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People Power!

2011-03-26T20:20:38Z

Fishyofpain: /* Items of note */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #42
|prev=Totaled!
|next=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)
|title=People Power!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #176–177
|prev2=Totaled!
|next2=The Cosmic Carnival
|image=MarvelUS-42.jpg
|caption=Get... in... me... belly!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=March 1988
|coverdate=July 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|breakdowns=[[José Delbo]]
|finishes=[[Dave Hunt]] & [[Don Hudson]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''A small band of Autobots take Optimus Prime's consciousness to Nebulos to have a new body built for him, but encounter some potentially deadly challenges.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Dreadwing g1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Just rude, really.]]

On the planet Nebulos, an alien jet attacks the [[Gardens of Eternal Peace and Harmony Macrobiotic Restaurant]]. The jets splits into the bickering Decepticons Dreadwind and Darkwing, who each discharge a transformable humanoid passenger. The two bio-engineered Nebulans, Hi-Test and Throttle, confront the maitre d' and demand a dozen of the restaurant's best entrés.

Meanwhile, the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' arrives in orbit over Nebulos. Its crew, Goldbug, Slapdash, Joyride, and Getaway, journey to the surface and meet with the Nebulan scientist, Hi-Q, at his research facility. Hi-Q is reluctant to help them in their mission to construct a new body for Optimus Prime, though not because he's unwilling.

Hi-Q explains that after the departure of the Transformers from their world {{storylink|Brothers in Armor!!}}, he and his former partner Hi-Test were charged with preventing the Transformers from ever returning. Under his direction, a bomb was detonated, tainting all fuel sources on the planet so as to be poisonous to any [[Transformer|Transformers]]. Hi-Q's success drove the jealous Hi-Test to quit, however.

When Darkwing and Dreadwind arrived looking for [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s crew, they soon found themselves victim of this poisoning, and lay dormant for a time. Hi-Test recruited the thief Throttle to steal Hi-Q's research into what he called the [[Powermaster|Powermaster]] process, allowing a bio-engineered Nebulan to serve as a replacement power source for a poisoned Transformer. Hi-Test and Throttle undergo the necessary alterations, and partner with the two Decepticons, reviving them. A major side-effect is that in order to generate the energy the Nebulans must consume huge quantities of food, and many of Darkwing and Dreadwind's attacks are to secure supplies. Hi-Q has thus far been unable to devise a way to stop them.

Goldbug says ''they'' can stop the rampaging Decepticons, but Hi-Q reminds them that they, too, will be poisoned if they partake of local fuel resources. Goldbug is adamant that they at least stay and complete their mission, despite the danger to themselves. Hi-Q says that he, his staff, and his facilities are at their disposal... but that he will not be saddened when the Autobots inevitably fall.

Darkwing and Dreadwind, meanwhile, attack the [[Council of Peers]] at Koraja, determined this time to find out what happened to Scorponok's crew. The Autobots hear of the attack and come to the rescue, only to get soundly trounced by the Powermaster-enhanced Decepticons.

Returning to the lab, the steadily-weakening Autobots complete Optimus Prime's new body with Hi-Q's help. Even though he will only live a short while in his poisoned body, Prime's mind is transferred into the body. He can now combine with a new trailer component, granting him greater power than ever before -- an upgrade he can't wait to use in [[Pretender to the Throne!|the next game!]] Goldbug despairs; even restoring him to life hasn't convinced Optimus that he's not just a computer simulation.

But suddenly Prime is struck by pain as the poisoned fuel kicks in. He realizes that since he can feel pain and potentially die, he must be alive... and thanks Goldbug for freeing him from the living death of the disk for a few precious moments of life. Hi-Q is struck by the realization that the Autobots are both alive and as noble as any Nebulan he's met. He volunteers to save Optimus by undergoing the Powermaster process himself. Three of his staff eagerly agree to help out Joyride, Getaway and Slapdash. Only the pacifist Kari refuses to participate, but luckily, Goldbug is quite fuel efficient and has plenty of fuel reserves left.

Some time later, Darkwing and Dreadwind have coerced the location of the Autobots from the Nebulans, and move to attack Hi-Q's lab. They are met by the rejuvenated Powermaster Autobots, however, who can now match them shot for shot. The entry of Optimus Prime into the battle causes it to end very quickly; the Decepticons crash and burn. Hi-Q confronts Hi-Test, pointing out what his petty jealousy has caused: the return of war to Nebulos. The Council has already sentenced Hi-Test and Throttle to exile from Nebulos; they rejoin their partners and rocket off to parts unknown.

Goldbug prepares to depart alone in the ''Steelhaven''; the Powermaster process has inextricably tied the Autobots and the Nebulans together, and the robots are now bound to the world of their partners. But Kari points out that Nebulos may not be a suitable home for the binary-bonded Nebulans anymore. Hi-Q realizes she's right -- their presence endangers the planet. The Autobots and their new partners all say a sad farewell to Nebulos.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Getaway]] (6)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (7)
* [[Joyride (Autobot)|Joyride]] (8)
* [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (15)
|c2=
* [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (1)
* [[Darkwing]] (2)
* [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (3)
|h4=[[Nebulon]]s|c4=
* [[Hi-Test]] (4)
* [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] (5)
* [[Lube]] (10)
* [[Hotwire]] (11)
* [[Kari]] (12)
* [[Hi-Q]] (13)
* [[Rev]] (14)
}}

==Errors==
* The Nebulan capital city of [[Koraja]] appears radically different than it did in the ''Headmasters'' miniseries; the new version of Koraja is both much larger and more overtly high-tech than the miniseries' version.
* Despite being on Nebulos, the [[Gardens of Eternal Peace and Harmony Macrobiotic Restaurant]] that Dreadwind and Darkwing attack at the start of the story has "RESTAURANT" written across the entrance in English.
* Is it really plausible that a humanoid could power a full-size Transformer, particularly one with high fuel demands required by flight capability, via the contents of their stomach?

==Items of note==
* Goldbug is the only Autobot who ends up not needing to become a Powermaster, thanks to his high fuel efficiency.
* Which is convenient, since Kari, Hi-Q's fourth assistant, is a staunch pacifist who refuses to fight alongside the Autobots.
* Goldbug says Optimus Prime looks identical to how he remembered, but there are a few minor changes made to his character model to make it look more like the toy, including hip wheels, no gas cans on his legs, and smokestacks that protrude from inside of his shoulders instead of attached on the outside.
* The letters page of the US printing confirmed a second 4-issue [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]] to be released in the summer of 1988, which was seemingly canceled at the last minute due to declining sales. As a result, starting with [[Club Con!|issue 47]] Universe profiles were occasionally included in issues of the ongoing series, allowing [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] to maintain the per issue page quota while also reducing production costs.

===References===
* Slapdash, Joyride, and Getaway all made their first non-speaking appearances in [[Totaled!|the previous issue]], in which the narration described them as being charged with guarding the Optimus Prime disk on board ''Steelhaven''.
* Hi-Q explains the steps that the [[Council of Peers]] took to keep invading robots off Nebulos after [[Brothers in Armor!!|the final issue]] of the ''Headmasters'' miniseries.

===UK printing===
* In the [[Grim Grams]] for issue #176, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] declines to answer a puzzle involving guessing the identity of a [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] who transforms into a T-Rex, hates [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and answers the letter page.
* Issue #177 featured an updated Transformers A-Z entry for Optimus Prime.
* In the Grim Grams for issue #177, Grimlock states he doesn't believe that an appearance by an issue of Transformers on long running UK soap ''Coronation Street'' could be considered an honor.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-42.jpg|'''US Issue 42''' - Mummy, is that how babies are born?
Image:MarvelUK-176.jpg|'''UK Issue 176''' - Oh no, not [[:Image:Bonk.jpg|again!]]
Image:MarvelUK-177.jpg|'''UK Issue 177''' - Yep, he's back, and here to stay. Until he gets killed [[Still Life!|again.]] And then is [[End of the Road! (US)|back to stay again.]] And then gets killed [[A Rage in Heaven!|again.]] Because [[Hasbro|the Fates]] have decreed [[To sell toys|that this is the path of the Hero.]]
</gallery>
* '''U.S. issue 42 cover:''' battle royal by [[José Delbo]] and [[Dave Hunt]].
* '''UK issue 176 cover:''' Darkwing and Dreadwind by [[Kev Hopgood]]; the image of Dreadwind from this cover was reused as part of the first "Dread Tidings" masthead during the character's stint on Marvel UK letters page.
* '''UK issue 177 cover:''' Optimus Prime cover by [[Jeff Anderson]] proclaiming the character's return. This image would later be cropped and used as the character portrait in the info block on future UK covers.

===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Love and Steel!

2011-03-26T19:35:20Z

Fishyofpain: /* Errors */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Headmasters (comic)|''Headmasters'']] #3
|prev=Broken Glass!
|next=Brothers in Armor!!
|title=Love and Steel!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #138–141
|prev2=Ladies' Night
|next2=Used Autobots
|image=MarvelHeadmasters-3.jpg
|caption=Uwe Boll's ''Bubble Bobble''
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=July 1987
|coverdate=November 1987
|script=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Pat Brosseau]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The battle on Nebulos escalates as the Decepticons create their own Headmasters.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Horrorcon]]s and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] are having a grand old time, spreading terror and destruction in the Nebulan resort city of [[Splendora]], until Brainstorm, Hardhead, and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s arrive. Computron easily defeats Abominus, while the two Headmasters take out the Horrorcons. The Decepticons beat a hasty retreat. In the battle's aftermath, Arcana and Duros deal with worried citizens and some investigating members of the Council of Peers, who aren't too happy about ''any'' giant robots running around in their cities, even well-intentioned ones.

Meanwhile, Scorponok has captured a group of Nebulans led by Lord Zarak, and use them as laboratory animals for experiments, by which they intend to dispose of the humanoid populace of the planet with a dump-Nebulans-into-space machine. Lord Zarak successfully bargains for his life and convinces the Decepticons to duplicate the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process.

At the Autobot Headmasters' headquarters, Galan and his troops are investigating the weapons surrendered to them by the other Autobots. A group from the Council of Peers arrives and informs them that a committee will be observing their actions from now on, in order to keep tabs on them. A message arrives just then, brought by [[Llyra]] -- her father, Zarak, claims to be held captive by the Decepticons, and begs for rescue. Galan doesn't hesitate, but leads his Autobots into the fray.

The Autobots arrive at the [[Grax Communications Facility]] to find that the Nebulans are free -- and newly partnered with the Decepticons! The enhanced Decepticons prove to be a match for the Headmaster Autobots. The Council of Peers observers prove the perfect distraction for the Autobots. Mindwipe hypnotizes Llyra into leading the Nebulans into the Decepticons' operations building, where he uses the dump-Nebulans-into-space machine on them. The Autobots are too occupied rescuing the Nebulans to avoid getting shot in the back.

Confused by the hypnosis, Llyra remembers little besides the Autobots shooting at her, to Zarak's relief. Zarak says that the captive Galan and his allies will never have the chance to harm Nebulans again...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Brainstorm]] (1)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]]
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]]
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (3)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (4)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (17)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (18)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grr]]
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]]
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]]
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (2)
* [[Apeface]] (5)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (6)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (10)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (11)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (12)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (20)
|h4=[[Nebulon]]s|c4=
* [[Duros]] (7)
* [[Arcana]] (8)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Lord Zarak]] (9)
* [[Monzo]] (13)
* [[Galen]] (14)
* [[Stylor]] (15)
* [[Gort]] (16)
}}

==Errors==
* Fortress Maximus has yet another head design on the cover of this issue, which randomly shows up for one panel inside, as he's catching Llyra.
* Also on the cover, Hardhead is colored blue instead of green.
* On the splash page, the second narrative caption is incomplete, as it reads, "But all that changed a few hours ago... when these seven living mechanical monsters — the Decepticons Apeface, Cutthroat, Snapdragon, Rippersnapper, Hun-Grr, Sinnertwin, and Blot—" Presumably there should have been a third narrative caption telling what the monsters are doing. (Not that it isn't obvious from the art, but still.)
* Slugslinger and Triggerhappy are shown retreating with Snapdragon and the Terrorcons; Apeface and Blot are missing from the group. Rippersnapper is colored with Blot's color scheme in the same panel.
* The Horrorcons later tell Scorponok that the Terrorcons retreated in another direction, but they're all shown running away from the battle together.
* Sylor's and Gort's color pallets are swapped throughout the course of this issue.
* The "weapons surrendered by six of our Autobot allies" bear no resemblance at all to the guns actually thrown down by the Autobots two issues prior. They do, however, look quite a bit like their future replacement [[Targetmaster]] weapons.
* All kinds of wackiness ensues as the Decepticons' Nebulan partners transform for the first time. When their heads are sitting on the ground, Snapdragon has a different design than his standard model (which also showed up last issue); in the next panel, he's in his normal head design. Mindwipe, meanwhile, has a completely made-up head when it's sitting on the ground. Apeface's head is correct when it's sitting on the ground, but in the next panel, he's got a mouth and eyes instead of a faceplate and eyeband. Apeface himself is miscolored, and drawn with rather squat proportions, making him look like a giant Nebulan.
* Fortress Maximus is drawn instead of Scorponok when the latter orders Mindwipe to create a diversion (page 18, panel 3).
* On the second-to-last page, Snapdragon says that the Autobots' heads are transforming back to ''[[human]]s''. This could be excused as ignorance on his part - after all, one squishy flesh creature looks just like another - but none of the characters present have even heard of humans yet.

==Items of note==
* Advertised as part 3 in a 4-issue limited series.

===Covers (5)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelHeadmasters-3.jpg|'''Headmasters #3'''
Image:MarvelUK-138.jpg|'''UK issue #138'''
Image:MarvelUK-139.jpg|'''UK issue #139'''
Image:MarvelUK-140.jpg|'''UK issue #140'''
Image:MarvelUK-141.jpg|'''UK issue #141'''
</gallery>
* '''Headmasters #3 cover:''' Autobot Headmasters save the Nebulans in bubbles, by [[Frank Springer]].
* '''UK issue #138 cover:''' Rollbar, Goldbug and the ladies, by [[Barry Kitson]].
* '''UK issue #139 cover:''' Blaster road surfs on Rollbar and Chase, by [[Robin Smith]].
* '''UK issue #140 cover:''' Swindle threatening Big Steve, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #141 cover:''' Brawl, by Lee Sullivan.

===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Love and Steel!

2011-03-26T19:30:35Z

Fishyofpain: /* Errors */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Headmasters (comic)|''Headmasters'']] #3
|prev=Broken Glass!
|next=Brothers in Armor!!
|title=Love and Steel!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #138–141
|prev2=Ladies' Night
|next2=Used Autobots
|image=MarvelHeadmasters-3.jpg
|caption=Uwe Boll's ''Bubble Bobble''
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=July 1987
|coverdate=November 1987
|script=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Pat Brosseau]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The battle on Nebulos escalates as the Decepticons create their own Headmasters.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Horrorcon]]s and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] are having a grand old time, spreading terror and destruction in the Nebulan resort city of [[Splendora]], until Brainstorm, Hardhead, and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s arrive. Computron easily defeats Abominus, while the two Headmasters take out the Horrorcons. The Decepticons beat a hasty retreat. In the battle's aftermath, Arcana and Duros deal with worried citizens and some investigating members of the Council of Peers, who aren't too happy about ''any'' giant robots running around in their cities, even well-intentioned ones.

Meanwhile, Scorponok has captured a group of Nebulans led by Lord Zarak, and use them as laboratory animals for experiments, by which they intend to dispose of the humanoid populace of the planet with a dump-Nebulans-into-space machine. Lord Zarak successfully bargains for his life and convinces the Decepticons to duplicate the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process.

At the Autobot Headmasters' headquarters, Galan and his troops are investigating the weapons surrendered to them by the other Autobots. A group from the Council of Peers arrives and informs them that a committee will be observing their actions from now on, in order to keep tabs on them. A message arrives just then, brought by [[Llyra]] -- her father, Zarak, claims to be held captive by the Decepticons, and begs for rescue. Galan doesn't hesitate, but leads his Autobots into the fray.

The Autobots arrive at the [[Grax Communications Facility]] to find that the Nebulans are free -- and newly partnered with the Decepticons! The enhanced Decepticons prove to be a match for the Headmaster Autobots. The Council of Peers observers prove the perfect distraction for the Autobots. Mindwipe hypnotizes Llyra into leading the Nebulans into the Decepticons' operations building, where he uses the dump-Nebulans-into-space machine on them. The Autobots are too occupied rescuing the Nebulans to avoid getting shot in the back.

Confused by the hypnosis, Llyra remembers little besides the Autobots shooting at her, to Zarak's relief. Zarak says that the captive Galan and his allies will never have the chance to harm Nebulans again...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Brainstorm]] (1)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]]
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]]
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (3)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (4)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (17)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (18)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grr]]
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]]
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]]
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (2)
* [[Apeface]] (5)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (6)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (10)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (11)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (12)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (20)
|h4=[[Nebulon]]s|c4=
* [[Duros]] (7)
* [[Arcana]] (8)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Lord Zarak]] (9)
* [[Monzo]] (13)
* [[Galen]] (14)
* [[Stylor]] (15)
* [[Gort]] (16)
}}

==Errors==
* Fortress Maximus has yet another head design on the cover of this issue, which randomly shows up for one panel inside, as he's catching Llyra.
* Also on the cover, Hardhead is colored blue instead of green.
* On the splash page, the second narrative caption is incomplete, as it reads, "But all that changed a few hours ago... when these seven living mechanical monsters — the Decepticons Apeface, Cutthroat, Snapdragon, Rippersnapper, Hun-Grr, Sinnertwin, and Blot—" Presumably there should have been a third narrative caption telling what the monsters are doing. (Not that it isn't obvious from the art, but still.)
* Slugslinger and Triggerhappy are shown retreating with Snapdragon and the Terrorcons; Apeface and Blot are missing from the group. Rippersnapper is colored with Blot's color scheme in the same panel.
* The Horrorcons later tell Scorponok that the Terrorcons retreated in another direction, but they're all shown running away from the battle together.
* Sylor's and Gort's color pallets are swapped throughout the course of this issue.
* The "weapons surrendered by six of our Autobot allies" bear no resemblance at all to the guns actually thrown down by the Autobots two issues prior. They do, however, look quite a bit like their future replacement [[Targetmaster]] weapons.
* All kinds of wackiness ensues as the Decepticons' Nebulan partners transform for the first time. When their heads are sitting on the ground, Snapdragon has a different design than his standard model (which also showed up last issue); in the next panel, he's in his normal head design. Mindwipe, meanwhile, has a completely made-up head when it's sitting on the ground. Apeface's head is correct when it's sitting on the ground, but in the next panel, he's got a mouth and eyes instead of a faceplate and eyeband. Apeface himself is miscolored, and drawn with rather squat proportions, making him look like a giant Nebulan.
* Fortress Maximus is drawn instead of Scorponok when the latter orders Mindwipe to create a diversion.
* On the second-to-last page, Snapdragon says that the Autobots' heads are transforming back to ''[[human]]s''. This could be excused as ignorance on his part - after all, one squishy flesh creature looks just like another - but none of the characters present have even heard of humans yet.

==Items of note==
* Advertised as part 3 in a 4-issue limited series.

===Covers (5)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelHeadmasters-3.jpg|'''Headmasters #3'''
Image:MarvelUK-138.jpg|'''UK issue #138'''
Image:MarvelUK-139.jpg|'''UK issue #139'''
Image:MarvelUK-140.jpg|'''UK issue #140'''
Image:MarvelUK-141.jpg|'''UK issue #141'''
</gallery>
* '''Headmasters #3 cover:''' Autobot Headmasters save the Nebulans in bubbles, by [[Frank Springer]].
* '''UK issue #138 cover:''' Rollbar, Goldbug and the ladies, by [[Barry Kitson]].
* '''UK issue #139 cover:''' Blaster road surfs on Rollbar and Chase, by [[Robin Smith]].
* '''UK issue #140 cover:''' Swindle threatening Big Steve, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #141 cover:''' Brawl, by Lee Sullivan.

===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Love and Steel!

2011-03-26T19:24:46Z

Fishyofpain: /* Errors */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Headmasters (comic)|''Headmasters'']] #3
|prev=Broken Glass!
|next=Brothers in Armor!!
|title=Love and Steel!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #138–141
|prev2=Ladies' Night
|next2=Used Autobots
|image=MarvelHeadmasters-3.jpg
|caption=Uwe Boll's ''Bubble Bobble''
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=July 1987
|coverdate=November 1987
|script=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Pat Brosseau]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The battle on Nebulos escalates as the Decepticons create their own Headmasters.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Horrorcon]]s and the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] are having a grand old time, spreading terror and destruction in the Nebulan resort city of [[Splendora]], until Brainstorm, Hardhead, and the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s arrive. Computron easily defeats Abominus, while the two Headmasters take out the Horrorcons. The Decepticons beat a hasty retreat. In the battle's aftermath, Arcana and Duros deal with worried citizens and some investigating members of the Council of Peers, who aren't too happy about ''any'' giant robots running around in their cities, even well-intentioned ones.

Meanwhile, Scorponok has captured a group of Nebulans led by Lord Zarak, and use them as laboratory animals for experiments, by which they intend to dispose of the humanoid populace of the planet with a dump-Nebulans-into-space machine. Lord Zarak successfully bargains for his life and convinces the Decepticons to duplicate the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] process.

At the Autobot Headmasters' headquarters, Galan and his troops are investigating the weapons surrendered to them by the other Autobots. A group from the Council of Peers arrives and informs them that a committee will be observing their actions from now on, in order to keep tabs on them. A message arrives just then, brought by [[Llyra]] -- her father, Zarak, claims to be held captive by the Decepticons, and begs for rescue. Galan doesn't hesitate, but leads his Autobots into the fray.

The Autobots arrive at the [[Grax Communications Facility]] to find that the Nebulans are free -- and newly partnered with the Decepticons! The enhanced Decepticons prove to be a match for the Headmaster Autobots. The Council of Peers observers prove the perfect distraction for the Autobots. Mindwipe hypnotizes Llyra into leading the Nebulans into the Decepticons' operations building, where he uses the dump-Nebulans-into-space machine on them. The Autobots are too occupied rescuing the Nebulans to avoid getting shot in the back.

Confused by the hypnosis, Llyra remembers little besides the Autobots shooting at her, to Zarak's relief. Zarak says that the captive Galan and his allies will never have the chance to harm Nebulans again...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Brainstorm]] (1)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]]
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]]
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (3)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (4)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (17)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (18)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grr]]
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]]
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]]
* [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] (2)
* [[Apeface]] (5)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (6)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (10)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (11)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (12)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (20)
|h4=[[Nebulon]]s|c4=
* [[Duros]] (7)
* [[Arcana]] (8)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Lord Zarak]] (9)
* [[Monzo]] (13)
* [[Galen]] (14)
* [[Stylor]] (15)
* [[Gort]] (16)
}}

==Errors==
* Fortress Maximus has yet another head design on the cover of this issue, which randomly shows up for one panel inside, as he's catching Llyra.
* Also on the cover, Hardhead is colored blue instead of green.
* On the splash page, the second narrative caption is incomplete, as it reads, "But all that changed a few hours ago... when these seven living mechanical monsters — the Decepticons Apeface, Cutthroat, Snapdragon, Rippersnapper, Hun-Grr, Sinnertwin, and Blot—" Presumably there should have been a third narrative caption telling what the monsters are doing. (Not that it isn't obvious from the art, but still.)
* Slugslinger and Triggerhappy are shown retreating with Snapdragon and the Terrorcons; Apeface and Blot are missing from the group. Rippersnapper is colored with Blot's color scheme in the same panel.
* The Horrorcons later tell Scorponok that the Terrorcons retreated in another direction, but they're all shown running away from the battle together.
* Sylor and Gort appear to have swapped hair colors since the previous issue.
* The "weapons surrendered by six of our Autobot allies" bear no resemblance at all to the guns actually thrown down by the Autobots two issues prior. They do, however, look quite a bit like their future replacement [[Targetmaster]] weapons.
* All kinds of wackiness ensues as the Decepticons' Nebulan partners transform for the first time. When their heads are sitting on the ground, Snapdragon has a different design than his standard model (which also showed up last issue); in the next panel, he's in his normal head design. Mindwipe, meanwhile, has a completely made-up head when it's sitting on the ground. Apeface's head is correct when it's sitting on the ground, but in the next panel, he's got a mouth and eyes instead of a faceplate and eyeband. Apeface himself is miscolored, and drawn with rather squat proportions, making him look like a giant Nebulan.
* Fortress Maximus is drawn instead of Scorponok when the latter orders Mindwipe to create a diversion.
* On the second-to-last page, Snapdragon says that the Autobots' heads are transforming back to ''[[human]]s''. This could be excused as ignorance on his part - after all, one squishy flesh creature looks just like another - but none of the characters present have even heard of humans yet.

==Items of note==
* Advertised as part 3 in a 4-issue limited series.

===Covers (5)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelHeadmasters-3.jpg|'''Headmasters #3'''
Image:MarvelUK-138.jpg|'''UK issue #138'''
Image:MarvelUK-139.jpg|'''UK issue #139'''
Image:MarvelUK-140.jpg|'''UK issue #140'''
Image:MarvelUK-141.jpg|'''UK issue #141'''
</gallery>
* '''Headmasters #3 cover:''' Autobot Headmasters save the Nebulans in bubbles, by [[Frank Springer]].
* '''UK issue #138 cover:''' Rollbar, Goldbug and the ladies, by [[Barry Kitson]].
* '''UK issue #139 cover:''' Blaster road surfs on Rollbar and Chase, by [[Robin Smith]].
* '''UK issue #140 cover:''' Swindle threatening Big Steve, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #141 cover:''' Brawl, by Lee Sullivan.

===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Floppy disk

2011-03-25T22:27:38Z

Fishyofpain: /* Marvel Comics continuity */

[[Image:Diskette.jpg|right|300px|thumb|What may be the most powerful storage medium the humans have ever produced.]]
A '''floppy disk''' is a [[human]] portable data storage device, using a magnetized disc inside of a plastic casing to store data in magnetic form. In the case of human computers, this is usually in binary code. How exquisitely crude of them.

