogging-is-right-of-all-sentient.html blog]. These models appeared in the episode only very briefly, in one shot, as Kup frees the prisoners (pictured); they were later reused for two members of a party of aliens who rescue [[Octane]] after he gets stranded in space in "[[Starscream's Ghost]]".
*One of the escaping slaves is just a gray sphere! A [[ballobot]], perhaps?

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chaos'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This is one of the only episodes whose two different dubs (France and Canada) have survived time.
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Usually, Blurr talks like any other robot in the French dub. However, just for one phrase (the one about being a team), [[Albert Augier]] makes him talk very fast like in the original version. He does not continue and goes back to normal speed after this.
:::*Galvatron's phrase "Predacons! Merge to become Predaking!" is dubbed by "Predacon! Hurry up, I need you!", like if Predacon was the name of Predaking. Again, later in the episode, when Galvatron says the exact same phrase in the original version, the dub says "Predacon, you need to get in position right now!".
:::*The grunting sounds of the Predacons are absent. The same goes for the sounds of the bats.
:::*Kup actually ''names'' some robots!! Wheelie (despite saying "Whilee"), Grimlock, and... "Unican" ? Wreck-Gar has been called "Attilus" in the ''Five Faces of Darkness'' episodes.
:::*Blurr's gibberish has been dubbed in two different ways as he sinks in the mud, before and after the commercial bumper. Before, he says "Don't let me sink any further, I'm too young to die!" and after the break he says "One can't just leave a worthy Autobot in a situation like this!".
:::*After being called "Salvatron" and "Sky Lynx" before, Sky Lynx is called "Stylynx" throughout this episode.
:::*Kup precises how he managed to get out of the Space Whale, he actually found a way to make it sneeze a dozen times.
::*Concerning the Canadian French dub:
:::*There is a little harsh cut during the scene between Kup and Grimlock who wants Kup to tell the story. He says "Me Grimlock says-" and it cuts on Kup's sad face.
:::*Wheelie's line "Secret-keepers always weepers! Tell a friend or heads will bend!" is dubbed by "Grimlock is angry, I think you should tell everything, otherwise he will get angry!".
:::*When talking to Predaking, Galvatron uses "vous", which means either that he continues to consider Predaking as 5 distinct robots, or that he uses the very polite formula.
:::*Like in the European dub, Blurr's gibberish has been dubbed in two different ways as he sinks in the mud, before and after the commercial bumper. Before, he says "Help me, help me, help me! I feel like I'm sinking and if I sink further, I'm going to take my ''(incomprehensible)'' and I-" and after the break he says "Please, I sink deeper and deeper, the deeper I sink, the more I disappear, I don't like it when the ''(incomprehensible)''".
:::*After telling that Sky Lynx has been hurt from the fighting, he adds "We have to patch him up, otherwise he'll bleed, won't he?".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tödliche Kristalle'''" ("Deadly Crystals")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Il mostro Caos'''" ("Chaos the Monster")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*When the spaceship makes noise because of the death crystal, in this dub the noise is not present. Still, Grimlock claims that the ship is making noise... are you hearing things, Grimlock?
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Caos'''" ("Chaos")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The title suggests the name of the monster being "Caos", making this a rare case in which a character is called by its Italian name rather than the English one in this dub.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''デスクリスタル'''" (''Death Crystal'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 30]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hùndùn Guài'''" (混沌怪, "Chaos Monster")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Caos'''" ("The Chaos")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Khaos'''" (Хаос, "The Chaos")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{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. 1 (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]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 15 ([[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://web.archive.org/web/20230305021917/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-92.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=151ZJRSG43lnImKg2vsIfNGOSfV9DsSRK Voice actor call sheet and dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5

2025-04-01T10:24:32Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=70
|series2=2010
|ep2=5
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|next2=Thief in the Night
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5"
|image=FFOD5_Galvatron_lever.jpg
|caption=How can he possibly resist the diabolical urge to pull the lever that could erase his very existence?
|season=3
|season ep=5
|airdate=[[September 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|production code=700-90
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBNvcUWzlpg
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''With Earth and Cybertron under joint Decepticon-Quintesson assault, the Autobots raise a last stand against their old enemies... and the race which created them.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FFOD5 Decepticons attack.JPG|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Galvatron, can he join my armada?]]

The [[Decepticon]]s open a sortie against the [[Autobot]]s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and the initial attack took out the whole defense system. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] tells the others to go, while he holds them off. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] says that Magnus's courage will be remembered. Unsaid is the possibility that there will be no one to remember it. From their ship, the [[Quintesson]]s calculate that it will take less than a day to completely defeat the Autobots. After all, they've given [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] something worth fighting for...

On Earth, the new Decepticon battle station heads for [[Ark (G1)|Autobot headquarters]]. [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] lead a counter offensive, but their efforts are stymied when the station [[Transformation|transforms]] into [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Warpath orders [[Teletraan I]] to activate the defense systems, but Trypticon causes [[Mount St. Hilary|the volcano]] to collapse on the ship, destroying it. With his task there complete, Trypticon heads to his next target: [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]].

[[File:FFOD5 Predacons.JPG|right|upright=0.85|thumb|Know that there are five Predacons. The other guys are posers!]]

On [[Io]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] hurries to rescue [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]], and [[Marissa Faireborn]] from certain death from the natives. However, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] arrive to steal the [[Transformation cog|Transformation Cog]] intended for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Initially, the Predacons turn out to be all bark with no bite. However, they merge into [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], and manage to disorient Wheelie, Blurr, and Faireborn. However, Sky Lynx attacks Predaking, and causes him to separate. Sky Lynx orders the others to board him, and Wheelie discovers the cog.

Meanwhile, Galvatron orders [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to give a status report to the Quintessons. However, Blitzwing overhears that the Quintessons don't have the [[Decepticon Matrix]]. What's worse, they want the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] to pull a [[large switch]] which will deactivate the [[Transformer]]s all over the galaxy. Blitzwing tries to tell Galvatron, but the psychotic [[Decepticon leader]] merely beats him. Blitzwing realizes that there is one other option... side with the Autobots to stop the Quintessons.

[[File:FFOD5 Metroplex Trypticon.JPG|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Godzilla vs. Megazord!]]

On Earth, Trypticon has arrived at Autobot City, but Wheelie is able to get the cog to Pipes, who installs it in Metroplex. Coming online, Metroplex and Trypticon throw down. Their battle extends into another city (which everyone manages to evacuate from). Finally, Metroplex manages to overwhelm Trypticon, and throws Trypticon a great distance, where he lands in the ocean and sinks.

On Cybertron, Blitzwing, Rodimus Prime, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] manage to stop the Sharkticons, but Galvatron, thinking the switch is the key to the Decepticon Matrix, pulls it. With the Transformers offline, the Quintessons land on Cybertron. As the Quintessons enjoy how great it is to be home, Spike grabs Rodimus' weapon, and destroys the lever. Reactivating, an incredibly angry Galvatron begins chasing the Quintessons, who manage to escape. Galvatron then prepares to fight Rodimus, but Blitzwing pulls his weapon on Galvatron, telling him that this has to end. Galvatron banishes Blitzwing from the Decepticons, and orders the Decepticons to retreat.

[[File:FFOD5 Rodimus victory speech.JPG|right|upright=0.85|thumb|Optimus would have given a more rousing speech.]]

Rodimus notes that the battle is over for now, but the Autobot leader also notes that the Transformers may well have met their greatest enemies...
{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (5)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (8)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (9)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (12)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (13)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (14)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (15)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (16)
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]] (17)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (18)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (20)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (21)
*[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] (22)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (23)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (24)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (26)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (27)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (30)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (32)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (33)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (48)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (49)

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (1)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (2)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (3)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (4)
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (11)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (28)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (29)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (34)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (35)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (36)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (37)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (38)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (39)
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (30)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (31)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (32)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (33)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (34)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (35)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (38)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (36)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (37)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (39)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (40)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (41)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (42)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (43)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (44)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (45)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (46)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (47)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (7)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (25)
*Cornpone
*Cornpone's Wife

|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (10)
*[[Deliberata]]
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (35)

}}

==Quotes==
"Why do you not flee? Did our last encounter teach you nothing?" 
"Not cowardice, certainly."
:— '''Galvatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' meet for the first time after the movie.

"Olé, sucker!" 
:—'''Wheelie''' the bullfighter!

'''Sky Lynx''': "If that is the worst the Predacons can do, we have little to fear from..." 
''[the Predacons combine into Predaking]'' 
'''Marissa Faireborn''': "You don't suffer from... overconfidence or anything?" 
'''Predaking''': "He does! But, he will suffer more at the hands of ''Predaking!''" 
:— Predaking makes his entrance

"Mighty Galvatron... there is no Decepticon Matrix!" 
[''smacks him away''] "Tell it to the Autobots!"
:—'''Blitzwing''' gets some inspiration from '''Galvatron'''.

"Faster, Pipes, faster faster faster faster faster! You gotta work faster because if you don't Trypticon's gonna stomp us and that's why we're gonna get..." 
"Blurr... shut up!"
:—'''Blurr''' annoys '''Pipes'''.

"This planet's not big enough for the both of us." 
"Me crush Metroplex!"
:—'''Metroplex''', the gung-ho cowboy, meets '''Trypticon''', the ravaging dinosaur.

"ENOUGH! This battle ends now, or I shall write its conclusion!" 
"You will never be welcome in the ranks of the Decepticons again!" 
"Sometimes it's better to be known for one's enemies."
:—'''Blitzwing''' is officially done with your scrud, '''Galvatron'''.

"We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators... and seen the face of an enemy."
:—'''Rodimus Prime'''

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:PrimeEmergencyBeaconMohawk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|Prime's mohawk has many practical functions you never knew about.]]

[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Tommy wants to know why Optimus is late again. Optimus explains that [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] slowed him down, but not to worry, he "demolished them". However, the whole sector is currently on alert, just in case they come back. Despite all this danger, Tommy asks Prime to finish the story...

In the end, Tommy is thrilled to hear that it took a ''human'' to ultimately save the day. Optimus says that the Autobots owe the humans their lives and Tommy volunteers to help him out next time there are any Decepticons to fight. Suddenly, Prime's flashing red emergency mohawk beacon goes off: The Decepticons are back! Optimus tells Tommy to get ready for battle and Tommy begins to renege on his offer to help fight. Prime accuses Tommy of being frightened which spurs the youth into declaring "let's do it!" Together, they blast off into space to meet the Decepticons in deadliest combat.

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Miniseries outline revised: 18th February 1986 (edited by [[Steve Gerber]])
* Voice actor call sheet prepared: 6th May 1986
* Dialogue recording session: 16th May 1986

===Continuity notes===
*The [[large switch]] was located at "coordinates omega-zero-one" within Cybertron. The Quintesson's emergency escape pod was on "level 14".
*Pipes cites the late Optimus Prime and quotes his catchphrase, "Transform and [[roll out]]!"
*Gadgets and powers:
**Bumblebee is shown with a rooftop cannon in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] during the first attack run on Trypticon. The weapon appears to be based on that of Outback.
*Galvatron makes reference to his last meeting with Ultra Magnus, on the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]].
*This episode is the first and only appearance of Tailgate. Swerve would later reappear briefly in "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]".
*The [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s make their debut (excepting an anomalous appearance by [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1|Part 1]]). They are either newly created, or have not been encountered by the Autobots before, as neither Blaster nor Sky Lynx are familiar with them. There's no indication of their origin; a Quintesson simply states that "We shall see how your Sky Lynx fares against... the Predacons." The team then arrives on Io in balls of fire.
**An origin for the Predacons' sudden arrival, as well as their affiliation with the Quintessons, was provided by ''[[TV Magazine]]'' in their [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|''Transformers 2010'' story pages]]. Evidently, the Predacons were built by the Quintessons during their alliance with the Decepticons.
**There's also an easy-to-miss gag there - the Quintessons intercept Blaster's statement that Sky Lynx is on his way to Io, and presumably pass it along to the Predacons. The egotistical Sky Lynx expresses surprise when the Predacons actually show up, saying they must not have received "Blaster's warning", that presumably being the intercepted transmission about Sky Lynx himself!
*[[Teletraan I]] would apparently survive destruction, in Japanese continuity, anyway. It would appear one final time in ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' episode "[[Daniel Faces His Biggest Crisis Ever!!]]".

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**Laserbeak and Thrust emerge from Trypticon's chest with the sound of the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'''s engine burst.
**[[Luke_Skywalker|Luke]]'s [[X-wing_Fighter|X-wing]] crashing on Dagobah can be heard as the Sweeps and Cyclonus spin into each other.
*It must be more than coincidence that the force attacking the city-scale Trypticon is made up entirely of characters from the Mini Vehicle range (plugging the new Decepticon's playset potential).