Floppy disks come in several forms, specified by width:

*3.5 inches; these flop little, having a fairly rigid case.
*5 ¼ inches, encased in flexible plastic, as seen at right.
*8 inches, from the days when [[Dinosaur|dinosaurs]] roamed the earth.
*10 feet across, used by the [[Autobot]]s in 2011 or so.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] "lost" his simulated duel with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in the computer game ''[[Multi-World]]'', he accepted the agreed-upon fate... his real body was destroyed. However, the human [[Ethan Zachary]] had copied Prime's entire personality and memories onto a single 5¼″ floppy disk. (No, really.) {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} Later, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] acquired the disk from Ethan {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!|Pretender to the Throne!}} and took it to [[Nebulos]] in the hopes that the planet that birthed the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s could build a body to house Optimus Prime's personality. The disk interfaced easily with the alien technology (just go with us on this, all right?), and [[Powermaster]] Optimus Prime was born. {{storylink|People Power!}} ''Following Optimus Prime's return to earth, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] used a stolen copy of the floppy disk containing Optimus' personality in combination with the stolen [[A.B.C.]] to devise a smart bomb to target and destroy Optimus Prime. Long story short, [[Getaway|Getaway]] recovered the disk and the plan failed. {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}''

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:RollForIt FloppyDisk destruction.jpg|left|200px|thumb|...Or maybe not.]]
When the Decepticons raided [[Doctor Alcazar]]'s [[antimatter]] laboratory, he sent the formula for the powerful substance to [[Chip Chase]], who memorized it and destroyed the only known copy by tearing the floppy disk in half with his ''bare hands''. {{storylink|Roll for It}}
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
[[Image:MasterSwordDanger Floppydisk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"I put ''Dune II'' on this as well."]]
What appeared to be a gigantic floppy disk was used by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] to store data on the [[Master Sword]] when he was forced to hand the data over to the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* The original [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] toy has a pair of 5 ¼ inch floppy drives printed on his chest-sticker. Because he's old, you see.

==External links==
*[[wikipedia:Floppy disk|Floppy disk]] on [[wikipedia:Main Page|Wikipedia]]

[[Category:Generation 1 technology]]
[[Category:Earth culture]]
[[Category:The Headmasters]]

Floppy disk

2011-03-25T22:27:04Z

Fishyofpain: /* Marvel Comics continuity */

[[Image:Diskette.jpg|right|300px|thumb|What may be the most powerful storage medium the humans have ever produced.]]
A '''floppy disk''' is a [[human]] portable data storage device, using a magnetized disc inside of a plastic casing to store data in magnetic form. In the case of human computers, this is usually in binary code. How exquisitely crude of them.

Floppy disks come in several forms, specified by width:

*3.5 inches; these flop little, having a fairly rigid case.
*5 ¼ inches, encased in flexible plastic, as seen at right.
*8 inches, from the days when [[Dinosaur|dinosaurs]] roamed the earth.
*10 feet across, used by the [[Autobot]]s in 2011 or so.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
When [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] "lost" his simulated duel with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] in the computer game ''[[Multi-World]]'', he accepted the agreed-upon fate... his real body was destroyed. However, the human [[Ethan Zachary]] had copied Prime's entire personality and memories onto a single 5¼″ floppy disk. (No, really.) {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} Later, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] acquired the disk from Ethan {{storylink|Pretender to the Throne!|Pretender to the Throne!}} and took it to [[Nebulos]] in the hopes that the planet that birthed the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster]]s could build a body to house Optimus Prime's personality. The disk interfaced easily with the alien technology (just go with us on this, all right?), and [[Powermaster]] Optimus Prime was born. {{storylink|People Power!}} ''Following Optimus Prime's return to earth, [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] used a stolen copy of the floppy disk containing Optimus' personality in combination with the stolen [[A.B.C.]] to devise a smart bomb to target and destroy Optimus Prime. Long story short, [[Getaway|Getaway]] recovered the disk and the plan failed. {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}''

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:RollForIt FloppyDisk destruction.jpg|left|200px|thumb|...Or maybe not.]]
When the Decepticons raided [[Doctor Alcazar]]'s [[antimatter]] laboratory, he sent the formula for the powerful substance to [[Chip Chase]], who memorized it and destroyed the only known copy by tearing the floppy disk in half with his ''bare hands''. {{storylink|Roll for It}}
{{-}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
[[Image:MasterSwordDanger Floppydisk.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"I put ''Dune II'' on this as well."]]
What appeared to be a gigantic floppy disk was used by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] to store data on the [[Master Sword]] when he was forced to hand the data over to the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
* The original [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] toy has a pair of 5 ¼ inch floppy drives printed on his chest-sticker. Because he's old, you see.

==External links==
*[[wikipedia:Floppy disk|Floppy disk]] on [[wikipedia:Main Page|Wikipedia]]

[[Category:Generation 1 technology]]
[[Category:Earth culture]]
[[Category:The Headmasters]]

Combaticon (G1)

2011-03-25T21:46:27Z

Fishyofpain: /* Generation 1 */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
<div class="center">[[Image:Combaticons group.jpg|none|600px|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Vortex, Onslaught, Swindle, Blast-Off and Brawl.]]</div>
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The violent [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

They combine to form [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the sparks into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their 'new', primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[Image:Starscreams brigade 7 SSrideshoulder.jpg|right|155px|thumb|SQUAWK! Starscream wanna cracker!]]

Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack.

Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[Image:Revenge of bruticus 4 changing course.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Lads, we can get the scrambled channels now]]

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[Image:Revenge of bruticus 15 fakeblowup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Care Bear Stare]]

Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

[[Image:Bruticus punch planebot.jpg|left|155px|thumb|"Bruticus punch planebot so hard, make artist draw all over cel!"]]

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (robot)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[Image:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]

After the great battle at [[Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[Death crystal|death crystals]] to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex was attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Brigade]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Murdered puppy|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with [[Decepticon super science]]. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its experimental powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus's chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

====Scramble City====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

====''The Great Transformer War''====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist [[Doctor Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[Image:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are YOU with us?"]]

The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into a energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon]]s to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{--}}
====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot]] and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

====''Zone'' OVA, comic and story pages====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

The Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality. {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}''

====''Generation 2''====
[[Image:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the Cybertronians on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{--}}
===Young Corgi continuity===
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

[[Image:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"YOOOOOO JOE!"]]

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{--}}
===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining DSS members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, Swindle was active on Earth with a small band of Decepticons left behind after the war. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} Onslaught had also come to Earth, and was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

A short while later, Onslaught rejoined Brawl and Vortex (who were also on Earth) and made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of [[North Korea]], helping him invade [[South Korea]] in exchange for energon. Blast Off's whereabouts are unknown, but presumably he was able to leave Earth under his own power. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"}}

{{--}}

===Wings of Honor===
[[Image:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|200px| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM! ]]
The Combaticons were a [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[Image:G1Vortex toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[Image:Bruticus toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City]] [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[Ball joint|ball joints]] in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], and [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]].
{{--}}
===Generation 2===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

===Alternators===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===Universe (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[Image:Universe-ROTF-toy_BruticusMaximus.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined formed is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G1OddCombat.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*Before the Combaticons were animated, there were apparently two different character model sheets made up for them. The ones we know use the toy heads, but bodies that, for whatever reason, have little resemblance to the actual vehicles or robot modes of the actual Combaticon figures. Another one appears to be based heavily on the toys... but with new heads. These went unused in any media

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron'')
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Combaticon (G1)

2011-03-25T21:45:25Z

Fishyofpain: /* Generation 1 */

{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Combaticon}}
:''The Combaticons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
<div class="center">[[Image:Combaticons group.jpg|none|600px|thumb|The Dirty Half-Dozen Minus One—from left to right Vortex, Onslaught, Swindle, Blast-Off and Brawl.]]</div>
The '''Combaticons''' are a unit of fierce Decepticon soldiers, operating with (mostly) military precision under the watchful eye of the tactically brilliant Onslaught. They sometimes operate out of [[Combaticons' headquarters|their own headquarters]].

The Combaticons consist of:
*The tactician [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (leader)
*The violent [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*The egotistical [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*The con man [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*The unhinged [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

They combine to form [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].

{{quote|We aim to maim!|Brawl tells us the basic gist of the team|"[[Spotlight: Arcee]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[Image:Starscreams brigade 5 letsgo.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Dad's Army]]
When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] was banished from the Decepticons for Yet Another Failed Coup Against [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], he was deposited on the island of [[Guadalcanal]], the site of one of the major battles between the [[United States of America]] and [[Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[World War II]]. There he found and rebuilt several abandoned US military vehicles to pass the time. After he finished, he decided that if Megatron can have a Decepticon army, then so can he!

After bluffing his way past [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] to use the [[space bridge]], he travelled to a [[Decepticon Detention Center|detention center]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and liberated the [[personality component]]s of several [[Renegade Decepticon|Decepticon political prisoners]] before destroying the rest. Back on [[Earth]], Starscream installed the sparks into the rusting military vehicles and ordered them to transform.

The reborn Combaticons were less than pleased with their 'new', primitive bodies, nor were they particularly thankful to Starscream for freeing them after millions of years of imprisonment. That is, until the former Decepticon Air Commander revealed that he had neglected to install [[energy absorber]] units into their bodies, so they would have no way of refueling. As he was the only one with the knowledge and expertise to install them, he demanded their allegiance in his aim to overthrow Megatron. The Combaticons agreed to obey Starscream, for now.

[[Image:Starscreams brigade 7 SSrideshoulder.jpg|right|155px|thumb|SQUAWK! Starscream wanna cracker!]]

Under Starscream's leadership, the Combaticons managed to capture several prisoners, then used their energy absorbers to recharge themselves at a power plant. Unfortunately, Megatron and the Decepticons attacked, while the Autobots rescued their comrades. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] formed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], who was quickly defeated by the Combaticons' much more powerful, but dull-witted combined form, Bruticus. Starscream ordered Bruticus to grab Megatron, forcing his former commander to acknowledge Starscream as the new leader of the Decepticons. Under duress, Megatron did so as the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] watched nearby. The latter group, deciding that Starscream would be too dangerous as a leader, quickly formed [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and defeated Bruticus with a single attack.

Starscream and the Combaticons were banished from Earth on a small asteroid, left to wallow in their own misery and blame each other for their failures. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[Image:Revenge of bruticus 4 changing course.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Lads, we can get the scrambled channels now]]

Starscream and the Combaticons quickly had a falling-out. After Starscream left, the Combaticons attacked Cybertron, easily defeating [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and his [[Sentinel (G1)|drones]]. Thirsting for revenge, Onslaught reprogrammed the space bridge to pull Earth closer to the [[Sun]], in the hopes of destroying it and every Transformer there. The Autobots and Decepticons temporarily joined forces to retake Cybertron and prevent Earth's destruction, and with Starscream's help, they deactivated the Combaticons once they formed Bruticus through a failsafe device built into the treacherous giant's back. Optimus Prime and Megatron agreed that Bruticus must be destroyed, but the Decepticon leader fooled the Autobots by using Shockwave's [[holographic projector]] to make it appear as though Bruticus was destroyed, when in reality the combiner was reprogrammed to be loyal only to Megatron. {{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

[[Image:Revenge of bruticus 15 fakeblowup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Care Bear Stare]]

Soon afterwards, during Megatron's latest scheme on Earth involving the theft of fighter aircraft using Middle-Eastern criminals, the Combaticons were called into service to defend Megatron's [[Giant Purple Griffin]], a large... thing that apparently pumped [[oil]]. Or something. Struggling against the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the Combaticons formed Bruticus, yet were still knocked over when the Aerialbots twisted a tow cable around his legs. The Decepticon combiner was finally defeated when the Aerialbots ignited the nearby oil wells, causing a massive explosion that sent Megatron, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], Bruticus and gas prices flying away. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

[[Image:Bruticus punch planebot.jpg|left|155px|thumb|"Bruticus punch planebot so hard, make artist draw all over cel!"]]

While attacking a human city, Bruticus was destroyed in battle with [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (man, this guy can't seem to catch a break). Only Swindle survived, and he sold the remains of his comrades to various mercenaries and [[El Presidente|third-world dictator-types]], only to be forced to locate and rebuild the Combaticons by Megatron. The reformed Bruticus was then defeated when Megatron's disruptor cannon was overloaded by the human-built [[B.O.T. (robot)|B.O.T.]], once again sending the Decepticon flying into the sky. {{storylink|B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.}}

[[Image:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Not often you can get a view of the whole team AND their combined form in a single screencap.]]

After the great battle at [[Autobot City]], the Combaticons were among the battered Decepticon forces who withdrew to [[Chaar]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} Swindle was instrumental in negotiating an alliance with the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]; {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} the Combaticons later participated in a Quintesson-led assault on the Autobots on [[Goo]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

A lone Blast Off later attacked a [[Skuxxoid]] who was using [[Death crystal|death crystals]] to blow stuff up in Decepticon territory, and forced the alien to tell him where he got the ammunition. When a group of Autobots tried to find the crystals as well, Blast Off attacked them alongside [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. {{storylink|Chaos (episode)|Chaos}} The Combaticons later failed to assassinate Decepticon exile [[Octane]] at [[Autobot City]], {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}} then succeeded in shooting up a shuttle meant to take human delegates to an interstellar peace conference. {{storylink|Surprise Party}}

During a Decepticon attack on the [[Netherlands]], Swindle infiltrated [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and stole his [[transformation cog]], whilst Vortex was charged with guarding [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}} The Combaticons later participated in the assault on [[Paradron]], where they guarded the imprisoned Paradronians, among other things. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}} When the Earth was infected by the [[Hate Plague]], the Combaticons (Bruticus) were among those infected. Brawl was seen driving along the road and infecting [[Headstrong]] who, in turn, infected [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] while Vortex was attacked a civilian plane on a runway. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

Under [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s directions, the Combaticons constructed a giant planetary rocket engine that was used to propel Cybertron into orbit around Earth. They also dragged away the bodies of defeated Autobots to use as fuel for the engine. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}
{{-}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
Bruticus arrived to help the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] fight [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] at a baseball stadium in [[Japan]]. He quickly defeated Defensor, injuring [[Hot Spot (G1)|his torso]] and preventing him from combining. In response, Superion disabled Brawl and Swindle using his [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], allowing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] to steal their places as Bruticus's legs. Taking control of the giant's flight systems, the two Protectobots flew off with Bruticus as [[Kenji]] cheered at them to drop the Combaticons into the sea. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5}} Onslaught later joined the Stunticons in a scheme to defame the Autobots by destroying factories around Japan whilst wearing Autobot [[insignia]]s. When confronted by the real Autobots, he "combined" with fellow [[Decepticon Trailer Brigade]] member [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], but they were defeated and sent packing by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #7}}

The Combaticons' next mission was to hunt down [[Murdered puppy|an escaped dog]] that Megatron had experimented on, imbuing it with [[Decepticon super science]]. Brawl managed to fatally injure the animal, much to Onslaught's annoyance as they were supposed to capture it alive. The Autobot [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] soon arrived to put a halt to their activities, and the dog expressed its gratitude by using its experimental powers to energize Powerglide with [[Scramble Power]]. As Powerglide used the power to combine with his fellow [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]], the Combaticons responded by forming Bruticus. He proved weaker than this new [[Minibot combiner]], however, as it used the "Minibot Warrior Spiral Attack" to drill straight through Bruticus's chest, defeating him.

The dog still died, though. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 8|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #8}}

====Scramble City====
When the Stunticons were dispatched to hinder the Autobots from constructing [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]], they were attacked by the Aerialbots and did not fare too well. The Combaticons arrived to help, and together Bruticus and Menasor easily overpowered Superion. However, Scramble City itself soon arrived and blasted both combiners away. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''====
The Combaticons emerged as Bruticus alongside the other Decepticon super-warriors, ready to storm the Autobot energy tower on the planet [[Feminia]]. Galvatron and his men laughed off the presence of Superion, Defensor and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]... but the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s? Carrying a length of thread?! Oh, the horror. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

====''The Great Transformer War''====
The Combaticons and Stunticons were working out of Trypticon where the kidnapped scientist [[Doctor Dalton]] was being forced to work for Galvatron's evil ends. When the Aerialbots and Protectobots arrived to save the scientist, Onslaught and Motormaster combined with Trypticon in their deployment launcher modes. Hurtling their fellow Decepticons at Superion did such damage that the Aerialbots were forced to disassemble. Somehow, however, the remaining Protectobots managed to hold off both Bruticus and Menasor long enough for [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] to repair the Aerialbots, and for [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] to sneak past the Decepticons and retrieve Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
The Combaticons participated in an all-out Decepticon attack on Cybertron, {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} until [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] arrived and drove them away. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} Shortly afterwards, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] set out to find the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and bring it to Optimus Prime, and the Combaticons were among the troops sent out to stop him. They were ambushed by the Protectobots, and defeated when Defensor buried Bruticus in a rockfall. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}} Not long after that, the Combaticons defended [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] against [[Blaster (G1)|Twincast]]'s attempted infiltration, but failed when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] arrived and distracted them. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

[[Image:UltraMagnusDies Combaticons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"All six Combaticons present and accou... Wait! Why are YOU with us?"]]

The Combaticons were later part of ''another'' attack on Cybertron, during which they killed plenty of [[Generic|soldiers]] before getting into another fight with Defensor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} They lost. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}} When the Decepticons planted a giant carnivorous plant in [[San Francisco]], the Combaticons and Stunticons were ordered to with attack any Autobots who arrived to kill it. When the Aerialbots and [[Trainbot]]s did just that, Bruticus got into a energy-sword fight with [[Raiden]]. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Sixshot later sent the Combaticons, [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Horrorcon]]s to attack an Autobot energy facility in [[Miami]], in order to lure Autobot troops away from [[Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus Dies!!}}

The Combaticons were present when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] held a speech about Galvatron's recent death and took control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|I Risk My Life for Earth}} Bruticus was later part of a small group of Decepticons who tried to lead Fortress Maximus away from the Decepticon base on [[Master (planet)|Master]]. {{storylink|The Zarak Shield Turns the Tide}} He then stood by and laughed as [[Predaking]] sank the luxury liner ''[[Queen World]]'' in the Atlantic Ocean, before being stationed at one of Scorponok's [[Death Tower]]s in Canberra, [[Australia]]. He defended the tower against Defensor until it activated, at which point [[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] ordered him to withdraw. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}

Bruticus participated in the final battle with the Autobots at the North Pole, and fought [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] alongside [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]. As Scorponok's energy-absorbing satellite started tearing the Earth apart, Bruticus retreated into the atmosphere to watch the results alongside the rest of the Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{--}}
====''Super-God Masterforce'' comic====
Brawl and Blast Off participated in an attack on [[Athenia]] by forming the right limbs of [[Scramble 7]], a Decepticon combiner using various combiner team members in a supposedly "ideal" configuration. Despite being so great, however, Scramble 7 was defeated by [[Ginrai|Super Ginrai]], [[Lightfoot]] and [[Ranger]] thanks to their use of [[Chōkon Power]]. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

====''Zone'' OVA, comic and story pages====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violen Jiger]] gathered together the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]], upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Combaticons were of those summoned, but only in the form of Bruticus. {{storylink|Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}} {{storylink|Zone (manga)|Transformers: Zone}} {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
''The Combaticons and their fellow [[Special Teams]] were first conceived within [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s mind shortly after the human had relinquished control of the [[Creation Matrix]] to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was able to view this data remotely and prepare for their development. {{storylink|Second Generation!}}''

On their first mission on Earth, the Combaticons followed [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] to retrieve the human [[hydrothermocline]] plant. When they arrived, they faced [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] waiting for them. The Combaticons formed Bruticus and stared down [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] when a nearby human named [[Ethan Zachary]] suggested that they play a [[Multi-World|video game]] over the plant instead. Optimus Prime and Megatron both agreed, and the Combaticons were sent into the game to attack the Protectobots. However, they lost every battle due to not taking the "wildlife" AI into account. {{storylink|Afterdeath!}} After this, the Combaticons didn't do much but follow Megatron around, even when their mentally unstable leader heavily damaged Brawl for mouthing off. {{storylink|Gone but Not Forgotten!}}

The Combaticons would later attack the [[Throttlebot]]s in a used car lot, only for the Protectobots and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] to interfere and force them to retreat. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} Shortly afterwards, the group decided to ambush the Protectobots on their way to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. This time, Bruticus claimed victory over Defensor by hitting him with a train, but was soon tricked and broken into his component parts by Blaster. After this, Blaster took control of Blast Off and flew into space, separating the shuttle from the other Combaticons. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Along with most of the Decepticon army, the Combaticons later ambushed the Autobots on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], only to be beaten back by Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

''At some point thereafter the Combaticons worked with [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] under the command of [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to steal a backup of the [[floppy disk]] containing Optimus Prime's personality. {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}''

====''Generation 2''====
[[Image:Totalwar-combaticons.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Grrrrrr... feisty!]]
After Bludgeon's defeat, Swindle took the returning Decepticon leader Megatron on a tour of the [[Warworld]] battleship he had inherited. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} Soon after, Brawl and Blast Off were among the Decepticons preparing to charge into battle against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}} Vortex was seen with various other Decepticons attacking the Cybertronians on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} As the alliance progressed, Onslaught was struck by empathic pains as his apparent spawn [[Mindset (G2)|Mindset]] was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]]. {{storylink|Swarm (issue)|Swarm}}

During the final battle at [[Earth]], all the Combaticons later attempted to defend the Warworld against a Cybertronian boarding party led by the treacherous Starscream. Despite Onslaught's emphatic orders of "maximum firepower", they didn't do so well. {{storylink|Total War!}}
{{--}}
===Young Corgi continuity===
When the fleshlings discovered a mysterious lost civilization buried underneath the ice, the Combaticons Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off joined [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in seeking whatever treasures the hidden city might have. They were confronted by the Aerialbots named [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Slingshot]], and fought on the surface over the city. Little did they know that the [[city-dweller]]s were robots themselves, remotely storing and copying images of the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, imprinting themselves with the skills of warfare. They were only stopped by the unlikely duo of Ravage and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]. After the city-dwellers were defeated, the Autobots granted safe passage to their one-time Decepticon allies. Blast Off expanded to his maximum size to transport his fellow 'Cons back to Decepticon headquarters. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
The five soldiers who would one day become the Combaticons were early participants in the Decepticons' war effort. While Onslaught and the others joined Shockwave in attacking [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] and the [[High Council Pavilions]] being protected by the Autobots, Swindle chose to throw in with Starscream, helping him to disable [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and assume temporary control over Megatron's planetary juggernaut project. {{storylink|The War Within}}

At some later date, these five warriors were officially brought together as a combiner team, given the ability to form Bruticus. Like the other Combiners, they were banned from operating together on any given faction during the Dark Ages, by decree of the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]] to prevent any more devastation to the planet at the hands of the super-robot combiners.{{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} The Combaticons were still authorized to operate individually and separately among the various Decepticon factions. Given his previous efforts helping [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and the [[Battlecharger]]s with Starscream's coup, Swindle may have joined them as a member of the [[Predacon (War Within)|Predacons]], although this was never stated. {{storylink|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

By the modern era, the Combaticons had been declared war criminals by the united Cybertronian government under Shockwave and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. The details of their crimes and why they were singled-out for imprisonment is unclear—Shockwave may have been intentionally eliminating [[Ratbat (G1)|potential rivals]] or [[Stunticon (G1)|loose cannons]], or may simply have allowed their imprisonment as a token showing of cooperation with the Autobot High Council. Once the Transformers from Earth were contacted, and uprisings began taking place on Cybertron, Starscream managed to worm his way into the [[Detention Banks]] and recover the five stasis pods containing the Combaticons. He loaded them onto his stolen transport and brought them back to Earth with him and the rest of his hand-picked crew. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

[[Image:Onslaught G1DW routeofallevil.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"YOOOOOO JOE!"]]

On Earth, Starscream reactivated the Combaticons as his personal "brigade", scanning Earth military vehicles for their alternate modes. Using the Combaticons as shock troops, he made a two-staged assault on the Ark, and successfully took five of the seven remaining Autobots off-line. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} Starscream and Bruticus' efforts to complete their set were interrupted by the arrival of [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]], Starscream's crazed clone-brother, and Bruticus was damaged in the melee. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}} After the battle with Sunstorm, Starscream attempted to train the Combaticons into better military shape, using the Autobot prisoner [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] as a "tackling dummy". His training efforts were interrupted by the return of Megatron and his combiner team, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]]. Even as Bruticus, the Combaticons quickly fell before the might of [[Predaking]]. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{--}}
===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
The Combaticons were among the Decepticons under control of "the Son of Megatron", [[Serpent O.R.]]. Onslaught tried to protect his leader from a vengeful Optimus Prime while Brawl, Vortex and Blast Off were seen fighting against a combined Autobot-[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] army. Swindle, however, was nowhere to be found. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] was one of the worst violators of the [[Tyrest Accord]], constantly selling Transformers technology to alien races, and had gone AWOL from the Decepticons, hunted by both sides of the war. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}} The other four remained Combaticons, and were a dangerous tactical unit capable of taking on and beating superior numbers (even ones backed up by [[Arcee (G1)|total loonies]]). Under orders from [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]], they successfully raided the [[Garrus-9]] Autobot prison and abducted [[Pretender Monster|the six newest inmates]], the gestalt Transformers. {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}

Soon afterwards, the Combaticons were among the only survivors of an attack by the [[Dead Universe]] Transformers, who activated the gestalt combined form, [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]], inside Banzaitron's base. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}} After a deal was negotiated between Arcee and Banzaitron; the Combaticons, remaining DSS members and the crazed Autobot fought Monstructor on [[Rotan]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

Two years after the fall of Megatron, Swindle was active on Earth with a small band of Decepticons left behind after the war. {{storylink|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}} Onslaught had also come to Earth, and was one of many Transformers captured by [[Skywatch]] using their reverse-engineered energon and Cybertronian technology. He and several other Decepticons were rescued from Skywatch custody by Swindle's team, who removed the mode-locks placed on them by Skywatch's restraint tech. {{storylink|A Rude Awakening}} After Swindle failed to take advantage of some rebellious Autobots in an attempt to get off Earth, he disappeared. {{storylink|Earthworks}}

A short while later, Onslaught rejoined Brawl and Vortex (who were also on Earth) and made a deal with [[Kim Jong Du]], the leader of [[North Korea]], helping him invade [[South Korea]] in exchange for energon. Blast Off's whereabouts are unknown, but presumably he was able to leave Earth under his own power. {{storylink|International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"}} They ended up in a brawl with both the Autobots (allied with Skywatch) and [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] (allied with [[China]]), but were ultimately defeated. Luckily for them, the Autobots didn't have the resources at hand to take them captive. {{storylink|International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"}}

{{--}}

===Wings of Honor===
[[Image:EliteGuardCombaticons TheComingStorm2.jpg|thumb|left|200px| DUM DUM DUUUUUUM! ]]
The Combaticons were a [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] special ops unit created by [[Magnum]] to take out the various [[Decepticon leader|leaders]] of the new Decepticon faction, in the hopes of ending the war quickly. {{storylink|The Coming Storm: Part 2}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1Onslaught toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"How come the other Combaticons aren't as tall as I am? Because I'm a natural-born leader, HAH!"]]
[[Image:G1Vortex toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Ride the whirlwind! Slag, I got it wrong!"]]
[[Image:Bruticus toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Rargh... humans transform Bruticus wrong... and blame Bruticus's design..."]]
*'''Combaticons''' (1986)
**[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
**[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
**[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
**[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]

:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''D-69'''

:As a [[Scramble City]] [[combiner]] team, the Combaticon team includes four small toys, sold carded at the $5 price point, and one large leader toy, sold boxed for $12 or so and including all the combiner [[kibble]]. They were available as part of the 1986 and 1987 assortments. In most markets, the Combaticons were only sold as individuals; the combined [[giftset]] was only available in Japan and Italy.