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Cyclonus oddity armadaesque.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|The worst part is, somebody in charge looked at all this and said, "Great job! AKOM, we're giving you the rest of Season 3!"]]
[[File:FFoDPart5Sandstorm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Hey look, it's a G1 version of [[Airlift Andy]].]]
*During the recap, Galvatron's "Very well, Junkions" line is not flanged.
*AKOM episode. Wrong color models. Colored mouths. You know the drill:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's shoulder indentations are red instead of white, his pelvis-windshield details are white instead of light burgundy, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants." Rodimus's gun is back to being the same odd blue/gray combo he had in Part 2; AKOM usually colors it red, though it should be black. It's also missing its "wings" when Spike borrows it.
**Blurr's mouth is blue. Almost everyone else, shockingly enough, has the normal grayish-black.
**Soundwave has a white backpack (visible as Sky Lynx flattens him.)
*The generic Decepticon army:
**In the opening pan, the entire Decepticon army seems to be made up of randomly recoloured Sweeps and Cyclonuses. Among the more visible examples are Sweeps colored like Breakdown and Wildrider.
**As Magnus turns to open fire, the foreshortening of his arm is bizarrely misdrawn.
**As Galvatron continues to descend and fire, an extra Cyclonus appears in Dirge's colors, alongside the actual Cyclonus.
***A Dirge-colored Cyclonus strafes Cybertron after the first commercial break.
*Coloring errors:
**Rodimus's spoiler ridge is colored yellow instead of orange as Kup laments the loss of the defense system.
**Scrapper's faceplate changes from grey to red as he listens to Bonecrusher.
**"We have no choice but to make our stand here" - one of Bumblebee's horns is drawn and colored as though it was part of Swerve's leg, which is behind it.
**In the second shot of Warpath's team of [[Mini Vehicle]]s outside Autobot Headquarters, Beachcomber is colored like Wildrider.
**As the Autobots watch Trypticon walk off, Warpath's back is grey rather than red.
**Ultra Magnus punches Ramjet, who spirals out of control. When he hits a wall and explodes, he's colored like Dirge. The error is particularly visible since Dirge himself gets the same punch-and-explode treatment a second later.
**The Autobot firing next to Perceptor and Slingshot appears to be [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm's]] [[character model]] in the color scheme of [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]. He ''definitely'' shouldn't be there, as he's not introduced in-story until "[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]", but at least the miscoloration gives him an "out"!
**As he delivers the "Meet your fate valiantly, Autobots!" line, Perceptor's Autobot logo is all grey rather than just a grey outline.
**As Blaster despairs over Sky Lynx's absence, his helmet is white instead of red.
**Headstrong's [[beast mode]] head has a huge swath of black on it in two different shots.
**As Blurr throws the cog, Thrust flies past in Laserbeak's colors. This was probably intended to be Laserbeak himself, since Thrust just got swatted.[[File:FFOD5 Insecticons.png|right|thumb|upright=1.1|Maybe Cyclonus ''was'' [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]]. Or [[Insecticon clone|a clone.]]]]
**When Wheelie faces off against the big line of Decepticon troops, all three Insecticons are present, including two Shrapnels. Bombshell's eyes aren't colored in. Blast Off and Swindle are also in the lineup, despite appearing on Cybertron at the start of the attack there.
***When Sky Lynx jumps over/through the lined up Decepticons, the second Shrapnel is replaced by Soundwave.
**The late Ratchet is among the Autobots cheering Metroplex's victory, in Blaster's colors. Alongside him are Cliffjumper in Jazz's colors, what may be Ironhide in white and black, Sunstreaker in Bumblebee colors, and somebody colored like Blast Off.
**Springer and Arcee are shown among the frozen Autobots on Earth, despite being on Cybertron. Sludge is shown in the same shot in Grimlock's colors (and possibly with Grimlock's head.)
**As the Quintessons venture onto Cybertron, a frozen Sweep is shown with red (pink?) wings.
**A second later, the Quintessons walk past a frozen [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (or [[Eject (G1)|Eject]]), drawn at the size of an ordinary Transformer and colored like [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]].
**Blitzwing's helmet is missing its yellow bits as he starts off after Galvatron and the fleeing Quintessons.
*Springer changes places between shots, going from Magnus's right to directly behind him (and back again when the first shot is recycled.)
*The click sound of the button pushed by the Quintesson to activate his monitor doesn't coincide with the actual push of the button.
*The Quintessons' view of Earth initially shows partly cloudy skies... then Trypticon just appears out of nowhere against the same sky. We'll be kind and not count this monitor view under "Improbable Viewpoints".
*Warpath neither moves his faceplate nor flashes his cheek blinkers when he speaks.
[[File:FFoD5 MiniVehicles.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
*From shot to shot, Swerve's head goes from pink helmet and visor, to pink helmet and blue visor, to red helmet and blue visor.
*Swerve disappears after the initial shot of the Autobot ambush, and is replaced by Beachcomber.
[[File:Giantscamper.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
*An establishing shot of Metroplex shows him sitting in the desert all by himself, without [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] anywhere in sight. He also has Scamper sitting in his "garage", drawn to toy-based scale... which means he'd be a hundred foot long car.
*Sky Lynx flies behind a smooth, featureless reddish celestial body. If it's supposed to be Io, it's ''waaaaaay'' too small, not more than a couple hundred feet across. In fact it's too small to be a regular round body.
*Io has changed colors; an establishing shot shows it to be red instead of the gray it was last time. Of course, the ''real'' Io actually ''is'' red.
*In the first shot of Blurr, Wheelie, and Marissa fighting the lightpoles, none of them is standing on Io's surface; they're floating several feet above it.
*Also, Marissa's ship is intact, but it was blown up in the previous episode.
*Improbable viewpoints:
**How does Blaster get an eye-level view of Marissa fighting on Io?
*Sudden starry night:
**The view of Trypticon smoking and damaged is set against a starry night sky, despite the scene occurring during the daytime.
**When Wheelie loses the transforming cog, three of the next four shots are shown against a blue sky with clouds, rather than the night sky of Io.
**Night sky is shown behind Marissa as she orders Blurr to "stop babbling"...
***And again behind Blurr as he prepares for his "lateral"...
****And again behind the cog as Wheelie throws it to Sky Lynx...
*****And again behind Sky Lynx as he flattens the Decepticon lineup...
*Once again, the animation fails to convey that the lightpoles are an actual threat.
*Powerglide gets a descending-pitch transformation sound as he changes to his plane mode and takes off. Launching aerial Transformers normally get the rising-pitch version.
*The Constructicons watching Trypticon on the hill are much larger than they should be.
*Five Autobots drive toward Trypticon, but the next shot shows only three getting kicked away.
*Pipes and Swerve seem to be firing lasers right out of their windshields.
*As Trypticon approaches Autobot Headquarters, the ship only has two engines sticking out rather than three.
*The sound effect for the shot that Trypticon fires at the camera lags behind the shot itself.
[[File:Cycloni ffod5.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
*Cyclonus and his Armada:
**Four Cyclonuses are shown strafing Cybertron after the first commercial break.
**The next shot shows two Cyclonuses.
**While retreating from Cybertron, there are five Cyclonuses flying with Galvatron.
*When Galvatron transforms to fire on Ultra Magnus, his arm cannon flies off screen, and a new one comes out of his head to take its place in cannon mode. (Again!)
*Magnus and Galvatron's voices are muffled as if they were speaking by radio, even though there's no reason for them to do so. Dirge and Ramjet suffer from a similar though less obvious effect in the same scene.
*Bumblebee and Powerglide are briefly visible fighting alongside Perceptor against the Sweeps on Cybertron, despite being on Earth at the time.
*Blitzwing's voice isn't properly flanged as he acknowledges Galvatron's command to report to the Quintessons.
*Throughout the episode, the area around Blitzwing's Decepticon symbol changes. Sometimes it has lines above and below it, sometimes only above, sometimes none. Sometimes red, sometimes purple.
*In the establishing shot before Sky Lynx arrives, Marissa and the 'bots aren't even trying to fight off the lightpoles! Incidentally, Io's gone back to being gray.
*Sky Lynx's first transformation sequence lacks any transformation sound.
*The squawks that Sky Lynx lets loose after transforming are not by his voice actor! (The whole animal noise shtick for him would be dropped after this episode.)
*The Predacons get some bizarre use of the transformation noise. It plays as they emerge from the balls of fire that carried them to Io (a means of transport that they never used again.)
*Headstrong and Tantrum arrive carrying their guns, but a second later they charge into battle with their swords. They then proceed not to use either weapon.
*Sky Lynx's transporter section transforms to lynx mode, but is back in transporter mode when Blurr and Marissa run away from it.
*Blurr lacks a transformation noise as he changes modes to cross the canyon.
*Predaking gets the transformation sound ''every time he moves''.
*Sky Lynx's transporter section lacks the transformation sound as it converts to lynx mode again. Apparently, Predaking sucked up all the transformation noises from the whole scene.
*When Predaking fires his foot weapons, a laser emerges. The weapon's effect, however, is shown as a windstorm.
*Sky Lynx's combining sequence is a little messed up; his lynx legs are shown unfolding, but since his lower half was already in lynx mode, they should be unfolded already.
*Predaking's head is on backwards as Sky Lynx wraps his tail around it.
*As Trypticon approaches Autobot City, the city is shown in a barren desert. It had [[The Transformers: The Movie|previously been shown]] to be located in a lush mountain valley, and is shown that way again at the end of the episode.
*Slingshot is seen running about in Autobot City as it transforms, even though he was last seen on Cybertron with Perceptor.
*Scrapper's mouthplate continues moving even as Mixmaster gives the order to fire. (And why is Mixmaster giving the orders, anyway?)
*As the Autobots exit Sky Lynx, the transforming cog is shown as a large gear wheel, instead of an orb-shaped device. Sky Lynx's windows aren't colored in, either.
*As the Constructicons try to tackle Wheelie, they're shown on a metal floor, despite the preceding and following shots being shown in the desert. Motormaster likewise goes from desert to metal floor as he accidentally tackles Bonecrusher.
*Sky Lynx clearly throws the cog horizontally, yet it somehow arcs so high that Trypticon can't catch it. As Trypticon lunges for the cog, it's the size of his fist—the same fist that easily held Outback earlier in the episode.
*When the Autobots are celebrating the safety of the transformation cog after the little game of catch with the Decepticons, two Constructicons and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] appear to be seen "raising the roof" along with them. The "Constructicons" are in fact Beachcomber colored like Long Haul and Groove colored like Scrapper, while "Frenzy" is really the Eject/Rewind [[character model]] in Frenzy's colors. Slingshot shows up again, too, alongside a Streetwise colored like Dead End.
*Metroplex is back in city mode as Trypticon prepares to stomp him.
*The hand that topples Trypticon does not come from the actual location where Metroplex's arms are stored in city mode.
*When Metroplex transforms, Autobot City is nowhere in sight.
*Metroplex's single line is delivered in a different voice than that of his later appearances.
*Who knew Trypticon was so aerodynamic? After Metroplex throws him, he falls ''up'' in the second shot of him sailing over the landscape.
*The [[large switch]] stops glowing after the Sharkticons arrive.
*For some reason, a view of Cybertron is used as an establishing shot for Earth.
[[File:FFoD Part5 Frozen Metroplex.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
*Blitzwing is shown with a purple Autobot insignia while being offered membership in their ranks by Rodimus Prime.
*The energy beams of the fleeing Quintessons don't line up with their bodies.
*Rodimus's gun disappears after Spike shoots the switch, but several shots later Rodimus suddenly has it again.
*As the Quintessons blast off in the escape pod, we see a group of generic Transformers who look a lot like those seen in Rodimus's flashback during the previous episode!
*Mixmaster and Scrapper are seen on Cybertron as the Quintessons escape, despite the Constructicons being on Earth.
*Sky Lynx is far too small as he and the others watch Rodimus on screen.
*Although both the [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
*The opening pan over Cybertron shows it with two moons, even though Unicron ostensibly devoured both of Cybertron's moons during ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. One moon appears again as the Quintessons make their battle projection.
*Superhuman Spike:
**Survives a blast that trashes the room he's in and sends his Autobot friends flying.
**Has amazingly little trouble hoisting Rodimus's gun onto his shoulder.
*Powerglide notes that Trypticon has "''another'' transform," but at this point he's only seen it in the battle platform mode.
*So if everyone actually retreated to Level 2, per Rodimus's order, then who are all those Decepticons firing at? How long would it take them to gang up and overpower Magnus, if he's really the only one left?
*The answer comes a moment later, when Perceptor and company are seen to have ignored that order.
[[File:G1 FFODPart5 UltraMagnus punch Dirge.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]
*Dirge and Ramjet both appear to explode rather fatally after Magnus punches them. Both will nevertheless show up alive and well in later episodes. Considering they were already seen eaten by Unicron in the Movie, this is not so surprising.
*Despite the absence of the transforming cog, both Autobot City ''and'' Metroplex are showing transforming to their respective battle station modes. Apparently, Metroplex only needs the cog to change into [[robot mode]].
*Most of the battle on Cybertron is shown happening on the surface, with no ceilings and blue night skies, despite Rodimus's order to retreat below ground. Yet Blitzwing still flies underground to report to Galvatron.
*Most of the Constructicons' appearances shows that Scrapper leads the team, so why the hell is Mixmaster giving the orders?
*There appears to be a human city quite close to Autobot city, but previously in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|Movie]], there were no signs or suggestions of a human city being nearby. In addition, this poses the question of why the Autobots or humans built their cities so near to each other despite the fact that Autobot City is often under attack by Decepticons.
*The Quintessons' wariness over the humans, previously touched upon in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2|Part 2]] and [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|Part 4]], appears to have been well-founded, as Spike single-handedly foils their plan. Considering the nature of their endgame and that they were aware of the Autobots' "association with these humans," it begs the question of why the master manipulators never factored human intervention - and [[Large switch|kill switch]] immunity - into their schemes. On the other hand, it's not clear why Spike waited for the Quintessons to land and make their way "deep into Cybertron" before destroying the switch. Unless it was just his way of making a particularly showy point to both Galvatron and the Quintessons.

===Trivia===
*Just from the episode alone, it's impossible to tell who the line "It'll be passing above us soon" is being spoken by, as it doesn't correspond to any of the known voices of the Autobots present. This just left Swerve and Tailgate as possible candidates for the line (since neither was ever seen to speak any other lines, it could have been either of them). The episode's script would later confirm that the line belonged to Tailgate, and was delivered by the eternally overlooked [[Ted Schwartz]].
*Scrapper's first line was written as the inexplicably Brooklyn-esque "Wot's da point? We're supoifluous" in the [[dialogue script]]. Actor [[Michael Bell]] delivered it as normal.
*This episode is the last appearance of the volcano, Autobot Headquarters, and Teletraan I. The computer would be replaced later in the season by [[Teletraan II]].

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les cinq visages du mal, partie 5'''" ("The Fives Faces of Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*The narrator mistakenly calls Marissa Fairborne "Marissa Fairnborne".
:::*Sky Lynx is called "Salvatron" in this episode. This name will most likely never be used again in the series.
:::*Despite being regularly named in previous seasons, Teletraan-1 is called "Command post" in this episode.
:::*For some reason, Rodimus Prime speaks ''extremely'' loudly for his ending speech.
:::*The final line "We Transformers have looked into the face of our creators, and seen the face of our enemy" was translated in a weird way: "We have managed to look our enemies in the face, and more importantly, our creator". In addition, it sounds like there is only one creator.
:::*Missing lines:
::::*The entirety of Powerglide's lines are absent. He fights in silence.
::::*Dirge and Ramjet's lines are missing as they attack the Autobots.
::::*The dialogue between the spinning Sweeps and Cyclonus are absent.
::::*Several lines from Sky Lynx are missing as he fights.
::::*Marissa's line "You don't suffer from overconfidence or anything?" is absent.
:::*Dodged names:
::::*The Quintessons do not name the Sharkticons.
::::*When launching the transformation cog, the Autobots simply says "On you!" or "Attention!" instead of naming each other.
::::*Galvatron's line "Blitzwing! What are you doing here?" is dubbed by "What? What are you doing here with them?".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 5'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''I cinque volti del male, Parte 5'''" ("The Five Faces of Evil, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Blurr says "meteorites" instead of "meteors".
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Le cinque facce dell'oscurità, Parte 5'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' クインテッサ星人の陰謀 (''Quintessa Seijin no Inbō'', "Conspiracy of the Quintessons")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 12]], [[1986]]
::*[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)|Part 3]] of the ''Transformers 2010'' [[story page]]s published in ''[[TV Magazine]]'' crafts an origin to explain the sudden existence of the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s in this episode. According to the story page, the Predacons were built by the [[Quintesson]]s during their brief alliance with the Decepticons to aid their allies in battle.
::*When Pipes's name caption appears onscreen, though the narrator correctly refers to him as "Pipes", the caption misspells his name as パイプ (''Paipu'' "Pipe") instead of パイプス (''Paipusu'' "Pipes").

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài (5)'''" (五面怪 (五), "Five-Faced Monsters (5)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Desforra, Quinta Parte'''" ("The Rematch, Fifth Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pyatj likov tjmy (Chastj 5)'''" (Пять ликов тьмы (Часть 5), "Five Faces of Darkness (Part 5)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20230305021906/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-90.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bid3TK_q2HxH7NR5MDAlGsKe5AlcbBnU/view?usp=sharing Miniseries outline, covering parts 3 to 5]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aYoDgowwMMtdozkbRivxA7JJ7c3pIhMh/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4

2025-04-01T10:23:07Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=69
|series2=2010
|ep2=4
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5
|image=FFOD4 Rodimus journey.JPG
|caption=What the hell did [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] give me?
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4"
|season=3
|season ep=4
|production code=#700-89
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 18]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE49Ym3jhVE
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Seeking answers about their mysterious new foes, Rodimus Prime takes a journey through the Matrix to learn the truth about the Quintessons... and the origins of the Transformers.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FFOD4 Autobots no hit.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|It's like they're being shot at by Decepticon Targetmasters.]]

On [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]], the [[Decepticon]]s open fire on the [[Autobot]]s (and miss spectacularly). [[Deliberata|Judge Deliberata]] cheers them on, until Grimlock slams him into the goo. As they get closer, Galvatron arrives, intending to punish the Decepticons for their "disloyalty". Upon seeing (and being shot by) their long-lost leader, the Decepticons repledge their loyalty to Galvatron and tell him that they were bribed into following the [[Quintesson]]s for [[energon]]. Galvatron is not happy and decides to punish the Quintessons for their usurpation.

On Goo, the Autobots find the control center, and Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus find out that the planet is a garbage collection system for the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. Contacting Wreck-Gar, they request assistance after managing to "talk [[Television|Teevee]]".

On [[Io]], Blurr and Wheelie are under attack by the [[lightpole]]s, who are ferociously flapping their wings in the two Autobots' faces. Wheelie is overtaken, but tells Blurr to leave him and take Metroplex's [[transformation cog]]. Instead of leaving his comrade to die, Blurr heads right into the thick of the swarm. [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and manages to drive off the lightpoles, but a number of them transform into missiles and destroy her ship. The three begin a search through the ship's wreckage, hoping that the communications are still working.

[[File:FFOD4 Autobots lightpoles.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm Batman." "No, I'm Batman." "Hey, I'm Batman!" "I'm Man-bat."]]

Galvatron introduces himself by firing on the Quintesson ship. Realizing that Galvatron must be handled differently, the Quintessons offer an alliance with the Decepticons against the Autobots, but Galvatron says he never asked for their help. They offer Galvatron the [[Decepticon Matrix|Decepticon Matrix of Leadership]], but Galvatron simply demands it in exchange for letting them live. The Quintessons say that their lives are not enough, and that the Autobots must be destroyed.

Galvatron attacks the Autobots, but the Junkions arrive and melt the goo out from under the Autobots, sucking them right through the planet. Judge Deliberata winds up getting ejected in the process. Galvatron destroys Goo, but by the time he's done, the Junkions and Autobots have fled.

Heading back to the ship, Galvatron rants at the Quintessons, who counter that they would be powerful allies. Galvatron demands to know why the Quintessons haven't destroyed the Autobots themselves. They explain that the Autobots have been made unpredictable by their interactions with the [[human]]s. Sneering at the Quintessons' fear of the flesh creatures, Galvatron agrees to an alliance. The Decepticons cry "Hail Galvatron!" to affirm their support of their leader, and even the Quintessons give out a shout.

[[File:RodimusBack.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|No thanks, I can hold down this pile by myself.]]

On [[Junkion (planet)|the Planet of Junk]], Wreck-Gar restores Springer to life. However, Rodimus is not as cheered up as expected. He has questions about the Quintessons—about their hostility towards the Autobots, how they know so much about them, and about their intentions. Rodimus has become convinced that the answers behind the Quintessons lie in the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], but he still doesn't know how to consult the wisdom of the ages. Springer makes a sarcastic suggestion, saying that he should just come close to death again. Although Arcee says not to do that, Springer assures her that Rodimus is not as stupid as he looks. Wandering off, the [[Supreme Commander|Autobot commander]] short-circuits himself and falls unconscious.

[[File:Ancientrobot ffod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Luke, you must go to the Dagobah system.]]

Rodimus enters the Matrix, where he is greeted by the spirits of the [[Ancient Autobots]], who show him the face of the creators of the Transformers... the Quintessons! Eons ago, the Quintessons used [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as a factory to build two lines of robots: consumer goods and military hardware, who evolved into the Autobots and the Decepticons, respectively. Millennia of torturous abuse led the Autobots to rebel and drive the Quintessons off Cybertron. Afterwards, the Cybertronians warred with each other for control, which was ended when the Autobots developed the art of [[transformation]]. A [[Golden Age]] followed, which was ended when the Decepticons mastered transformation and created a new leader: [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. He killed the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Matrix-bearer]], who passed the Matrix to [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], one of the oldest among them. However, Alpha Trion did not take the Matrix for himself, but gave it another who would challenge Megatron. This was [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], who became the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] for the [[Great War (G1)|Third Cybertronian War]], which has raged for nine million years and continues to rage even now.

Rodimus reactivates to find Springer and Arcee seriously freaked out. Dismissing their concerns, he tells them that they need to get to Cybertron as soon as possible.

[[File:FFOD4 Trypticon lives.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|When a guy has cannons for a tongue, it's time to panic.]]

Near Cybertron, Galvatron and the Quintessons plot their strategy. They will attack on two fronts: [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] and Cybertron. On [[Earth]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] are making changes to a human city. At dawn, they activate a transformation sequence, and the city begins to change. As the humans flee, the dust settles to the ground. In the place of the city now stands... Trypticon!

On Cybertron, an [[Earth Defense Command]] ship requests emergency landing clearance. Perceptor warns that it might be a trick, but Kup refuses to allow a ship full of innocents to perish, giving them clearance to land. But the ship instead crashes into [[Cybertron Central Power Facility]], shutting down the planet's defenses. Storming from the Quintesson ships, Galvatron leads the Decepticons in an attack. Aboard the vessels, the Quintessons are pleased, for soon the Autobots will be destroyed, and then they will deal with the Decepticons.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5|To be concluded...]]

{{-}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in the episode's Matrix-guided history flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (7)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (8)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (10)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (11)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (19)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (21)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (22)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (23)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
*[[Hood Transformer]] (26)
*[[Pole vault Transformer]] (27)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (30)
*''[[Primon|Ancient Robot]]'' (31)
*''[[Prima|Powerful Robot]]'' (32)
*''[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]]'' (33)
*''[[Prime Nova|Brooding Robot]]'' (34)
*''[[Guardian Prime|Pre-Transformer]]'' (36)
*''[[Zeta Prime (G1)|New Narrator]]'' (38)
*''[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'' (48)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (49)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (52)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (53)

|c2=
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (1)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (2)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (3)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (13)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (14)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (16)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (17)
*[[Octane]] (28)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (29)
*''[[Trannis|Early Decepticon leader]]'' (35)
*''[[ASD-324-ddd-3e3c1 model Decepticon|Ancient Decepticons]]'' (37)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (39)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (40)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (41)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (42)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (43)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (44)
*''[[Hauler]]?'' (45)
*''[[Gravedigger]]?'' (46)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'' (47)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (50)
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (51)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (20)

|c4=
*[[Deliberata]] (9)
*Various [[Quintesson]]s (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Last big party of the summer, folks! Let's go out with a bang!" 
"Just once, couldn't your attitude reflect the gravity of the situation?!" 
"Not if I can help it!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' and '''Ultra Magnus''' have rather different leadership styles.