:Like their counterparts, the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], the four small Combaticons feature unique transformation schemes. All have attachable weapons for their vehicle modes. Posability varies from figure to figure; Brawl and Swindle have knee and "elbow" joints (their shoulder joints are halfway down their arms), but their legs are conjoined at the knees. Blast Off and Vortex feature an early use of [[Ball joint|ball joints]] in their shoulders, giving them near-universal range of motion, but are otherwise similarly limited.

:Like the other three original Scramble City teams, the small limbs can attach to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s robot mode, while the leader can be used to make an additional ramp/platform for Metroplex or [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]].

:The Combaticon molds have been frequently redecoed (and slightly retooled) over the years; they have been used to make ''[[Operation Combination (toyline)|Operation Combination]]'' [[Battle Gaia]], ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Ruination (RID)|Ruination]], and ''[[Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' Ruination. They are also a favorite for [[Knockoff|bootleg]] toy manufacturers to copy, sometimes sold with bizarre new names like [[Onslaught (G1)|Tugging Gun]], [[Swindle (G1)|Copter]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Secpmdary]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Steel Generals]], and [[Blast Off (G1)|Secondary Brain]].
{{--}}
===Generation 2===
*'''Combaticons''' (1993)
**Onslaught
**Brawl
**Blast Off
**Swindle
**Vortex

:A redeco of the Generation 1 molds that looks like they just went through a paintball war... and lost. They all combine and kick Superion's behind as the big, bad, battling Bruticus.

===Alternators===
*'''Swindle''' (2004)

{{main|Swindle (G1)#Alternators}}

===Universe (2008)===
*'''Onslaught''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2008)
*'''Onslaught''' (Ultra, 2008)

{{main|Onslaught (G1)#Universe (2008)}}

[[Image:Universe-ROTF-toy_BruticusMaximus.jpg|right|300px|thumb|]]
*'''Bruticus Maximus''' (2008)

: The ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' Combaticons are [[redeco]]s of the ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Destruction Team]]. In this incarnation, Swindle is a helicopter and Blast Off is a tank, while their combined formed is known as Bruticus Maximus for [[trademark]] reasons. They were only available as a Bruticus Maximus multi-pack.

: The Combaticons are identical to the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Combaticon (ROTF)|Combaticons]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[Image:G1OddCombat.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Floro Dery does odd things.]]
*Before the Combaticons were animated, there were apparently two different character model sheets made up for them. The ones we know use the toy heads, but bodies that, for whatever reason, have little resemblance to the actual vehicles or robot modes of the actual Combaticon figures. Another one appears to be based heavily on the toys... but with new heads. These went unused in any media

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Combatron''' (コンバットロン ''Konbattoron'')
*''Italian:'' '''Combacticon'''
*''Russian:'' '''Boevikon''' (Боевикон, "Thrillercon")

[[Category:Autobot subgroups]]
[[Category:Combaticons| Combaticon (G1)]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Club Con!

2011-03-25T21:21:47Z

Fishyofpain: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #47
|prev=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next=The Flames of Boltax!
|title="Club Con!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #194–195
|prev2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next2=The Flames of Boltax!
|image=MarvelUS-47.jpg
|caption=Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August 1988
|coverdate=December 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''"Hi, I'm Starscream. Fly me!"'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Clubconresort.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you really want a [[Battlecharger]] handling your luggage?]]
Optimus Prime and his advisers are puzzled over the [[Decepticon]]s' latest scheme: Ratbat and his soldiers have converted their desert island headquarters into a tourist resort for [[human]]s called [[Club Con]], even advertising it on [[television]]. It seems clear that this is partially to have an endless supply of human shields and/or hostages to deter [[Autobot]] attacks, but Prime suspects there is more to it. He summons Blaster for a mission to investigate the island.

Later in [[Portland]], Oregon, Sparkplug Witwicky and Jesse are discussing how worried they are about his missing son, Buster, when Blaster drops in on them. He has a plan to sneak onto Club Con, but needs a human "owner" to carry him in. Sparkplug is more than willing to jump at the chance to help find and free Buster, but Jesse gently reminds him that he's too old and ugly to fit in at a resort. She offers to take his place on the surveillance mission, and Blaster accepts.

In the mechanical tower that sits just beneath the surface of Club Con, Ratbat is extraordinarily anxious about the success of their latest "operation", as it has been issued from High Command back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

As Jesse and the disguised Blaster arrive on Club Con, they are greeted by the club's manager, Starscream. At the beach, Jesse leaves Blaster to his surveillance work and goes for a swim. Out past the safety buoys, though, she runs into a school of [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] patrolling the waters, and sees them enter the mechanical construction underneath the island. Returning to the beach, she gathers up a recalcitrant Blaster in a waterproof baggie and takes him back down to the airlock she saw the Seacons enter earlier.

Sneaking around, Jesse spots a human-sized door, and enters it to find Buster held prisoner inside. Blaster questions him about the Decepticons' plans, and Buster relates what he has overheard. Several hundred years ago, the Autobots of Cybertron sent specially-encoded information to [[Earth]] on a pair of mini-cassettes. The message craft was damaged on arrival, though, and the cassettes wound up in a pirate's treasure chest, only for that pirate ship to be sunk in the middle of the ocean. The Decepticons of Cybertron recently learned of this long-lost mission and, suspecting the value of the information, commanded Ratbat and the Decepticons of Earth to find that sunken treasure chest and the cassettes inside. Club Con is a blind to cover their salvage operation.

Unable to break Buster free without revealing himself, Blaster promises to return when he can. On their way out, however, Jesse and Blaster spot the Seacons returning from the deep, having successfully uncovered the treasure chest. Against Blaster's recriminations, Jesse sneaks over and retrieves the cassettes right from under the Decepticons' olfactory sensors while Snaptrap is praising his team's efficiency to Ratbat. When they notice the missing tapes, though, Ratbat immediately recognizes Jesse's water-dripping footprints as belonging to a fleshling, and sends the Seacons to fetch.

Back on dry land, Jesse is ready to catch the first plane out with Blaster, but the Seacons pop up onto the beach and begin ransacking through the crowd in order to find the cassettes. Blaster feels compelled to transform and protect the humans, but is quickly overwhelmed by the six Seacons. Out of necessity, he spits the cassettes back out into the water, and transforms back into his smaller form in the confusion. Armed with the information but not the cassettes themselves, Blaster leaves with Jesse and vows to return as soon as he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Outback|Outback]] (6)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (6)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (6) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
* [[Grapple |Grapple]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (21)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (22) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (23)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (24)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (25) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Raindance|Raindance]] (26)
* [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grandslam]] (27)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (2)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (2)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (2)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (3)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (11)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (11)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (13)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (14)
* [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] (15)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (16)
* [[Skalor]] (17)
* [[Nautilator]] (18)
* [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (19)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (20)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (28)
|c3=
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (5)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Jesse]] (10)
}}

==Errors==
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] is erroneously depicted among the Autobots training with Blaster. Not only should he not be with the Autobots, but he was just shown in a television ad (with the Cons) on the previous page.
* It's not clear what exactly Blaster would've done if Jessie HADN'T snuck into the Decepticon base with him. Was he just going to sit there and eavesdrop, or what?
* The mini-cassette backstory is several layers of FUBAR. First, it depicts [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and a normal-sized [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron when they shouldn't be. Next, it assumes the Autobots of Cybertron knew the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew was on Earth several hundred years before the latter group awoke on Earth, which is nonsense and unsubstantiated. Then, as we'll see in later issues, the information they send to Earth only becomes relevant in the present... several hundred years after it was first sent. FUBAR!
* Club Con uses the same telephone number as the [[Z Foundation]], but Scorponok and Ratbat weren't working together yet.

==Items of note==
* Part 1 of the [[Underbase Saga]].
* Runamuck is depicted among Club Con's staff, a development later ignored by [[Simon Furman]] in the issue [[Surrender!]].
* This is technically the first appearance of the Autobots of Earth since US issue [[Totaled!|#41]]. This issue establishes that Optimus Prime has now officially returned as overall Autobot leader, and Blaster, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus all seem comfortable being under his command.
* The Decepticons have claimed their island/spaceship as a sovereign nation and declared Buster as its monarch to prevent interference by humans due to international law. This legal reasoning is not dissimilar to the real world case of the [[wikipedia:Principality_of_Sealand|Principality of Sealand]].
* This issue features [[Outback]]'s second and final appearance in the US comic (after a one panel cameo in issue #41), seen here training with Blaster aboard the Ark. He will not be seen again, and given the presence of a Battlecharger (see Errors above) in the same scene, his appearance here may possibly be another mistake.
* Starscream is now fully repaired and back working with the Decepticons as Ratbat's lieutenant commander, after being recovered from the Ark in issue #41.
* Instead of publishing a new ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers: Universe]]'' limited series, Marvel began shortening the main stories and including profiles for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]-era and beyond characters in the back.
* Ratbat got his orders for the Club Con operation directly from [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]].

===Character profiles===
{{collist|4|
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Apeface]]
}}

===UK printing===
====UK issue #194====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]]''
* This is the last time a cover featuring a US artist would appear on a UK Transformers comic. It was a heavily edited (and mirrored) version of the US cover for this story, with the addition of a thought balloon for Jesse and a banner proclaiming the return of the Seacons. The recoloring of the cover was also striking — the Seacons now are more accurate to their usual color models and Jesse's bikini was changed to green to match the interior story.
* While in the US, this story was the Seacons' first first appearance, in the UK, the Seacons had their debut in issue [[Enemy Action!|#152]].
* In the UK continuity Starscream was revived quite some time earlier, way back in issue [[Target: 2006|#81]], though he was locked in a pod in issue #88 and did not come out of it until [[Stargazing|#145]]. But this is still his first appearance back with the Decepticons for UK readers as well. Starscream's conversation with Ratbat had minor changes so his excuse for not using Ratbat's title is now attributed to having spent such a long time in a life support pod rather than having recently been brought back on line.
* Outback appears to have dropped on to Earth for just this issue. In his [[The Harder They Die!|other]] [[Underworld!|appearances]] in the UK comics, he was always on Cybertron.
* The splash page for this issue was edited, removing reference to the Underbase Saga as a 4-part epic. In the UK, it was printed over 9 issues, and was interrupted halfway through for the epic "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]".
*In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] this issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] reveals that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] left the [[variable voltage harness]] behind for use on any mistake-prone stubbies. He also foreshadows the appearance of [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] in "Time Wars".

====UK issue #195====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''Action Force'', ''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'', and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* This issue included [[Transformers A-Z]] entries on [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]].
* The Death's Head "Backup Strip" this issue is actually a one-page comic strip meant as an advertisement for Death's Head's own regular series. The UK comics often blurred the line between backup strips and advertisements.
* In Dread Tidings this issue, Dreadwind confirms that he is 4 million, 60 thousand, 3 hundred and forty two years old, and still reads comics.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-47.jpg|'''US issue #47''' - All the better to eat you with my dear.
Image:MarvelUK-194.jpg|'''UK issue #194''' - I... don't get it. CHEW?
Image:MarvelUK-195.jpg|'''UK issue #195''' - This is what happens when you don't put anti-blaster cream on before going out in the sun.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #47 cover:''' Overbite attacking Jessie, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
* '''UK issue #194 cover:''' Reuse of US cover with a word balloon.
* '''UK issue #195 cover:''' Snaptrap blasts Blaster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

===Advertisements===

====US====
* Buck Rogers and Dragonlance board games from TSR (Inside cover)
* engine-powered model Airwolf helicopter by Cox Hobbies
* Gun Smoke game for the NES by CAPCOM
* Nintendo Game & Watch micro (hand-held digital) games
* Bubble Yum "Show us your bubble!" photo contest
* Marvel Super Mart
* Nickelodeon-themed merchandise mail-in promo
* Marvel Comics' "Inferno" comic arc (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, X Factor)
* Marvel comics subscription information
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game from Ultra Games (Inside rear cover)
* Candilicious candies (Rear cover)

====UK====

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Club Con!

2011-03-25T21:16:24Z

Fishyofpain: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #47
|prev=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next=The Flames of Boltax!
|title="Club Con!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #194–195
|prev2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next2=The Flames of Boltax!
|image=MarvelUS-47.jpg
|caption=Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August 1988
|coverdate=December 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''"Hi, I'm Starscream. Fly me!"'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Clubconresort.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you really want a [[Battlecharger]] handling your luggage?]]
Optimus Prime and his advisers are puzzled over the [[Decepticon]]s' latest scheme: Ratbat and his soldiers have converted their desert island headquarters into a tourist resort for [[human]]s called [[Club Con]], even advertising it on [[television]]. It seems clear that this is partially to have an endless supply of human shields and/or hostages to deter [[Autobot]] attacks, but Prime suspects there is more to it. He summons Blaster for a mission to investigate the island.

Later in [[Portland]], Oregon, Sparkplug Witwicky and Jesse are discussing how worried they are about his missing son, Buster, when Blaster drops in on them. He has a plan to sneak onto Club Con, but needs a human "owner" to carry him in. Sparkplug is more than willing to jump at the chance to help find and free Buster, but Jesse gently reminds him that he's too old and ugly to fit in at a resort. She offers to take his place on the surveillance mission, and Blaster accepts.

In the mechanical tower that sits just beneath the surface of Club Con, Ratbat is extraordinarily anxious about the success of their latest "operation", as it has been issued from High Command back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

As Jesse and the disguised Blaster arrive on Club Con, they are greeted by the club's manager, Starscream. At the beach, Jesse leaves Blaster to his surveillance work and goes for a swim. Out past the safety buoys, though, she runs into a school of [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] patrolling the waters, and sees them enter the mechanical construction underneath the island. Returning to the beach, she gathers up a recalcitrant Blaster in a waterproof baggie and takes him back down to the airlock she saw the Seacons enter earlier.

Sneaking around, Jesse spots a human-sized door, and enters it to find Buster held prisoner inside. Blaster questions him about the Decepticons' plans, and Buster relates what he has overheard. Several hundred years ago, the Autobots of Cybertron sent specially-encoded information to [[Earth]] on a pair of mini-cassettes. The message craft was damaged on arrival, though, and the cassettes wound up in a pirate's treasure chest, only for that pirate ship to be sunk in the middle of the ocean. The Decepticons of Cybertron recently learned of this long-lost mission and, suspecting the value of the information, commanded Ratbat and the Decepticons of Earth to find that sunken treasure chest and the cassettes inside. Club Con is a blind to cover their salvage operation.

Unable to break Buster free without revealing himself, Blaster promises to return when he can. On their way out, however, Jesse and Blaster spot the Seacons returning from the deep, having successfully uncovered the treasure chest. Against Blaster's recriminations, Jesse sneaks over and retrieves the cassettes right from under the Decepticons' olfactory sensors while Snaptrap is praising his team's efficiency to Ratbat. When they notice the missing tapes, though, Ratbat immediately recognizes Jesse's water-dripping footprints as belonging to a fleshling, and sends the Seacons to fetch.

Back on dry land, Jesse is ready to catch the first plane out with Blaster, but the Seacons pop up onto the beach and begin ransacking through the crowd in order to find the cassettes. Blaster feels compelled to transform and protect the humans, but is quickly overwhelmed by the six Seacons. Out of necessity, he spits the cassettes back out into the water, and transforms back into his smaller form in the confusion. Armed with the information but not the cassettes themselves, Blaster leaves with Jesse and vows to return as soon as he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Outback|Outback]] (5)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (5)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (5) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (5)
* [[Grapple |Grapple]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (21)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (22) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (23)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (24)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (25) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Raindance|Raindance]] (26)
* [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grandslam]] (27)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (2)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (2)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (2)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (3)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (11)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (11)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (13)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (14)
* [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] (15)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (16)
* [[Skalor]] (17)
* [[Nautilator]] (18)
* [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (19)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (20)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (28)
|c3=
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (8)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Jesse]] (10)
}}

==Errors==
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] is erroneously depicted among the Autobots training with Blaster. Not only should he not be with the Autobots, but he was just shown in a television ad (with the Cons) on the previous page.
* It's not clear what exactly Blaster would've done if Jessie HADN'T snuck into the Decepticon base with him. Was he just going to sit there and eavesdrop, or what?
* The mini-cassette backstory is several layers of FUBAR. First, it depicts [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and a normal-sized [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron when they shouldn't be. Next, it assumes the Autobots of Cybertron knew the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew was on Earth several hundred years before the latter group awoke on Earth, which is nonsense and unsubstantiated. Then, as we'll see in later issues, the information they send to Earth only becomes relevant in the present... several hundred years after it was first sent. FUBAR!
* Club Con uses the same telephone number as the [[Z Foundation]], but Scorponok and Ratbat weren't working together yet.

==Items of note==
* Part 1 of the [[Underbase Saga]].
* Runamuck is depicted among Club Con's staff, a development later ignored by [[Simon Furman]] in the issue [[Surrender!]].
* This is technically the first appearance of the Autobots of Earth since US issue [[Totaled!|#41]]. This issue establishes that Optimus Prime has now officially returned as overall Autobot leader, and Blaster, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus all seem comfortable being under his command.
* The Decepticons have claimed their island/spaceship as a sovereign nation and declared Buster as its monarch to prevent interference by humans due to international law. This legal reasoning is not dissimilar to the real world case of the [[wikipedia:Principality_of_Sealand|Principality of Sealand]].
* This issue features [[Outback]]'s second and final appearance in the US comic (after a one panel cameo in issue #41), seen here training with Blaster aboard the Ark. He will not be seen again, and given the presence of a Battlecharger (see Errors above) in the same scene, his appearance here may possibly be another mistake.
* Starscream is now fully repaired and back working with the Decepticons as Ratbat's lieutenant commander, after being recovered from the Ark in issue #41.
* Instead of publishing a new ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers: Universe]]'' limited series, Marvel began shortening the main stories and including profiles for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]-era and beyond characters in the back.
* Ratbat got his orders for the Club Con operation directly from [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]].

===Character profiles===
{{collist|4|
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Apeface]]
}}

===UK printing===
====UK issue #194====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]]''
* This is the last time a cover featuring a US artist would appear on a UK Transformers comic. It was a heavily edited (and mirrored) version of the US cover for this story, with the addition of a thought balloon for Jesse and a banner proclaiming the return of the Seacons. The recoloring of the cover was also striking — the Seacons now are more accurate to their usual color models and Jesse's bikini was changed to green to match the interior story.
* While in the US, this story was the Seacons' first first appearance, in the UK, the Seacons had their debut in issue [[Enemy Action!|#152]].
* In the UK continuity Starscream was revived quite some time earlier, way back in issue [[Target: 2006|#81]], though he was locked in a pod in issue #88 and did not come out of it until [[Stargazing|#145]]. But this is still his first appearance back with the Decepticons for UK readers as well. Starscream's conversation with Ratbat had minor changes so his excuse for not using Ratbat's title is now attributed to having spent such a long time in a life support pod rather than having recently been brought back on line.
* Outback appears to have dropped on to Earth for just this issue. In his [[The Harder They Die!|other]] [[Underworld!|appearances]] in the UK comics, he was always on Cybertron.
* The splash page for this issue was edited, removing reference to the Underbase Saga as a 4-part epic. In the UK, it was printed over 9 issues, and was interrupted halfway through for the epic "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]".
*In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] this issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] reveals that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] left the [[variable voltage harness]] behind for use on any mistake-prone stubbies. He also foreshadows the appearance of [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] in "Time Wars".

====UK issue #195====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''Action Force'', ''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'', and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* This issue included [[Transformers A-Z]] entries on [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]].
* The Death's Head "Backup Strip" this issue is actually a one-page comic strip meant as an advertisement for Death's Head's own regular series. The UK comics often blurred the line between backup strips and advertisements.
* In Dread Tidings this issue, Dreadwind confirms that he is 4 million, 60 thousand, 3 hundred and forty two years old, and still reads comics.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-47.jpg|'''US issue #47''' - All the better to eat you with my dear.
Image:MarvelUK-194.jpg|'''UK issue #194''' - I... don't get it. CHEW?
Image:MarvelUK-195.jpg|'''UK issue #195''' - This is what happens when you don't put anti-blaster cream on before going out in the sun.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #47 cover:''' Overbite attacking Jessie, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
* '''UK issue #194 cover:''' Reuse of US cover with a word balloon.
* '''UK issue #195 cover:''' Snaptrap blasts Blaster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

===Advertisements===

====US====
* Buck Rogers and Dragonlance board games from TSR (Inside cover)
* engine-powered model Airwolf helicopter by Cox Hobbies
* Gun Smoke game for the NES by CAPCOM
* Nintendo Game & Watch micro (hand-held digital) games
* Bubble Yum "Show us your bubble!" photo contest
* Marvel Super Mart
* Nickelodeon-themed merchandise mail-in promo
* Marvel Comics' "Inferno" comic arc (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, X Factor)
* Marvel comics subscription information
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game from Ultra Games (Inside rear cover)
* Candilicious candies (Rear cover)

====UK====

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Club Con!

2011-03-25T21:15:39Z

Fishyofpain: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #47
|prev=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next=The Flames of Boltax!
|title="Club Con!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #194–195
|prev2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next2=The Flames of Boltax!
|image=MarvelUS-47.jpg
|caption=Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August 1988
|coverdate=December 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''"Hi, I'm Starscream. Fly me!"'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Clubconresort.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you really want a [[Battlecharger]] handling your luggage?]]
Optimus Prime and his advisers are puzzled over the [[Decepticon]]s' latest scheme: Ratbat and his soldiers have converted their desert island headquarters into a tourist resort for [[human]]s called [[Club Con]], even advertising it on [[television]]. It seems clear that this is partially to have an endless supply of human shields and/or hostages to deter [[Autobot]] attacks, but Prime suspects there is more to it. He summons Blaster for a mission to investigate the island.

Later in [[Portland]], Oregon, Sparkplug Witwicky and Jesse are discussing how worried they are about his missing son, Buster, when Blaster drops in on them. He has a plan to sneak onto Club Con, but needs a human "owner" to carry him in. Sparkplug is more than willing to jump at the chance to help find and free Buster, but Jesse gently reminds him that he's too old and ugly to fit in at a resort. She offers to take his place on the surveillance mission, and Blaster accepts.

In the mechanical tower that sits just beneath the surface of Club Con, Ratbat is extraordinarily anxious about the success of their latest "operation", as it has been issued from High Command back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

As Jesse and the disguised Blaster arrive on Club Con, they are greeted by the club's manager, Starscream. At the beach, Jesse leaves Blaster to his surveillance work and goes for a swim. Out past the safety buoys, though, she runs into a school of [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] patrolling the waters, and sees them enter the mechanical construction underneath the island. Returning to the beach, she gathers up a recalcitrant Blaster in a waterproof baggie and takes him back down to the airlock she saw the Seacons enter earlier.

Sneaking around, Jesse spots a human-sized door, and enters it to find Buster held prisoner inside. Blaster questions him about the Decepticons' plans, and Buster relates what he has overheard. Several hundred years ago, the Autobots of Cybertron sent specially-encoded information to [[Earth]] on a pair of mini-cassettes. The message craft was damaged on arrival, though, and the cassettes wound up in a pirate's treasure chest, only for that pirate ship to be sunk in the middle of the ocean. The Decepticons of Cybertron recently learned of this long-lost mission and, suspecting the value of the information, commanded Ratbat and the Decepticons of Earth to find that sunken treasure chest and the cassettes inside. Club Con is a blind to cover their salvage operation.

Unable to break Buster free without revealing himself, Blaster promises to return when he can. On their way out, however, Jesse and Blaster spot the Seacons returning from the deep, having successfully uncovered the treasure chest. Against Blaster's recriminations, Jesse sneaks over and retrieves the cassettes right from under the Decepticons' olfactory sensors while Snaptrap is praising his team's efficiency to Ratbat. When they notice the missing tapes, though, Ratbat immediately recognizes Jesse's water-dripping footprints as belonging to a fleshling, and sends the Seacons to fetch.

Back on dry land, Jesse is ready to catch the first plane out with Blaster, but the Seacons pop up onto the beach and begin ransacking through the crowd in order to find the cassettes. Blaster feels compelled to transform and protect the humans, but is quickly overwhelmed by the six Seacons. Out of necessity, he spits the cassettes back out into the water, and transforms back into his smaller form in the confusion. Armed with the information but not the cassettes themselves, Blaster leaves with Jesse and vows to return as soon as he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] (5)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (5)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (5) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (5)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (21)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (22) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (23)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (24)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (25) ([[#Errors|see below]])
* [[Raindance|Raindance]] (26)
* [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grandslam]] (27)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (2)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (2)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (2)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (3)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (11)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (11)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (12)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (13)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (14)
* [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] (15)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (16)
* [[Skalor]] (17)
* [[Nautilator]] (18)
* [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (19)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (20)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (28)
|c3=
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (8)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Jesse]] (10)
}}

==Errors==
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] is erroneously depicted among the Autobots training with Blaster. Not only should he not be with the Autobots, but he was just shown in a television ad (with the Cons) on the previous page.
* It's not clear what exactly Blaster would've done if Jessie HADN'T snuck into the Decepticon base with him. Was he just going to sit there and eavesdrop, or what?
* The mini-cassette backstory is several layers of FUBAR. First, it depicts [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and a normal-sized [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron when they shouldn't be. Next, it assumes the Autobots of Cybertron knew the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew was on Earth several hundred years before the latter group awoke on Earth, which is nonsense and unsubstantiated. Then, as we'll see in later issues, the information they send to Earth only becomes relevant in the present... several hundred years after it was first sent. FUBAR!
* Club Con uses the same telephone number as the [[Z Foundation]], but Scorponok and Ratbat weren't working together yet.

==Items of note==
* Part 1 of the [[Underbase Saga]].
* Runamuck is depicted among Club Con's staff, a development later ignored by [[Simon Furman]] in the issue [[Surrender!]].
* This is technically the first appearance of the Autobots of Earth since US issue [[Totaled!|#41]]. This issue establishes that Optimus Prime has now officially returned as overall Autobot leader, and Blaster, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus all seem comfortable being under his command.
* The Decepticons have claimed their island/spaceship as a sovereign nation and declared Buster as its monarch to prevent interference by humans due to international law. This legal reasoning is not dissimilar to the real world case of the [[wikipedia:Principality_of_Sealand|Principality of Sealand]].
* This issue features [[Outback]]'s second and final appearance in the US comic (after a one panel cameo in issue #41), seen here training with Blaster aboard the Ark. He will not be seen again, and given the presence of a Battlecharger (see Errors above) in the same scene, his appearance here may possibly be another mistake.
* Starscream is now fully repaired and back working with the Decepticons as Ratbat's lieutenant commander, after being recovered from the Ark in issue #41.
* Instead of publishing a new ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers: Universe]]'' limited series, Marvel began shortening the main stories and including profiles for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]-era and beyond characters in the back.
* Ratbat got his orders for the Club Con operation directly from [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]].