"Yes! Yes! Even if it means my life is forfeit, destroy them! Destroy th—ooh!" 
''[Tail smack]'' 
"Me Grimlock say shut your faces!"
:—'''Judge Deliberata''' annoys '''Grimlock'''.

'''Galvatron''': Now, Decepticons, learn the price of your disloyalty! Attack! 
'''Cyclonus''': Attack whom? 
''[Galvatron shoots Cyclonus]'' 
'''Galvatron''': EVERYONE!
:—Galvatron isn't so good with specifics.

'''Wreck-Gar''': Bulletin: You are in danger of being canceled or losing your time slot. 
'''Ultra Magnus''': What's he talking about? 
'''Rodimus Prime''': We're gonna get killed.
:—Rodimus shows the value of knowing a second language.

"He ran right back into the danger! My digital watch is smarter than that!"
:—'''Marissa Faireborn''' isn't impressed with Blurr's tactics.

"If you're going to panic, panic productively."
:—'''Marissa Faireborn''', life coach.

[[File:Ffod4 rodimus in matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Through all these centuries, they have waited for the proper moment to strike, to reclaim the planet that we Transformers took from them." 
"And now they're going for the gusto, right?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' is an iconic figure. '''Rodimus Prime''' is the one you'd have a beer with.

"Are you crazy?! Why'd you short-circuit yourself?! Wake up, you - you ''moron''!" 
"It was the only way... into the Matrix." 
"I was wrong. He ''is'' as dumb as he looks." 
:—'''Springer''' has a love-hate thing goin' on with '''Rodimus Prime'''

'''Mixmaster''': Trypticon ''lives!'' 
'''Galvatron''': And Autobot City ''dies!''

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:SadTommy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right]]

[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Tommy seems troubled. He asks Prime if he's remembering the story correctly. Prime thinks Tommy's calling him a liar, but Tommy elaborates, saying that the odds are so stacked against the Autobots that there's no way they could've come out on top. Prime tells him that he hasn't exaggerated or misremembered a thing; times really ''were'' that bad...

{{bigquote|And Springer... was he ''really'' ground up into little pieces?}}
{{bigquote|Yes, Tommy.}}

After hearing the tale, Tommy is more disturbed than ever; he can't fathom how the Autobots will make it out alive. Optimus tells him that things will look up, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] enters the fray. Unfortunately, the Autobots on Earth still have to deal with [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], so it doesn't look ''that'' hopeful after all. Prime tells Tommy not to lose all hope, as the Autobots still have an ace up their sleeves... which he'll learn next time, when Optimus returns to transform his day into an adventure.

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Miniseries outline revised: 18th February 1986 (edited by [[Steve Gerber]])
* Revised script submitted: 22nd April 1986
* Final script approved: 24th April 1986
* Dialogue recording: 29th April 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Pretransformer ffod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Some looks never go out of style!]]
*This episode's act-long history lesson fills us in on the history of the Transformers in general and the Great Wars in particular. It jibes pretty well with the (extremely vague) history we saw in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]".
*It also gives us good, long looks at lots of early Transformers and Autobot leaders. Apart from Optimus Prime and Alpha Trion, these ancient (pre-)Autobots were only given descriptive names in the episode's shooting script. More than 20 years later, ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The Allspark Almanac II]]'' would assign them identities derived from the many past Primes mentioned in various different continuities. Those descriptors and their ''Almanac''-assigned names are:
**[[Primon|Ancient Robot]] (Primon)
**[[Prima|Powerful Robot]] (Prima)
**[[Prime Nova|Brooding Robot]] (Prime Nova)
**[[Guardian Prime|Pre-Transformer]] (Guardian Prime)
**[[Zeta Prime (G1)|New Narrator]] (Zeta Prime)
**[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]] (Sentinel Prime)
*It also portrays the origin of Megatron, though all we really learn is that he was created after the Decepticons had figured out how to transform.
*Trypticon is seemingly brought to life without the use of [[Vector Sigma]], which we were [[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|previously assured]] is the only way to grant life and/or sentience and/or "cybernetic personalities" to new Transformers. Of course, it's not as if he is unique in that respect: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were also made without the use of the computer, and Trypticon wound up being as dim as they are. The Technobots would likewise be created without Vector Sigma.
*A green Grapple and another Constructicon coloured vehicle can be seen helping the Autobots on building work prior to the War starting. This green Grapple could be interpreted as being [[Hauler]].
*This episode features the second and final instance of Rodimus referring to Springer with the nickname "Springo".

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**The [[Prima|Powerful Robot]] attacks the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]] with the sound of [[Obi-Wan Kenobi|Ben Kenobi]] and [[Darth Vader]]'s [[lightsaber]]s clashing aboard the [[Death Star]], and [[Luke Skywalker]]'s lightsaber deflecting seeker bolts aboard the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]''.
**The Powerful Robot launches against his Quintesson overseers with the same Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding sound effect that Galvatron used in Part 2.
*Wreck-Gar's lines are mostly based on generic sales pitches ("Batteries not included", "for a limited time, your money back," "Doors closing at midnight!" hilariously timed to coincide with Galvatron confronting a closing donut hole of goo). A few lines have more specific origins, though:
**"Glad you used the dial, wish everybody would." parodies the "Aren't you glad you used Dial?" soap ad campaign.
**"Why'd you come on down to Goo?" is based on the famous "Come on down, you're the next contestant on..." catch phrase of ''The Price is Right''.
**"Wild Bill, wait for me!" is a reference to the opening of the 1951-58 Western TV series ''[[w:The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok|The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok]]''.
**"Wreck-Gar will put you in good hands" references the "You're in good hands with Allstate" insurance ad campaign.
**"You'll have Springer back faster than Snap Crackle Pop", the mascots of Rice Krispies cereal.
**"I believe in me" would reoccur as a Junkion mantra in "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]".
*Rodimus Prime's own fluency in TV/Junkion-speak is likewise mostly generic, however his request to "let's all be there?" references [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhk7Vw1PROA a mid-80s NBC television network slogan].
*Galvatron gives the thumbs-down as he declares war on the Junkions, a gesture used by Roman gladatorial audiences to decide a defeated gladiator's fate.

===Animation and technical errors===
*[[Victor Caroli]]'s opening recap narration says that Quintessa "was detonated by the deadly Quintesson". Maybe a single Quint really did push the button all by himself, but the use of the singular is a bit odd.
*Like all AKOM episodes, this one features some incorrect color models:
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's 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, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants."
**The characters introduced in the Movie almost all have colored mouth interiors: Blurr and Magnus's mouths are blue, Galvatron and Cyclonus's are purple, Wreck-Gar's is red, Springer's is (very dark) green, and Kup's is slate blue.
[[File:FFOD4 mass mistakes.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Dead End, are we the only ones here NOT colored wrong?" "Who cares? We're doomed either way."]]
[[File:Generic palette swap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Hey, I don't remember seeing two Shockwaves and a seeker with Onslaught's color scheme, are they new recruits?"]]
*The [[generic]] Decepticon army:
**The first two shots, of the Decepticons pouring out of the Quintesson ship and firing at the Autobots, are loaded with too many screwups to count, as a mixture of made-up characters and off-model characters with the wrong color scheme pads out the background. An off-model Blitzwing colored like Air Raid is just one example.
**A subsequent shot gives us a better look at the crowd-filler Decepticons. In addition to Air Raid/Blitzwing, we have Ramjet missing most of his wings, with a black head, and one of his lasers on backwards. Every other character in the shot is entirely made up, though two of them appear to be using Octane's wing design.
**In the next shot, as [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] are discussing how easy it is to destroy the Autobots, [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] is colored like Kup, [[Octane]] is colored like Grimlock, and an off-model [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] shows up colored like Rodimus Prime. Also there is an early version of [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s [[character model]] with Cyclonus' color scheme right behind Kup-colored Motormaster. What's more, standing near the miscoloured Snarl is a Decepticon coloured like Wheelie. Yikes.
**As the wimpy-sounding Decepticons hail Galvatron, two [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwaves]] are shown colored like [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], alongside a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] colored like [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]].
**More Decepticon generics and off-models after Galvatron arrives. A shot of the tail end of the mob includes Soundwave, Scavenger, Swindle, and Onslaught all in white, a generic with Octane's wings, a generic with what looks like Rodimus's spoiler, and several totally made-up generic guys.
**When Motormaster is blasted by Galvatron, Onslaught is in the background, with Six Gun's white-and-red color scheme.
**The horde of miscolored generic Decepticons is recycled for the attack on Cybertron.
*In the wide shot of the Autobots, Kup, Magnus, Arcee, and Rodimus are in front. Grimlock and Deliberata are in back, and behind them are two guys that don't look like any of the Aerialbots (who remain AWOL throughout the sequence.)
*Just before Magnus starts to chastise Rodimus, Rodimus's torso is orange instead of red, and his waistline has climbed half way up his stomach, kinda like an old man being swallowed by his trousers.
*In the closeup shot of Rodimus and Magnus, yellow lasers are flying past them, despite the Decepticon lasers being pink in all the other scenes.
*How long do the Autobots intend to stand there without shooting back at the Decepticons? Why are they just strolling along without defending themselves?
*When Judge Deliberata is celebrating the impending destruction of the Autobots, [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] is shown with them, despite not being part of the group that landed on Goo.
*Coloring errors:
**Galvatron's lower helmet rim is gray instead of purple as he first appears. Man, AKOM sure does that a lot.
**Rodimus's spoiler ridge is so often colored yellow instead of orange that it's almost more noteworthy when they get it ''right''.
**Galvatron is colored with a gray "goatee" after he blasts the Decepticon ship, and again as he climbs aboard. As he scoffs at the Quintessons, the whole area around his mouth is gray; the gray disappears as he turns and fires. The goatee returns as he rants at the Quintessons after destroying Goo. Then the beard returns as well.
**As Galvatron accepts the Quintessons as allies, his left hand goes from purple to gray and back.
**When Rodimus deactivates himself, the Matrix is all-gray rather than silver and gold.[[File:FFODHaul.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Not the A-list animation team. Not the B-list either. In fact they'd run out of letters by this point.]]
**When the Decepticons assemble Trypticon, [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] is colored like Octane and [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] is colored like the [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]]. Seriously. Just Long Haul. Surrounded by the other, correctly colored Constructicons. How did AKOM miss that?
**When the Constructicons celebrate Trypticon's awakening, they're drawn as generics and colored like the core Movie Autobots: Magnus, Kup, Wheelie, and Arcee's color schemes are all visible.
**As Kup, Perceptor and Cosmos watch the incoming ship, Perceptor is colored like Grimlock, and Cosmos's arms are on backwards.
**The Aerialbots who fly to intercept the ship are all colored the same light gray and medium blue. Only Silverbolt and Skydive are on-model.
*Galvatron ''literally'' jogging through space right after the above shot.
*The audio of Motormaster reacting to Galvatron's return has been replaced with audio from the next (deleted) scene of Galvatron delivering a mocking imitation of Motormaster's statement. He has the right voice in his next line ("Spare me and I'm yours to command!")
*When Swindle and Motormaster fly up to pledge their allegiance to Galvatron, the Autobot [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] is with them for two different consecutive shots.
*During his "Sloppiness. Disorganization." line, Magnus has much smaller eyes than usual.
*After the Decepticons break off their assault, Rodimus and Magnus once again just walk right out of the inescapable goo.
*As Marissa's ship enters the Jovian system, it passes over what looks like a post-Movie Cybertron!
*Improbable viewpoints:
**Marissa's screen shows Blurr and Wheelie from a surface point of view, even though she's still high above the moon's surface. She reacts to this full-screen image of the two by saying "I think I've spotted them", as if there were some doubt.
*As Blurr charges back into the lightpole swarm, most of the creatures aren't animated, despite being in the air.
*No wing-flapping in the shot of the lightpoles surrounding Wheelie, either. They just magically bob up and down in the air.
*How does Marissa's [[jet pack]] support her in mid-air when she's upside-down?
*The jetpack's flames change from non-existent, to blue, to orange when Marissa lands.
*Marissa loses her Mid-Atlantic accent for one line, when she says "Help me find out if the radio's still working!"
*"Tell me? What?" The Quintesson in this shot is missing his energy beam.
*The Quintessons are pretty clearly mechanical, yet one of them makes a squishy noise when Galvatron slams him into the ship's deck, and again when Galvatron smacks Deliberata out of his way.
*Deliberata is missing his energy beam as Kup takes aim at Galvatron.
*As Kup and company open fire on Galvatron, Bonecrusher is firing with them! In the background are two pipe-cleaner-thin generics.
*Galvatron rises back into the frame after destroying Goo, as if he just returned to [[robot mode]], but there's no transformation noise.
*We see seven Sweeps aboard the Quintesson ship, the most we've seen so far in the whole mini-series. Some previous shots have indicated that there are as few as three.
*Seriously. No combination of known Decepticon voices would result in that lame-o chorus of "Hail Galvatron."
*And while they hail him, Galvatron's Decepticon logo is just a red square.
*On Junkion, Arcee continues to be without the bridgeline of her nose.
*When Arcee and the repaired Springer speak with Rodimus, the latter is drawn in his [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] form.
*The sprawled, unconscious Rodimus changes positions between the end of Act 2 and the opening of Act 3; specifically, his arms move from eagle-spread to down by his sides.
*The [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|U-Haul Robot]]'s barbed mace phases through the foot of the [[Prima|Powerful Robot]] after it hits the ground.
*Vehicles based on Hook and Scavenger are used as generic construction vehicles during a shot showing the Transformers' freedom from the Quintessons (prior to inventing transformation). Or maybe all construction vehicles are green and purple on Cybertron.
*The "Matrix" Alpha Trion holds looks like a giant gold football rather than the sphere with handles; it was shown correctly earlier in the flashback.
*When he wakes up, Rodimus says that "''Ctyber''tron's in deadly danger."
*As Rodimus gets up and walks away, Arcee's Autobot symbol is missing (with only the outline of a square in its place).
*Cosmos's voice lacks its usual reverberated echo.
*Really makes you wonder how [[AKOM]] actually gets work, doesn't it?

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Lightpole missiles from Five Faces of Darkness.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Dead End and Blast Off's conversation is screwed up more ways than one:
**"We owe this grand opportunity entirely to our new allies" is about as obvious a statement as one could make, yet Blast Off has to ask for an explanation.
**The explanation seems to come from Swindle, but he's not in the shot.
**The pointless explanation ("He means what other opportunities—") is suddenly truncated by Galvatron's arrival. Maybe he sensed the scene was going nowhere.
*The lightpoles have totally changed size since the last episode. Instead of a deep-throated growl, they now give off high-pitched squeaks. They aren't glowing anymore, either.
*The animation does absolutely nothing to tell us what's so bad about being swarmed by lightpoles. From what we see in this episode, it would seem to be little more than a mild annoyance.
*Why doesn't Wheelie transform and drive to escape the lightpoles?
*The animators and writers alike seem to have forgotten that Blurr's defining physical trait is that he's ''fast''. In this episode, he runs like a grandmother.
*Marissa's space suit has no visor or anything covering her face.
*Speaking of which, how can these creatures fly by flapping their wings when Io has only the thinnest of atmospheres?
*Marissa's demand that the lightpoles "eat null rays" doesn't make much sense, as an actual [[null-ray]] affects electronic circuits. Marissa's gun instead causes the lightpoles to violently explode.
*On the other hand, her assertion that they are "bags of protoplasm" doesn't make much since either, since they can ''transform'' (complete with the transforming noise) into ''rocket-propelled missiles''.
*There appears to be some missing lines in the [[Primon|Ancient Robot]]'s monologue: "Now, the machines could manufacture themselves. And before long, they grew too lazy and greedy even for that. There were simpler ways to wring performance out of their slaves." The "they" in the second sentence clearly refers to the Quintessons, not the machines.
*How does one recycle a robot by dumping it into a molten vat?
*Where did those dancing robots get the cloth sheet things they're waving around?
*The ancient Autobot that gets knocked off of the motorcycle is a recycled character model; he was last seen standing alongside Wreck-Gar on the Junkion ship, just a few scenes ago!
[[File:Megatronffod.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Ve must have ze brain on ze table! Chop chop!]]
*One of the most famous continuity gaffs of the entire series comes as the Matrix journey wraps up. A scene showing Megatron's creation millions of years ago is illustrated with him surrounded by Constructicons. It's problematic because, according to "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]", the Constructicons weren't actually ''evil'' until ''Megatron himself'' reprogrammed them to be Decepticons. And according to a one-off line in "[[Heavy Metal War]]", Megatron and the other Decepticons built the Constructicons on Earth in 1984! The shooting script for the episode merely describes them as "Decepticons" without calling out any specific characters.
*On top of that, there's eight Constructicons! None of them are really on-model; three appear to be entirely made up. Many years later, Japanese continuity would retroactively assign the identities of [[Hauler]] and [[Gravedigger]] to the two extra members of the group, while [[Fun Publications]]' "[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]" would present all eight as being new, unnamed characters who belonged to the same pre-Decepticon faction as the main six.
[[File:Alphatrionagesbackwards.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
*Somebody forgot that we'd already seen a 9-million-years-younger Alpha Trion, back in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]"... and he looked visibly different than the elderly Trion of 1985! He is shown in his "elderly" design when he receives the matrix from the dying Autobot leader; chronologically, the events of "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" happen after this, but in that episode he's portrayed with a much younger look.
*The Constructicons build (or rebuild, depending on whether you're watching ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|2010]]'', see below) [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] out of a human city overnight. And no one notices.
*Vortex's appearance among the Constructicons remaking the human city was called for in the [[dialogue script]]. Vortex, the Combaticon interrogator, known for... his building skills...?
*The idea of rebuilding a human city into a Transformer only makes any sense if the city was made ''entirely of metal''.
*Cybertron appears to have gotten a remodel since we saw it in the Movie. Who had time to patch up all those holes?