===Character profiles===
{{collist|4|
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Apeface]]
}}

===UK printing===
====UK issue #194====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]]''
* This is the last time a cover featuring a US artist would appear on a UK Transformers comic. It was a heavily edited (and mirrored) version of the US cover for this story, with the addition of a thought balloon for Jesse and a banner proclaiming the return of the Seacons. The recoloring of the cover was also striking — the Seacons now are more accurate to their usual color models and Jesse's bikini was changed to green to match the interior story.
* While in the US, this story was the Seacons' first first appearance, in the UK, the Seacons had their debut in issue [[Enemy Action!|#152]].
* In the UK continuity Starscream was revived quite some time earlier, way back in issue [[Target: 2006|#81]], though he was locked in a pod in issue #88 and did not come out of it until [[Stargazing|#145]]. But this is still his first appearance back with the Decepticons for UK readers as well. Starscream's conversation with Ratbat had minor changes so his excuse for not using Ratbat's title is now attributed to having spent such a long time in a life support pod rather than having recently been brought back on line.
* Outback appears to have dropped on to Earth for just this issue. In his [[The Harder They Die!|other]] [[Underworld!|appearances]] in the UK comics, he was always on Cybertron.
* The splash page for this issue was edited, removing reference to the Underbase Saga as a 4-part epic. In the UK, it was printed over 9 issues, and was interrupted halfway through for the epic "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]".
*In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] this issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] reveals that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] left the [[variable voltage harness]] behind for use on any mistake-prone stubbies. He also foreshadows the appearance of [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] in "Time Wars".

====UK issue #195====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''Action Force'', ''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'', and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* This issue included [[Transformers A-Z]] entries on [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]].
* The Death's Head "Backup Strip" this issue is actually a one-page comic strip meant as an advertisement for Death's Head's own regular series. The UK comics often blurred the line between backup strips and advertisements.
* In Dread Tidings this issue, Dreadwind confirms that he is 4 million, 60 thousand, 3 hundred and forty two years old, and still reads comics.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-47.jpg|'''US issue #47''' - All the better to eat you with my dear.
Image:MarvelUK-194.jpg|'''UK issue #194''' - I... don't get it. CHEW?
Image:MarvelUK-195.jpg|'''UK issue #195''' - This is what happens when you don't put anti-blaster cream on before going out in the sun.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #47 cover:''' Overbite attacking Jessie, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
* '''UK issue #194 cover:''' Reuse of US cover with a word balloon.
* '''UK issue #195 cover:''' Snaptrap blasts Blaster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

===Advertisements===

====US====
* Buck Rogers and Dragonlance board games from TSR (Inside cover)
* engine-powered model Airwolf helicopter by Cox Hobbies
* Gun Smoke game for the NES by CAPCOM
* Nintendo Game & Watch micro (hand-held digital) games
* Bubble Yum "Show us your bubble!" photo contest
* Marvel Super Mart
* Nickelodeon-themed merchandise mail-in promo
* Marvel Comics' "Inferno" comic arc (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, X Factor)
* Marvel comics subscription information
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game from Ultra Games (Inside rear cover)
* Candilicious candies (Rear cover)

====UK====

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Club Con!

2011-03-25T21:00:14Z

Fishyofpain: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #47
|prev=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next=The Flames of Boltax!
|title="Club Con!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #194–195
|prev2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next2=The Flames of Boltax!
|image=MarvelUS-47.jpg
|caption=Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August 1988
|coverdate=December 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''"Hi, I'm Starscream. Fly me!"'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Clubconresort.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you really want a [[Battlecharger]] handling your luggage?]]
Optimus Prime and his advisers are puzzled over the [[Decepticon]]s' latest scheme: Ratbat and his soldiers have converted their desert island headquarters into a tourist resort for [[human]]s called [[Club Con]], even advertising it on [[television]]. It seems clear that this is partially to have an endless supply of human shields and/or hostages to deter [[Autobot]] attacks, but Prime suspects there is more to it. He summons Blaster for a mission to investigate the island.

Later in [[Portland]], Oregon, Sparkplug Witwicky and Jesse are discussing how worried they are about his missing son, Buster, when Blaster drops in on them. He has a plan to sneak onto Club Con, but needs a human "owner" to carry him in. Sparkplug is more than willing to jump at the chance to help find and free Buster, but Jesse gently reminds him that he's too old and ugly to fit in at a resort. She offers to take his place on the surveillance mission, and Blaster accepts.

In the mechanical tower that sits just beneath the surface of Club Con, Ratbat is extraordinarily anxious about the success of their latest "operation", as it has been issued from High Command back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

As Jesse and the disguised Blaster arrive on Club Con, they are greeted by the club's manager, Starscream. At the beach, Jesse leaves Blaster to his surveillance work and goes for a swim. Out past the safety buoys, though, she runs into a school of [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] patrolling the waters, and sees them enter the mechanical construction underneath the island. Returning to the beach, she gathers up a recalcitrant Blaster in a waterproof baggie and takes him back down to the airlock she saw the Seacons enter earlier.

Sneaking around, Jesse spots a human-sized door, and enters it to find Buster held prisoner inside. Blaster questions him about the Decepticons' plans, and Buster relates what he has overheard. Several hundred years ago, the Autobots of Cybertron sent specially-encoded information to [[Earth]] on a pair of mini-cassettes. The message craft was damaged on arrival, though, and the cassettes wound up in a pirate's treasure chest, only for that pirate ship to be sunk in the middle of the ocean. The Decepticons of Cybertron recently learned of this long-lost mission and, suspecting the value of the information, commanded Ratbat and the Decepticons of Earth to find that sunken treasure chest and the cassettes inside. Club Con is a blind to cover their salvage operation.

Unable to break Buster free without revealing himself, Blaster promises to return when he can. On their way out, however, Jesse and Blaster spot the Seacons returning from the deep, having successfully uncovered the treasure chest. Against Blaster's recriminations, Jesse sneaks over and retrieves the cassettes right from under the Decepticons' olfactory sensors while Snaptrap is praising his team's efficiency to Ratbat. When they notice the missing tapes, though, Ratbat immediately recognizes Jesse's water-dripping footprints as belonging to a fleshling, and sends the Seacons to fetch.

Back on dry land, Jesse is ready to catch the first plane out with Blaster, but the Seacons pop up onto the beach and begin ransacking through the crowd in order to find the cassettes. Blaster feels compelled to transform and protect the humans, but is quickly overwhelmed by the six Seacons. Out of necessity, he spits the cassettes back out into the water, and transforms back into his smaller form in the confusion. Armed with the information but not the cassettes themselves, Blaster leaves with Jesse and vows to return as soon as he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (4)
* [[Raindance|Raindance]] (21)
* [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grandslam]] (22)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (9)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (9)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (10)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (12)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (13)
* [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] (14)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (15)
* [[Skalor]] (16)
* [[Nautilator]] (17)
* [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (18)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (19)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (20)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (6)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Jesse]] (8)
}}

==Errors==
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] is erroneously depicted among the Autobots training with Blaster. Not only should he not be with the Autobots, but he was just shown in a television ad (with the Cons) on the previous page.
* It's not clear what exactly Blaster would've done if Jessie HADN'T snuck into the Decepticon base with him. Was he just going to sit there and eavesdrop, or what?
* The mini-cassette backstory is several layers of FUBAR. First, it depicts [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and a normal-sized [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron when they shouldn't be. Next, it assumes the Autobots of Cybertron knew the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew was on Earth several hundred years before the latter group awoke on Earth, which is nonsense and unsubstantiated. Then, as we'll see in later issues, the information they send to Earth only becomes relevant in the present... several hundred years after it was first sent. FUBAR!
* Club Con uses the same telephone number as the [[Z Foundation]], but Scorponok and Ratbat weren't working together yet.

==Items of note==
* Part 1 of the [[Underbase Saga]].
* Runamuck is depicted among Club Con's staff, a development later ignored by [[Simon Furman]] in the issue [[Surrender!]].
* This is technically the first appearance of the Autobots of Earth since US issue [[Totaled!|#41]]. This issue establishes that Optimus Prime has now officially returned as overall Autobot leader, and Blaster, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus all seem comfortable being under his command.
* The Decepticons have claimed their island/spaceship as a sovereign nation and declared Buster as its monarch to prevent interference by humans due to international law. This legal reasoning is not dissimilar to the real world case of the [[wikipedia:Principality_of_Sealand|Principality of Sealand]].
* This issue features [[Outback]]'s second and final appearance in the US comic (after a one panel cameo in issue #41), seen here training with Blaster aboard the Ark. He will not be seen again, and given the presence of a Battlecharger (see Errors above) in the same scene, his appearance here may possibly be another mistake.
* Starscream is now fully repaired and back working with the Decepticons as Ratbat's lieutenant commander, after being recovered from the Ark in issue #41.
* Instead of publishing a new ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers: Universe]]'' limited series, Marvel began shortening the main stories and including profiles for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]-era and beyond characters in the back.
* Ratbat got his orders for the Club Con operation directly from [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]].

===Character profiles===
{{collist|4|
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Apeface]]
}}

===UK printing===
====UK issue #194====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]]''
* This is the last time a cover featuring a US artist would appear on a UK Transformers comic. It was a heavily edited (and mirrored) version of the US cover for this story, with the addition of a thought balloon for Jesse and a banner proclaiming the return of the Seacons. The recoloring of the cover was also striking — the Seacons now are more accurate to their usual color models and Jesse's bikini was changed to green to match the interior story.
* While in the US, this story was the Seacons' first first appearance, in the UK, the Seacons had their debut in issue [[Enemy Action!|#152]].
* In the UK continuity Starscream was revived quite some time earlier, way back in issue [[Target: 2006|#81]], though he was locked in a pod in issue #88 and did not come out of it until [[Stargazing|#145]]. But this is still his first appearance back with the Decepticons for UK readers as well. Starscream's conversation with Ratbat had minor changes so his excuse for not using Ratbat's title is now attributed to having spent such a long time in a life support pod rather than having recently been brought back on line.
* Outback appears to have dropped on to Earth for just this issue. In his [[The Harder They Die!|other]] [[Underworld!|appearances]] in the UK comics, he was always on Cybertron.
* The splash page for this issue was edited, removing reference to the Underbase Saga as a 4-part epic. In the UK, it was printed over 9 issues, and was interrupted halfway through for the epic "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]".
*In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] this issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] reveals that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] left the [[variable voltage harness]] behind for use on any mistake-prone stubbies. He also foreshadows the appearance of [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] in "Time Wars".

====UK issue #195====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''Action Force'', ''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'', and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* This issue included [[Transformers A-Z]] entries on [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]].
* The Death's Head "Backup Strip" this issue is actually a one-page comic strip meant as an advertisement for Death's Head's own regular series. The UK comics often blurred the line between backup strips and advertisements.
* In Dread Tidings this issue, Dreadwind confirms that he is 4 million, 60 thousand, 3 hundred and forty two years old, and still reads comics.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-47.jpg|'''US issue #47''' - All the better to eat you with my dear.
Image:MarvelUK-194.jpg|'''UK issue #194''' - I... don't get it. CHEW?
Image:MarvelUK-195.jpg|'''UK issue #195''' - This is what happens when you don't put anti-blaster cream on before going out in the sun.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #47 cover:''' Overbite attacking Jessie, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
* '''UK issue #194 cover:''' Reuse of US cover with a word balloon.
* '''UK issue #195 cover:''' Snaptrap blasts Blaster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

===Advertisements===

====US====
* Buck Rogers and Dragonlance board games from TSR (Inside cover)
* engine-powered model Airwolf helicopter by Cox Hobbies
* Gun Smoke game for the NES by CAPCOM
* Nintendo Game & Watch micro (hand-held digital) games
* Bubble Yum "Show us your bubble!" photo contest
* Marvel Super Mart
* Nickelodeon-themed merchandise mail-in promo
* Marvel Comics' "Inferno" comic arc (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, X Factor)
* Marvel comics subscription information
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game from Ultra Games (Inside rear cover)
* Candilicious candies (Rear cover)

====UK====

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Club Con!

2011-03-25T20:59:16Z

Fishyofpain: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #47
|prev=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next=The Flames of Boltax!
|title="Club Con!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #194–195
|prev2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next2=The Flames of Boltax!
|image=MarvelUS-47.jpg
|caption=Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August 1988
|coverdate=December 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''"Hi, I'm Starscream. Fly me!"'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Clubconresort.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you really want a [[Battlecharger]] handling your luggage?]]
Optimus Prime and his advisers are puzzled over the [[Decepticon]]s' latest scheme: Ratbat and his soldiers have converted their desert island headquarters into a tourist resort for [[human]]s called [[Club Con]], even advertising it on [[television]]. It seems clear that this is partially to have an endless supply of human shields and/or hostages to deter [[Autobot]] attacks, but Prime suspects there is more to it. He summons Blaster for a mission to investigate the island.

Later in [[Portland]], Oregon, Sparkplug Witwicky and Jesse are discussing how worried they are about his missing son, Buster, when Blaster drops in on them. He has a plan to sneak onto Club Con, but needs a human "owner" to carry him in. Sparkplug is more than willing to jump at the chance to help find and free Buster, but Jesse gently reminds him that he's too old and ugly to fit in at a resort. She offers to take his place on the surveillance mission, and Blaster accepts.

In the mechanical tower that sits just beneath the surface of Club Con, Ratbat is extraordinarily anxious about the success of their latest "operation", as it has been issued from High Command back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

As Jesse and the disguised Blaster arrive on Club Con, they are greeted by the club's manager, Starscream. At the beach, Jesse leaves Blaster to his surveillance work and goes for a swim. Out past the safety buoys, though, she runs into a school of [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] patrolling the waters, and sees them enter the mechanical construction underneath the island. Returning to the beach, she gathers up a recalcitrant Blaster in a waterproof baggie and takes him back down to the airlock she saw the Seacons enter earlier.

Sneaking around, Jesse spots a human-sized door, and enters it to find Buster held prisoner inside. Blaster questions him about the Decepticons' plans, and Buster relates what he has overheard. Several hundred years ago, the Autobots of Cybertron sent specially-encoded information to [[Earth]] on a pair of mini-cassettes. The message craft was damaged on arrival, though, and the cassettes wound up in a pirate's treasure chest, only for that pirate ship to be sunk in the middle of the ocean. The Decepticons of Cybertron recently learned of this long-lost mission and, suspecting the value of the information, commanded Ratbat and the Decepticons of Earth to find that sunken treasure chest and the cassettes inside. Club Con is a blind to cover their salvage operation.

Unable to break Buster free without revealing himself, Blaster promises to return when he can. On their way out, however, Jesse and Blaster spot the Seacons returning from the deep, having successfully uncovered the treasure chest. Against Blaster's recriminations, Jesse sneaks over and retrieves the cassettes right from under the Decepticons' olfactory sensors while Snaptrap is praising his team's efficiency to Ratbat. When they notice the missing tapes, though, Ratbat immediately recognizes Jesse's water-dripping footprints as belonging to a fleshling, and sends the Seacons to fetch.

Back on dry land, Jesse is ready to catch the first plane out with Blaster, but the Seacons pop up onto the beach and begin ransacking through the crowd in order to find the cassettes. Blaster feels compelled to transform and protect the humans, but is quickly overwhelmed by the six Seacons. Out of necessity, he spits the cassettes back out into the water, and transforms back into his smaller form in the confusion. Armed with the information but not the cassettes themselves, Blaster leaves with Jesse and vows to return as soon as he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (4)
* [[Raindance|Raindance]] (21)
* [[Grandslam|Grandslam]] (22)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (9)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (9)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (10)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (12)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (13)
* [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] (14)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (15)
* [[Skalor]] (16)
* [[Nautilator]] (17)
* [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (18)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (19)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (20)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (6)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Jesse]] (8)
}}

==Errors==
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] is erroneously depicted among the Autobots training with Blaster. Not only should he not be with the Autobots, but he was just shown in a television ad (with the Cons) on the previous page.
* It's not clear what exactly Blaster would've done if Jessie HADN'T snuck into the Decepticon base with him. Was he just going to sit there and eavesdrop, or what?
* The mini-cassette backstory is several layers of FUBAR. First, it depicts [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and a normal-sized [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron when they shouldn't be. Next, it assumes the Autobots of Cybertron knew the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew was on Earth several hundred years before the latter group awoke on Earth, which is nonsense and unsubstantiated. Then, as we'll see in later issues, the information they send to Earth only becomes relevant in the present... several hundred years after it was first sent. FUBAR!
* Club Con uses the same telephone number as the [[Z Foundation]], but Scorponok and Ratbat weren't working together yet.

==Items of note==
* Part 1 of the [[Underbase Saga]].
* Runamuck is depicted among Club Con's staff, a development later ignored by [[Simon Furman]] in the issue [[Surrender!]].
* This is technically the first appearance of the Autobots of Earth since US issue [[Totaled!|#41]]. This issue establishes that Optimus Prime has now officially returned as overall Autobot leader, and Blaster, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus all seem comfortable being under his command.
* The Decepticons have claimed their island/spaceship as a sovereign nation and declared Buster as its monarch to prevent interference by humans due to international law. This legal reasoning is not dissimilar to the real world case of the [[wikipedia:Principality_of_Sealand|Principality of Sealand]].
* This issue features [[Outback]]'s second and final appearance in the US comic (after a one panel cameo in issue #41), seen here training with Blaster aboard the Ark. He will not be seen again, and given the presence of a Battlecharger (see Errors above) in the same scene, his appearance here may possibly be another mistake.
* Starscream is now fully repaired and back working with the Decepticons as Ratbat's lieutenant commander, after being recovered from the Ark in issue #41.
* Instead of publishing a new ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers: Universe]]'' limited series, Marvel began shortening the main stories and including profiles for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]-era and beyond characters in the back.
* Ratbat got his orders for the Club Con operation directly from [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]].

===Character profiles===
{{collist|4|
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Apeface]]
}}

===UK printing===
====UK issue #194====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]]''
* This is the last time a cover featuring a US artist would appear on a UK Transformers comic. It was a heavily edited (and mirrored) version of the US cover for this story, with the addition of a thought balloon for Jesse and a banner proclaiming the return of the Seacons. The recoloring of the cover was also striking — the Seacons now are more accurate to their usual color models and Jesse's bikini was changed to green to match the interior story.
* While in the US, this story was the Seacons' first first appearance, in the UK, the Seacons had their debut in issue [[Enemy Action!|#152]].
* In the UK continuity Starscream was revived quite some time earlier, way back in issue [[Target: 2006|#81]], though he was locked in a pod in issue #88 and did not come out of it until [[Stargazing|#145]]. But this is still his first appearance back with the Decepticons for UK readers as well. Starscream's conversation with Ratbat had minor changes so his excuse for not using Ratbat's title is now attributed to having spent such a long time in a life support pod rather than having recently been brought back on line.
* Outback appears to have dropped on to Earth for just this issue. In his [[The Harder They Die!|other]] [[Underworld!|appearances]] in the UK comics, he was always on Cybertron.
* The splash page for this issue was edited, removing reference to the Underbase Saga as a 4-part epic. In the UK, it was printed over 9 issues, and was interrupted halfway through for the epic "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]".
*In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] this issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] reveals that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] left the [[variable voltage harness]] behind for use on any mistake-prone stubbies. He also foreshadows the appearance of [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] in "Time Wars".

====UK issue #195====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''Action Force'', ''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'', and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* This issue included [[Transformers A-Z]] entries on [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]].
* The Death's Head "Backup Strip" this issue is actually a one-page comic strip meant as an advertisement for Death's Head's own regular series. The UK comics often blurred the line between backup strips and advertisements.
* In Dread Tidings this issue, Dreadwind confirms that he is 4 million, 60 thousand, 3 hundred and forty two years old, and still reads comics.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-47.jpg|'''US issue #47''' - All the better to eat you with my dear.
Image:MarvelUK-194.jpg|'''UK issue #194''' - I... don't get it. CHEW?
Image:MarvelUK-195.jpg|'''UK issue #195''' - This is what happens when you don't put anti-blaster cream on before going out in the sun.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #47 cover:''' Overbite attacking Jessie, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
* '''UK issue #194 cover:''' Reuse of US cover with a word balloon.
* '''UK issue #195 cover:''' Snaptrap blasts Blaster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

===Advertisements===

====US====
* Buck Rogers and Dragonlance board games from TSR (Inside cover)
* engine-powered model Airwolf helicopter by Cox Hobbies
* Gun Smoke game for the NES by CAPCOM
* Nintendo Game & Watch micro (hand-held digital) games
* Bubble Yum "Show us your bubble!" photo contest
* Marvel Super Mart
* Nickelodeon-themed merchandise mail-in promo
* Marvel Comics' "Inferno" comic arc (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, X Factor)
* Marvel comics subscription information
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game from Ultra Games (Inside rear cover)
* Candilicious candies (Rear cover)

====UK====

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Club Con!

2011-03-25T20:58:46Z

Fishyofpain: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #47
|prev=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next=The Flames of Boltax!
|title="Club Con!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #194–195
|prev2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|next2=The Flames of Boltax!
|image=MarvelUS-47.jpg
|caption=Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August 1988
|coverdate=December 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''"Hi, I'm Starscream. Fly me!"'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Clubconresort.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Do you really want a [[Battlecharger]] handling your luggage?]]
Optimus Prime and his advisers are puzzled over the [[Decepticon]]s' latest scheme: Ratbat and his soldiers have converted their desert island headquarters into a tourist resort for [[human]]s called [[Club Con]], even advertising it on [[television]]. It seems clear that this is partially to have an endless supply of human shields and/or hostages to deter [[Autobot]] attacks, but Prime suspects there is more to it. He summons Blaster for a mission to investigate the island.

Later in [[Portland]], Oregon, Sparkplug Witwicky and Jesse are discussing how worried they are about his missing son, Buster, when Blaster drops in on them. He has a plan to sneak onto Club Con, but needs a human "owner" to carry him in. Sparkplug is more than willing to jump at the chance to help find and free Buster, but Jesse gently reminds him that he's too old and ugly to fit in at a resort. She offers to take his place on the surveillance mission, and Blaster accepts.

In the mechanical tower that sits just beneath the surface of Club Con, Ratbat is extraordinarily anxious about the success of their latest "operation", as it has been issued from High Command back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

As Jesse and the disguised Blaster arrive on Club Con, they are greeted by the club's manager, Starscream. At the beach, Jesse leaves Blaster to his surveillance work and goes for a swim. Out past the safety buoys, though, she runs into a school of [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] patrolling the waters, and sees them enter the mechanical construction underneath the island. Returning to the beach, she gathers up a recalcitrant Blaster in a waterproof baggie and takes him back down to the airlock she saw the Seacons enter earlier.

Sneaking around, Jesse spots a human-sized door, and enters it to find Buster held prisoner inside. Blaster questions him about the Decepticons' plans, and Buster relates what he has overheard. Several hundred years ago, the Autobots of Cybertron sent specially-encoded information to [[Earth]] on a pair of mini-cassettes. The message craft was damaged on arrival, though, and the cassettes wound up in a pirate's treasure chest, only for that pirate ship to be sunk in the middle of the ocean. The Decepticons of Cybertron recently learned of this long-lost mission and, suspecting the value of the information, commanded Ratbat and the Decepticons of Earth to find that sunken treasure chest and the cassettes inside. Club Con is a blind to cover their salvage operation.

Unable to break Buster free without revealing himself, Blaster promises to return when he can. On their way out, however, Jesse and Blaster spot the Seacons returning from the deep, having successfully uncovered the treasure chest. Against Blaster's recriminations, Jesse sneaks over and retrieves the cassettes right from under the Decepticons' olfactory sensors while Snaptrap is praising his team's efficiency to Ratbat. When they notice the missing tapes, though, Ratbat immediately recognizes Jesse's water-dripping footprints as belonging to a fleshling, and sends the Seacons to fetch.

Back on dry land, Jesse is ready to catch the first plane out with Blaster, but the Seacons pop up onto the beach and begin ransacking through the crowd in order to find the cassettes. Blaster feels compelled to transform and protect the humans, but is quickly overwhelmed by the six Seacons. Out of necessity, he spits the cassettes back out into the water, and transforms back into his smaller form in the confusion. Armed with the information but not the cassettes themselves, Blaster leaves with Jesse and vows to return as soon as he can.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (4)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (4)
* [[Raindance (G1)|Raindance]] (21)
* [[Grandslam (G1)|Grandslam]] (22)
|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (1)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (9)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (9)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (10)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (12)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (13)
* [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] (14)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (15)
* [[Skalor]] (16)
* [[Nautilator]] (17)
* [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (18)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (19)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (20)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (6)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Jesse]] (8)
}}

==Errors==
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] is erroneously depicted among the Autobots training with Blaster. Not only should he not be with the Autobots, but he was just shown in a television ad (with the Cons) on the previous page.
* It's not clear what exactly Blaster would've done if Jessie HADN'T snuck into the Decepticon base with him. Was he just going to sit there and eavesdrop, or what?
* The mini-cassette backstory is several layers of FUBAR. First, it depicts [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and a normal-sized [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron when they shouldn't be. Next, it assumes the Autobots of Cybertron knew the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew was on Earth several hundred years before the latter group awoke on Earth, which is nonsense and unsubstantiated. Then, as we'll see in later issues, the information they send to Earth only becomes relevant in the present... several hundred years after it was first sent. FUBAR!
* Club Con uses the same telephone number as the [[Z Foundation]], but Scorponok and Ratbat weren't working together yet.

==Items of note==
* Part 1 of the [[Underbase Saga]].
* Runamuck is depicted among Club Con's staff, a development later ignored by [[Simon Furman]] in the issue [[Surrender!]].
* This is technically the first appearance of the Autobots of Earth since US issue [[Totaled!|#41]]. This issue establishes that Optimus Prime has now officially returned as overall Autobot leader, and Blaster, Grimlock, and Fortress Maximus all seem comfortable being under his command.
* The Decepticons have claimed their island/spaceship as a sovereign nation and declared Buster as its monarch to prevent interference by humans due to international law. This legal reasoning is not dissimilar to the real world case of the [[wikipedia:Principality_of_Sealand|Principality of Sealand]].
* This issue features [[Outback]]'s second and final appearance in the US comic (after a one panel cameo in issue #41), seen here training with Blaster aboard the Ark. He will not be seen again, and given the presence of a Battlecharger (see Errors above) in the same scene, his appearance here may possibly be another mistake.
* Starscream is now fully repaired and back working with the Decepticons as Ratbat's lieutenant commander, after being recovered from the Ark in issue #41.
* Instead of publishing a new ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers: Universe]]'' limited series, Marvel began shortening the main stories and including profiles for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]-era and beyond characters in the back.
* Ratbat got his orders for the Club Con operation directly from [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]].

===Character profiles===
{{collist|4|
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Apeface]]
}}

===UK printing===
====UK issue #194====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]]''
* This is the last time a cover featuring a US artist would appear on a UK Transformers comic. It was a heavily edited (and mirrored) version of the US cover for this story, with the addition of a thought balloon for Jesse and a banner proclaiming the return of the Seacons. The recoloring of the cover was also striking — the Seacons now are more accurate to their usual color models and Jesse's bikini was changed to green to match the interior story.
* While in the US, this story was the Seacons' first first appearance, in the UK, the Seacons had their debut in issue [[Enemy Action!|#152]].
* In the UK continuity Starscream was revived quite some time earlier, way back in issue [[Target: 2006|#81]], though he was locked in a pod in issue #88 and did not come out of it until [[Stargazing|#145]]. But this is still his first appearance back with the Decepticons for UK readers as well. Starscream's conversation with Ratbat had minor changes so his excuse for not using Ratbat's title is now attributed to having spent such a long time in a life support pod rather than having recently been brought back on line.
* Outback appears to have dropped on to Earth for just this issue. In his [[The Harder They Die!|other]] [[Underworld!|appearances]] in the UK comics, he was always on Cybertron.
* The splash page for this issue was edited, removing reference to the Underbase Saga as a 4-part epic. In the UK, it was printed over 9 issues, and was interrupted halfway through for the epic "[[Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars]]".
*In [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] this issue, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] reveals that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] left the [[variable voltage harness]] behind for use on any mistake-prone stubbies. He also foreshadows the appearance of [[Chop Shop]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] in "Time Wars".

====UK issue #195====
* '''Backup strips:''' ''Action Force'', ''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'', and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* This issue included [[Transformers A-Z]] entries on [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]].
* The Death's Head "Backup Strip" this issue is actually a one-page comic strip meant as an advertisement for Death's Head's own regular series. The UK comics often blurred the line between backup strips and advertisements.
* In Dread Tidings this issue, Dreadwind confirms that he is 4 million, 60 thousand, 3 hundred and forty two years old, and still reads comics.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-47.jpg|'''US issue #47''' - All the better to eat you with my dear.
Image:MarvelUK-194.jpg|'''UK issue #194''' - I... don't get it. CHEW?
Image:MarvelUK-195.jpg|'''UK issue #195''' - This is what happens when you don't put anti-blaster cream on before going out in the sun.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #47 cover:''' Overbite attacking Jessie, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Kevin Nowlan]].
* '''UK issue #194 cover:''' Reuse of US cover with a word balloon.
* '''UK issue #195 cover:''' Snaptrap blasts Blaster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

===Advertisements===

====US====
* Buck Rogers and Dragonlance board games from TSR (Inside cover)
* engine-powered model Airwolf helicopter by Cox Hobbies
* Gun Smoke game for the NES by CAPCOM
* Nintendo Game & Watch micro (hand-held digital) games
* Bubble Yum "Show us your bubble!" photo contest
* Marvel Super Mart
* Nickelodeon-themed merchandise mail-in promo
* Marvel Comics' "Inferno" comic arc (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, X Factor)
* Marvel comics subscription information
* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video game from Ultra Games (Inside rear cover)
* Candilicious candies (Rear cover)

====UK====

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Time Wars

2011-03-25T20:20:44Z

Fishyofpain: /* Errors */

{{disambig2|the comic story|the trade paperback named after it|Time Wars (Titan)}}
{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Transformers'' (UK)]] #199–205
|prev=Cold Comfort and Joy!
|prev2=Altered Image!
|next=Cold War!
|title="Time Wars"
|image=MarvelUK-202.jpg
|caption=Oh shit.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[January 7|7th January]] [[1989]]—[[February 18|18th February]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Robin Smith]] (#200, #201)<br />[[Dan Reed]] (#202, #203)<br />[[Lee Sullivan]] (#204, #205)
|pencils=[[Andrew Wildman]] (#199)
|inks=[[Stephen Baskerville]] (#199)
|colours=[[Euan Peters]]
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|GLIB]] (#199, #203, #205)<br />[[Annie Halfacree]] (#200, #201)<br />[[Gordon Robson|GLOP]] (#202, #203)<br />[[Peter Knight]] (#204)
|editor=[[Euan Peters]]
}}
'''The combined forces of the Autobots and Decepticons must battle both Megatron and Galvatron to save the present and the future from a rift in space and time.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|This story follows directly from the UK Annual stories [[All in the Minds!]] and [[Altered Image!]].}}
On New Years Day 2009, a time rift has destroyed the planet [[Quintessa|Quintesson]] {{storylink|Space Pirates!}} and is now threatening to consume both Earth and Cybertron. Analysing the source of the disturbance, they find the source of the rift to be the year 1989. They correctly deduce that Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge are somehow the cause. In an attempt to solve the problem, a small group of Autobots travel back in time to 1989.

In 1989, the rift is also threatening modern day Earth, causing natural disasters. An earthquake awakens Ravage, who has lain inactive since falling down a mine shaft. {{storylink|Showdown!}} He attempts to escape back to the surface, but instead discovers the underground base of Galvatron.

Optimus Prime is giving a briefing to the other Autobots, in which he outlines his belief that the time storm is related to Galvatron. Meanwhile, outside the Ark, Highbrow is fretting over what to do with the head of Scorponok that he had captured. {{storylink|All in the Minds!}} He wishes to end the threat of Scorponok, but is unwilling to kill him in cold blood.

Before he can make a decision, he is attacked by the Decepticon Headmasters and Targetmasters in an attempt to recover the head. They capture the head, but before they can destroy Highbrow, the other Autobots come to his rescue and a major battle ensues.

In the midst of the battle, the future Autobots arrive, causing Optimus Prime, Hardhead, Highbrow, Blaster, Brainstorm and Snarl to be transported to the holding dimension as part of the time travel process. Thinking their friends have been killed by the newcomers, Fortress Maximus leads an attack on the future Autobots.

At the same time, a [[Mayhem Attack Squad's ship|spacecraft]] from Cybertron arrives on Earth carrying the combined forces of the Autobot [[Wrecker]]s and the Decepticon [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]. They have joined forces in an attempt to force Galvatron to return to his own time.

The Autobot battle is eventually stopped when Goldbug, who has seen the results of time travel before {{storylink|Target: 2006}} {{storylink|Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!}} and believes the newcomers are friends, is injured. Using the Creation Matrix that resides in both Optimus and Rodimus Prime, the present and future leaders are able to communicate with each other and resolve the battle peacefully.

The Wreckers and the Mayhem Attack Squad meanwhile enter Galvatron’s base and confront the future Decepticon. They are shocked to discover, however, that Galvatron and Megatron have now joined forces. The two of them soon leave the ranks of the Wreckers and Mayhem Attack Squad decimated, forcing them to retreat and regroup.

Optimus Prime is explaining that the rift is caused by Cyclonus and Scourge being in the present because they bypassed the usual mass transfer system when they travelled back in time using Unicron's time portal. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} As a result, the balance of space time has been upset. The situation has been made worse by Cyclonus's death twenty years before his creation. {{storylink|Dry Run!}} They deduce that if Cyclonus and Scourge are returned to the future, the rift will seal itself.

Galvatron and Megatron follow the Wreckers and the Mayhem Attack Squad and continue the battle outside, bringing the other Autobots into the fray. Galvatron has now become totally insane and is fighting blindly and slaughtering all in his path.

[[Image:MarvelUKTimeRift.jpg|right|180px|thumb|I guess we're not in [[Kansas]] anymore.]]
Scourge, who is beginning to have doubts about his alliance with Galvatron, decides to take action and flies to the Decepticon fortress to retrieve Cyclonus's body. There, he finds Shockwave in a state of mental breakdown after learning {{storylink|Dry Run!}} that he is due to die at Cyclonus and Scourge's hands in 2008. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}} Unwilling to let Scourge take Cyclonus's body, he blasts the future Decepticon unconscious.

The battle with Galvatron is going badly and all are falling before him. Half his face has been blasted off in events that are different from how he remembers them as Megatron, pushing him even further from sanity at the same time as changing the course of history. Optimus Prime, trapped in the limbo dimension, can only watch through the Matrix link. As the Autobots continue to fall, however, he decides to take drastic action and uses the power of the Matrix to return to reality and confront Galvatron. However, because he is now in the same period as Rodimus Prime, also the bearer of the Matrix, the effects of the time rift increase.

Scourge, recovering, appeals to Ravage to get Cyclonus's body, and wanting the madness to end, he sacrifices himself by throwing himself into the rift. Ravage manages to convince Shockwave that because he has foreknowledge, he has time to prevent his fate. This snaps Shockwave from his mental decline.

Galvatron, still fighting madly, fights Optimus Prime to a standstill, but before a winner is revealed the time rift rips Galvatron apart. However, the rift continues to worsen as it needs Cyclonus as well. Just as the rift is about to rip the Earth apart, Shockwave arrives and throws the body of Cyclonus into the rift, causing it to close itself.

The future Autobots return to their own time, pledging to destroy all their time machines. Optimus Prime and Shockwave agree to a truce until they next meet.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (6)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (9)
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (10)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (13)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (14)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (15)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (19)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (20)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (21)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (22)
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (23)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]](24)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (29)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (30)
* [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] (31)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (33)
* [[Catilla]] (35)
* [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (39)
* [[Twin Twist]] (41)
* [[Rack'n'Ruin]] (42)
* [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (43)
|c2=
* [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]] (1)
* [[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (2)
* [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] (3)
* [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (4)
* [[Hun-Gurrr|Hun-Grr]] (5)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (16)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (17)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (18)
* [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]] (25)
* [[Misfire]] (26)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (27)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (28)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (32)
* [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] (34)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (36)
* [[Battletrap]] (37)
* [[Flywheels]] (38)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (40)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (7)
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (8)
}}

==Errors==
[[Image:Timewars colourerror uk201.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The FortMax repaint we've all been waiting for!]]
*On page 4 of issue 200, Robin Smith draws Blaster with his Marvel US head. On pages 9 and 11, however, he is drawn with his cartoon head like in all his other Marvel UK appearances.
*The first page of issue 201 was originally printed with the wrong colours. This was corrected in the subsequent [[Collected Comics (Marvel)|Collected Comics]] and [[Titan Books]] reprints, though the colors are still slightly off (especially the dark brown-ish red on Rodimus Prime).
*Scourge was pretty mad at Galvatron last time he saw him, to the extent that he was willing to kill him. How we get from that to the look of love he gives Galvatron in issue 200 is unexplained.
*What's left of the [[Wrecker]]s and the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], having been key characters for much of the story, simply disappear in the closing stages, shunted aside by the big names. The same happens to the rank-and-file present day Autobots such as [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (the latter was going to be killed off [[Dark Star (issue)|shortly anyway]])
*The "present" Autobots should recognise most of the "future" Autobots—[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], for example, are among their current forces on the Ark. Kinda lucky they didn't make the trip to Earth, really... They should probably recognise Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime (he looks just like Hot Rod, after all) as well, and maybe even [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. (Similarly isn't it lucky that Scorponok didn't bring the present day Terrorcons with him?)
* Blaster appears in the 2009 timeline but neither does he travel back in time with the other Autobots nor is he present when the Decepticons storm Autobot City. It's lucky he didn't travel back in time as his 1989 incarnation is present as well, or was.
*At least some of the present-day Autobots (such as Ironhide) should recognise the explosive effects of being shunted to limbo, so their immediate declaration that Optimus and company have been killed is a little hysterical.
*The nature of Goldbug's injury shifts all over the place—he's shot in the shoulder by [[Misfire]], but then has a critical chest injury by the time Magnus finds him. His dramatic turn done with, his life-threatening wound reverts to being a shoulder injury that [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] patches up in three seconds flat.
*The plan is to get Cyclonus's body and Scourge back to the future, but it is unclear how they plan on accomplishing that. Nobody in 1989 appears to have the means to transport them into the future.
*Also Rodimus Prime isn't ''really'' Optimus Prime's future self. Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime in the same era should not cause a time disruption despite what the two Primes believe...yet it is caused by the two holding the Matrix simultaneously. Though, Optimus doesn't have the Matrix, as it is with his other body on VsQs. Head hurt yet?
**Keep in mind that the present and future had become a mess due to the temporal anomoly, There was no telling how history would reboot itself.

==Items of note==
[[Image:RobinSmithGrimlockOptimusFortMax.jpg|thumb|250px|right|You're doing it wrong, Fort Max.]]
*This marks the end of the story arc that began 121 issues ago in "[[Target: 2006]]".
*This was the last of the UK comic's 'epic' storylines. By issue [[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire|213]] falling sales meant that the page count of the UK originated strip was reduced from 11 to 6. The constant threat of the comic's cancellation meant that [[Simon Furman]] kept the story arcs limited to a few issues at most.
*The present day Ultra Magnus was going to get a rematch with Galvatron here, but the upcoming switch to black-and-white strips forced Furman to wrap up everything in Time Wars; poor ol' Magnus got lost in the shuffle.<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=42871</ref> Insult to injury, his 2009 incarnation is never seen after this strip and, considering the state the Decepticons were making of him, could have ''died'' with barely a mention!
*As if the high death count was bad enough, keep in mind that this is right im the middle of the [[Underbase Saga]], which had many more deaths.
*Cyclonus was killed in issue 189 "[[Dry Run!]]". The initial effects of the time rift were shown in issues 182-187 "[[Space Pirates!]]" with the destruction of the planet [[Quintessa|Quintesson]].
*Here Ravage recovers from his fall down a mine shaft after a battle with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] in issue 72-73 "[[Showdown!]]" (US issue 20).
*The future Decepticons don't really add anything to the story. They just turn up, watch for a bit and then leave.
*The Wrecker/Mayhem strategy is laughable - they simply walk into Galvatron's base, arguing loudly.
*It's a recurring problem with the rotating artists on the UK comic, but the height of characters changes drastically over the course of the story. Fortress Maximus goes from being a shade taller than Rodimus to almost half again as tall between issues.
*Galvatron actually starts off this story in a fairly sane state of mind (as he had in [[Altered Image!]]) By the end of it he's attempting to destroy every Transformer that exists and screaming his defiance at the universe itself. [[A Savage Circle| Hanging out with Megatron]] seems to have this effect on him (although to be fair, having half his face blasted off probably didn't help matters).
*Finally, Galvatron stays dead. Hard to miraculously recover from being erased from history. Except that he [[Aspects of Evil!|does]], sort of.
*Where does [[Fracas]] go?
*During the first issue when humans are fleeing from the Terrorcons on New Year's Day 2009, a dropped copy of ''Dragon's Claws'' can be seen. This prediction of the title's longevity was optimistic as the real ''Dragon's Claws'' comic folded a few months into 1989; however just a few months before the real New Year's Day 2009 a trade paperback of ''Dragon's Claws'' was published.
*Reprinted as a Trade Paperback by [[Titan Books]] in July 2003.
*The future Autobots last appeared in "[[Space Pirates!]]". Their story continues in the second segment of "[[Aspects of Evil!]]", then "[[The Void! (UK)|The Void!]]".
[[Image:RobinSmithLotsaCharacterModels.jpg|thumb|200px|right|See? That's better. Now for you, Arcee...]]
*When this story was written, it was with the intention that Megatron was the same guy we saw being blown up with the [[space bridge]] at the end of "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]". However, a few months later, the story "[[Two Megatrons!]]" would [[retcon]] him into actually being a [[cloning|clone]] bearing the [[Spark|mind]] of [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] who ''thinks'' he's Megatron. Consequently, the events of this story leave open the (originally unintended) possibility that, in the original timeline, it was actually this Straxus-Megatron who was rebuilt into Galvatron by Unicron, rather than the genuine article.
*Several panels in the two issues drawn by Robin Smith feature characters in poses directly drawn from their [[character model]]s. Most of them can be found in issue 200: Ravage on page 1, panel 2 (the same pose is used ''again'', albeit mirrored, in panel 1 on the subsequent page, with a slightly redrawn pose appearing in panel 3); The [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] on page 4, panel 2; Grimlock and Powermaster Optimus Prime (minus his handguns) on page 4, panel 3 (Fortress Maximus in the same panel appears to be an original pose); Galvatron on page 7, panel 3; Snapdragon on page 8, panel 2 (with a slightly redrawn leg); Weirdwolf and Skullcruncher (both of them slightly redrawn) on page 9, panel 1; Fortress Maximus (with a different facial expression), Rodimus Prime and Blurr on page 10 (Arcee, Kup, Ultra Magnus and Red Alert appear to be original poses); possibly Fortress Maximus on page 11, panel 3 (downscaled and with less details); and Rodimus Prime in the subsequent panel (albeit with a different facial expression and one arm redrawn to be raised). Some more can be found in issue 201: Misfire (with a redrawn hand to include his gun), Skullcruncher, Fangry and Slugslinger on page 5, panel 2 (Horri-Bull and Weirdwolf appear to be original poses); Soundwave (with his hand redrawn and lacking his gun) and Cutthroat on page 6, panel 5 (Blot appears to be an original pose); Fortress Maximus on 9, panel 4 (with an arm redrawn to be raised, and a hand redrawn to be opened). Uncertain are Scorponok on page 5, panel 5 and Rippersnapper, Hun-Gurrr and Sinnertwin on page 6, panel 5, who never had ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Universe]]'' profiles.

===Covers (8)===
{{picsneeded|Best of UK covers}}
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUK-199.jpg|199 cover
Image:MarvelUK-200.jpg|200 cover
Image:MarvelUK-201.jpg|201 cover
Image:MarvelUK-202.jpg|202 cover
Image:MarvelUK-203.jpg|203 cover
Image:MarvelUK-204.jpg|204 cover
Image:MarvelUK-205.jpg|205 cover
Image:TitanTW.jpg|'''Time Wars TPB'''
</gallery>
*'''UK issue #199 cover:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is on fire! by [[Robin Smith]].
*'''UK issue #200 cover:''' Wraparound cover, featuring [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] bursting out of Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''UK issue #201 cover:''' [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] fights [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] while [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] is dying, by Robin Smith.
*'''UK issue #202 cover:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] stand on heads, art by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''UK issue #203 cover:''' [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], by Robin Smith.
*'''UK issue #204 cover:''' [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] interrupts [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] vs [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''UK issue #205 cover:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] defeats all the Autobots, by Andrew Wildman.
* '''Time Wars TPB cover:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] takes on [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Blaster (G1)

2011-03-19T21:25:26Z

Fishyofpain: /* Generation 1 */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Blaster}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|right|300px|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. A powerful fighter who tends to make his presence known, you can find him at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved.

Sometimes he gets upgraded into '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto''). Or he's '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto'') for some reason.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly between the comic and cartoon; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Buster Jones]] (English), [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japanese), [[Leonardo Araujo]] (Latin American)

[[Image:G1 DinobotIsland Blaster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"May I have this dance?"]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not.

Blaster appeared out of nowhere one day during [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s demonstration of the modifications he'd made to the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to improve their sense of balance and coordination, and to that end, Blaster was requested to play something "nice". For some reason, Blaster had trouble tuning into a station until Grimlock (obviously tired of this padding) blasted fire at Blaster's controls, allowing the Autobot boom box to tune into the local rock 'n' roll/big band music fusion station. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] showed their appreciation for the fine selection of elevator music by jerkily dancing around and claiming their audio sensors were being fried. Blaster continued to enthrall Grimlock until [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] bumped into their leader and totally freaked him out. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}}

[[Image:DesertionDinos1 BlastergrabsRavage.jpg|right|170px|thumb|One must wonder how he failed to notice Soundwave, but really, it's more Ironhide's fault.]]
At a not-so-secret EJK testing facility for the new Ultraplane, Blaster was sitting in the back of Ironhide's vehicle mode and didn't seem to notice the fact that [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] was sitting right next to him—at least until the Decepticon tape deck launched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], whom Blaster quickly transformed to grab. The cat turned to attack the Autobot while his master escaped to report to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Blaster continued to tussle until Ironhide transformed into robot mode and threw them both out of his caboose. After being initially distracted by the Ultraplane's destruction, the Autobots returned to EJK's lab to confront the Decepticons. Blaster greatly appreciated [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s taste in fusion rock/big band music to confound the hapless villains. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

[[Image:BlasterBlues kickedinface.jpg|left|170px|thumb|De-FEETed!]]
Blaster's taste in music often got him into trouble. He attended a concert by a popular '80s rock/big band fusion hair metal band with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]]. Concerned that the other Autobots weren't enjoying the concert with them, Blaster flooded the Autobot communications channels with the music, though only [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and Jazz seemed to appreciate it. Unfortunately, his taste in music also disrupted an emergency communique from the Helix Observatory, until the other Autobots told him to shut up. After the [[Voltronic Galaxer]] was stolen, Blaster was teamed up with Cosmos to search for signs of the Decepticons, but both were rather quickly captured. Blaster was welded into place to be used as a trans-scrambler for Megatron's scheme to use the voltronic galaxer to disrupt communications on Earth and then demand all the energy on the planet in exchange for normality. While Megatron ranted about his demands, Blaster secretly played his music, which served both to rally the Autobots and inform them of Megatron's location — until Megatron kicked him in the face. After foiling the Decepticon plans, Blaster was assigned to the abandoned moon base with Cosmos, but quickly got into trouble with Prime again for his music. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}}

Later, Blaster and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] helped the [[New York City|New York]] police crack a car theft ring by posing as an attractive target for punks to steal. After Blaster teamed up with car thief [[Raoul]], they learned that Megatron was behind the criminal operation, stealing cars to rebuild them into transforming drones. Blaster defended the Washington Bridge from the Decepticon drones alongside the other Autobots, but they were nearly overwhelmed by sheer numbers. After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] realized the cars were remote-controlled, Blaster jammed the frequency, allowing the Autobots to attack and defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|Make Tracks}}

Blaster proved useful again, even pivotal, in allowing the Autobots to save Cosmos and some [[robotic insecticide]] from the [[Morphobot]]s. It turns out even plants hate Blaster's music. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} Soon afterward, the Autobots were attacked by the malevolent [[Kremzeek]], an energy life form created by Megatron. Blaster and a small number of other Autobots were the only ones to stay functional long enough to be sprayed with an insulating foam that protected them from the creature's attacks. The Autobot team chased it to [[Japan]], where it wreaked havoc with the massive electronics industry there. The creature spawned copies of itself, one of which managed to slip inside Blaster, and after the other Kremzeeks were seemingly destroyed, it jumped out of his chest and the pursuit began again. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}}

[[Image:Auto-Bop Blaster Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|So. AWESOME.]]
Blaster was watching "[[As the Kitchen Sinks]]" with his Auto-buddies when Prime informed them that Tracks and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] were late returning from their supply run. Suspecting foul play, the Autobots took off to search for their missing comrades. While on the search, Blaster was forcibly transformed by a Creamy Cream billboard ''(They can do that?)'', then carted away by the big game hunter [[Lord Chumley]] and his butler [[Dinsmoore]] as bait to lure Optimus Prime into a hunt. Chumley apparently couldn't think of a suitably dastardly device in which to store Blaster, though, as he was totally absent from Chumley's prisoner showcase later on. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}}

{{bigquote|I've been waiting a long time for this, you poor excuse for a sound system!|Blaster confronting [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]|"[[Auto-Bop]]"}}

Tracks and Blaster were reunited with Raoul when they saved their human friend and his [[Bop Crew]] from a bunch of hoodlums in the employ of the [[Dancitron]] nightclub. When a punk tried to ensnare him in a chain, Blaster simply remarked that the humans were seriously out of their league, then broke the chain by moving his arm slightly. The Autobots forced their way into the nightclub, where Blaster appreciated the atmosphere and the impressive sound system. He then went off to dance with some oddly well-dressed ladies who sounded like Penny Marshall. Soon after leaving the club, Tracks and Blaster had to save Raoul again when a Decepticon-controlled train driver sent the train Raoul was in hurtling out of control. Conferring with [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], Blaster discovered that Dancitron controlled its patrons by using hypnotic signals, and he suggested countering them with his own sonic powers. Entering the club, Blaster finally faced his Decepticon counterpart Soundwave in battle. At first, the combatants appeared to be evenly matched, but Soundwave drove Blaster back with his sonic assaults. Improvising, Blaster jury-rigged Dancitron's own sound system into his speakers. He turned the combined sonic force against Soundwave, forcing him into retreat and wrecking the nightclub in the process. {{storylink|Auto-Bop}}

When Megatron journeyed to Cybertron to bring life to his new [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], Optimus Prime took Blaster and a small group aboard Omega Supreme to stop him. Megatron sent a cadre of [[Centurion droid|Centurion droids]] after the Autobots, delaying them long enough for him to access [[Vector Sigma]] and bring his Stunticons to life. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}} As a counter-measure, Blaster and the other Autobots worked to retrofit five Cybertronian shuttles as Earth vehicles, and then used Vector Sigma in turn to bring life to these [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. Once they returned to Earth, the Autobots and Aerialbots confronted the newly-minted Stunticons. Impressively, Blaster used his sound system to generate a miniature earthquake using sonic vibrations, but [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] just sailed over the cracks and smashed into Blaster's face. On a second encounter with the Stunticons, Blaster converted into tapedeck mode and used his sonics to try blasting down a tree to make [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] crash. Instead, Breakdown used it as a ramp and Wildrider casually drove by and ran Blaster over. Ouch. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

Blaster and Cosmos were sent on an inter-galactic shopping trip to pick up more [[Ingredient X]] for Perceptor's protective chemical spray, [[Corrostop]]. Unfortunately there was no more Ingredient X. Anywhere. In the entire universe. Bummer. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} When the Stunticons returned performing a series of heists for Megatron, Blaster joined Prime and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in hunting down [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. He didn't do much, but he did get to witness the most awesome game of chicken ever, when Prime totalled Motormaster and proved himself the real "King of the Road". {{storylink|Masquerade}}

[[Image:TFtM BlasterRoundhouseKick.jpg|left|172px|thumb|Everybody was kung-fu fighting, those cats were fast as lightning...]]
In the year 2005, Blaster was assigned to the communications hub at [[Autobot City]] on Earth. When the fortress was [[Battle of Autobot City|attacked]] by the Decepticons, Blaster attempted to send out a distress signal to Optimus Prime's forces on [[Moon Base One]]. His efforts were disrupted by Soundwave, who had sent out his cassette forces to destroy the hub's transmitter. Blaster countered with his own cassette army, and the itty-bitty guys 'rassled. After the Decepticons retreated, Blaster was helping to rebuild the city when he received a faint signal from Jazz and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] on Moon Base One, which was being munched by a [[Unicron|ginormous, weird-looking planet]]. Then he disappeared for a while. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

In early 2006, Blaster was stationed mostly on Earth. After the attack on the [[Galactic Olympics]] which saw [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Spike kidnapped, Blaster and [[Outback]] were sent to the North African nation of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]] on the suspicion that the militant leader [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] was harbouring Decepticon fugitives. Despite Fakkadi's assurances that there were no Decepticons on his soil, Outback managed to psyche out [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], whose escape was also quickly put down by the Australian-accented Autobot. Blaster then threatened the two [[Conehead|coneheads]] to spill the beans, for Outback was trigger-happy. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} After returning to Autobot City, Blaster kept tabs on the delivery of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Transformation cog|transforming cog]], which had been damaged during the battle of Autobot City the year before. Unfortunately, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s delivery shuttle was destroyed by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], forcing Blaster to call upon Commander [[Marissa Faireborn]] of the [[Earth Defense Command]] for help. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}