===Trivia===
*The [[dialogue script]] for the episode spells out TV gibberish that should play when Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus enter the Goo control center. Lines include "hurry on down to Merv Forlosh Motors for a great deal" (seemingly not a reference), then the "[[w:Veg-O-Matic|Vegematic]]" and "the magic of [[w:Gheorghe Zamfir|Zamfir]]". Between the music and character dialogue, none of the gibberish is actually intelligible.
*The original video cassette release of this episode featured some odd audio edits to the final scene: all of Cosmos's lines were missing, as were the fake pilot's claim that their "engines have just gone critical", and the Quintesson's declaration that their decoy worked and that Cybertron is helpless. The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] DVD of this episode restores all the missing lines, but they are all once again missing on the subsequent [[Shout! Factory]] release.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les cinq visages du mal, partie 4'''" ("The Fives Faces of Evil, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*The narrator still does not want to talk about Blurr and Wheelie, his first phrase is "In previous episodes of ''Five Faces of Darkness'', we saw what difficulty the Autobots were struggling with".
:::*Despite usually not translating names (almost not using them at all, actually), the Autobots call Wreck-Gar "Attilus" in this episode. This name will most likely never be used again in other episodes.
:::*While in the original version, Blurr hesitates about what he should do for Wheelie, the French dub says "So what is he waiting for over there? Hurry up, I don't want to stay here".
:::*Marissa's line "My digital watch is smarter than that!" is dubbed by "Even my coffee maker has more brains than him!".
:::*For some reason, the Quintesson's probability of 79.9% becomes 82% in the dub.
:::*In order to not pronounce Springer's name, Arcee says "Is that you? Oh yes, it's you!".
:::*Mixmaster's line "Constructicons to Galvatron! Trypticon is ready!" is dubbed by "Earth vanguard to Galvatron! We are ready, whenever you want!". Constructicons used to be one of the few exceptions to be named in previous seasons.
:::*The second part of the human message is missing ("Cybertron, do you read? Our engines have just gone critical!").
:::*Cosmos' panic lines are missing.
:::*Consequently, instead of answering him, Silverbolt says "It's a trick! It's too late, the shuttle is about to crash on-" before the explosion.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 4'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''I cinque volti del male, Parte 4'''" ("The Five Faces of Evil, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*For some reasons, in this episode Springer speaks in rhymes. This would later happen in other episodes too, while Wheelie never does.
::*The dialogue between Rodimus, Arcee and Springer before the first one tries to almost kill himself to enter the Matrix sports a lot of majour differences, the biggest one being that Springer never actually suggests to almost die to enter the Matrix, making the next scene pretty weird. Springer also says that Optimus "died years ago", while in reality not much time should have passed.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Le cinque facce dell'oscurità, Parte 4'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Matrix no Himitsu'''" (マトリクスの秘密, "The Secrets of the Matrix")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 5]], [[1986]]
::*Optimus Prime mentions the [[Unicron War]] during his appearance in Rodimus' Matrix vision instead of the Third Cybertronian War.
::*The scene of Trypticon's creation includes some extra lines from the narrator that vaguely describe the city-bot as being "revived" or "resurrected," as a way to paper over the continuity error introduced earlier in the year when ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization|Scramble City]]'' showed him to be active in the 1980s. It would take over twenty years before the specifics of what had happened to Trypticon and why he ''needed'' to be "revived" would be explained by the [[LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter|''Transformers: Legends'' manga]].

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài (4)'''" (五面怪 (四), "Five-Faced Monsters (4)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Desforra, Quarta Parte'''" ("The Rematch, Fourth Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pyatj likov tjmy (Chastj 4)'''" (Пять ликов тьмы (Часть 4), "Five Faces of Darkness (Part 4)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20230326215356/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-89.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bid3TK_q2HxH7NR5MDAlGsKe5AlcbBnU/view?usp=sharing Miniseries outline, covering parts 3 to 5]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8_MSI8-eiVlZ-bCLgS4KnHrTYQ4it8j/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3

2025-04-01T10:19:44Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig3.5|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 3|Five Faces of Darkness}}

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=68
|series2=2010
|ep2=3
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|image=FFOD3 Decepticons Quintesson ship.JPG
|caption=Intimidating, but they can't hit a single 'Bot.
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3"
|season=3
|season ep=3
|production code=#700-88
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 17]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll4Ep9norOU
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Desperate to destroy the Autobots, the Quintessons make a deal with the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FFOD3 Autobots vacuum.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm Batman, and I can breathe in space."]]
Detonated by the Quintessons, the planet [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]] explodes as the Autobots flee. They escape the planet's destruction, but their ship is smashed by a chunk of debris, sending the group hurtling through space. Eventually, Ultra Magnus calculates that they will soon impact an object, but isn't sure if it's a planet or a ship. Rodimus tells him to relax and enjoy the ride.

[[File:FFOD3 Autobot shuttle boom.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Remember, Wheelie is on this ship.]]

Meanwhile, Cyclonus briefs Galvatron on the recent developments, including the creation of [[Outpost One|a space platform]] to guard [[Earth]]. Intrigued, Galvatron alters course, deciding to punish the [[human]]s for assuming that they could build something to defend themselves against him. Some of the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] are unnerved by Galvatron's behavior, but Scourge tells them to shut up.

Blurr and Wheelie, carrying Metroplex's [[transformation cog]], arrive in Earth's [[Solar System|solar system]], and spot Galvatron. They warn [[Outpost One]], but Galvatron destroys the station with ease, then turns his sights on the [[Autobot]]s. Fleeing to the planet [[Jupiter]], the Autobots are forced to abandon ship with Metroplex's cog and end up falling into the upper atmosphere. Galvatron uses his cannon to electrically charge a nearby storm cell, causing a violent and explosive reaction which disrupts the transformation cogs of both Blurr and Wheelie, and ejects them from the planet. The [[Decepticon]]s then depart for [[Chaar]]. Blaster sends warning to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where [[Marissa Faireborn]] of [[Earth Defense Command]] heads out on a rescue mission.

[[File:FFOD3 junk collector.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Not Springer's finest hour.]]

Meanwhile, the Quintessons are contemplating how best to celebrate the death of the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], when they learn that Rodimus has survived. They conclude that they have no choice but to make an alliance with the one group who can help them: the Decepticons.

The Autobots crash land on a bizarre planetoid named [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]]. They soon discover that they can walk in the planet's gum-like surface, but cannot get out. [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] points out that even though they're stranded, it could be worse. Predictably, a giant machine arrives and begins sucking up various garbage. Springer is caught and sliced up, and Rodimus is next. Despite Arcee and Kup's pleas, Rodimus stands his ground, letting the machine pull him up; he manages to clog the blades with some of the goo, causing it to crash. [[Deliberata]] is surprised, claiming that the Autobots weren't programmed for self-sacrifice.

On Chaar, the Quintessons approach the Decepticons with an offer of [[energon]]. The battered Decepticons are at first hesitant, but once [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] samples some energon and lives, the others dogpile on it. The Quintessons make their proposal: in return for unlimited energon, the Decepticons will destroy the Autobots for them. The Decepticons are nervous, saying that they can't take [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in their present condition, but the Quintessons tell them that Rodimus Prime is on Goo with only a small number of Autobots to guard him. Although it's an offer the Decepticons are eager to accept, Blitzwing is suspicious of the Quintessons, finding them familiar. Motormaster decides to have a vote. The yays have it, but Blitzwing decides to remain on Chaar. The Quintessons are pleased, saying that the Decepticons will soon be theirs... again?

[[File:FFOD3 Quintessons attack.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|No wonder it can't shoot straight. There isn't a single straight line on it!]]

From her ship, Faireborn detects metal fragments which were blown all the way to Jupiter's moon of [[Io]]. On the surface of the Jovian moon, Wheelie and Blurr wake up, not realizing that [[Lightpole|they aren't alone]]...

Arriving at Chaar, Galvatron is incensed when Blitzwing informs him that the Decepticons left following others, though he doesn't much care who. Galvatron vows to reclaim his rightful place as Decepticon leader.

On Goo, the Autobots are searching for a way to shut off whatever equipment is keeping the goo warm and soft, allowing them to smash their way out. Suddenly, the Quintesson ship arrives, and a fleet of Decepticons emerges, firing at the trapped Autobots.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|To be continued...]]

{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (2)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (7)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (17)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (19)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]?
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (11)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (12)
**[[Sweep No. 4|Doomed Sweep]]
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (21)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (22)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (23)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (24)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (25)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (26)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (28)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (29)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (30)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (31)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (32)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (33)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (34)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (35)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (36)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (37)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (38)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (39)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (40)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (42)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (43)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
*[[Sullivan]]
*[[Marissa Faireborn]]

|c4=
*[[Deliberata]] (7)
*[[Quintesson]]s (16)
*[[Lightpole]] (41)
}}

==Quotes==
"My guidance system is hit! Galvatron, save meeeEEE!" 
"Please meet your end with dignity! I despise whiners!"
:—A '''Sweep''' is left to die by '''Galvatron'''

'''Sweep 1''': This is blowing out my audio sensors. 
'''Sweep 2''': It's torture! 
'''Galvatron''': Hahah, no, no! It's music. The symphony of destruction, and the anthem of agony!
:—Galvatron really needs to see a head doctor.

'''Cyclonus''': Bravo, Galvatron. The Autobots' destruction is assured. 
'''Galvatron''': Assured is not enough. I told you I want their heads, Cyclonus! 
''[moments later]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': Mighty Galvatron... where are the Autobots' heads?! 
'''Galvatron''': ''[whacks him]'' What does it matter? Their destruction is assured!
:—Consistency is not Galvatron's strong suit.

"How pleasant the feeling, to know the Autobots and their Matrix of Leadership have been destroyed." 
"I could watch it over and over again." 
"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it." 
"Perhaps... a quiet chuckle." 
"Very well then. Let us... chuckle."
:—The '''Quintessons''' loved it. It was much better than ''Cats''.

[[File:FFoD3 DeadEnd eating.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"We have not come to kill you. We have come to offer you NOMS."]]
'''Quintesson''': We have not come to kill you. We have come to offer you a proposition. 
'''Dead End''': Uh—Swindle! I think this is your department. 
'''Swindle''': First, see if we can trust 'em. Taste one of the energon cubes.
:—Send the guy named "Swindle" to negotiate. Always a good idea.

"Forget everything I told you about heroism, RUN!"
:—'''Kup''' decides to change his tune when Rodimus Prime nearly faces death by alien garbage truck.

"Well?! Where are they?" 
"You, uh... pose an interesting question, my lord."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Cyclonus''' wonder where the Decepticon army went.

"Mark this moment well. For when the Decepticons eliminate the Autobots, they take the first step to their own destruction as well."
:—A '''Quintesson'''

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:IHaveToGoNowMyPlanetNeedsMe.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Spoilers for the end of [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]].'']]

[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Optimus asks the youth if he's ready for more of the story. Boy howdy is he ever! According to Tommy, the tale was just starting to get good. Optimus laughs at his enthusiasm and continues...

After telling this portion of the story, Optimus surprises Tommy with a pop quiz on history. Tommy is disgusted by the thought of a history exam during storytime, but Optimus tells him that this history lesson involves the origin of the Transformers. And he'll learn all about it when he hears the details of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s journey into the Matrix. Tommy stumbles, saying that he actually ''loves'' history, but Optimus has to go. Blasting off, he promises to return and transform Tommy's day into an adventure.

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Miniseries outline revised: 18th February 1986 (edited by [[Steve Gerber]])
* Memo from Sunbow Productions' New York office detailing Hasbro-required changes to outline: 17th March 1986
* Finalised script approved: 27th March 1986
* Main dialogue recording: 7th April 1986
* Dialogue pickup sessions for [[S. Marc Jordan]], [[John Stephenson]] and [[John Moschitta]]: 9th April 1986
* [[Ted Schwartz]]' Rodimus Prime dialogue replaced by [[Dick Gautier]] ADR: 30th April 1986

===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 cartoon Goo.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*[[Warp gate]]s have been established throughout the galaxy. Kup mentions "oil baths".
*Rodimus refers to Springer with the nickname "Springo". It recurs only once, in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|the next episode]].
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] mentions that the gooey substance on Goo reminds him of stuff he put under his chair in school. Although this is disgusting, it does raise a valid question: when did Spike ever have time to go to school during the first two seasons?
*Blitzwing singles himself out as the only Decepticon who recognizes the Quintessons. This tantalizing plot thread was never developed further in the cartoon. Decades later, however, [[e-HOBBY]] would use this statement, together with the army of tank mode Blitzwings seen in the Season 3 opening credits, as the inspiration for [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]].

===Animation and technical errors===
*An AKOM episode, with incorrect color models including:
**Characters with the inside of their mouths colored to match their exterior colors. Magnus has a bright red mouth in at least three different shots, with bright blue in a couple of others; Springer's is dull green; Galvatron and Cyclonus's are dark purple, Blurr's is blue, Wheelie's dark orange.
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's shoulder indentations are red instead of white and his pelvis-winshield details are white instead of light burgundy, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants." Rodimus Prime's gun is back to being AKOM's red (instead of the correct black) after its one-off light blue and gray coloration last episode.
*It's an AKOM episode, so watch for Grimlock's outdated head design.
*As Galvatron exits the warp gate, the gate's energy is shown streaming out of it. The previous scene showed the energy precisely confined within the gate's boundaries; later portrayals of warp gates would remain consistent with this. It looks like the animators might have conflated a view of Galvatron's passage within the warp gate with a view of space outside it.
*There are a few instances this episode of Wheelie being voiced by [[John Moschitta]] instead of [[Frank Welker]]; unfortunately, Moschitta delivers a strained and whiny performance that's tough to listen to. This appears to have been the result of Welker being unable to re-record new dialogue for the scenes, which were re-written during production; check out [[#Trivia|Trivia]] below for more.
*The first shot of this sequence has Blurr and Wheelie standing around and staring at a blank wall for no apparent reason; there were probably supposed to be controls and view screens there.
*The establishing shot of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] shows some waterfalls that aren't moving at all. (That makes up for the frozen waterfall that [[The Core|spontaneously unfroze]] last season.)
*The EDC base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] totally changes shape and size between its two establishing shots.
*When Galvatron transforms to destroy the Autobot shuttle, his arm-mounted cannon flies off of his arm and off-screen... and a new one emerges from his body to replace it in his cannon mode.
*Wheelie takes the transformation cog with him when he ejects from the shuttle, but as he and Blurr fall through the tornado, it's not in either of his hands.
*When Wheelie shoots Galvatron, his Autobot symbol is missing (there's only a red square in its place).
*Improbable viewpoints:
**The Quintessons get a tracking pan view of Rodimus and company floating through space. (Four of the five Aerialbots are missing; only Air Raid is shown.)
*The mouth of the Quintesson reporting the Autobots' trajectory turns gray instead of black for several frames.
*All five of the Aerialbots are supposed to be with Rodimus & company, but only Silverbolt and Air Raid are actually shown.
*Rodimus has his early-casting voice when he says "I don't think it's the welcome wagon".
*Silverbolt doesn't move his mouth when he says "I'll fly over and see."
*The idea is that the erupting storm blasts Wheelie and Blurr out of Jupiter's atmosphere, but the animation makes it look like they just randomly start flying that way.
*Wheelie says he can't control his transformations, but he doesn't actually transform.
*Coloring errors:
**Rodimus's lower legs are orange instead of red in the second shot of him and the others firing at the garbage scow.
**As Springer is pulled into the garbage scow, Arcee's helmet is pink on the sides when it should be all white.
**Rodimus's spoiler ridge is yellow instead of orange:
***As he leads the others to try and help Springer.
***During the whole sequence of him bringing down the garbage scow.
***When Rodimus reacts to Springer's destruction, his eyes are black instead of blue.
**As Swindle denounces the Quintessons' offer, the top of his torso is purple instead of yellow, and Drag Strip's head is yellow instead of brown.
**As Magnus reacts to Rodimus stopping the garbage scow, the underside rim of his helmet is also ''huge''. And gray instead of blue.*Springer's mouth isn't moving when he says, "Maybe I can lift us out of here."
**Cyclonus's jet windows aren't colored in as Galvatron says "Who cares?"
*Springer says "No go!" about his failure to escape from the goo before he's even activated his rotor blades.
*Springer returns to [[robot mode]] with no transformation noise.
*Not nearly enough Springer parts come out of the machine to make up the complete Springer.
[[File:Ffod3 squalor on chaar.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*"They wanna make a deal with us" is spoken in Swindle's voice, but Blitzwing is shown speaking.
*Astrotrain is missing some details on his back as he dives on the energon cube pile.
*During the same shots, Arcee's backpack is shown in front of her arms (and again, the sides of her helmet are pink), and her eyes aren't colored in.
*As Rodimus asks, "How are we gonna get out of this mess?," Magnus's eyes are only half drawn in.
*The establishing shot of Chaar is pretty clearly Goo, which we just left in the previous scene.
[[File:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|The Decepticons are resorting to animation errors to boost their troop numbers.]]
[[File:Aerilabotindecepticons.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Ah hah, so THAT'S why he isn't on Goo.]]
*The entire next sequence is an infamous continuity and animation FUBAR, as the Decepticons seem to teleport all over the place between shots:
**When the Decepticons react to "Destroy the Autobots", Motormaster is shown with Swindle and Drag Strip. The previous shot ("That means it probably is.") had Wildrider in that spot.
**Onslaught very clearly ''walks'' up to protest the Quintessons' proposal of attacking Cybertron. The next shot is a reaction shot of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], with Onslaught down on his knees, and reacting in protest to his own statement! Swindle is also on his knees behind him, even though he was shown with some Stunticons just a shot before. AKOM cheats some "expressive" motion from the Combaticons by just sliding static drawings of them around on the background. Best of all, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]—the combined form of the five Combaticons—is standing right behind them! In addition to being where he should be ''and'' being the same size as his components, his legs are switched around, and his chestplate is all grey, instead of Blast Off colors.
**In the next shot of the Decepticons, Onslaught is now sitting next to Soundwave and Astrotrain, and Swindle is now behind Dead End.
**[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is the size of [[Octane]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]].
**The first shot of Blitzwing ("They lie!") shows him behind Rumble and Octane, but when we switch to a view from behind him, he's alone.
**In the wide shot as Dead End agrees with the plan, the Autobot [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] is shown sitting with the Decepticons. Same shot: Drag Strip's head is yellow again. Amazingly, this shot actually consistently keeps Blitzwing behind Octane and Rumble. Dead End, Soundwave and Onslaught are also still together, but Astrotrain has vanished from between them, and Rumble is in the space behind Dead End where Swindle should be.
**Yeah. It's bad, even for [[AKOM]].
*When the Quintessons say they must act quickly, one Quintesson is missing the lower half of his face and another is missing altogether, with just a telltale beam of energy where he should be.
*Only three Sweeps arrive on Chaar. The number following Galvatron up to now has been five to six. The Sweep in the rear has gray legs and gray back details, even though his siblings on either side are colored correctly. Subsequent shots show several additional Sweeps.
*Shots of Galvatron and his men flying over Chaar have Sweeps colored quite creatively:
**"We have fallen upon hard times": a Dirge-colored Sweep
**Panning shot: Swindle, Soundwave, and Dirge-colored Sweeps
**"Soon I shall raise the Decepticons": Bombshell, Grimlock, and maybe others.
*The ordering of the reused backgrounds during Galvatron's "soon I shall raise the Decepticons" line makes it appear that they are flying backwards.
*The top of Blitzwing's head is purple instead of yellow as he struggles to remember the Quintessons' name.
*Wheelie and Blurr have switched positions from where they crashed; Wheelie was on Blurr's left, but now he's on Blurr's right.
[[File:Lightpole close up.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The animation of the [[lightpole]]s seems to portray them as giant walking beasts (and ''definitely'' portrays them as glowing and dripping acid from their fangs), with deep-throated snarls and growls. Nothing wrong so far, but next episode they'll be a swarm of tiny, non-glowing, non-acid-dripping, flying, high-pitched-squeaking creatures. Whether the animators misinterpreted the writer's directions in this episode, or the writer himself changed his mind between installments, remains unclear.
*Wheelie's final lines lack the usual processing (which was already not up to snuff in this episode.)
*Right in the middle of the discussion about how to shut off the inescapable goo... Rodimus just walks right out of it!
*Only Air Raid is shown during the final sequence on Goo; the other four Aerialbots are missing (again!)
*Rodimus says "What was that?" in reaction to laser fire that hasn't happened yet.
[[File:Shockwave5Faces.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|My coloring scheme is illogical.]]
*Another infamous cluster follows as the Decepticons pour out of the Quintesson ship and fire on the Autobots:
**The first shot features a light gray [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] with a Blurr-like head bobber (maybe someone at AKOM was reading "[[Decepticon Patrol]]"?) and Shockwave colored like Long Haul.
**The second shot features a clearer shot of Shock Haul, as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who was reformatted into a Sweep during the Movie. Behind them, Dirge is missing his wings.
**If that doesn't seem so bad, wait until the same sequence continues next time!
*Although both the [[Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
*Broadside is destroyed by debris from the explosion of Quintessa, but shows up alive and well later in the series. However, for a long time it was an open question as to whether this appearance was intended to be Broadside at all. Eventually the original script was unearthed, which called for "a uniquely designed ship that serves as a space and atmosphere-worthy aircraft carrier for the Autobots"—indicating that his appearance was specifically interpretation on the part of the animators at AKOM. For a more in-depth breakdown, see: ''[[Broadside (G1)#Canon or error?]]''.
**In [[2017]], the ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' toys for Broadside included mini Aerialbot planes in reference to this episode.
*The Aerialbots are clearly capable of at least limited space flight, as seen both in the previous episode, and the later episode "[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]". It therefore seems a bit silly for them to be tumbling helplessly through space.
*Spike is in his civilian clothes when he boards the Autobot ship. When it's destroyed a few seconds later, he's got on a space suit. Even if that ''was'' the first thing he did the instant he set foot on the ship, it sure doesn't look like he'd have ''time'' to change into it.
*The animation shows Marissa pushing a button and saying "On my way!" The next shot shows her ship rocketing off of its launching rail. The net effect is that she seems to have just been sitting there in this angled ship, waiting around for a mission.
*Rodimus is shown standing outside the garbage scow after he brings it down. Considering it came down right on top of him, he should really be ''inside'' it. (Or under it.)
*Kup says to Rodimus, "I've seen a lotta brave Autobots do a lotta brave things in my time, but nothing like that." With all Kup's experience, it's a little hard to swallow that that's the ''bravest'' thing he has ever witnessed.