However, Faireborn and the Autobot delivery team were stranded when [[Lipole|lipoles]] native to [[Io]] destroyed the EDC ship, so the long-suffering Blaster sent rescue in the form of the magnificent [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], whom Blaster remarked was difficult to describe. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} After Sky Lynx effortlessly saved their friends and delivered the cog to Earth, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] installed the cog, and Blaster activated Metroplex's transformation sequence. Once the Autobot city defeated the Decepticon giant [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Blaster declared that Metroplex was his kind of town. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

Blaster was briefly seen aboard the Autobot flagship when Optimus Prime returned from the dead to rally the troops against the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]. He fled the ship with the rest of the crew before Prime's suicidal assault on the Quintessons' central planet. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

After Perceptor uncovered a source of chronal energy emanating from an asteroid belt, Blaster accompanied him on a survey mission, along with his cassettes [[Rewind]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]. Their simple survey soon turned into a battle, though, when a school of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] assaulted the Autobots as they approached the belt. Blaster radioed for reinforcements during the battle but, alongside Blurr and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], they soon made short work of their opponents. At the asteroid belt, they found a Quintesson scientist working with an actual [[Time Window]], allowing passage backwards through time. Several Quintesson ships interrupted their observations, and Blaster and the other Autobots were accidentally chased through the time window itself, finding themselves 11 million years in Cybertron's past. The Quintesson warships were gone, but they just traded one threat for another and soon came under assault by [[Guardian robot|Guardian Robots]]. Blaster and his comrades were saved by the intervention of [[Beta (G1)|Beta]], [[second-in-command]] of the slave rebellion against the Quintessons. With the rebels' leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]] missing, Blaster and the Autobots stepped into his place to lead the rebellion against the Guardians and their Quintesson masters. The Autobots did their best, but the sheer number of Guardian Robots was on the verge of overwhelming them when A3 returned through the time window. He turned his [[Coda Remote]] device against the Guardians and preserved the natural flow of history, as Blaster and the future Autobots took the window back to the present. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

When Daniel Witwicky and Wheelie were taken hostage by the Decepticons, Blaster fielded the ransom call for Spike and Ultra Magnus. His skill as a communication officer seemed to fail him, as he lost [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]'s signal at a critical point in the monologing. Maybe he was just tired of listening to The Villain Speech, trademarked. {{storylink|Surprise Party}} Daniel was saved, but it wasn't long before he got into more trouble, disappearing with Grimlock during a reception on Cybertron. Ultra Magnus summoned Blaster for assistance, and Blaster in turn ejected [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] so that his tracking abilities could locate the missing boy. Their search led to a hidden chamber beneath Cybertron's surface, abandoned since the time of the Quintessons. Blaster summoned Rewind next to help translate and interpret the ancient Quintessonese on the walls, and the rescue party learned the chamber was a method of banishing criminals to other dimensions. After Rewind worked out that Daniel had travelled to [[Menonia]], Blaster and the others reactivated the portal to chase after them. They got involved in a local skirmish against [[Mara-Al-Utha]], the banished Quintesson who had usurped power from the benevolent [[Golden One]]. In order to defeat the Quintesson, Blaster lent his sound system to the Golden One, amplifying his voice as he invoked the proper counter-spells. It had a nice beat, and you could smash Quintessons with it: even Grimlock had to approve. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[Image:Blaster C Minor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Who runs Bartertown?]]
While helping Ultra Magnus and the other Autobots fight the Decepticons on a renegade comet, Blaster was blasted out of space by a musical [[harmony]]. It was generated from the planet [[Eurythma]] below as a sonic weapon to destroy the comet before it struck their world. Galvatron naturally wanted such a powerful weapon for himself, and fled the battle with Soundwave to steal the secret of the harmony. Ultra Magnus recruited Blaster and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] to make their own effort to secure the harmony, or at least keep it out of Galvatron's hands. Blaster was enamored with Eurythma, and could somehow interpret that the nearby city and the entire civilization were based on musical harmonies. Luckily, he also somehow knew exactly where the "band leader" was, and directed Broadside to take them to [[Basso Profundo]]'s palace. Blaster was the only one who could understand the overly synthesized and harmonic speaking voices of the Eurythmians. Maybe Ultra Magnus was tone deaf. The hunt for the harmony turned into a bizarre scavenger hunt, as Blaster and Soundwave attempted to recover the three thirds of the harmony produced by Basso Profundo, [[Zebop Skandana]] and [[Allegra]]. The Decepticons assembled the harmony first, and Soundwave turned its united power against the Autobots. Blaster managed to stop Soundwave by punching him in the crotch. No seriously — that's where his "Erase" button is. Really. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

Running the day-to-day operations of Metroplex and Autobot City on Earth, Blaster was subjected to a security inspection by Kup. He passed with flying colors and nearly succeeded in convincing Kup how seriously they took the job... until he happened to lean against a control panel and set off some 20 year old tunes on the sound speakers. Things turned serious immediately thereafter, though, as Metroplex was invaded by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. It only got worse when they stole Metroplex's eyes and set off a bomb in his brain. The report Kup filed for the inspection must have interesting reading material. Poor Blaster. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

Blaster joined Kup, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime aboard Omega Supreme to check out some strange reports from the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]]. These "strange reports" turned out to be a full-fledged war between half the galaxy raging over the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]' heads. On the surface, Blaster's receivers located a hypnotic signal being broadcast somehow from the Junkions' TV antenna. Using Omega Supreme to get the proper altitude, Blaster began broadcasting his own counter-frequency to break the spell. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

Blaster was returning from a space mission aboard Sky Lynx with Outback, Steeljaw and Ramhorn when Perceptor radioed in that a peculiar Quintession transmission was being picked up in their area. On an uninhabited planet, they found a Quintesson journal which detailed centuries of manipulating the planets [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]] into ever-escalating warfare. Despite Quintesson and Decepticon interference, Blaster and his comrades managed to bring the journal to the attention of the warring aliens, ending their conflicts... at least for the moment. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

Blaster was manning Autobot City when [[Victor Drath]]'s men drove the empty shells of Ultra Magnus, Arcee, Springer and Rodimus Prime towards the city for a Trojan horse ploy. When the REAL Magnus and Springer hijacked the latter's helicopter mode and started taking potshots at the city, however, Blaster quickly caught on and transformed the city into battle station mode, cutting off their entry. It's not Springer, it's a ringer! How's that for a zinger? {{storylink|Only Human}}

When Sky Lynx and Cosmos crashed on [[Power Platform Alpha]], Blaster raced out to help with his fellow Autobots. Upon trying to radio for assistance, however, Blaster found himself unable to properly transmit any signals. The Autobots eventually uncovered [[anti-electron]] sabotage in the new power generator, and cleaned out the disruptive influence. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}} Later, Blaster began self-ejecting when the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]'s transmission convinced Ramhorn and Steeljaw to force their way out of Blaster's chest to answer the call of the [[Primitive|Primitives]]. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

Although he wasn't on the initial casualty list, Blaster was revived alongside the Autobots who fell before the crazed [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], during the outbreak of the [[Hate Plague]]. Apparently, the Quintesson repaired him instead of Wheelie. Wise choice. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

{{-}}
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
Blaster was vacationing on a utopian island when he was captured by the Constructicons. He was eventually freed by [[Kenji]], Superion and several other Autobots. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}

=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====
[[Image:Fullthrottle_tape_fight.jpg|thumb|right|150px|]]
Blaster came to the rescue of [[Toru]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], after they were captured while searching for the Decepticon [[Omega Whip]] device. Blaster's electro-scrambler gun blew several large holes in Ravage. He then fought against Soundwave until the entire Autobot army arrived with Metroplex to drive off the Decepticons. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

{{-}}
=====Scramble City cartoon=====
Blaster was finally gifted with some Cassette forces of his own to counter Soundwave's. [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] took on [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] but couldn't protect the secrets of Metroplex. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''Asterisk Story''=====
[[Image:BroadblastAsteriskManga01.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"My voice gives me super strength!"]]

As a member of the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]], Broadblast paired up with TV Announcer [[Lumina Hoshi]] in an attempt to promote goodwill and cooperation between humans and Transformers.

While covering an auto show where Broadblast was operating undercover, Lumina Hoshi was unfortunately present when a large section of lighting broke free from the ceiling and came hurtling down upon a crowd of people. Luckily, Broadblast was able to transform in time and catch the lights before they could squash everyone. Broadblast was then left to nervously explain his presence to the onlookers as Lumina apologized for the technical difficulties to her viewers. {{storylink|The World's First Disaster Relief Car!?}}

{{-}}
=====''15 Go! Go!''=====
[[Image:TGGBlaster.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"Don't be cryin'—here's a lion!"]]
As [[Teletraan 15]] lay recuperating from her Galvatron-inflicted injuries, a voice came from a nearby boombox, remarking that the song in her heart sounded lonely.

Transforming into his towering robot mode, Blaster told 15 that a princess like her deserved a more cheerful song. After listening to her problems, he advised her not to worry about what she ought to do and suggested that she concentrate on doing what she loved best. He told her that as individuals, sentient beings are notes, and that together, they become music.

He handed her a small cassette tape and told her that whenever she was depressed, she should listen to music. She thanked him as he left.

Despite Blaster's good intentions, the tape turned out to be full of depressing music. It also turned out to be [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]. {{storylink|Blaster Volume}}

=====''Kiss Players Position''=====
Blaster hand-picked [[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]] to join his cassette team, feeling that she was the only [[Autobot]] who properly understood his love of music.

He was later appointed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] as the Producer of the [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]] singing group, of which Rosanna became a founding member. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players Position}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hm blaster1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|OOH YEAH MACHO MACHINE WITH THE ELBOW DROP OFF THE TOP ROPE! SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM! MISS ELIZABETH!!]]

Some time before the Transformers' war left Cybertron, Blaster briefly engaged the Decepticons with his comrades.

In 2011, Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were on Earth under Ultra Magnus's command when the Decepticons attacked Cybertron. While making their way to the [[Space Bridge]] to join their comrades, Blaster and Ultra Magnus were attacked by the new Decepticon ninja consultant, [[Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

Later, Blaster joined Hot Rod in his search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. As they were outlining their plans, however, Blaster detected [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] spying on their conversation. Chasing the bat uncovered Soundwave and Ravage at the Autobot base as well, and after the battle Blaster vowed to one day rid the universe of his nemesis. As the search for the Matrix continued, Hot Rod and Blaster were again confronted by Soundwave in the Arctic. As the Mini-Cassette warriors dealt with each other, Blaster urged Hot Rod to go on without him: HE would deal with Soundwave. The two communications officers began blasting away at one another furiously. The fight then turned physical as Blaster ripped off one of Soundwave's arms and both combatants caved in each other's chests. Soundwave was killed—and actually ''exploded'' due to the extent of his injuries—but Blaster quickly succumbed to his wounds as well. With his last words, he urged Hot Rod to find the Matrix. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

[[Image:Twincast emerges.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...]]

All the Autobots were content to leave Blaster as a corpse until [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] and Blaster's cassette forces whined enough to have their pal resurrected. Blaster was then brought back online via [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]'s [[Master (planet)|Master]] technology, as the yellow and blue repaint '''Twincast'''. Coincidentally, the Decepticons reanimated Soundwave as the black-as-coal Soundblaster. The two arch-enemies then renewed their struggle. Soundblaster was the key figure in controlling Galvatron's new weapon, the [[Madmachine]]. Twincast and his Mini-Cassettes infiltrated Trypticon and learned that Soundblaster was broadcasting from [[Chaar]]. He single-handedly overpowered the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to access the Decepticon Space Bridge, and made his way to Decepticon headquarters on Chaar. In the control room, Twincast struck Soundblaster hard enough to shake loose the sonic conductor he had been installed with to control the Madmachine, and blew it to smithereens. With a jaunty wave, Twincast said, "Well, I must be going!" and returned to the Autobots. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

Later on, Twincast reported to Rodimus Prime that the Decepticons were gathering on Earth, in preparation for raiding Cybertron via the Space Bridge. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} He also served as the Autobots' karaoke machine at parties. [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] loves karaoke. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}}

In order to learn more about the Decepticons' plans, Twincast sent Ramhorn and Steeljaw to Chaar on a reconnaissance mission. They reported back on Scorponok's scheme to harness [[plasma energy]], like that which was released by Cybertron's destruction. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} He also managed to follow Sixshot to Chaar over the Space Bridge, and witnessed the activation of Scorponok's MegaZarak [[Transtector]]. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

Presumably because of his role as a communications officer, Twincast was aware of [[Punch (G1)|Punch]]'s undercover duties with the Decepticons as [[Counterpunch (G1)|Counterpunch]]. After the Headmasters clashed with Scorponok near Chaar, he alerted Fortress that Punch had arrived to make his latest report. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Later, Twincast learned that the Decepticons planned to raid the energy supplies Ultra Magnus was sending to the destitute planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. His warning only arrived a few short moments before the Decepticons did. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

When Fortress and the Headmasters pursued the Decepticons out into space, Twincast joined them on the expedition. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Susei!!}} He was with the Headmasters when they investigated an SOS call from the planet [[Daros]]. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} On [[Paradise]], Twincast used his Mini-Cassettes to scout the countryside and locate the Decepticons. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} He was also active when the Autobots came to the [[Pirate Planet]], watching for Decepticon activity. His scouting patrol came by a sealed pyramid in time to pull [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] to safety when Galvatron arrived looking for energy. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After the Autobots returned to Earth, Twincast helped investigate the sudden flurry of Decepticon attacks. He released his collection of Mini-Cassettes to seek out information, and personally accompanied Steeljaw on an investigation to an Autobot outpost in Alaska. Upon arriving, they discovered Scorponok had wiped out the outpost. Twincast and Steeljaw were spotted by Sixshot, who opened fire on them. Twincast demanded Steeljaw return to Autobot City with the information they had uncovered, while he stayed behind to cover the retreat. Steeljaw reluctantly left his commander to his fate, and Twincast was ultimately blasted into a ravine by Sixshot's Wingwolf mode. Steeljaw eventually returned with reinforcements, and Twincast was taken in for repairs. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

Twincast reported to a series of caves where the Headmasters were searching for [[plasma energy]] bombs left behind by Scorponok and the Decepticons when they departed Earth. He joined the Headmasters aboard the Battleship Maximus as they tried to get the massively powerful explosives a safe distance away from Earth. When they came across a group of [[Targetmaster|six refugees]] fleeing the planet Master, Twincast used his interpretive skills to translate their strange language. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} On the planet Master, Twincast was among the Autobots when the kidnapped scientist, [[Jack (Headmasters)|Jack]], suddenly returned to their midst. Prompted by the suspicious [[Pointblank]], Twincast scanned Jack and discovered the Decepticons had installed a time bomb inside him. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} Twincast was also among the Autobots debating whether [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s life was worth the secret of the [[Master Sword]]. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}}

Twincast joined the entire Autobot army in journeying to the North Pole. There they battled Scorponok and his minions to stop the [[crysmag metal]] towers from destroying the planet Earth. Twincast saved Chromedome and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] from [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]'s hypnotic spell by dumping his entire chest full of Mini-Cassettes on the evil Headmaster. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====''G-2'' story pages=====
[[Image:BlasterG2.jpg|left|180px|thumb|There's so much I don't understand about this image.]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] forged the [[Cybertron Alliance]], Twincast returned to his original form as Blaster for reasons unknown, adopting a new [[Action Master]] body in the process. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:BlasterUS17.jpg|left|200px|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, you. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious loner who hated Decepticons with a passion. And while he was one of the best kickass fighters the [[Autobot]]s had he had a bit of a problem with authority. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on Cybertron, he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] went missing and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Unfortunately, he found him in the Decepticons' [[smelting pool]]. Blaster was too late to save Scrounge's life, but he did retrieve the last bit of data the little spy had uncovered, so Scrounge didn't die in vain.

[[Image:Powerglideblastercybertronic.jpg|right|150px|thumb|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
This 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!}} Shortly after Scrounge was killed, Blaster took part in an assault on [[Darkmount]], where he engaged and seemingly destroyed the Decepticon commander [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], before using the [[space bridge]] to flee to Earth. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

Upon arriving on Earth, Blaster was among the Autobots deactivated and disassembled by [[Circuit Breaker]] and [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]]. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} He was later released {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}} ''and, after a brief skirmish with the crazed future Decepticon known as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], {{storylink|Fallen Angel (issue)|Fallen Angel}} joined the other Earthbound Autobots at the ''Ark'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}'' shortly before Optimus Prime's death. Blaster was one of the Autobots who voted for [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to be the new Autobot leader, though he soon came to regret this decision. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}}

Blaster developed a reluctant friendship with [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his Batman. After an encounter with the [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]], Blaster and Goldbug went AWOL from Grimlock's command, having grown tired of his aggressive orders and increasing disregard for humans. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}} While on the run, Blaster and Goldbug joined forces with the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]] to eliminate a [[Scraplet]] infestation {{storylink|Crater Critters}} {{storylink|The Cure!}} ''and prevent Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] from detonating [[Mount Verona]] and destroying the entombed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron. {{storylink|Ladies' Night}}''

For this disobedience (and their failure to capture the Mechanic), Grimlock branded Blaster and Goldbug traitors and sent the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. They eventually captured Blaster, but after he saved their lives from the Combaticons, they realized Grimlock's orders were purely vengeful and let him go. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}}

[[Image:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Blaster finally returned to the Ark, where his fellow Autobots begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander when Grimlock threatened the safety of several Earth children. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[Image:Variablevoltageharnessblaster.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Maybe they should have called it a Constant Sarcasm Harness.]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. However, when [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Blaster took Fortress Maximus's place. Their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack. When 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!}}

While Blaster and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s girlfriend [[Jesse]] failed to rescue the young boy from the Decepticons' [[Club Con|island resort/base]], they proved instrumental in discovering the upcoming arrival of the legendary Transformers database, the [[Underbase]]. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''Then Blaster, Prime, [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] [[Highbrow (G1)|and]] [[Brainstorm|three]] [[Hardhead (G1)|newcomers]] were temporarily displaced into [[Limbo]] to make room for [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] [[Kup (G1)|and]] [[Blurr (G1)|his]] [[Arcee (G1)|own]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|little]] [[Red Alert (G1)|band]]. {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}'' Like many other Transformers, Blaster was killed fighting the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge in [[New York City|New York]]. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

[[Image:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster was later among the first Autobots resurrected by Grimlock with [[Nucleon]]. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the ''Ark'', he took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, with disastrous results. It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Prowl had the Autobots plan for a peaceful co-departure with the Decepticons.

[[Image:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Spared not because I was super awesome earlier, but probably because I have a new Action Master toy.]]

Fat chance. Bludgeon and his army sabotaged the Autobot shuttles and took off to lay waste to the next world they found. Thanks to Grimlock planning ahead, the Autobots managed to follow, but were caught in a trap as the Decepticons lay waiting for them. Blaster was one of the few Autobots present to survive the initial Decepticon ambush on [[Klo]]. He took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but there was still more than enough fight left in Blaster to join Grimlock and the other survivors in charging the Decepticon position. He was last seen shooting the head off of [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

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, had arrived and were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was putting all the combatants under hypnosis. He and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air where Blaster would then broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming the combatants. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

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

=====Marvel UK Future Timelines=====
''In the future of 2008, Blaster was present at Autobot City when the Quintesson [[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 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 (issue)|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's emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them, and helped drive the evil possessing presence out of their leader. {{storylink|White Fire}}''

====Another Time and Place====
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]]. {{storylink|Another Time and Place}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
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 (fuel)|Energon]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Blaster's first recorded activities took place shortly before the [[Age of Internment]]. When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] returned from self-imposed exile, he unified the disjointed Autobot factions with the help of warriors like Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. Blaster may or may not have been co-leading a fourth Autobot faction during the Dark Ages with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (in addition to those factions overseen by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Grimlock), but this was never made completely clear. The Autobots were ready to usher in a new Golden Age, negotiating a peace with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon|Ultracons]], when [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] returned to Cybertron after a prolonged absence with his [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. With his new army, Megatron ushered in an Age of Internment, with virtually the entire Autobot army forced to serve as slaves digging under the city-state of [[Praxus]].

Virtually.

A small faction of Autobots remained free, operating under the command of Blaster and Perceptor in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] Command. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath issue 2|The Age of Wrath #2}} This resistance unit coordinated several different plans in the hopes of one day overthrowing Megatron's rule over Cybertron. One plan involved the capture and analysis of one of the AXS drones, in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]]. Blaster oversaw this 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 issue 3|The Age of Wrath #3}}

{{note|Dreamwave's subsequent backruptcy ended the story half-way, leaving it up to speculation how the capture of the drone and the eventual return of Optimus Prime worked into the defeat of Megatron and the end of the Age of Internment.}}

[[Image:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|300px|thumb|]]
Millions of years later, Blaster was one of the first Autobots who joined the resistance movement against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s so-called "unified" Cybertronian government, sensing things were rotten in the city-state of Iacon. He joined up with several like-minded 'Bots under the supervision of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] to coordinate a rise against the one-eyed tyrant. Blaster's efforts helped the Autobots uncover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet. It seemed that, for whatever reason, Shockwave was intentionally 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. He even modified his alternate mode into a Earthen tapedeck. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

When Optimus Prime and the crew of the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] were returned to Cybertron by Shockwave's forces, 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|Guardian Robots]] under his control. Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

{{-}}
===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
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]]. They were discovered there by a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
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|Heart of Steel #1}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Four million years ago, Blaster was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

[[Image:SpotlightBlaster REVENGE.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I'm Batman.]]
Blaster was known as The Voice, a patriotic broadcaster who used his gift with words to rally Autobots whose faith was lacking, or who were in a bad way. He was such a positive influence on the Autobots, it was arranged that he be assassinated. The attempt failed, but Blaster's damaged body was ejected into space. Picked up by a passing [[Yar|trawler]], he was 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]]. [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] had used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implant a [[cerebro-shell]] and ordered him to kill Blaster. 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}}

Over the next year, Blaster began working alongside the [[Wreckers]], and was recruited into a new elite fighting unit on-board the ''[[Trion]]'' by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} As the ship's communications officer, Blaster started catching large amounts of distress signals before everything suddenly went quiet, and all contact with other Autobots was lost. Eventually, he caught a distress signal from [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], and 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)|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

{{note|It is unclear whether Blaster became an official member of the Wreckers before Kup cannibalized that team to make his own strike force.}}

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)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, but he didn't feel like having The Voice around raised their morale much. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6}} He later warned Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8}} With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 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 (G1)|Megatron]] and his troops (which included Soundwave, but Blaster probably didn't know that). 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 11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 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 (G1)|Prowl]] got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}}

After [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] was named the new leader of the Autobots and formed 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 (G1)|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}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1 Blaster toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Still think you're so superior, Soundwave?"]]
* '''Blaster''' (Autobot, 1985/1986/2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''38''', '''TFC-21'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Electro-scrambler|Electro-Scrambler]] Gun

: Originally a ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), Blaster transforms into a miniature "ghetto blaster" boombox with a fold-out carrying handle. Pressing the "eject" button pops open his tape door, which can store a single micro-cassette Transformer. Due to a possible common internal misassembly issue, many original Blasters had doors which would not open when the eject button is pressed, nor would the other buttons work.

:In robot mode Blaster is freaking huge by the standards of ''Generation 1'' Transformers, towering over most Autobots and Decepticons. He has rather limited (useful) articulation, located in his neck and shoulders.

: Blaster is not a functional AM radio like his original ''Microchange'' toy, but has some left over parts from it, such as the molded power switch above the left speaker, the earphone jack behind the right speaker and the tuning dial next to the tape door. Some releases of Blaster still retain the opening back from the ''Microchange'' release (see Notes).

: Blaster was re-released in 2006 as part of the "[[Transformers Collection]]" "bookbox" series, packaged with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:ActionMasterBlaster toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Which gun is better?]]
*'''Blaster w/ Flight Pack''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories:'' "Flight Pack" backpack, "tractor beam electron gun"

: A non-transforming action figure, [[Action Master]] Blaster (not to be confused with the "Action Master Blasters" price-point) is compatible with any other Action Master vehicle or accessory. His design is based largely on his cartoon model, with elements from the toy added (like his visor). He came with the "[[Flight Pack]]" accessory, which converts from a winged jetpack to a massive "electro-scrambler" cannon.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Action Master Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===The Headmasters===
* '''Twincast''' (Autobot, 1987/2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun

: The first Blaster toy was [[Redeco|redecoed]] and had its tape-door [[Retool|retooled]] in order to accommodate two cassettes at once. The clear-plastic part of the door was also changed to clear-red, so when certain cassettes were placed inside, the "secret plans" decals on them would reveal the "weak point" of either [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] or [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], much like using the [[Tech Spec decoder]]s. He came with Steeljaw, who was given one of these new decals.

: In 2006, Twincast was reissued as an [[e-Hobby]] [[exclusive]], this time packaged with the new character [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Twincast/twincast.htm More information on Twincast at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Binaltech Asterisk===
[[Image:Bta broadblast.jpg|right|300px|thumb|They see me rollin', they hatin'.]]
*'''Broadblast meets Lumina''' (Binaltech, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BTA03'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/gun, Lumina Hoshi with stand, driving arms and driving legs

: A redeco of ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Broadblast transforms into a 1:24 scale [[wikipedia:Scion_xB|Toyota bB, aka the Scion xB]]. He has working doors, hood, and trunk, plus his engine becomes a non-firing weapon. He also comes with an extra decal sheet, which includes signs for "TBN" which ''possibly'' stands for "Transformers Broadcast Network" or some such; there is Japanese text on the labels as well, but it's really tiny and hard to make out.

: He came with a PVC-plastic figurine of the [[human]] newsgirl [[Lumina Hoshi]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/Broadblast/broadblast.htm More information on Binaltech Asterisk Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Blasteruniversetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Preparations for the military strike, dubbed Operation Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Storm, are already underway.]]
*'''Autobot Blaster with Blockrock Mini-Con!''' (Voyager, 2008)
**''Series:'' Classics Series
**''Accessories:'' Tri-barrel "particle feedback blaster"/bomb, double-barrel "harmonic wave cannon"/bomb, Cybertron Autobot Cyber Key (Clear black plastic, silver border, red insignia)

: Blaster is a redeco of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], transforming into a Cybertronic stealth bomber vaguely like an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|F-117A Nighthawk prototype]], the [[Wikipedia:Have_Blue|Have Blue]]. He comes with three hexagonal prism "bombs"; one converts into his partner [[Blockrock]], the other two unfold into non-firing blaster weapons. Any one of these "bombs" can be stored in his robot-mode chest, which opens by plugging a [[Cyber Planet Key]] into him (his is a gunmetal-bordered clear-plastic [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style Autobot Key). The other two bombs store in indents on the underside of his wings.

[[Image:Blaster-U08-boxart.jpg|left|100px|thumb|If only...]]
: His packaging art shows him with only half of his chest-door as clear-blue, emulating the original toy design's tape-window, but the final product (and stock photography) show the blue all the way across. However, his visor ''does'' have red paint to simulate the "goggle visor" look of the [[#Generation 1|original toy]] and Marvel comics model.

: This mold was also used to make ''Galaxy Force'' [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFUBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Classics Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

[[Image:Universe2008_SDCC_G1Blaster.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (2010)
**''Series:'' G1 Series
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun
:This San Diego Comic-Con [[exclusive]] reissue of Blaster comes with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Eject]]. Released as part of the [[Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' (2008) toyline]], the packaging also has a special foil-detailed outer slip case. Blaster is technically a slight [[redeco]], having metal-flake beige legs instead of metallic-swirl silver.

:This set was also made available at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong Fair 2010, and was later released on the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] and then also sold at FanExpo Canada 2010.
{{-}}

===Device Label===
[[Image:Device_Label_Broadcast.jpg|thumb|right|300px|What, not a real notebook?! You are the REAL ''Decept''icon!!]]
*'''Broad Blast''' ([[July 24|7/24]]/2010)
**''Accessories:'' USB cable

:''[[Device Label]]'' Broad Blast transforms into a working USB hub (designed to look like the Toshiba Qosmio laptop computer). The USB functionality works in both robot and laptop modes. Generation 1 Mini-Cassettes can fit into the false tape-deck in his chest in robot mode, but cannot be stored while Broad Blast is in laptop mode due to his head being inside his chest in this form. The Generation 1 Blaster toy's Electro-Scrambler Gun can also fit into Broad Blast's [[5mm post|compatible fist holes]].

:Originally scheduled for release in late [[2009]], Broad Blast was delayed until July 2010. According to a report from getnews.jp at the Tokyo Toy Show 2010, the delay was due to the discovery of a connection cut-off problem after the toy/USB hub is transformed into robot mode. TakaraTomy redesigned the entire lower body to fix this problem. <ref>[http://getnews.jp/archives/68064 Get News.jp report on Device Label Broadblast]</ref>
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Blaster''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': '''29'''

: Like all [[Decoy]]s, the decoy Blaster was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s.

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

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Blaster-atx.jpg|thumb|250px|Have some NON-EXISTENCE, courtesy of FLAGGING SALES!]]
*'''Blaster''' (Booster, <strike>2007</strike>)

: Blaster was likely to have been one of several ''Transformers [[Attacktix]]'' Booster pieces, using a powerful spring-loaded "blaster" missile launcher attack. Though displayed as part of the ''Attacktix'' display at the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' "Celebration IV" convention, he —and all the other pieces revealed at the show— were ultimately never released.

{{canceledattacktix}}

{{-}}
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroesblasterthrust.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Waiting futilely for Robot Heroes Scrounge.]]
*'''Blaster and Thrust''' (2008)

:Part of the third wave of ''Universe'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', "Generation 1 Series" Blaster comes packaged with [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation. His headsculpt is more toy-based than cartoon-based, featuring his "goggles" (even though his eyes kind of pop out from them).
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/RHBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Robot Heroes Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==Notes==
*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>
* The [[Pre-Transformer|pre-''Transformers'']] version of Blaster was actually a functioning AM radio. The ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' release of the toy came with a microcassette-sized radio that plugged in to Radi-Casse Robo, which had internal wiring that allowed the radio to play through the speakers in its legs. The big hole in his Electro-Scrambler rifle is an earphone storage space, while the cord can be wrapped around the gun and the plug connects to the hole in the gun's stock. Despite popular belief, the compartment in the back of some Blaster toys was not a remnant of a battery compartment, but was actually storage for one of the transforming microcassettes, since a plug kept them from fitting in the cassette door. The battery compartment was actually in one of his legs.

* According to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] on a [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]], Blaster's visor is retractable. He uses it to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight.

* The packaging for Twincast's e-Hobby reissue was the same generic [[Decepticon]]-scheme box used to package [[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]]. However, since Flip Sides is technically a Decepticon, it... sorta works.

* 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.

* Blaster hosted the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|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. He was finally evicted by Blaster who 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 loner 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.

* Blaster had a different appearance in the 1980s between the cartoon and the Marvel comic series. His head in the comic was closer to the toy and depicted him with goggles, while the cartoon drew him with regular eyes and a large forehead. By [[On the Edge of Extinction!|late 1990]], however, Blaster's head in the comics more closely resembled the cartoon appearance. This did come after he was revived by Nucleon, though, so maybe this was his side-effect?
** The toy-based head was drawn by [[Don Perlin]] and [[José Delbo]], while [[Herb Trimpe]] (covers, [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]), [[Geoff Senior]] (issue 75) and [[Andrew Wildman]] (issues 76-80) drew Blaster's head based on the cartoon version. All versions were colored by [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]], who gave Blaster a red forehead and yellow face (a combination never used on a toy, or in the cartoon).

* Blaster's absence from the second half of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' is often a talking point among fans. It stems from a deleted plotline from early drafts of the movie, in which he would have led several other 1984 and '85 Autobots as a team of guerilla fighters, defending Earth against the Decepticons while Ultra Magnus and the other Autobots went into space to stop Unicron from feeding on the energy of the planet.

* 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 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===
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Twincast)
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("All-fire")
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters''), '''Digital''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America ''The Headmasters'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk characters]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Blaster (G1)

2011-03-19T21:19:53Z

Fishyofpain: /* Generation 1 */ added events from Crater Critters, The Cure, and Ladies' Night

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Blaster}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[Image:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|right|300px|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. A powerful fighter who tends to make his presence known, you can find him at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved.

Sometimes he gets upgraded into '''Twincast''' (ツインキャスト ''Tsuinkyasuto''). Or he's '''Broadblast''' (ブロードブラスト ''Burōdoburasuto'') for some reason.

{{note|Blaster's personality varied significantly between the comic and cartoon; see entries below for details.}}

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Buster Jones]] (English), [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japanese), [[Leonardo Araujo]] (Latin American)

[[Image:G1 DinobotIsland Blaster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"May I have this dance?"]]
Blaster was a fun-loving, hip and happening robot. Loud and energetic, he was happy to share his choice of rockin' tunes with anyone, whether they really wanted to hear them or not.

Blaster appeared out of nowhere one day during [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s demonstration of the modifications he'd made to the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to improve their sense of balance and coordination, and to that end, Blaster was requested to play something "nice". For some reason, Blaster had trouble tuning into a station until Grimlock (obviously tired of this padding) blasted fire at Blaster's controls, allowing the Autobot boom box to tune into the local rock 'n' roll/big band music fusion station. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] showed their appreciation for the fine selection of elevator music by jerkily dancing around and claiming their audio sensors were being fried. Blaster continued to enthrall Grimlock until [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] bumped into their leader and totally freaked him out. {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}}

[[Image:DesertionDinos1 BlastergrabsRavage.jpg|right|170px|thumb|One must wonder how he failed to notice Soundwave, but really, it's more Ironhide's fault.]]
At a not-so-secret EJK testing facility for the new Ultraplane, Blaster was sitting in the back of Ironhide's vehicle mode and didn't seem to notice the fact that [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] was sitting right next to him—at least until the Decepticon tape deck launched [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], whom Blaster quickly transformed to grab. The cat turned to attack the Autobot while his master escaped to report to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Blaster continued to tussle until Ironhide transformed into robot mode and threw them both out of his caboose. After being initially distracted by the Ultraplane's destruction, the Autobots returned to EJK's lab to confront the Decepticons. Blaster greatly appreciated [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s taste in fusion rock/big band music to confound the hapless villains. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

[[Image:BlasterBlues kickedinface.jpg|left|170px|thumb|De-FEETed!]]
Blaster's taste in music often got him into trouble. He attended a concert by a popular '80s rock/big band fusion hair metal band with [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] and [[Carly]]. Concerned that the other Autobots weren't enjoying the concert with them, Blaster flooded the Autobot communications channels with the music, though only [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and Jazz seemed to appreciate it. Unfortunately, his taste in music also disrupted an emergency communique from the Helix Observatory, until the other Autobots told him to shut up. After the [[Voltronic Galaxer]] was stolen, Blaster was teamed up with Cosmos to search for signs of the Decepticons, but both were rather quickly captured. Blaster was welded into place to be used as a trans-scrambler for Megatron's scheme to use the voltronic galaxer to disrupt communications on Earth and then demand all the energy on the planet in exchange for normality. While Megatron ranted about his demands, Blaster secretly played his music, which served both to rally the Autobots and inform them of Megatron's location — until Megatron kicked him in the face. After foiling the Decepticon plans, Blaster was assigned to the abandoned moon base with Cosmos, but quickly got into trouble with Prime again for his music. {{storylink|Blaster Blues}}

Later, Blaster and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] helped the [[New York City|New York]] police crack a car theft ring by posing as an attractive target for punks to steal. After Blaster teamed up with car thief [[Raoul]], they learned that Megatron was behind the criminal operation, stealing cars to rebuild them into transforming drones. Blaster defended the Washington Bridge from the Decepticon drones alongside the other Autobots, but they were nearly overwhelmed by sheer numbers. After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] realized the cars were remote-controlled, Blaster jammed the frequency, allowing the Autobots to attack and defeat the Decepticons. {{storylink|Make Tracks}}

Blaster proved useful again, even pivotal, in allowing the Autobots to save Cosmos and some [[robotic insecticide]] from the [[Morphobot]]s. It turns out even plants hate Blaster's music. {{storylink|Quest for Survival}} Soon afterward, the Autobots were attacked by the malevolent [[Kremzeek]], an energy life form created by Megatron. Blaster and a small number of other Autobots were the only ones to stay functional long enough to be sprayed with an insulating foam that protected them from the creature's attacks. The Autobot team chased it to [[Japan]], where it wreaked havoc with the massive electronics industry there. The creature spawned copies of itself, one of which managed to slip inside Blaster, and after the other Kremzeeks were seemingly destroyed, it jumped out of his chest and the pursuit began again. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}}

[[Image:Auto-Bop Blaster Soundwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|So. AWESOME.]]
Blaster was watching "[[As the Kitchen Sinks]]" with his Auto-buddies when Prime informed them that Tracks and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] were late returning from their supply run. Suspecting foul play, the Autobots took off to search for their missing comrades. While on the search, Blaster was forcibly transformed by a Creamy Cream billboard ''(They can do that?)'', then carted away by the big game hunter [[Lord Chumley]] and his butler [[Dinsmoore]] as bait to lure Optimus Prime into a hunt. Chumley apparently couldn't think of a suitably dastardly device in which to store Blaster, though, as he was totally absent from Chumley's prisoner showcase later on. {{storylink|Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target}}

{{bigquote|I've been waiting a long time for this, you poor excuse for a sound system!|Blaster confronting [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]|"[[Auto-Bop]]"}}

Tracks and Blaster were reunited with Raoul when they saved their human friend and his [[Bop Crew]] from a bunch of hoodlums in the employ of the [[Dancitron]] nightclub. When a punk tried to ensnare him in a chain, Blaster simply remarked that the humans were seriously out of their league, then broke the chain by moving his arm slightly. The Autobots forced their way into the nightclub, where Blaster appreciated the atmosphere and the impressive sound system. He then went off to dance with some oddly well-dressed ladies who sounded like Penny Marshall. Soon after leaving the club, Tracks and Blaster had to save Raoul again when a Decepticon-controlled train driver sent the train Raoul was in hurtling out of control. Conferring with [[Teletraan I (G1)|Teletraan I]], Blaster discovered that Dancitron controlled its patrons by using hypnotic signals, and he suggested countering them with his own sonic powers. Entering the club, Blaster finally faced his Decepticon counterpart Soundwave in battle. At first, the combatants appeared to be evenly matched, but Soundwave drove Blaster back with his sonic assaults. Improvising, Blaster jury-rigged Dancitron's own sound system into his speakers. He turned the combined sonic force against Soundwave, forcing him into retreat and wrecking the nightclub in the process. {{storylink|Auto-Bop}}

When Megatron journeyed to Cybertron to bring life to his new [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], Optimus Prime took Blaster and a small group aboard Omega Supreme to stop him. Megatron sent a cadre of [[Centurion droid|Centurion droids]] after the Autobots, delaying them long enough for him to access [[Vector Sigma]] and bring his Stunticons to life. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}} As a counter-measure, Blaster and the other Autobots worked to retrofit five Cybertronian shuttles as Earth vehicles, and then used Vector Sigma in turn to bring life to these [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. Once they returned to Earth, the Autobots and Aerialbots confronted the newly-minted Stunticons. Impressively, Blaster used his sound system to generate a miniature earthquake using sonic vibrations, but [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] just sailed over the cracks and smashed into Blaster's face. On a second encounter with the Stunticons, Blaster converted into tapedeck mode and used his sonics to try blasting down a tree to make [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] crash. Instead, Breakdown used it as a ramp and Wildrider casually drove by and ran Blaster over. Ouch. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

Blaster and Cosmos were sent on an inter-galactic shopping trip to pick up more [[Ingredient X]] for Perceptor's protective chemical spray, [[Corrostop]]. Unfortunately there was no more Ingredient X. Anywhere. In the entire universe. Bummer. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}} When the Stunticons returned performing a series of heists for Megatron, Blaster joined Prime and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in hunting down [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]. He didn't do much, but he did get to witness the most awesome game of chicken ever, when Prime totalled Motormaster and proved himself the real "King of the Road". {{storylink|Masquerade}}

[[Image:TFtM BlasterRoundhouseKick.jpg|left|172px|thumb|Everybody was kung-fu fighting, those cats were fast as lightning...]]
In the year 2005, Blaster was assigned to the communications hub at [[Autobot City]] on Earth. When the fortress was [[Battle of Autobot City|attacked]] by the Decepticons, Blaster attempted to send out a distress signal to Optimus Prime's forces on [[Moon Base One]]. His efforts were disrupted by Soundwave, who had sent out his cassette forces to destroy the hub's transmitter. Blaster countered with his own cassette army, and the itty-bitty guys 'rassled. After the Decepticons retreated, Blaster was helping to rebuild the city when he received a faint signal from Jazz and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] on Moon Base One, which was being munched by a [[Unicron|ginormous, weird-looking planet]]. Then he disappeared for a while. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

In early 2006, Blaster was stationed mostly on Earth. After the attack on the [[Galactic Olympics]] which saw [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and Spike kidnapped, Blaster and [[Outback]] were sent to the North African nation of [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]] on the suspicion that the militant leader [[Abdul Fakkadi (G1)|Abdul Fakkadi]] was harbouring Decepticon fugitives. Despite Fakkadi's assurances that there were no Decepticons on his soil, Outback managed to psyche out [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], whose escape was also quickly put down by the Australian-accented Autobot. Blaster then threatened the two [[Conehead|coneheads]] to spill the beans, for Outback was trigger-happy. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}} After returning to Autobot City, Blaster kept tabs on the delivery of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Transformation cog|transforming cog]], which had been damaged during the battle of Autobot City the year before. Unfortunately, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s delivery shuttle was destroyed by [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], forcing Blaster to call upon Commander [[Marissa Faireborn]] of the [[Earth Defense Command]] for help. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}}

However, Faireborn and the Autobot delivery team were stranded when [[Lipole|lipoles]] native to [[Io]] destroyed the EDC ship, so the long-suffering Blaster sent rescue in the form of the magnificent [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], whom Blaster remarked was difficult to describe. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} After Sky Lynx effortlessly saved their friends and delivered the cog to Earth, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] installed the cog, and Blaster activated Metroplex's transformation sequence. Once the Autobot city defeated the Decepticon giant [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], Blaster declared that Metroplex was his kind of town. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

Blaster was briefly seen aboard the Autobot flagship when Optimus Prime returned from the dead to rally the troops against the [[Quintesson|Quintessons]]. He fled the ship with the rest of the crew before Prime's suicidal assault on the Quintessons' central planet. {{storylink|Dark Awakening}}

After Perceptor uncovered a source of chronal energy emanating from an asteroid belt, Blaster accompanied him on a survey mission, along with his cassettes [[Rewind]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]. Their simple survey soon turned into a battle, though, when a school of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] assaulted the Autobots as they approached the belt. Blaster radioed for reinforcements during the battle but, alongside Blurr and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], they soon made short work of their opponents. At the asteroid belt, they found a Quintesson scientist working with an actual [[Time Window]], allowing passage backwards through time. Several Quintesson ships interrupted their observations, and Blaster and the other Autobots were accidentally chased through the time window itself, finding themselves 11 million years in Cybertron's past. The Quintesson warships were gone, but they just traded one threat for another and soon came under assault by [[Guardian robot|Guardian Robots]]. Blaster and his comrades were saved by the intervention of [[Beta (G1)|Beta]], [[second-in-command]] of the slave rebellion against the Quintessons. With the rebels' leader [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A3]] missing, Blaster and the Autobots stepped into his place to lead the rebellion against the Guardians and their Quintesson masters. The Autobots did their best, but the sheer number of Guardian Robots was on the verge of overwhelming them when A3 returned through the time window. He turned his [[Coda Remote]] device against the Guardians and preserved the natural flow of history, as Blaster and the future Autobots took the window back to the present. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

When Daniel Witwicky and Wheelie were taken hostage by the Decepticons, Blaster fielded the ransom call for Spike and Ultra Magnus. His skill as a communication officer seemed to fail him, as he lost [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]'s signal at a critical point in the monologing. Maybe he was just tired of listening to The Villain Speech, trademarked. {{storylink|Surprise Party}} Daniel was saved, but it wasn't long before he got into more trouble, disappearing with Grimlock during a reception on Cybertron. Ultra Magnus summoned Blaster for assistance, and Blaster in turn ejected [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] so that his tracking abilities could locate the missing boy. Their search led to a hidden chamber beneath Cybertron's surface, abandoned since the time of the Quintessons. Blaster summoned Rewind next to help translate and interpret the ancient Quintessonese on the walls, and the rescue party learned the chamber was a method of banishing criminals to other dimensions. After Rewind worked out that Daniel had travelled to [[Menonia]], Blaster and the others reactivated the portal to chase after them. They got involved in a local skirmish against [[Mara-Al-Utha]], the banished Quintesson who had usurped power from the benevolent [[Golden One]]. In order to defeat the Quintesson, Blaster lent his sound system to the Golden One, amplifying his voice as he invoked the proper counter-spells. It had a nice beat, and you could smash Quintessons with it: even Grimlock had to approve. {{storylink|Madman's Paradise}}

[[Image:Blaster C Minor.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Who runs Bartertown?]]
While helping Ultra Magnus and the other Autobots fight the Decepticons on a renegade comet, Blaster was blasted out of space by a musical [[harmony]]. It was generated from the planet [[Eurythma]] below as a sonic weapon to destroy the comet before it struck their world. Galvatron naturally wanted such a powerful weapon for himself, and fled the battle with Soundwave to steal the secret of the harmony. Ultra Magnus recruited Blaster and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] to make their own effort to secure the harmony, or at least keep it out of Galvatron's hands. Blaster was enamored with Eurythma, and could somehow interpret that the nearby city and the entire civilization were based on musical harmonies. Luckily, he also somehow knew exactly where the "band leader" was, and directed Broadside to take them to [[Basso Profundo]]'s palace. Blaster was the only one who could understand the overly synthesized and harmonic speaking voices of the Eurythmians. Maybe Ultra Magnus was tone deaf. The hunt for the harmony turned into a bizarre scavenger hunt, as Blaster and Soundwave attempted to recover the three thirds of the harmony produced by Basso Profundo, [[Zebop Skandana]] and [[Allegra]]. The Decepticons assembled the harmony first, and Soundwave turned its united power against the Autobots. Blaster managed to stop Soundwave by punching him in the crotch. No seriously — that's where his "Erase" button is. Really. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

Running the day-to-day operations of Metroplex and Autobot City on Earth, Blaster was subjected to a security inspection by Kup. He passed with flying colors and nearly succeeded in convincing Kup how seriously they took the job... until he happened to lean against a control panel and set off some 20 year old tunes on the sound speakers. Things turned serious immediately thereafter, though, as Metroplex was invaded by [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]]. It only got worse when they stole Metroplex's eyes and set off a bomb in his brain. The report Kup filed for the inspection must have interesting reading material. Poor Blaster. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine}}

Blaster joined Kup, Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime aboard Omega Supreme to check out some strange reports from the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]]. These "strange reports" turned out to be a full-fledged war between half the galaxy raging over the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]' heads. On the surface, Blaster's receivers located a hypnotic signal being broadcast somehow from the Junkions' TV antenna. Using Omega Supreme to get the proper altitude, Blaster began broadcasting his own counter-frequency to break the spell. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}}

Blaster was returning from a space mission aboard Sky Lynx with Outback, Steeljaw and Ramhorn when Perceptor radioed in that a peculiar Quintession transmission was being picked up in their area. On an uninhabited planet, they found a Quintesson journal which detailed centuries of manipulating the planets [[Xetaxxis]] and [[Lanarq]] into ever-escalating warfare. Despite Quintesson and Decepticon interference, Blaster and his comrades managed to bring the journal to the attention of the warring aliens, ending their conflicts... at least for the moment. {{storylink|The Quintesson Journal}}

Blaster was manning Autobot City when [[Victor Drath]]'s men drove the empty shells of Ultra Magnus, Arcee, Springer and Rodimus Prime towards the city for a Trojan horse ploy. When the REAL Magnus and Springer hijacked the latter's helicopter mode and started taking potshots at the city, however, Blaster quickly caught on and transformed the city into battle station mode, cutting off their entry. It's not Springer, it's a ringer! How's that for a zinger? {{storylink|Only Human}}

When Sky Lynx and Cosmos crashed on [[Power Platform Alpha]], Blaster raced out to help with his fellow Autobots. Upon trying to radio for assistance, however, Blaster found himself unable to properly transmit any signals. The Autobots eventually uncovered [[anti-electron]] sabotage in the new power generator, and cleaned out the disruptive influence. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}} Later, Blaster began self-ejecting when the [[Oracle (G1)|Oracle]]'s transmission convinced Ramhorn and Steeljaw to force their way out of Blaster's chest to answer the call of the [[Primitive|Primitives]]. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

Although he wasn't on the initial casualty list, Blaster was revived alongside the Autobots who fell before the crazed [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], during the outbreak of the [[Hate Plague]]. Apparently, the Quintesson repaired him instead of Wheelie. Wise choice. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

{{-}}
====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic=====
Blaster was vacationing on a utopian island when he was captured by the Constructicons. He was eventually freed by [[Kenji]], Superion and several other Autobots. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}

=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====
[[Image:Fullthrottle_tape_fight.jpg|thumb|right|150px|]]
Blaster came to the rescue of [[Toru]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], after they were captured while searching for the Decepticon [[Omega Whip]] device. Blaster's electro-scrambler gun blew several large holes in Ravage. He then fought against Soundwave until the entire Autobot army arrived with Metroplex to drive off the Decepticons. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

{{-}}
=====Scramble City cartoon=====
Blaster was finally gifted with some Cassette forces of his own to counter Soundwave's. [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] took on [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] but couldn't protect the secrets of Metroplex. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====''Asterisk Story''=====
[[Image:BroadblastAsteriskManga01.jpg|left|300px|thumb|"My voice gives me super strength!"]]

As a member of the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]], Broadblast paired up with TV Announcer [[Lumina Hoshi]] in an attempt to promote goodwill and cooperation between humans and Transformers.

While covering an auto show where Broadblast was operating undercover, Lumina Hoshi was unfortunately present when a large section of lighting broke free from the ceiling and came hurtling down upon a crowd of people. Luckily, Broadblast was able to transform in time and catch the lights before they could squash everyone. Broadblast was then left to nervously explain his presence to the onlookers as Lumina apologized for the technical difficulties to her viewers. {{storylink|The World's First Disaster Relief Car!?}}

{{-}}
=====''15 Go! Go!''=====
[[Image:TGGBlaster.jpg|right|180px|thumb|"Don't be cryin'—here's a lion!"]]
As [[Teletraan 15]] lay recuperating from her Galvatron-inflicted injuries, a voice came from a nearby boombox, remarking that the song in her heart sounded lonely.

Transforming into his towering robot mode, Blaster told 15 that a princess like her deserved a more cheerful song. After listening to her problems, he advised her not to worry about what she ought to do and suggested that she concentrate on doing what she loved best. He told her that as individuals, sentient beings are notes, and that together, they become music.

He handed her a small cassette tape and told her that whenever she was depressed, she should listen to music. She thanked him as he left.

Despite Blaster's good intentions, the tape turned out to be full of depressing music. It also turned out to be [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]. {{storylink|Blaster Volume}}

=====''Kiss Players Position''=====
Blaster hand-picked [[Rosanna (KP)|Rosanna]] to join his cassette team, feeling that she was the only [[Autobot]] who properly understood his love of music.

He was later appointed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] as the Producer of the [[Kiss Players (singing group)|Kiss Players]] singing group, of which Rosanna became a founding member. {{storylink|Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players Position}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
:''Voice actor:'' [[Keiichi Nanba]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Hm blaster1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|OOH YEAH MACHO MACHINE WITH THE ELBOW DROP OFF THE TOP ROPE! SNAP INTO A SLIM JIM! MISS ELIZABETH!!]]

Some time before the Transformers' war left Cybertron, Blaster briefly engaged the Decepticons with his comrades.

In 2011, Blaster and his Mini-Cassettes were on Earth under Ultra Magnus's command when the Decepticons attacked Cybertron. While making their way to the [[Space Bridge]] to join their comrades, Blaster and Ultra Magnus were attacked by the new Decepticon ninja consultant, [[Sixshot]]. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

Later, Blaster joined Hot Rod in his search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. As they were outlining their plans, however, Blaster detected [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] spying on their conversation. Chasing the bat uncovered Soundwave and Ravage at the Autobot base as well, and after the battle Blaster vowed to one day rid the universe of his nemesis. As the search for the Matrix continued, Hot Rod and Blaster were again confronted by Soundwave in the Arctic. As the Mini-Cassette warriors dealt with each other, Blaster urged Hot Rod to go on without him: HE would deal with Soundwave. The two communications officers began blasting away at one another furiously. The fight then turned physical as Blaster ripped off one of Soundwave's arms and both combatants caved in each other's chests. Soundwave was killed—and actually ''exploded'' due to the extent of his injuries—but Blaster quickly succumbed to his wounds as well. With his last words, he urged Hot Rod to find the Matrix. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

[[Image:Twincast emerges.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...]]