===ERRORS. OF. ''SCIENCE!''===
[[File:FFoD3 Sullivan.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Cyclonus's first line is muffled as if he were communicating by radio to Galvatron. ''Technically'', that's actually correct, since they're in the soundless vacuum of space and should be communicating by radio. But it's inconsistent with every other portrayal of Transformers communicating in space, including the rest of this very scene. Anyway, wouldn't super-advanced space robots have hi-fi communicators that wouldn't sound like walkie-talkies?
*[[Sullivan (G1)|Trooper Sullivan]] is shown radioing [[Earth Defense Command]] with a hand-held radio as he's floating through space. The "mouth plate" of his helmet even moves as he does so. Unlike the super-advanced space robots, he does not get a "really talking by radio" pass for this.
*Jupiter's ring appears to be composed of scrap metal (instead of ice.) The planet itself is shown as a dusky orange instead of the banded red, white, brown and tan of the actual planet.
*The Autobot shuttle loops around a gray, homogeneous moon of Jupiter. It's not clear that this ''has'' to be [[Io]], but if it is, it's all wrong. The real moon is orange and red, with black and white splotches, and looks like a pizza. Later, when Wheelie and Blurr are ejected from Jupiter's atmosphere, a distant Io (for sure this time!) is shown looking a lot like post-Movie Cybertron, silvery with spikey buildings poking out into space.
*During the establishing zoom-in toward [[Earth]], two planet-like objects are in the foreground, in close proximity to the other. The smaller one is the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], but there's no real-world body that could be the other one. The reddish color may mean it's supposed to be [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] (which comes into play in the following scene), but it's waaaaay too close to the Moon for that.
*Wow. Who knew that storms on Jupiter were so... ''flammable''?
*There probably isn't life on Io.

===Trivia===
*The sequence on Goo is the inspiration for the last portion of the ''Five Faces of Darkness'' custom [[title sequence]], though in a clever spoiler-avoiding twist, Springer actually ''does'' get free from the goo in the title animation.
*The Quintessons' voices settle down after the confusion of last episode, with the script clearly identifying the main trio as Quintesson #1 ([[Regis Cordic]]), #2 ([[Roger C. Carmel]]) and #3 ([[Jack Angel]]), who will consistently perform them for the rest of the mini-series and season. The fourth Quintesson, Judge Deliberata, voiced last episode by [[Corey Burton]], is now also voiced by Cordic, who performs him for the rest of the mini-series.
*In a outwardly bizarre sequence, when the Autobots land on Goo, Deliberata appears only as his Face of Death, which is plucked out of the goo and dropped back in by Kup, as if the face had somehow ''fallen off'' the Quintesson's body, before reappearing intact later in the episode. As with a few other beats in "Five Faces of Darkness", this doesn't appear to have been a totally random error, but rather, was likely based on the depiction of the Quintessons in an early draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. That draft presented them as bipedal creatures with detachable heads, so this scene of a detached face appears to have been a futzed attempt to transfer that concept over the finalized Quintesson design.
*An early story outline for this episode included [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] in the cast before an internal [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] memo clarified that the character had been "dropped" and needed to be replaced "with either a continuing or new character from the [[Production bible|binder]]".<ref>{{citesocial|quote=@transformertoys @walruslaw @tfwiki Apparently Shockwave was to actually appear in FFOD beyond the randomly used model appearances: https://t.co/47KZGSQfnG|link=https://twitter.com/DaGrimBo/status/1390120986977226752|name=DaGrimBo|site=Twitter|year=2021|month=5|day=6|(defunct=)}}</ref> This outline later surfaced on the internet, revealing Shockwave's planned role in the episode: He was intended to be the one Decepticon who is skeptical of the Quintessons, as he was apparently an ancient Decepticon and has vague memories of the Quintessons, but can't recall the details because of too many uploads and downloads in the intervening time.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bid3TK_q2HxH7NR5MDAlGsKe5AlcbBnU/view Partial outline of "Five Faces of Darkness", covering Parts 3 to 5]</ref> Based on this, it seems clear that the character he was replaced with was Blitzwing, who fulfills the skeptic role for reasons not explained in this episode.
*In the original script for this episode, Flint Dille announced his intent to "elevate Blurr from a one-note character to a two-note character" by introducing the idea that when he was in combat or under extreme stress, he would suddenly become extremely calm, and his speech would slow to normal levels. This episode was evidently recorded and animated with this idea intact, but then the concept was dropped, and the dialogue re-recorded to remove it; Blurr's lip-flaps as he suggests to Wheelie that they try losing Galvatron around Jupiter are noticeably slower than his words, and Wheelie's dialogue (which was initially a surprised reaction to Blurr's new, slowed-down attitude) is not provided by Frank Welker, but by Moschitta himself (either because Welker wasn't available, or because they just needed it all done quickly).
*Another idea that didn't survive from the script to the finished episode is that the crash-landing on Io was to have rattled Wheelie's systems, leaving him talking not in rhyme, but in an overly verbose, technical manner, compared by Blurr to Perceptor. Again, the episode appears to have been recorded and animated with this idea intact, but re-recorded with new dialogue by Moschitta to restore the rhymes. This gag was to continue on into the start of the next episode, where it would have been paid off by Blurr giving Wheelie a good shake until something went "clunk" inside him, and his regular speech patterns returned, but this scene was deleted entirely.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les cinq visages du mal, partie 3'''" ("The Fives Faces of Evil, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*The narrator's line "Galvatron emerges of the lava plasma of the planet Thrull to lead the Decepticons" and the subsequent Galvatron dialogue are both replaced by the narrator saying "Far from there on the planet Thrull, Galvatron, the leader of the Decepticons whom everyone thought dead after the great war, is found by his faithful friend Cyclonus".
:::*The narrator calls the Quintessons "the masters of the planet", probably in order to not pronounce their name.
:::*The intro shot of the Autobots evacuating with Rodimus Prime saying "Autobots, let's get out of here!" was cut.
:::*The few lines during the first dogfight are missing.
:::*Galvatron's line "Now Autobots, your journey ends!" is missing.
:::*The dialogue between Ultra Magnus and Arcee describing the giant machine is missing, resulting in a silent long shot of the machine working.
:::*Springer's name is dodged all episode long. For example, Arcee says "No!" instead of his name when he gets caught by the machine.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 3'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''I cinque volti del male, Parte 3'''" ("The Five Faces of Evil, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*While in English Blurr says that the chances of the ship being defective are "one in three trillion six hundred and seventy seven", in Italian he says that they are "one in two quintillion sixty million and seven hundred thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand-thousand" (yes, he really repeats "thousand" that many times).
::*Galvatron's line: «No, I live!» talking to Blitzwing is changed to: «And in fact I'm still alive!». Saying "in fact" doesn't make any sense since Blitzwing thought the opposite.
::*Spike's line: «I used to stick stuff like this under my seat at school» is changed to: «You know, I used a material like this for modeling in school», which is way less disgusting.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Le cinque facce dell'oscurità, Parte 3'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wakusei Goo no Wana'''" (惑星ゴーの罠, "The Trap on Planet Goo")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 28]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài (3)'''" (五面怪 (三), "Five-Faced Monsters (3)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Desforra, Terceira Parte'''" ("The Rematch, Third Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pyatj likov tjmy (Chastj 3)'''" (Пять ликов тьмы (Часть 3), "Five Faces of Darkness (Part 3)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bid3TK_q2HxH7NR5MDAlGsKe5AlcbBnU/view?usp=sharing Miniseries outline, covering parts 3 to 5]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JY3l7qihryrSUjfyZ65m4twbsPNBRKQQ/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2

2025-04-01T10:16:11Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig3.5|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2|Five Faces of Darkness}}

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=67
|series2=2010
|ep2=2
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3
|image=FFOD2 Galvatron sparks.JPG
|caption=Only Galvatron can see the Energon Fairies
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2"
|season=3
|season ep=2
|production code=#700-87
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]], [[Sam Young Studio]]
|airdate=[[September 16]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3lMYnL28nw
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''As a near-death experience on Chaar allows Rodimus Prime to discover who kidnapped the Autobots, Cyclonus and Scourge head to rescue Galvatron... only to find that something is very wrong with their leader.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FFOD2 Rodimus Grimlock asteroid ship.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|If he dead, me Grimlock eat him.]]
On [[Chaar]], the [[Decepticon]]s have discovered the snooping [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]]. However, the Decepticons cannot muster enough energy to power their weapons, so they opt to beat the two [[Autobot]]s to death. They overwhelm Rodimus and Grimlock, but scatter at the sight of a meteor... which turns out to be the [[Rockeroid|Skuxxoid ship]] commandeered by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]]. They grab Rodimus and Grimlock, but Rodimus is non-responsive. [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] allows them to leave, as he has more pressing matters... such as finding [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]].

[[File:FFOD2 Quintesson court.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|I not only deny the allegations, I deny the Alligaticon!]]
On [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], the [[Quintesson]]s are interrogating [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], who is Cybertron's [[Chief of Security]]. They seem to know the true answers to their questions, even though he lies. They learn that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is militarily secure, but that Kup is worried about [[Earth]]'s security. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] are surprised that the Quintessons seem to know so much, but the Quintessons end their discussion by trying their hand at interrogating Spike.

Elsewhere, Springer sets the [[Skuxxoid]] ship down. A badly injured Rodimus is mumbling Springer's name and that of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and Arcee believes that Rodimus is naming Springer as the new [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]]. Suddenly, Rodimus's [[Spark|life force]] disappears. Arcee assumes the worst, but Grimlock points out that the Matrix didn't appear, so he is still alive. As for Rodimus Prime's life force, it's going on a very trippy journey through the Matrix, seeing [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[It|a skull-like thing]], a few robots... and the Quintessons. Coming back online, Rodimus realizes that it was the Quintessons who kidnapped the others, not the Decepticons.

On Quintessa, Spike, Magnus, and Kup overpower their guards, taking a Quintesson judge named [[Deliberata]] hostage. When they confront the court, however, the Quintessons merely sentence him to die in the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] tanks as well. The pit opens, plunging Spike and the Autobots into the pit along with Deliberata. The side of the pit opens, allowing the other Quintessons to watch. They like to watch.

[[File:FFOD2 Scourge rescuing Galvatron.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Everyone out of the pool!]]
Heading to [[Thrull]], Cyclonus sends [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] to pull Galvatron from the plasma pool. Cyclonus and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] greet their leader, only to discover that he has been driven insane by the plasma baths. Galvatron immediately proceeds to lay the smackdown on his would-be rescuers, but Scourge, who speaks crazy, manages to talk him down. Galvatron declares that they have an empire to regain, and they depart, but not before Galvatron destroys Thrull.

[[File:FFOD2 Sharkticon pit.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Sharkticon infested custard.]]
On Quintessa, as the Sharkticons begin to swarm in, Spike asks why they're being executed, and the Quintessons say that Spike is guilty of associating with the Autobots, who are guilty of theft. Magnus assumes that they are talking about the Decepticons, but the Quintessons point out that the Autobots inhabit Cybertron. Above, the Skuxxoid ship flies through the sky, only to be destroyed by the Quintessons' defense systems. However, the Autobots were not on board, instead arriving in Springer's [[Alternate mode|copter mode]]. The Quintesson tribunal flees Grimlock's would-be assault, while Springer pulls the others out of the Sharkticon tank. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrive with their [[Broadside (G1)|escape ship]]. However, the Quintessons, obsessed with destroying the Matrix, detonate a [[core bomb]] on Quintessa. Safely in the distance, they watch their homeworld explode.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (2)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (14)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (15)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (21)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (23)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (24, in a vision)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]? (29)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (30)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (31)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (32)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (33)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (34)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (3)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (5)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (6)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (7)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (10)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (11)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (12)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (13)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (16)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (17)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (18)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (22)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (28)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (20)
|c4=
*[[Quintesson]]s (19)
*[[It]] (25, in a vision)
*[[Deliberata]] (26)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (27)
}}

== Quotes ==
[[File:FFoD2 SwindleVortex.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"It just don't pack the wallop it used to!" 
"Yeah, because we're out of energy, dummy!"
:—'''Vortex''' and '''Swindle''' exposit for the audience.

"You are the Autobot Kup. You are Cybertron's chief of security." 
"Naw, my name's Teaspoon! And I'm Cybertron's chief dishwasher." 
"Zero percent probability of truth. Identification positive." 
:—The '''Quintessons''' interrogate '''Kup'''. They apparently lack a sense of humor.

'''Ultra Magnus''': Where are you taking us? 
'''Quintesson''': To your judgement. 
'''Kup''': Right. We're gonna get a fair trial, and then they're gonna kill us.
:—Kup already knows how the Quintessons' justice system works.

"Alright, Quintessons, you have a choice. Release us, or I turn your buddy here into blooey juice!"
:—'''Spike'''

"Pay us no mind. We just... like to watch."
:—The '''Quintessons''' creepily enjoy Sharkticons attacking Ultra Magnus, Kup and Spike.

"Mighty Galvatron, I have learned your lesson! I now know not only that you are the leader, but also why." 
"Such insight is rare! Watch out for this one, Cyclonus. One day, he might take your place."
:—'''Scourge''' and '''Galvatron''' speak crazy.

"An asteroid?" 
"Yeah. So? I've seen thousands of 'em." 
"About to land on your head?" 
"I gotta admit that's new."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Kup'''

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}
[[File:TommyKennedy-claymation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Tommy begs to know who kidnapped [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] and the rest. Prime tells him it would be more fun if he tried to figure it out on his own. Tommy recounts the clues from the previous story, but can't quite put the pieces together. Optimus tells Tommy if he calms down, he'll relate more of the tale...

Tommy is impressed by the explosion of [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], but shows no concern for the Autobots, as he figures they've gotten out of worse spots. Optimus tells him just ''how'' worse things are going to get for the Autobots by relaying details from the next segment of their adventure. Tommy becomes rightfully worried, at which point Prime sets him down and says the rest of the tale will have to wait. For now, he's promised to help [[Quickswitch]] test out [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s new security system. As Prime blasts off, he promises to return soon to transform Tommy's day into an adventure.
{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Miniseries outline revised: 18th February 1986 (edited by [[Steve Gerber]])
* Finalised script approved: 20th March 1986
* Dialogue recording: 31st March 1986
* [[Ted Schwartz]]' Rodimus Prime dialogue replaced by [[Dick Gautier]] ADR: 30th April 1986

===Continuity notes===
* At some point Earth gained a [[Lunar Colony]], whose [[Mecha-soccer#American_football|football]] team played a tough game against the (presumably [[Chicago]]) Bears.
* Spike threatens to turn Judge Deliberata into "blooey juice".
* [[Thrull]] has (had) plasma baths.
* A Quintesson judge refers to the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as "the Leadership Matrix".
* The Quintesson forces aim a massive [[proton cannon]] at oncoming Autobot rescuers.
* Quintessa is blown up with a "core bomb".

===Real-world references===
*''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**The Sweeps take off from Chaar, and later from Thrull (to escape Galvatron's onslaught) with the sound of the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s engine burst noise (most likely flying past cam before landing on Yavin IV).
**As Galvatron takes off from Thrull, a second Star Wars effect plays: this time the sound of the [[Death Star]]'s combined superlaser beam streaking towards Alderaan. The ''Millennium Falcon'' effect is recycled as Cyclonus and company follow their leader.
*The laser sound effect as the Autobot ship opens fire on the Quint gun emplacement is the same one used by the alien death rays in the original ''[[The War of the Worlds]]'' movie.<ref>[http://zobovor.tripod.com/five_faces_of_darkness_part_2_bloopers.html Zobovor's Bloopers list for "Five Faces of Darkness Part 2"]</ref>
*Spike describes a [[Mecha-soccer#American football|football game]] between the [[Lunar Colony]] team and "[[Chicago|the Bears]]".

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Bigrumle.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Awww, little Rumble's all grown up!]]
*The usual incorrect color models used by AKOM provide us with:
**Characters with the inside of their mouths colored to match their exterior colors. Cyclonus has a purple mouth, and Arcee's is dull pink in some shots.
**Cyclonus has dark purple eyebrows.
**In addition to appearing with his standard outdated AKOM color model, Rodimus Prime's gun is a light blue and gray, rather than the correct black (or the incorrect red that AKOM more often used, including just last episode.)
**Galvatron is colored to the specifications of an oudated color model, giving him "underpants" that are pale purple, instead of the same purple as the rest of him. As with Rodimus, these outdated colors will be his standard appearance throughout all AKOM episodes.
*Apparently, AKOM ''never'' got any model sheet updates. Older character models used in the episode include:
**Grimlock, who has his early, flattened robot head design (not seen since Season 1!)
**Soundwave, who has a white backpack instead of blue (it was just barely visible in one or two shots in "[[The Core]]".)
*Rodimus Prime gets a new voice... or more correctly, an ''old'' one! Actor [[Ted Schwartz]] had been originally cast as Rodimus and recorded several episodes, but was then replaced by [[Dick Gautier]], who dubbed over all his lines for the finished, broadcast episodes. The "previously on" segment in this episode, however, is compiled using the original Schwartz audio! A single Schwartz-spoken line can also be heard in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3|the next episode]].
**Gautier himself continues to voice Rodimus within the actual episode, though he lacks the super-bass modulation he had in Part 1.
*Grimlock's dino mouth doesn't move for his "Me Grimlock no hurt" line.
*While walking with his fellow Decepticons, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is as tall as [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]. He should be barely half as tall. Breakdown should also be a head or so shorter. The mid-section of his left arm mostly disappears for a few frames as Grimlock shoots him.
*The Decepticon advance during Rodimus's "en masse" line contains all sorts of strangeness. "Rumble" has a totally redesigned chest, "Soundwave" has two windows like Optimus Prime as well as a face instead of a [[mouthplate]], and "Breakdown" has a new chest and a Dead End-like head. A mangled Wildrider is also half visible at the screen's edge. That, or AKOM for some reason drew a bunch of [[generic]]s, but colored them like the actual characters. ("Rumble" also briefly has the square panels on his shins flicker from yellow to white and back for a second.)
*Someone forgot that Onslaught was beat to hell at the end of last episode, battered and with a broken backpack gun. He's totally intact here. For that matter, ''none'' of the Decepticons are in the sorry physical state we saw them in last episode; their damage is never seen again.
[[File:FiveFacesDarkness2 open Rockeroid.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The claws that pick up Rodimus and Grimlock are shown emerging from a circular hatch. A few shots later, they're shown to be permanently attached to the outside of the ship.
*Coloring errors:
**Cyclonus's jet windows aren't colored:
***As he turns from firing on the departing Rodimus on Chaar.
***As Galvatron bashes him away for the first time on Thrull.
***As Galvatron advises him to "Watch out for this one".
**Arcee's lower helmet segment is colored the same rose pink as her face as she monitor's Rodimus's life force. It should be the same white as the rest of her helmet.
**Rodimus's spoiler centerpiece is yellow instead of orange as he sits up after his vision.
**Arcee's legs are colored gray throughout the rescue, when they're supposed to be white.
*The energon cubes are glowing in the whitish-yellowish style seen in very early episodes of Season 1, rather than the pink that was seen throughout Season 2 as well as in the previous episode.
*Kickback is standing with Drag Strip as Cyclonus prepares to leave Chaar. He's supposed to be dead.
*Four Sweeps fly off with Cyclonus, even though seven were in the shot immediately prior.
*The floatation beam of the head Quintesson judge is off-center.
*When Kup sasses the Quintessons by referring to himself as 'Cybertron's chief dishwasher', observe the Quintesson on the throne (the one closest to the screen). One of the faces is mouthing Kup, word for word! This seems to persist for the rest of the scene.
*During the "answer he suppresses" line, the Quintesson's faces all slide around on their bulb together. The animators probably meant this to be expressive, but it's really not clear that they should be able to move around at all.
*Magnus is in prison, but he's still got his shoulder missiles. Shouldn't he be disarmed? Shouldn't he have ''used'' them?
*Even ''after'' being savagely beaten by the Decepticons to the point of death, Rodimus' character model shows absolutely no signs of damage. This is even more unusual when you consider the ''extremely'' damaged condition of the Decepticons earlier in the episode.
*Arcee's nose is missing its outlines in several shots on the asteroid. It's visible only by its shading.
*As Grimlock remembers rescuing Rodimus on Quintessa, his head is drawn too small (looking more like a lizard head than a T. Rex head).
*When Rodimus confirms that Grimlock saved his life on Quintessa, his helmet is drawn very... oddly.
*Weird technicality - When Kup is saying his lines ending with the words "Rush 'em and pray", his "ears" are bouncing up and down.
*In the previous episode, when Cyclonus first learns of Galvatron's location, the lava pool where Galvatron is submerged appears in a small crater. When Cyclonus actually does find Galvatron, the location not only seems different, but the crater has gotten larger as well. Finally, when Scourge pulls Galvatron out, the lava pool is the size of a small lake.
[[File:Springerfivefacescopter.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|Lucky that Springer has a twenty-foot-high blade shaft.]]
*The Quintessons voices are all over the place in this episode, with four different voices ([[Regis Cordic]], [[Roger C. Carmel]], [[Jack Angel]], and [[Stan Jones]]) coming out of three different judges, a product of the script using various different descriptors to refer to the different Quintessons and their various different faces that had led to a bit of confusion (Cordic, Carmel, and Angel will remain the primary Quintesson actors throughout the season, as the Quints often operate in threes). A fourth Quintesson, Judge Deliberata, does appear in the back half of the episode, but for his single line, is voiced by [[Corey Burton]] rather than any of the other Quintesson performers.
*Kup is drawn delivering Magnus's line "You're confusing us with Decepticons."
*The line "Carry out the executions" is shown, via cross-fade, to be delivered by two different Quint faces, even though it's spoken by a single voice.
*Judging by how the Autobots (and Sharkticons) are standing, the Sharkticon pool is maybe 3 feet deep.
*As the Sharkticons move in, Kup is shown bashing two of them. The shot changes, and the two Sharkticons are both gone, with a new one now moving in from a distance.
*Arcee's first shot makes its laser sound effect before its fired.
*The spatial physics of Springer carrying the other three Autobots is pretty much physically impossible.
*As Kup says to keep fighting, both he and the Sharkticon facing him are doing some kind of funk hoedown dance, but neither is actually fighting the other.
*During the "as they die" line, the Egyptian-looking Quintesson in the center of the shot has a gray forehead, instead of blue.
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] is drawn [[scale|so huge]] in jet mode that the Autobots climb aboard him like humans boarding an actual SST. Now ''that'' is [[Size changing|mass shifting]]. Why did they even need a shuttle?

===Continuity errors===
*Grimlock and Rodimus's blasts have absolutely no effect on the Decepticons, despite them already being heavily damaged, low on fuel, and being fired upon from point blank range.
*Rodimus, you may not ''like'' being stomped ''en masse'', but that hardly makes your under-energized, weaponless attackers "cowards".
*Seriously, Grimlock? One of the biggest, baddest Autobots, subdued by a horde of half-dead Decepticons? What the hell? What happened to his [[fire-breath]], at least?
*After the Autobots retreat, Cyclonus just throws his gun away!
[[File:Ffod2 spike wrestles deliberata.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"You're not going anywhere till you explain how you guys are still alive."]]
*Wait a minute. The Quintessons? The ''Quintessons''? You mean those guys who when we last saw them were seconds away from being massacred by their rebellious Sharkticon subjects? How are they not all dead?!
*Before his life force temporarily enters the Matrix, Rodimus says "My time in the light is short..." Arcee claims that's what Optimus Prime said when he was dying, but this never happened in the film. It ''did'' happen, however, in an early draft of the movie's script (dated to April 1985); to be precise, Prime said "My time in the light has ended..."
*Kup, Magnus and Spike are shown to be being escorted by an [[Allicon]] and at least five [[Quintesson Bailiff|Bailiffs]], however when they stage their uprising, the Bailiffs are missing, leaving just the Allicon for Kup to punch out.
*Death-by-Sharkticon was pretty much instantaneous in ''The Transformers: The Movie''. Here, the Sharkticons just stand around staring at their quarry while everybody gabs on and on.
*The Quintesson that was sentenced along with Spike, Kup and Ultra Magnus vanishes after they take the plunge, at least until Rodimus makes an attempt to rescue them, where he is once again seen with them.
*Referring back to the end of the movie; so, let's get this straight. Rodimus Prime is now so awesomely strong that he can hurl Galvatron through about 15 feet of the solid steel that makes Unicron's hull, and after the drag factor of that, Galvy is still travelling so fast that he breaks the combined gravitational pull of both Unicron ''and'' Cybertron, and within about, what, four months? ...he crashes onto a planet in a different galactic ''quadrant''? Can Rodimus hurl giant robots into hyperspace? It's true what they say about sci-fi writers and no sense of scale, you know.
*Galvatron's claim that he is "more powerful than ever" is pretty questionable, considering that he is never again shown atomizing anybody like he did to Starscream. Then again, pretty much ''everything'' he claims is pretty questionable. He is, no kidding, fruitcake flapjacks ''crazy''.
*When the Quintessons [[The Transformers: The Movie|previously tried the Autobots]], Kup and Hot Rod were found innocent.
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] makes his bizarre debut in this episode, as his jet mode character model is used as the Autobots' rescue ship. However, the next episode shows him being blown up. For a long time it was an open question as to whether this ship was intended to be Broadside or not, but the eventually-unearthed original script called for "a uniquely designed ship that serves as a space and atmosphere-worthy aircraft carrier for the Autobots"—indicating that his appearance was specifically interpretation on the part of the animators at AKOM. For a more in-depth breakdown, see: ''[[Broadside (G1)#Canon or error?]]''.
**In [[2017]], the ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' toys for Broadside included mini Aerialbot planes in reference to this episode.
*Silverbolt orders Slingshot to pull the others out, but it's Silverbolt who lands and carries them away.
*Fireflight was never given explicit orders to leave the ship, but is shown returning to it. Silverbolt, who ''did'' leave the ship, is ''not'' shown returning.

===Trivia===
*After all the shadowy mystery surrounding the Quintessons' identity last episode, there's absolutely no drama to the reveal in this episode. We get an establishing shot of Quintessa, and then cut to the Quintessons interrogating Kup as if we were picking up from a commercial break or something.
*Despite "Five Faces of Darkness"'s reputation for horrific art, there are some decent moments here and there: the closeup of Vortex and Swindle; the Sharkticon fleeing from the exploding cannon.
*Galvatron takes a ''long'' time to transform to and from cannon mode when he leaves Thrull. His transformation speed returns to normal afterward.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Les cinq visages du mal, partie 2'''" ("The Fives Faces of Evil, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*In order to not pronounce some robots names, the narrator replaces the part about Blurr and Wheelie being sent to Earth by "The Autobots celebrate their triumph by organizing Olympic Games, but the events are interrupted by a sudden attack led by unknown assailants".
:::*The Quintesson's line "and then... how he faces death" was cut.
:::*While in the original version, Kup tells Spike they are going to live a "fair trial", the French dub ''almost'' makes a reference to ''The Movie''. Kup tells Spike that they are going to live a "parody of trial", while in the French dub of the Movie, Kranix said "parody of justice". ''We were on the verge of greatness, we were this close!''
:::*The Quintesson's scream as Spike is pulling his tentacles is missing.
:::*As usual, the Aerialbots' lines in plane mode are missing.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 2'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''I cinque volti del male, Parte 2'''" ("The Five Faces of Evil, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Onslaught says "meteorite" instead of "meteor".
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Le cinque facce dell'oscurità, Parte 2'''" ("The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yomigaeru Shin Hakai Taitei'''", (蘇る新破壊大帝, "The Revived New Emperor of Destruction")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 21]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài (2)'''" (五面怪 (二), "Five-Faced Monsters (2)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A Desforra, Segunda Parte'''" ("The Rematch, Second Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pyatj likov tjmy (Chastj 2)'''" (Пять ликов тьмы (Часть 2), "Five Faces of Darkness (Part 2)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[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. 1 (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)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20230305021906/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-87.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X3ym3afjo_LVOUU6w4jvc9PPB7JLy7jF/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Auto-Bop

2025-04-01T09:53:27Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode
|image=Auto-bop 4.jpg
|caption=Go ahead and mock '80s clothing, but in thirty years, they'll be mocking what we wear.
|series=G1toon
|ep=52
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=52
|prev2=Prime Target (episode)
|next2=Starscream's Brigade
|title="Auto-Bop"
|season=2
|season ep=36
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-51
|airdate=[[November 13]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lzwjpg5rbg
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Tracks and Blaster uncover a hypnosis plot. A ''funky'' hypnosis plot.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:DancitronGang.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Just the usual Manhattan commuter crowd.]]

[[Raoul]] and his friends [[Poplock]] and [[Rocksteady]] are trying to make some spare cash, breakdancing on the sidewalks of [[New York City]]. Unfortunately, the management of the [[Dancitron]] nightclub doesn't like competition, and sends a mob after them. The trio grab their tape deck and flee, riding a wheeled dumpster until it's brought to a sudden halt. They're soon surrounded by armed thugs, but luckily [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] are in the city, and come to the trio's aid. While fighting the thugs off, Tracks is surprised to notice one of them is a man in a business suit.

Raoul introduces the rest of the [[Bop Crew]] to the two [[Autobot]]s, who say they're monitoring Decepticon activity, and now suspect there's something strange going on at the Dancitron. The pair enter the club and admire the immense sound system. Soon Blaster is dancing with an apparently blissed-out patron, while Tracks notes a number of oddly-dressed dancers—a garbage man, a middle-aged woman in a bathrobe and curlers, and a man dressed to the nines. In an upstairs booth, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] observe the two Autobots.

[[File:AutoBop Blaster surfing on Tracks.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Mind the paint job.]]

Meanwhile, the Bop Crew are taking an elevated subway train when it unexpectedly begins gathering speed. The driver, entering a hypnotised state, pulls the accelerator lever to full and smashes the control panel with an iron bar. Raoul pulls the emergency cord until it breaks, but the brakes are ineffective at stopping the train. Fortunately Tracks and Blaster happen to be walking nearby, and are able to halt the train. They find the sabotaged control panel, however the driver has already fled.

Tracks sends Blaster, Poplock and Rocksteady to check with [[Teletraan I]] while he and Raoul go to check out the Dancitron again. On the way, the pair spot an active building site—somewhat of an odd sight at 1am, and even odder when they notice the workers are more inappropriately-dressed people, including some of those previously seen at the Dancitron. They're quickly spotted by the workers, and Tracks drags the gate shut to prevent the humans from attacking them, though that doesn't stop a workman on the building itself from firing red-hot rivets at them.

[[File:Trackscruc2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Passion of the Chrysler. ''Alternate joke'': Radio killed the video star.]]

Poplock and Rocksteady are offered free tickets into the Dancitron and eagerly accept, believing they'll be able to investigate on their own. The duo enter the club and are soon hypnotised by the music. Arriving at the club, Tracks leaves Raoul outside and encounters the boy's two friends inside. They lead him to two Decepticons, who use the club's hypnotized patrons to ensnare him and bind him to the club's sound system. Starscream reports to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] that the building construction is on schedule.

Having consulted Teletraan I, Blaster arrives at the Dancitron to find Raoul waiting outside. The pair enter to find Tracks, with Blaster tracking an ultrasound signal. Raoul encounters his two friends and, remembering Blaster's warning about the hypnotic sound, plugs his ears with a paper napkin. They chase him, and he soon finds Tracks, but is overwhelmed by the hypnotized dancers. As he soon discovers, the hypnosis can be broken by simply getting the victim [[Water|wet]], so he triggers the club's sprinkler systems, freeing the patrons from their trance. The Bop Crew swiftly frees Tracks and they pursue Starscream.

[[File:Auto-Bop Blaster Soundwave.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave and Blaster in a two-bot reenactment of You Got Served.]]

Blaster squares off with Soundwave at the club in a sonic "battle of the boom boxes"; the two are nearly evenly matched, until Blaster uses the club's sound system to amplify his abilities and drive Soundwave off. Tracks engineers a rain cloud which de-hypnotises the humans working at the building site. This also flushes out Starscream, who chases Tracks. The Autobot flies through the partially completed building, and the larger Decepticon damages his wing trying to follow, forcing him to retreat. Blaster arrives and uses the Dancitron speakers to bring down the building.

Tracks offers grateful thanks to Raoul and his buddies for saving his life, saying that if there's anything he can do for them... and it turns out there is. The trio lost their radio in all the chaos, and until they earn enough street cash to get a new one, poor Blaster will make an ideal replacement.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (6)
*[[Teletraan I]] (10)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)

|c3=
*[[Raoul]] (1)
*[[Poplock]] (2)
*[[Rocksteady]] (3)
*[[Furg]] (4)
*[[Stylish man]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==

"I've got to french-fry your circuits."
:—'''Raoul''' shows his gratefulness to '''Blaster'''

"And did you notice that there was a ''business man'' in that crew?"
:—'''Tracks''' objects to an impostor's blatant bucking of Dancitron's dress code.

"That's what I call a riveting experience!" 
"I don't know why I hang out with you, man."
:—'''Tracks''' makes a terrible pun after being shot at by a guy with a rivet gun, and '''Raoul''' calls him out on it.

"Foo on this jive! My main machine's in trouble!"
:—'''Raoul'''

"I've been waiting a long time for this, you poor excuse for a sound system." 
"All talk...no shock."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Soundwave''' begin their sonic duel.

[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Yo, the dude's gone crazy!" 
"Yeah... like a fox!"
:—'''Poplock''' and '''Tracks'''.

"I'd say your nightclub just went out of style."
:—'''Blaster''', having just annihilated Dancitron

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 31st May 1985

===Continuity notes===
*This episode is one of four pre-movie episodes to not feature [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].
*Gadgets and Powers:
**Blaster uses his [[electro-scrambler]] to disable the Dancitron thugs' guns.
**Tracks has a grappling hook in his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] hood, and a laser which he uses to blast a hole in the wall of the Dancitron.
**Tracks can place a passenger inside his chest in [[robot mode]].
**The back of Blaster's cassette cover functions as a monitor for his ultra-sound detector.
**Tracks "seeds" clouds (using some kind of special smoke) to make it rain.
**When leaving the building site to head to the Dancitron, Tracks inserts Raoul into his chest ''before'' transforming to vehicle mode. Weird.
*This episode features the second of only two instances in the series in which Soundwave ''laughs''. The first was in "[[Quest for Survival]]". It is possibly the scariest thing ever.
*The location the Autobots are using as a base has "SPARKPLUGS" over the door, though it's different from [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s shop in "Make Tracks".

===Real-world references===
[[File:AutoBop Clothes Horse.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Furg02.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|[[Batman|Punk is nothing but death... And crime... And the RAGE of a beast!]]]]
*The episode in general features then-relevant (or slightly past-relevant) cultural touchstones - {{w|breakdancing}}, mohawks, spiked clothing and other outlandish outfits, and the paranoia over {{w|Subliminal message#Audio|subliminal messages hidden in popular music}}. There's even a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to the popular FRANKIE SAYS RELAX T-shirts common at the time, based on the 1983 single "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
*When confronted by the gang of thugs employed by Dancitron, Raoul suggests they "pull a [[Michael Jackson]]" and {{w|Beat It}}.
*While fleeing from the thugs, Raoul wishes their blaster (boom box) was "THE [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]]". Rocksteady retorts that Raoul "knows the Autobots like I know [[Prince]]".
*When first meeting Blaster and Tracks, Rocksteady responds to Blaster's implication of trouble-making with "Hey! We were just breakin' in front of the Dancitron (''shifts from two open palms and a shrug to one thumb extended pointing behind him'') and these ''{{w|Mad Max 2|Road Warrior}}'' rejects tried to bounce us out."
*Tracks references real-life fashion magazine ''{{w|GQ}}''.
*The sound effect of the DJ booth door opening and closing is the door sound effect from ''[[Star Trek]]''. This occurs in plenty of other episodes, along with other ''Star Trek'' sound effects ([[phaser (weapon)|phasers]], [[photon torpedo]]es...).
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Tracks pursues Starscream, followed by some [[TIE Fighter]] roar. Starscream gets the trench run targeting-sequence noise just before he crashes.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Raoul-AutoBop.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Well, he ''did'' say he wanted to pull a Michael Jackson.]]
*In the title card, the "O" in "Auto" appears noticably thinner than the one written in "Bop", suggesting the number "0" was actually used instead.
*In this episode, Raoul's skin color is colored lighter than for his last appearance in "[[Make Tracks]]". In fact, even though his [[character model]] is consistent with his last appearance, down to the clothes, nearly ''all'' his colours are off (black instead of brown jacket etc.).
*Despite Rocksteady breakdancing and being thrown around quite a lot, his hat always remains firmly on his head.
*Throughout the episode, when people run, it sounds like they're wearing tapdancing shoes (over-exaggerated sound effect).
*"Let's beat it!" - Raoul is supposed to be saying it, but Rocksteady mouths the words.
*Before the Bop Crew jump onto the dumpster, it's standing against a wall, but shifts out into the middle of the sidewalk as they jump onto it.
*Coloring errors:
**As the thugs first start firing at Blaster, the edges of his helmet are white instead of red.
**As Tracks says "Mellow kind of place", the edges of Blaster's helmet are white again.
**After that [[Stylish man|one fellow]] leaves the bar to ask Tracks a question, his colors ''completely'' change between shots. (See below.) Not only that, his voice changes as well!
**Shortly after Tracks notices the out-of-place people, there's a shot of Blaster and Tracks walking — Tracks's Autobot insignia is outlined in white instead of black, and Blaster's insignia blinks out of existence every few frames.
**In the first shot of Soundwave, his faceplate is dark grey, and his eject button is blue. Then it pans over to Starscream, who has a dark grey face.
**As Blaster says he didn't spy anything unusual at the club, his forehead is red instead of white, and Tracks's wings are missing. The same two errors occur in the next shot but one.
**When Tracks looks up at the subway train, his hood is gray instead of blue.
**When the two Autobots open the door of the train to see the Bop Crew, Tracks's helmet is mostly blue instead of white.
**When Raoul enters Tracks after the train incident, Tracks' interior is glowing the same yellow as his windows (and the seat gets cut off in a yellow stripe as Raoul sits).
**Tracks's wings are blue when he flips them out to take off after he and Raoul leave the building site.
**When Starscream contacts Megatron, Megatron's insignia is red instead of purple.
**Tracks has grey wings, both when the door to the DJ booth opens and as Starscream gloats he'll never get out of the club alive.
**Soundwave's faceplate is oddly shaped, his eyeband is colored white, and his eject button is blue as he announces he's ready for the ultra-sound transmission.
**Directly after Soundwave jumps through the DJ booth window, the right-hand edge of Blaster's helmet is white, and his forehead is red.
**A moment later, the sides of Soundwave's head are blue instead of white, as he reels from Blaster's first attack.
**The sides of Soundwave's head are blue again when he's sent flying from Blaster's attack with the sound system speakers, and his eject button is blue again a moment later, when he stands up in the rubble.
**During a shot of Tracks flying through a building, his wings are blue. This shot is followed by one of Starscream colored as [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]].
[[File:Autobop Blaster's putting on weight.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|This scene was actually filmed while Blaster was pregnant with [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]. That's his baby bump!]]
*When the first thug shoots at Blaster, a layering problem causes the blasts to pass by ''in front'' of the thug in the foreground, making him appear ''huge''.
*As Blaster aims his electro-scrambler, he looks a little... fat.
*As the gangsters retreat, both Blaster and Tracks are shown firing the electro-scrambler wave effect.
*Raoul is missing a row of studs on the left-hand side of his jacket when he claims he had things under control.
*When Raoul introduces Poplock and Rocksteady, they're both suddenly at least a head shorter than him.
*Every shot of the train interior shows it devoid of passengers other than the Bop Crew, but a repeated exterior shot shows panicked people climbing out the windows. The shot is edited in a bit early the first time it's used, before it's clear that the whole train is panicking.
*Blaster walks along Tracks's grappling line a couple of steps too far, and appears to be walking on the side of the train.
*The location names on the side of the train change configuration between shots.
*As Tracks stands up after they halt the train, a cel ordering error results in the windows on the rear of the train appearing on top of him.

[[File:Autobop Tracks holding bouncer.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Ah crap, he deflated.]]
*The bouncer appears to halve in body weight when Tracks picks him up.
*After Tracks climbs up onto a catwalk, the shots of hypnotized club patrons approaching him from either side are the same shot, just mirrored.
*There's not a soul outside the club when Blaster arrives, not even the doorman.
*When Blaster enters the club, in a couple of frames the chest portion of a female dancer's costume flashes flesh-colored.
*When Raoul attempts to free Tracks, the club patrons go into their zombie hypnotized state again. This is the same shot repeated from when the same thing happened earlier, only mirrored.
*Starscream's gunfire doesn't get the standard Decepticon laser sound.
*Starscream's mouth is missing as he indignantly shouts "What?!"
*Right before Starscream jumps through the window, an exterior shot of the Dancitron (with motionless identically-dressed couples leading in a line out of it) can be seen through it, before panning swiftly to the right. As this is supposed to be an exterior window of the Dancitron itself... this shot doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
*After Tracks blasts a hole in the wall, the cels aren't properly aligned, so he appears to drive through a point in the wall slightly to the side of the hole.
*After Tracks causes rain to wake up a variety of distinctively dressed hypnotized humans at the building site, there's a shot of dozens of men fleeing it, all clad in identical construction worker outfits.
*Tracks' bumper gun sounds like Optimus' rifle.
*As Soundwave laughs, the walking animation makes him appear to be moonwalking forwards.
*After Soundwave knocks Blaster into the Dancitron sound system, Blaster sits up, and the piece of debris behind him winks out of existence.
*When Tracks shoots the half-constructed building, the flames wash across the ground about a foot too high.
*The pattern of creases in the Bop Crew's dance mat varies depending on the angle.
*The crowd gathered to watch Poplock and Rocksteady breakdance are completely motionless, despite some of them being in running poses (and check out the oddly "Old West" dressed people by the coffee shop!)

====Rhino DVD release====
The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] release of this episode, which uses the original pre-broadcast film print, features a small series of potentially seizure-inducing flashes as Blaster scans for the ultrasound signal in the Dancitron nightclub. These flashes were removed for the original broadcast version of the episode. This short sequence was not replaced with the as-broadcast footage for the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD release.

===Continuity errors===
*Rocksteady takes off his jacket in order to breakdance, but somehow is suddenly wearing it again when Raoul announces they should beat it.

*Tracks and Blaster actually open fire on humans! Isn't that supposed to be a don't-do-that kind of thing for the Autobots?

[[File:G1Auto-Bop Tracks girl.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Apparently there are still people who don't know about the Autobots, as that one fellow in the club appears to think that Tracks and Blaster are ordinary (gigantic!) humans wearing elaborate costumes.
*Blaster stops the subway train by disabling "the engine", but... subways don't have engines, neither in the "motor" or "locomotive" sense of the word.
*Presumably the train which the Bop Crew were riding on was heading away from the Dancitron, and at high speed. Yet Tracks and Blaster just happen to be walking in exactly the right place to see it speeding along when they were in the club the last time we saw them.
*How did Poplock and Rocksteady get to the Dancitron ahead of Raoul and Tracks, who were driving? The scuffle at the building site didn't hold Tracks up ''that'' long.
*At one point, the show does a flashback to a warning that Blaster gave Raoul ''less than a minute earlier''. Just to make sure nobody forgot.
*Superhuman <s>Spike</s>humans:
**Superconductor: the subway train driver pulls a grab bar right off the wall of the train's cab!
**The hypnotized humans are somehow able to throw Tracks off the catwalk.
*Blaster reacts with surprise to Soundwave's revelation that his 'accomplice' is right behind him, but the animation makes it rather unclear that Starscream is supposed to be hiding from him as he walks in.
*One major plot point is that Tracks realises that there's something wrong when he notices middle-aged housewives and fancy-dressed people at the club, but as the Decepticons are hypnotising people with the music at the club, how did those people get there in the first place in order to be hypnotised?
*It is never established within the episode itself just what the Decepticons are trying to '''accomplish''' with their hypnotize-people-to-construct-a-building plot. However, according to the official [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] synopsis included in [[Metrodome]]'s DVD release: "... the boys and the Autobots pursue Starscream to the skyscraper—a new Decepticon headquarters being constructed by the hypnotized patrons from Dancitron." Oh. Well then.
*It's also never explained what Starscream's objection to the Bop Crew was in the first place that warranted the attention-attracting bouncer-thugs. He even remarks that he has "those kids to deal with first," even after they'd already left, somehow necessitating attempting to ''kill them'' on the subway.
*Based on Starscream's conversation with Furg - and the fact ''Starscream tried to kill them on the subway'' - it sure seems like Poplock and Rocksteady's return to the club was unanticipated. All the more remarkable a coincidence then that the "free passes" guy just happened upon them.
*Why do Tracks and Blaster destroy what looks to be a perfectly good building? Why not keep it?
*At the end of the episode, Tracks expresses his gratitude for the humans saving his life, leading to Blaster acting as their stereo in return. However, Tracks and Blaster saved Raoul and his friends ''several'' times: the original incursion with the thugs on the street, the train incident, and the rivet gun at the construction site. If we're actually keeping score here, the Bop Crew still owe the Autobots ''two''.

===Trivia===
[[File:Auto-bop 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"I play this song, Jazz plays this song, Cold Slither plays this song... does anybody ''not'' play this song?"]]
*When Tracks and Blaster enter Dancitron, the song playing is an instrumental version of the song performed by [[Cold Slither (band)|Cold Slither]] from the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' episode of the same name.
*This episode is also noteworthy for pitting the two tape decks, Soundwave and Blaster, against each other, in an intense sonic duel. It turns out that Soundwave is actually somewhat the more powerful of the two, and Blaster had to augment his output with some nearby additional speakers to best his opponent.
*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]].
*According to David Wise, his inspiration for writing this episode was the ''Wonder Woman'' episode "Disco Devil".<ref>https://aalsbits.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/23-david-wise/</ref> Evidently he liked the plot so much, [[David Wise#Recycle-o-matic|he would copy it again]] for the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' episode "Corporate Raiders from Dimension X".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Club de danse'''" ("Dance Club")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Tracks' line "Blaster, take em!" is replaced by "Go, go, it's your time!".
::*Poplock tells the Autobots that they were dancing the ''smurf''.
::*When Tracks and Raoul arrive in front of the Dancitron, something strange happens. The line "and you wait here" is skipped, then [[Henry Djanik]] says "No way! I'm coming with you" in his Tracks voice and continues with Tracks response just after, which makes the dialogue nonsense.
::*Starscream's line "he will soon be no more!" is missing, resulting in a silent shot of Megatron smiling on the screen.
::*Instead of saying "my accomplice is behind you" like in original, Soundwave mistakenly says "my accomplices ''are'' behind you".
::*The dialogues between Raoul and Tracks during the flying scenes and the duel against Starscream are missing.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gefährliche Hypnosekraft'''" ("Dangerous Hypnosespower")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 16]], [[1989]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Autoradio'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Auto-rock'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The ''Mad Max'' reference is replaced by a ''Street Fighter'' one.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Broadcast VS Soundwave'''" (ブロードキャストVSサウンドウェーブ)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 11]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Qìchērén zài Yèzǒnghuì '''" (汽车人在夜总会,"Autobots in Nightclub")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Uma Nova Filosofia'''" ("A New Philosophy")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tantzetron'''" (Танцетрон,"Dancitron")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Soubdwave's "All talk. No shock" line is replaced by "Much ado about nothing".

===Toys inspired by this episode===
*'''''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' MP-25B [[Loudpedal#Toys|Loudpedal]] ([[TakaraTomy]], 2016)'''
:A redeco and retool of ''Masterpiece'' [[Tracks (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Tracks]] in a deco based on the black ''[[Diaclone]]'' Corvette Stingray variant that was originally available exclusively in Finland in 1984 (which is unrelated to this episode) that includes a redeco of the [[Raoul#Masterpiece|Raoul]] minifigure originally available with Tracks, with his clothes specifically in the color scheme seen in "Auto-Bop" (although the figure technically represents "C Shadow", the human musician alter-ego of Loudpedal's [[holomatter]] avatar).
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{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 USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[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 Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Le Journal des Quintessons ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 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/file/d/1N59OBQBuhyB4sRMkxPF_mvrLb3xv5kAJ/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ppIvmyOaGnfS0F3RQtyOPtE8SACtG_YU Episode dialogue script]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9I2ccIW4fHrAr1KS_HGV99gEwqX0H2I/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Auto-Bop

2025-04-01T09:52:44Z

Diodicon: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode
|image=Auto-bop 4.jpg
|caption=Go ahead and mock '80s clothing, but in thirty years, they'll be mocking what we wear.
|series=G1toon
|ep=52
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=52
|prev2=Prime Target (episode)
|next2=Starscream's Brigade
|title="Auto-Bop"
|season=2
|season ep=36
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-51
|airdate=[[November 13]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lzwjpg5rbg
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Tracks and Blaster uncover a hypnosis plot. A ''funky'' hypnosis plot.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:DancitronGang.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Just the usual Manhattan commuter crowd.]]

[[Raoul]] and his friends [[Poplock]] and [[Rocksteady]] are trying to make some spare cash, breakdancing on the sidewalks of [[New York City]]. Unfortunately, the management of the [[Dancitron]] nightclub doesn't like competition, and sends a mob after them. The trio grab their tape deck and flee, riding a wheeled dumpster until it's brought to a sudden halt. They're soon surrounded by armed thugs, but luckily [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] are in the city, and come to the trio's aid. While fighting the thugs off, Tracks is surprised to notice one of them is a man in a business suit.

Raoul introduces the rest of the [[Bop Crew]] to the two [[Autobot]]s, who say they're monitoring Decepticon activity, and now suspect there's something strange going on at the Dancitron. The pair enter the club and admire the immense sound system. Soon Blaster is dancing with an apparently blissed-out patron, while Tracks notes a number of oddly-dressed dancers—a garbage man, a middle-aged woman in a bathrobe and curlers, and a man dressed to the nines. In an upstairs booth, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] observe the two Autobots.

[[File:AutoBop Blaster surfing on Tracks.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Mind the paint job.]]

Meanwhile, the Bop Crew are taking an elevated subway train when it unexpectedly begins gathering speed. The driver, entering a hypnotised state, pulls the accelerator lever to full and smashes the control panel with an iron bar. Raoul pulls the emergency cord until it breaks, but the brakes are ineffective at stopping the train. Fortunately Tracks and Blaster happen to be walking nearby, and are able to halt the train. They find the sabotaged control panel, however the driver has already fled.

Tracks sends Blaster, Poplock and Rocksteady to check with [[Teletraan I]] while he and Raoul go to check out the Dancitron again. On the way, the pair spot an active building site—somewhat of an odd sight at 1am, and even odder when they notice the workers are more inappropriately-dressed people, including some of those previously seen at the Dancitron. They're quickly spotted by the workers, and Tracks drags the gate shut to prevent the humans from attacking them, though that doesn't stop a workman on the building itself from firing red-hot rivets at them.

[[File:Trackscruc2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Passion of the Chrysler. ''Alternate joke'': Radio killed the video star.]]

Poplock and Rocksteady are offered free tickets into the Dancitron and eagerly accept, believing they'll be able to investigate on their own. The duo enter the club and are soon hypnotised by the music. Arriving at the club, Tracks leaves Raoul outside and encounters the boy's two friends inside. They lead him to two Decepticons, who use the club's hypnotized patrons to ensnare him and bind him to the club's sound system. Starscream reports to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] that the building construction is on schedule.

Having consulted Teletraan I, Blaster arrives at the Dancitron to find Raoul waiting outside. The pair enter to find Tracks, with Blaster tracking an ultrasound signal. Raoul encounters his two friends and, remembering Blaster's warning about the hypnotic sound, plugs his ears with a paper napkin. They chase him, and he soon finds Tracks, but is overwhelmed by the hypnotized dancers. As he soon discovers, the hypnosis can be broken by simply getting the victim [[Water|wet]], so he triggers the club's sprinkler systems, freeing the patrons from their trance. The Bop Crew swiftly frees Tracks and they pursue Starscream.

[[File:Auto-Bop Blaster Soundwave.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave and Blaster in a two-bot reenactment of You Got Served.]]

Blaster squares off with Soundwave at the club in a sonic "battle of the boom boxes"; the two are nearly evenly matched, until Blaster uses the club's sound system to amplify his abilities and drive Soundwave off. Tracks engineers a rain cloud which de-hypnotises the humans working at the building site. This also flushes out Starscream, who chases Tracks. The Autobot flies through the partially completed building, and the larger Decepticon damages his wing trying to follow, forcing him to retreat. Blaster arrives and uses the Dancitron speakers to bring down the building.

Tracks offers grateful thanks to Raoul and his buddies for saving his life, saying that if there's anything he can do for them... and it turns out there is. The trio lost their radio in all the chaos, and until they earn enough street cash to get a new one, poor Blaster will make an ideal replacement.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (6)
*[[Teletraan I]] (10)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)

|c3=
*[[Raoul]] (1)
*[[Poplock]] (2)
*[[Rocksteady]] (3)
*[[Furg]] (4)
*[[Stylish man]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==

"I've got to french-fry your circuits."
:—'''Raoul''' shows his gratefulness to '''Blaster'''

"And did you notice that there was a ''business man'' in that crew?"
:—'''Tracks''' objects to an impostor's blatant bucking of Dancitron's dress code.

"That's what I call a riveting experience!" 
"I don't know why I hang out with you, man."
:—'''Tracks''' makes a terrible pun after being shot at by a guy with a rivet gun, and '''Raoul''' calls him out on it.

"Foo on this jive! My main machine's in trouble!"
:—'''Raoul'''

"I've been waiting a long time for this, you poor excuse for a sound system." 
"All talk...no shock."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Soundwave''' begin their sonic duel.

[[File:AutoBop blaster speakers.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
"Yo, the dude's gone crazy!" 
"Yeah... like a fox!"
:—'''Poplock''' and '''Tracks'''.

"I'd say your nightclub just went out of style."
:—'''Blaster''', having just annihilated Dancitron

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 31st May 1985

===Continuity notes===
*This episode is one of four pre-movie episodes to not feature [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]].
*Gadgets and Powers:
**Blaster uses his [[electro-scrambler]] to disable the Dancitron thugs' guns.
**Tracks has a grappling hook in his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] hood, and a laser which he uses to blast a hole in the wall of the Dancitron.
**Tracks can place a passenger inside his chest in [[robot mode]].
**The back of Blaster's cassette cover functions as a monitor for his ultra-sound detector.
**Tracks "seeds" clouds (using some kind of special smoke) to make it rain.
**When leaving the building site to head to the Dancitron, Tracks inserts Raoul into his chest ''before'' transforming to vehicle mode. Weird.
*This episode features the second of only two instances in the series in which Soundwave ''laughs''. The first was in "[[Quest for Survival]]". It is possibly the scariest thing ever.
*The location the Autobots are using as a base has "SPARKPLUGS" over the door, though it's different from [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s shop in "Make Tracks".

===Real-world references===
[[File:AutoBop Clothes Horse.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Furg02.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|[[Batman|Punk is nothing but death... And crime... And the RAGE of a beast!]]]]
*The episode in general features then-relevant (or slightly past-relevant) cultural touchstones - {{w|breakdancing}}, mohawks, spiked clothing and other outlandish outfits, and the paranoia over {{w|Subliminal message#Audio|subliminal messages hidden in popular music}}. There's even a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to the popular FRANKIE SAYS RELAX T-shirts common at the time, based on the 1983 single "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
*When confronted by the gang of thugs employed by Dancitron, Raoul suggests they "pull a [[Michael Jackson]]" and {{w|Beat It}}.
*While fleeing from the thugs, Raoul wishes their blaster (boom box) was "THE [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]]". Rocksteady retorts that Raoul "knows the Autobots like I know [[Prince]]".
*When first meeting Blaster and Tracks, Rocksteady responds to Blaster's implication of trouble-making with "Hey! We were just breakin' in front of the Dancitron (''shifts from two open palms and a shrug to one thumb extended pointing behind him'') and these ''{{w|Mad Max 2|Road Warrior}}'' rejects tried to bounce us out."
*Tracks references real-life fashion magazine ''{{w|GQ}}''.
*The sound effect of the DJ booth door opening and closing is the door sound effect from ''[[Star Trek]]''. This occurs in plenty of other episodes, along with other ''Star Trek'' sound effects ([[phaser (weapon)|phasers]], [[photon torpedo]]es...).
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Tracks pursues Starscream, followed by some [[TIE Fighter]] roar. Starscream gets the trench run targeting-sequence noise just before he crashes.

===Animation and technical errors===
[[File:Raoul-AutoBop.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Well, he ''did'' say he wanted to pull a Michael Jackson.]]
*In the title card, the "O" in "Auto" appears noticably thinner than the one written in "Bop", suggesting the number "0" was actually used instead.
*In this episode, Raoul's skin color is colored lighter than for his last appearance in "[[Make Tracks]]". In fact, even though his [[character model]] is consistent with his last appearance, down to the clothes, nearly ''all'' his colours are off (black instead of brown jacket etc.).
*Despite Rocksteady breakdancing and being thrown around quite a lot, his hat always remains firmly on his head.
*Throughout the episode, when people run, it sounds like they're wearing tapdancing shoes (over-exaggerated sound effect).
*"Let's beat it!" - Raoul is supposed to be saying it, but Rocksteady mouths the words.
*Before the Bop Crew jump onto the dumpster, it's standing against a wall, but shifts out into the middle of the sidewalk as they jump onto it.
*Coloring errors:
**As the thugs first start firing at Blaster, the edges of his helmet are white instead of red.
**As Tracks says "Mellow kind of place", the edges of Blaster's helmet are white again.
**After that [[Stylish man|one fellow]] leaves the bar to ask Tracks a question, his colors ''completely'' change between shots. (See below.) Not only that, his voice changes as well!
**Shortly after Tracks notices the out-of-place people, there's a shot of Blaster and Tracks walking — Tracks's Autobot insignia is outlined in white instead of black, and Blaster's insignia blinks out of existence every few frames.
**In the first shot of Soundwave, his faceplate is dark grey, and his eject button is blue. Then it pans over to Starscream, who has a dark grey face.
**As Blaster says he didn't spy anything unusual at the club, his forehead is red instead of white, and Tracks's wings are missing. The same two errors occur in the next shot but one.
**When Tracks looks up at the subway train, his hood is gray instead of blue.
**When the two Autobots open the door of the train to see the Bop Crew, Tracks's helmet is mostly blue instead of white.
**When Raoul enters Tracks after the train incident, Tracks' interior is glowing the same yellow as his windows (and the seat gets cut off in a yellow stripe as Raoul sits).
**Tracks's wings are blue when he flips them out to take off after he and Raoul leave the building site.
**When Starscream contacts Megatron, Megatron's insignia is red instead of purple.
**Tracks has grey wings, both when the door to the DJ booth opens and as Starscream gloats he'll never get out of the club alive.
**Soundwave's faceplate is oddly shaped, his eyeband is colored white, and his eject button is blue as he announces he's ready for the ultra-sound transmission.
**Directly after Soundwave jumps through the DJ booth window, the right-hand edge of Blaster's helmet is white, and his forehead is red.
**A moment later, the sides of Soundwave's head are blue instead of white, as he reels from Blaster's first attack.
**The sides of Soundwave's head are blue again when he's sent flying from Blaster's attack with the sound system speakers, and his eject button is blue again a moment later, when he stands up in the rubble.
**During a shot of Tracks flying through a building, his wings are blue. This shot is followed by one of Starscream colored as [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]].
[[File:Autobop Blaster's putting on weight.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|This scene was actually filmed while Blaster was pregnant with [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]. That's his baby bump!]]
*When the first thug shoots at Blaster, a layering problem causes the blasts to pass by ''in front'' of the thug in the foreground, making him appear ''huge''.
*As Blaster aims his electro-scrambler, he looks a little... fat.
*As the gangsters retreat, both Blaster and Tracks are shown firing the electro-scrambler wave effect.
*Raoul is missing a row of studs on the left-hand side of his jacket when he claims he had things under control.
*When Raoul introduces Poplock and Rocksteady, they're both suddenly at least a head shorter than him.
*Every shot of the train interior shows it devoid of passengers other than the Bop Crew, but a repeated exterior shot shows panicked people climbing out the windows. The shot is edited in a bit early the first time it's used, before it's clear that the whole train is panicking.
*Blaster walks along Tracks's grappling line a couple of steps too far, and appears to be walking on the side of the train.
*The location names on the side of the train change configuration between shots.
*As Tracks stands up after they halt the train, a cel ordering error results in the windows on the rear of the train appearing on top of him.

[[File:Autobop Tracks holding bouncer.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Ah crap, he deflated.]]
*The bouncer appears to halve in body weight when Tracks picks him up.
*After Tracks climbs up onto a catwalk, the shots of hypnotized club patrons approaching him from either side are the same shot, just mirrored.
*There's not a soul outside the club when Blaster arrives, not even the doorman.
*When Blaster enters the club, in a couple of frames the chest portion of a female dancer's costume flashes flesh-colored.
*When Raoul attempts to free Tracks, the club patrons go into their zombie hypnotized state again. This is the same shot repeated from when the same thing happened earlier, only mirrored.
*Starscream's gunfire doesn't get the standard Decepticon laser sound.
*Starscream's mouth is missing as he indignantly shouts "What?!"
*Right before Starscream jumps through the window, an exterior shot of the Dancitron (with motionless identically-dressed couples leading in a line out of it) can be seen through it, before panning swiftly to the right. As this is supposed to be an exterior window of the Dancitron itself... this shot doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
*After Tracks blasts a hole in the wall, the cels aren't properly aligned, so he appears to drive through a point in the wall slightly to the side of the hole.
*After Tracks causes rain to wake up a variety of distinctively dressed hypnotized humans at the building site, there's a shot of dozens of men fleeing it, all clad in identical construction worker outfits.
*Tracks' bumper gun sounds like Optimus' rifle.
*As Soundwave laughs, the walking animation makes him appear to be moonwalking forwards.
*After Soundwave knocks Blaster into the Dancitron sound system, Blaster sits up, and the piece of debris behind him winks out of existence.
*When Tracks shoots the half-constructed building, the flames wash across the ground about a foot too high.
*The pattern of creases in the Bop Crew's dance mat varies depending on the angle.
*The crowd gathered to watch Poplock and Rocksteady breakdance are completely motionless, despite some of them being in running poses (and check out the oddly "Old West" dressed people by the coffee shop!)

====Rhino DVD release====
The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] release of this episode, which uses the original pre-broadcast film print, features a small series of potentially seizure-inducing flashes as Blaster scans for the ultrasound signal in the Dancitron nightclub. These flashes were removed for the original broadcast version of the episode. This short sequence was not replaced with the as-broadcast footage for the [[Shout! Factory]] DVD release.

===Continuity errors===
*Rocksteady takes off his jacket in order to breakdance, but somehow is suddenly wearing it again when Raoul announces they should beat it.

*Tracks and Blaster actually open fire on humans! Isn't that supposed to be a don't-do-that kind of thing for the Autobots?

[[File:G1Auto-Bop Tracks girl.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Apparently there are still people who don't know about the Autobots, as that one fellow in the club appears to think that Tracks and Blaster are ordinary (gigantic!) humans wearing elaborate costumes.
*Blaster stops the subway train by disabling "the engine", but... subways don't have engines, neither in the "motor" or "locomotive" sense of the word.
*Presumably the train which the Bop Crew were riding on was heading away from the Dancitron, and at high speed. Yet Tracks and Blaster just happen to be walking in exactly the right place to see it speeding along when they were in the club the last time we saw them.
*How did Poplock and Rocksteady get to the Dancitron ahead of Raoul and Tracks, who were driving? The scuffle at the building site didn't hold Tracks up ''that'' long.
*At one point, the show does a flashback to a warning that Blaster gave Raoul ''less than a minute earlier''. Just to make sure nobody forgot.
*Superhuman <s>Spike</s>humans:
**Superconductor: the subway train driver pulls a grab bar right off the wall of the train's cab!
**The hypnotized humans are somehow able to throw Tracks off the catwalk.
*Blaster reacts with surprise to Soundwave's revelation that his 'accomplice' is right behind him, but the animation makes it rather unclear that Starscream is supposed to be hiding from him as he walks in.
*One major plot point is that Tracks realises that there's something wrong when he notices middle-aged housewives and fancy-dressed people at the club, but as the Decepticons are hypnotising people with the music at the club, how did those people get there in the first place in order to be hypnotised?
*It is never established within the episode itself just what the Decepticons are trying to '''accomplish''' with their hypnotize-people-to-construct-a-building plot. However, according to the official [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] synopsis included in [[Metrodome]]'s DVD release: "... the boys and the Autobots pursue Starscream to the skyscraper—a new Decepticon headquarters being constructed by the hypnotized patrons from Dancitron." Oh. Well then.
*It's also never explained what Starscream's objection to the Bop Crew was in the first place that warranted the attention-attracting bouncer-thugs. He even remarks that he has "those kids to deal with first," even after they'd already left, somehow necessitating attempting to ''kill them'' on the subway.
*Based on Starscream's conversation with Furg - and the fact ''Starscream tried to kill them on the subway'' - it sure seems like Poplock and Rocksteady's return to the club was unanticipated. All the more remarkable a coincidence then that the "free passes" guy just happened upon them.
*Why do Tracks and Blaster destroy what looks to be a perfectly good building? Why not keep it?
*At the end of the episode, Tracks expresses his gratitude for the humans saving his life, leading to Blaster acting as their stereo in return. However, Tracks and Blaster saved Raoul and his friends ''several'' times: the original incursion with the thugs on the street, the train incident, and the rivet gun at the construction site. If we're actually keeping score here, the Bop Crew still owe the Autobots ''two''.

===Trivia===
[[File:Auto-bop 2.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"I play this song, Jazz plays this song, Cold Slither plays this song... does anybody ''not'' play this song?"]]
*When Tracks and Blaster enter Dancitron, the song playing is an instrumental version of the song performed by [[Cold Slither (band)|Cold Slither]] from the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' episode of the same name.
*This episode is also noteworthy for pitting the two tape decks, Soundwave and Blaster, against each other, in an intense sonic duel. It turns out that Soundwave is actually somewhat the more powerful of the two, and Blaster had to augment his output with some nearby additional speakers to best his opponent.
*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]].
*According to David Wise, his inspiration for writing this episode was the ''Wonder Woman'' episode "Disco Devil".<ref>https://aalsbits.wordpress.com/2015/04/16/23-david-wise/</ref> Evidently he liked the plot so much, [[David Wise#Recycle-o-matic|he would copy it again]] for the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' episode "Corporate Raiders from Dimension X".

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Club de danse'''" ("Dance Club")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Tracks' line "Blaster, take em!" is replaced by "Go, go, it's your time!".
::*Poplock tells the Autobots that they were dancing the ''smurf''.
::*When Tracks and Raoul arrive in front of the Dancitron, something strange happens. The line "and you wait here" is skipped, then [[Henry Djanik]] says "No way! I'm coming with you" in his Tracks voice and continues with Tracks response just after, which makes the dialogue nonsense.
::*Starscream's line "he will soon be no more!" is missing, resulting in a silent shot of Megatron smiling on the screen.
::*Instead of saying "my accomplice is behind you" like in original, Soundwave mistakenly says "my accomplices ''are'' behind you".
::*The dialogues between Raoul and Tracks during the flying scenes and the duel against Starscream are missing.

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gefährliche Hypnosekraft'''" ("Dangerous Hypnosespower")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 16]], [[1989]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Autoradio'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Auto-rock'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The ''Mad Max'' reference is replaced by a ''Street Fighter'' one.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Broadcast VS Soundwave'''" (ブロードキャストVSサウンドウェーブ)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 11]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Qìchērén zài Yèzǒnghuì '''" (汽车人在夜总会,"Autobots in Nightclub")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Uma Nova Filosofia'''" ("A New Philosophy")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Tantzetron'''" (Танцетрон,"Dancitron")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Soubdwave's ''All taslk. No shock'' line is replaced by ''Much ado about nothing''.

===Toys inspired by this episode===
*'''''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' MP-25B [[Loudpedal#Toys|Loudpedal]] ([[TakaraTomy]], 2016)'''
:A redeco and retool of ''Masterpiece'' [[Tracks (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Tracks]] in a deco based on the black ''[[Diaclone]]'' Corvette Stingray variant that was originally available exclusively in Finland in 1984 (which is unrelated to this episode) that includes a redeco of the [[Raoul#Masterpiece|Raoul]] minifigure originally available with Tracks, with his clothes specifically in the color scheme seen in "Auto-Bop" (although the figure technically represents "C Shadow", the human musician alter-ego of Loudpedal's [[holomatter]] avatar).
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{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 USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[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 Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Box-Set (3DVDs) ([[Flex Media]]) — German audio only. 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — Le Journal des Quintessons ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 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/file/d/1N59OBQBuhyB4sRMkxPF_mvrLb3xv5kAJ/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ppIvmyOaGnfS0F3RQtyOPtE8SACtG_YU Episode dialogue script]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v9I2ccIW4fHrAr1KS_HGV99gEwqX0H2I/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]