All the Autobots were content to leave Blaster as a corpse until [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] and Blaster's cassette forces whined enough to have their pal resurrected. Blaster was then brought back online via [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]]'s [[Master (planet)|Master]] technology, as the yellow and blue repaint '''Twincast'''. Coincidentally, the Decepticons reanimated Soundwave as the black-as-coal Soundblaster. The two arch-enemies then renewed their struggle. Soundblaster was the key figure in controlling Galvatron's new weapon, the [[Madmachine]]. Twincast and his Mini-Cassettes infiltrated Trypticon and learned that Soundblaster was broadcasting from [[Chaar]]. He single-handedly overpowered the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to access the Decepticon Space Bridge, and made his way to Decepticon headquarters on Chaar. In the control room, Twincast struck Soundblaster hard enough to shake loose the sonic conductor he had been installed with to control the Madmachine, and blew it to smithereens. With a jaunty wave, Twincast said, "Well, I must be going!" and returned to the Autobots. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

Later on, Twincast reported to Rodimus Prime that the Decepticons were gathering on Earth, in preparation for raiding Cybertron via the Space Bridge. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} He also served as the Autobots' karaoke machine at parties. [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] loves karaoke. {{storylink|The Shadow Emperor, Scorponok}}

In order to learn more about the Decepticons' plans, Twincast sent Ramhorn and Steeljaw to Chaar on a reconnaissance mission. They reported back on Scorponok's scheme to harness [[plasma energy]], like that which was released by Cybertron's destruction. {{storylink|The Dormant Volcano Mysteriously Erupts}} He also managed to follow Sixshot to Chaar over the Space Bridge, and witnessed the activation of Scorponok's MegaZarak [[Transtector]]. {{storylink|Explosion on Mars!! MegaZarak Appears}}

Presumably because of his role as a communications officer, Twincast was aware of [[Punch (G1)|Punch]]'s undercover duties with the Decepticons as [[Counterpunch (G1)|Counterpunch]]. After the Headmasters clashed with Scorponok near Chaar, he alerted Fortress that Punch had arrived to make his latest report. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}} Later, Twincast learned that the Decepticons planned to raid the energy supplies Ultra Magnus was sending to the destitute planet [[Sandra (planet)|Sandra]]. His warning only arrived a few short moments before the Decepticons did. {{storylink|SOS from Planet Sandra}}

When Fortress and the Headmasters pursued the Decepticons out into space, Twincast joined them on the expedition. {{storylink|Fight to the Death on Susei!!}} He was with the Headmasters when they investigated an SOS call from the planet [[Daros]]. {{storylink|Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!}} On [[Paradise]], Twincast used his Mini-Cassettes to scout the countryside and locate the Decepticons. {{storylink|Head Formation of Friendship}} He was also active when the Autobots came to the [[Pirate Planet]], watching for Decepticon activity. His scouting patrol came by a sealed pyramid in time to pull [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] to safety when Galvatron arrived looking for energy. {{storylink|Mystery of the Space Pirate Ship}}

After the Autobots returned to Earth, Twincast helped investigate the sudden flurry of Decepticon attacks. He released his collection of Mini-Cassettes to seek out information, and personally accompanied Steeljaw on an investigation to an Autobot outpost in Alaska. Upon arriving, they discovered Scorponok had wiped out the outpost. Twincast and Steeljaw were spotted by Sixshot, who opened fire on them. Twincast demanded Steeljaw return to Autobot City with the information they had uncovered, while he stayed behind to cover the retreat. Steeljaw reluctantly left his commander to his fate, and Twincast was ultimately blasted into a ravine by Sixshot's Wingwolf mode. Steeljaw eventually returned with reinforcements, and Twincast was taken in for repairs. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}}

Twincast reported to a series of caves where the Headmasters were searching for [[plasma energy]] bombs left behind by Scorponok and the Decepticons when they departed Earth. He joined the Headmasters aboard the Battleship Maximus as they tried to get the massively powerful explosives a safe distance away from Earth. When they came across a group of [[Targetmaster|six refugees]] fleeing the planet Master, Twincast used his interpretive skills to translate their strange language. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 1)}} On the planet Master, Twincast was among the Autobots when the kidnapped scientist, [[Jack (Headmasters)|Jack]], suddenly returned to their midst. Prompted by the suspicious [[Pointblank]], Twincast scanned Jack and discovered the Decepticons had installed a time bomb inside him. {{storylink|Miraculous Warriors, Targetmasters (Part 2)}} Twincast was also among the Autobots debating whether [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s life was worth the secret of the [[Master Sword]]. {{storylink|The Master Sword Is in Danger!!}}

Twincast joined the entire Autobot army in journeying to the North Pole. There they battled Scorponok and his minions to stop the [[crysmag metal]] towers from destroying the planet Earth. Twincast saved Chromedome and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] from [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]'s hypnotic spell by dumping his entire chest full of Mini-Cassettes on the evil Headmaster. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====''G-2'' story pages=====
[[Image:BlasterG2.jpg|left|180px|thumb|There's so much I don't understand about this image.]]

After [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] forged the [[Cybertron Alliance]], Twincast returned to his original form as Blaster for reasons unknown, adopting a new [[Action Master]] body in the process. {{storylink|G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[Image:BlasterUS17.jpg|left|200px|thumb|More than likely, he'll kill you. Yeah, you. You know who you are.]]
Blaster was a rather grim, brooding, rebellious loner who hated Decepticons with a passion. And while he was one of the best kickass fighters the [[Autobot]]s had he had a bit of a problem with authority. Part of [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'s [[Cybertron Seven|Autobot resistance cell]] on Cybertron, he often disagreed with his superior's orders, especially after his friend [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]] went missing and Blaster wanted to hunt for him. Unfortunately, he found him in the Decepticons' [[smelting pool]]. Blaster was too late to save Scrounge's life, but he did retrieve the last bit of data the little spy had uncovered, so Scrounge didn't die in vain.

[[Image:Powerglideblastercybertronic.jpg|right|150px|thumb|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
This 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!}} Shortly after Scrounge was killed, Blaster took part in an assault on [[Darkmount]], where he engaged and seemingly destroyed the Decepticon commander [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], before using the [[space bridge]] to flee to Earth. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

Upon arriving on Earth, Blaster was among the Autobots deactivated and disassembled by [[Circuit Breaker]] and [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]]. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} He was later released {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}} ''and, after a brief skirmish with the crazed future Decepticon known as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], {{storylink|Fallen Angel (issue)|Fallen Angel}} joined the other Earthbound Autobots at the ''Ark'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}'' shortly before Optimus Prime's death. Blaster was one of the Autobots who voted for [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] to be the new Autobot leader, though he soon came to regret this decision. {{storylink|King of the Hill!}}

Blaster developed a reluctant friendship with [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]], whose more naturally upbeat personality provided the Boy Wonder to his Batman. After an encounter with the [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]], Blaster and Goldbug went AWOL from Grimlock's command, having grown tired of his aggressive orders and increasing disregard for humans. {{storylink|Mechanical Difficulties!}}

While on the run, Blaster and Goldbug joined forces with the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]] to eliminate a [[Scraplet]] infestation {{storylink|Crater Critters (issue)|Crater Critters}} {{storylink|The Cure! (issue)|The Cure!}} ''and prevent Soundwave and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] from detonating [[Mount Verona]] and destroying the entombed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and Galvatron. {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}}''

For this disobedience (and their failure to capture the Mechanic), Grimlock branded Blaster and Goldbug traitors and sent the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] to hunt them down. They eventually captured Blaster, but after he saved their lives from the Combaticons, they realized Grimlock's orders were purely vengeful and let him go. {{storylink|Used Autobots}} {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}}

[[Image:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Blaster finally returned to the Ark, where his fellow Autobots begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander when Grimlock threatened the safety of several Earth children. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

[[Image:Variablevoltageharnessblaster.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Maybe they should have called it a Constant Sarcasm Harness.]]
Imprisoned by Grimlock, Blaster was strapped to a [[variable voltage harness]] as punishment for his desertion and disobedience. However, when [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and his Autobots arrived and Grimlock challenged him to a duel, Blaster took Fortress Maximus's place. Their duel was interrupted by a Decepticon attack. When 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!}}

While Blaster and [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]'s girlfriend [[Jesse]] failed to rescue the young boy from the Decepticons' [[Club Con|island resort/base]], they proved instrumental in discovering the upcoming arrival of the legendary Transformers database, the [[Underbase]]. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''Then Blaster, Prime, [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] [[Highbrow (G1)|and]] [[Brainstorm|three]] [[Hardhead (G1)|newcomers]] were temporarily displaced into [[Limbo]] to make room for [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] [[Kup (G1)|and]] [[Blurr (G1)|his]] [[Arcee (G1)|own]] [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|little]] [[Red Alert (G1)|band]]. {{storylink|Time Wars (issue)|Time Wars}}'' Like many other Transformers, Blaster was killed fighting the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge in [[New York City|New York]]. {{storylink|Dark Star (issue)|Dark Star}}

[[Image:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|right|150px|thumb|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
Blaster was later among the first Autobots resurrected by Grimlock with [[Nucleon]]. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the ''Ark'', he took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, with disastrous results. It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Prowl had the Autobots plan for a peaceful co-departure with the Decepticons.

[[Image:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Spared not because I was super awesome earlier, but probably because I have a new Action Master toy.]]

Fat chance. Bludgeon and his army sabotaged the Autobot shuttles and took off to lay waste to the next world they found. Thanks to Grimlock planning ahead, the Autobots managed to follow, but were caught in a trap as the Decepticons lay waiting for them. Blaster was one of the few Autobots present to survive the initial Decepticon ambush on [[Klo]]. He took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], but there was still more than enough fight left in Blaster to join Grimlock and the other survivors in charging the Decepticon position. He was last seen shooting the head off of [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

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, had arrived and were all engaged in a deadly battle with one another. Blaster detected a signal he suspected was putting all the combatants under hypnosis. He and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] came up with a plan where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] would fly Blaster into the air where Blaster would then broadcast soothing music. The plan succeeded in calming the combatants. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}

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

=====Marvel UK Future Timelines=====
''In the future of 2008, Blaster was present at Autobot City when the Quintesson [[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 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 (issue)|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's emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them, and helped drive the evil possessing presence out of their leader. {{storylink|White Fire}}''

====Another Time and Place====
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]]. {{storylink|Another Time and Place}}

===''Transformers in 3-D''===
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 (fuel)|Energon]]. {{storylink|The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3}}

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Blaster's first recorded activities took place shortly before the [[Age of Internment]]. When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] returned from self-imposed exile, he unified the disjointed Autobot factions with the help of warriors like Blaster and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. Blaster may or may not have been co-leading a fourth Autobot faction during the Dark Ages with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (in addition to those factions overseen by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Grimlock), but this was never made completely clear. The Autobots were ready to usher in a new Golden Age, negotiating a peace with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon|Ultracons]], when [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] returned to Cybertron after a prolonged absence with his [[Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. With his new army, Megatron ushered in an Age of Internment, with virtually the entire Autobot army forced to serve as slaves digging under the city-state of [[Praxus]].

Virtually.

A small faction of Autobots remained free, operating under the command of Blaster and Perceptor in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon (city-state)|Iacon]] Command. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath issue 2|The Age of Wrath #2}} This resistance unit coordinated several different plans in the hopes of one day overthrowing Megatron's rule over Cybertron. One plan involved the capture and analysis of one of the AXS drones, in order to learn more about Megatron's new [[Cloning|clone technology]]. Blaster oversaw this 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 issue 3|The Age of Wrath #3}}

{{note|Dreamwave's subsequent backruptcy ended the story half-way, leaving it up to speculation how the capture of the drone and the eventual return of Optimus Prime worked into the defeat of Megatron and the end of the Age of Internment.}}

[[Image:PassiveAggression Blaster lovesEarth.jpg|left|300px|thumb|]]
Millions of years later, Blaster was one of the first Autobots who joined the resistance movement against [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s so-called "unified" Cybertronian government, sensing things were rotten in the city-state of Iacon. He joined up with several like-minded 'Bots under the supervision of [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] to coordinate a rise against the one-eyed tyrant. Blaster's efforts helped the Autobots uncover a subliminal code being pumped through the public address screens around the planet. It seemed that, for whatever reason, Shockwave was intentionally 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. He even modified his alternate mode into a Earthen tapedeck. {{storylink|Passive Aggression}}

When Optimus Prime and the crew of the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] were returned to Cybertron by Shockwave's forces, 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|Guardian Robots]] under his control. Shockwave's regime fell, and the Autobots resumed command of Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}}

{{-}}
===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
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]]. They were discovered there by a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team led by [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
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|Heart of Steel #1}}

===IDW comics continuity===
Four million years ago, Blaster was present at a victory celebration after the Autobots halted a major Decepticon energon convoy. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

[[Image:SpotlightBlaster REVENGE.jpg|right|150px|thumb|I'm Batman.]]
Blaster was known as The Voice, a patriotic broadcaster who used his gift with words to rally Autobots whose faith was lacking, or who were in a bad way. He was such a positive influence on the Autobots, it was arranged that he be assassinated. The attempt failed, but Blaster's damaged body was ejected into space. Picked up by a passing [[Yar|trawler]], he was 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]]. [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] had used [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to implant a [[cerebro-shell]] and ordered him to kill Blaster. 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}}

Over the next year, Blaster began working alongside the [[Wreckers]], and was recruited into a new elite fighting unit on-board the ''[[Trion]]'' by [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} As the ship's communications officer, Blaster started catching large amounts of distress signals before everything suddenly went quiet, and all contact with other Autobots was lost. Eventually, he caught a distress signal from [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], and 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)|Perceptor]], although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

{{note|It is unclear whether Blaster became an official member of the Wreckers before Kup cannibalized that team to make his own strike force.}}

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)|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, but he didn't feel like having The Voice around raised their morale much. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6}} He later warned Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8}} With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 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 (G1)|Megatron]] and his troops (which included Soundwave, but Blaster probably didn't know that). 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 11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 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 (G1)|Prowl]] got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}}

After [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] was named the new leader of the Autobots and formed 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 (G1)|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}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
{{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{charstubfiction}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1 Blaster toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"Still think you're so superior, Soundwave?"]]
* '''Blaster''' (Autobot, 1985/1986/2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''38''', '''TFC-21'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Electro-scrambler|Electro-Scrambler]] Gun

: Originally a ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), Blaster transforms into a miniature "ghetto blaster" boombox with a fold-out carrying handle. Pressing the "eject" button pops open his tape door, which can store a single micro-cassette Transformer. Due to a possible common internal misassembly issue, many original Blasters had doors which would not open when the eject button is pressed, nor would the other buttons work.

:In robot mode Blaster is freaking huge by the standards of ''Generation 1'' Transformers, towering over most Autobots and Decepticons. He has rather limited (useful) articulation, located in his neck and shoulders.

: Blaster is not a functional AM radio like his original ''Microchange'' toy, but has some left over parts from it, such as the molded power switch above the left speaker, the earphone jack behind the right speaker and the tuning dial next to the tape door. Some releases of Blaster still retain the opening back from the ''Microchange'' release (see Notes).

: Blaster was re-released in 2006 as part of the "[[Transformers Collection]]" "bookbox" series, packaged with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[Image:ActionMasterBlaster toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Which gun is better?]]
*'''Blaster w/ Flight Pack''' (Action Master, 1990)
**''Accessories:'' "Flight Pack" backpack, "tractor beam electron gun"

: A non-transforming action figure, [[Action Master]] Blaster (not to be confused with the "Action Master Blasters" price-point) is compatible with any other Action Master vehicle or accessory. His design is based largely on his cartoon model, with elements from the toy added (like his visor). He came with the "[[Flight Pack]]" accessory, which converts from a winged jetpack to a massive "electro-scrambler" cannon.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Action Master Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

===The Headmasters===
* '''Twincast''' (Autobot, 1987/2006)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun

: The first Blaster toy was [[Redeco|redecoed]] and had its tape-door [[Retool|retooled]] in order to accommodate two cassettes at once. The clear-plastic part of the door was also changed to clear-red, so when certain cassettes were placed inside, the "secret plans" decals on them would reveal the "weak point" of either [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] or [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], much like using the [[Tech Spec decoder]]s. He came with Steeljaw, who was given one of these new decals.

: In 2006, Twincast was reissued as an [[e-Hobby]] [[exclusive]], this time packaged with the new character [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Twincast/twincast.htm More information on Twincast at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Binaltech Asterisk===
[[Image:Bta broadblast.jpg|right|300px|thumb|They see me rollin', they hatin'.]]
*'''Broadblast meets Lumina''' (Binaltech, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BTA03'''
**''Accessories:'' Engine/gun, Lumina Hoshi with stand, driving arms and driving legs

: A redeco of ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Broadblast transforms into a 1:24 scale [[wikipedia:Scion_xB|Toyota bB, aka the Scion xB]]. He has working doors, hood, and trunk, plus his engine becomes a non-firing weapon. He also comes with an extra decal sheet, which includes signs for "TBN" which ''possibly'' stands for "Transformers Broadcast Network" or some such; there is Japanese text on the labels as well, but it's really tiny and hard to make out.

: He came with a PVC-plastic figurine of the [[human]] newsgirl [[Lumina Hoshi]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/Broadblast/broadblast.htm More information on Binaltech Asterisk Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[Image:Blasteruniversetoy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Preparations for the military strike, dubbed Operation Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication Storm, are already underway.]]
*'''Autobot Blaster with Blockrock Mini-Con!''' (Voyager, 2008)
**''Series:'' Classics Series
**''Accessories:'' Tri-barrel "particle feedback blaster"/bomb, double-barrel "harmonic wave cannon"/bomb, Cybertron Autobot Cyber Key (Clear black plastic, silver border, red insignia)

: Blaster is a redeco of ''[[Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], transforming into a Cybertronic stealth bomber vaguely like an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes|F-117A Nighthawk prototype]], the [[Wikipedia:Have_Blue|Have Blue]]. He comes with three hexagonal prism "bombs"; one converts into his partner [[Blockrock]], the other two unfold into non-firing blaster weapons. Any one of these "bombs" can be stored in his robot-mode chest, which opens by plugging a [[Cyber Planet Key]] into him (his is a gunmetal-bordered clear-plastic [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style Autobot Key). The other two bombs store in indents on the underside of his wings.

[[Image:Blaster-U08-boxart.jpg|left|100px|thumb|If only...]]
: His packaging art shows him with only half of his chest-door as clear-blue, emulating the original toy design's tape-window, but the final product (and stock photography) show the blue all the way across. However, his visor ''does'' have red paint to simulate the "goggle visor" look of the [[#Generation 1|original toy]] and Marvel comics model.

: This mold was also used to make ''Galaxy Force'' [[Soundblaster (Cybertron)|Soundblaster]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/TFUBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Classics Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

[[Image:Universe2008_SDCC_G1Blaster.jpg|thumb|300px|]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (2010)
**''Series:'' G1 Series
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun
:This San Diego Comic-Con [[exclusive]] reissue of Blaster comes with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Eject]]. Released as part of the [[Universe (2008 toyline)|''Universe'' (2008) toyline]], the packaging also has a special foil-detailed outer slip case. Blaster is technically a slight [[redeco]], having metal-flake beige legs instead of metallic-swirl silver.

:This set was also made available at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong Fair 2010, and was later released on the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] and then also sold at FanExpo Canada 2010.
{{-}}

===Device Label===
[[Image:Device_Label_Broadcast.jpg|thumb|right|300px|What, not a real notebook?! You are the REAL ''Decept''icon!!]]
*'''Broad Blast''' ([[July 24|7/24]]/2010)
**''Accessories:'' USB cable

:''[[Device Label]]'' Broad Blast transforms into a working USB hub (designed to look like the Toshiba Qosmio laptop computer). The USB functionality works in both robot and laptop modes. Generation 1 Mini-Cassettes can fit into the false tape-deck in his chest in robot mode, but cannot be stored while Broad Blast is in laptop mode due to his head being inside his chest in this form. The Generation 1 Blaster toy's Electro-Scrambler Gun can also fit into Broad Blast's [[5mm post|compatible fist holes]].

:Originally scheduled for release in late [[2009]], Broad Blast was delayed until July 2010. According to a report from getnews.jp at the Tokyo Toy Show 2010, the delay was due to the discovery of a connection cut-off problem after the toy/USB hub is transformed into robot mode. TakaraTomy redesigned the entire lower body to fix this problem. <ref>[http://getnews.jp/archives/68064 Get News.jp report on Device Label Broadblast]</ref>
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Decoy===
*'''Blaster''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': '''29'''

: Like all [[Decoy]]s, the decoy Blaster was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s.

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

===Attacktix===
[[Image:Blaster-atx.jpg|thumb|250px|Have some NON-EXISTENCE, courtesy of FLAGGING SALES!]]
*'''Blaster''' (Booster, <strike>2007</strike>)

: Blaster was likely to have been one of several ''Transformers [[Attacktix]]'' Booster pieces, using a powerful spring-loaded "blaster" missile launcher attack. Though displayed as part of the ''Attacktix'' display at the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' "Celebration IV" convention, he —and all the other pieces revealed at the show— were ultimately never released.

{{canceledattacktix}}

{{-}}
===Robot Heroes===
[[Image:Robotheroesblasterthrust.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Waiting futilely for Robot Heroes Scrounge.]]
*'''Blaster and Thrust''' (2008)

:Part of the third wave of ''Universe'' ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', "Generation 1 Series" Blaster comes packaged with [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation. His headsculpt is more toy-based than cartoon-based, featuring his "goggles" (even though his eyes kind of pop out from them).
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/RHBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Robot Heroes Blaster at TFU.info]''

{{-}}

==Notes==
*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>
* The [[Pre-Transformer|pre-''Transformers'']] version of Blaster was actually a functioning AM radio. The ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]'' release of the toy came with a microcassette-sized radio that plugged in to Radi-Casse Robo, which had internal wiring that allowed the radio to play through the speakers in its legs. The big hole in his Electro-Scrambler rifle is an earphone storage space, while the cord can be wrapped around the gun and the plug connects to the hole in the gun's stock. Despite popular belief, the compartment in the back of some Blaster toys was not a remnant of a battery compartment, but was actually storage for one of the transforming microcassettes, since a plug kept them from fitting in the cassette door. The battery compartment was actually in one of his legs.

* According to [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] on a [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]], Blaster's visor is retractable. He uses it to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight.

* The packaging for Twincast's e-Hobby reissue was the same generic [[Decepticon]]-scheme box used to package [[Magnificus (G1)|Magnificus]]. However, since Flip Sides is technically a Decepticon, it... sorta works.

* 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.

* Blaster hosted the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|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. He was finally evicted by Blaster who 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 loner 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.

* Blaster had a different appearance in the 1980s between the cartoon and the Marvel comic series. His head in the comic was closer to the toy and depicted him with goggles, while the cartoon drew him with regular eyes and a large forehead. By [[On the Edge of Extinction!|late 1990]], however, Blaster's head in the comics more closely resembled the cartoon appearance. This did come after he was revived by Nucleon, though, so maybe this was his side-effect?
** The toy-based head was drawn by [[Don Perlin]] and [[José Delbo]], while [[Herb Trimpe]] (covers, [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]), [[Geoff Senior]] (issue 75) and [[Andrew Wildman]] (issues 76-80) drew Blaster's head based on the cartoon version. All versions were colored by [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]], who gave Blaster a red forehead and yellow face (a combination never used on a toy, or in the cartoon).

* Blaster's absence from the second half of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' is often a talking point among fans. It stems from a deleted plotline from early drafts of the movie, in which he would have led several other 1984 and '85 Autobots as a team of guerilla fighters, defending Earth against the Decepticons while Ultra Magnus and the other Autobots went into space to stop Unicron from feeding on the energy of the planet.

* 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 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===
*''Japanese:'' '''Broadcast''' (ブロードキャスト ''Burōdokyasuto'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Twincast)
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("All-fire")
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters''), '''Digital''' (''The Headmasters'')
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America ''The Headmasters'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk characters]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Communications specialists]]
[[Category:E-Hobby]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Kiss Players Autobots]]
[[Category:Letters page answerers]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Salvage!

2011-03-17T15:44:36Z

Fishyofpain: /* Covers (4) */

{{disambig3|Salvage}}
{{picsneeded|Summer Special 1994 cover}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #160–161
|prev=The Desert Island of Space!
|next=Pretender to the Throne!
|title=Salvage!
|image=MarvelUK-161.jpg
|caption=The new series of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) doesn't go well.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=
|coverdate=[[April 9|9th April]] [[1988]] - [[April 16|16th April]] 1988
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Lee Sullivan]]
|colour=[[Euan Peters]]
|letters=[[Tom Frame]] (160), [[Gary Gilbert|Glib]] (161)
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Shockwave resurrects Megatron and primes him as a weapon to use against Galvatron.'''

==Synopsis==
In [[London]], Virgin boss Richard Branson finances a clean-up operation to remove the remains of Megatron and [[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]] from the bottom of the River Thames where they had been since their battle in "[[Ancient Relics!]]"

[[Image:Richardbranson.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Richard Branson begins his quest to get a cameo role in everything.]]
No sooner have they been lifted clear than the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] Jawbreaker leaps from the water and cuts the chains holding them to the cranes. Thrust, Dirge, Ramjet and Blitzwing then swoop in and attach suction cups and carry them away to Shockwave.

A few hours later the [[Sparkabot|Sparkabots]] finish digging Ultra Magnus out from underneath [[Mount Verona]]. Ultra Magnus is at first disoriented; haunted by the memory of Galvatron and the many defeats he had suffered at his hands. Catching sight of Megatron and Centurion being flown past by the Decepticons they decide to follow after them.

Some time later in the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticon Fortress]], Snaptrap has repaired Megatron’s body but his mind is broken. Shockwave is planning to use him as a weapon against Galvatron and so orders Snaptrap to use the [[Psycho-probe|psycho-probe]] in an attempt to repair his mind.

Ultra Magnus and the Sparkabots have made their way to the base of the fortress and are discussing how they will stop the Decepticons from reactivating Megatron, when to Ultra Magnus’ dismay, Galvatron, who has been spying on Shockwave, reveals his presence and tells them that he cannot allow them to interfere with Megatron’s resurrection.

Inside the fortress the psycho-probe is forcing Megatron to confront his deepest fears through a series of visions; unfortunately he is not handling this very well and is terrified of an image of Optimus Prime.

Ultra Magnus is having similar problems outside when confronted by Galvatron and is also cowering in fear, much to Galvatron’s amusement.

Megatron is confronted by a second image, this time of Lord Straxus, the Decepticon leader from Cybertron, who had attempted to take over his body in "[[Resurrection!]]". Straxus taunts Megatron and destroys the image of Optimus Prime, telling Megatron that soon he will be in control. This finally snaps Megatron from his fearful state, he attacks and rips the image of Straxus apart.

Having finally defeated his inner demons his mind snaps back to sanity. Shockwave takes advantage and uses the psycho-probe to brainwash Megatron into believing that Galvatron is his enemy and that he must destroy him

Outside Galvatron is taunting Ultra Magnus, who has become paralysed with fear. Galvatron begins to beat up the Sparkabots, while Ultra Magnus stands impotently by. Still haunted by his many defeats Ultra Magnus ultimately forces himself to confront his fear and he attacks Galvatron. Driven by fear turned to rage he manages to beat Galvatron who retreats. Ultra Magnus, with a renewed confidence, declares that the next time he meets Galvatron will be the last.

''Note: this story is continued in "[[Dry Run!]]".''

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Fizzle]] (9)
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] (10)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (16)

|c2=
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus-Megatron]] (1)
*[[Overbite (G1)|Jawbreaker]] (4)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (5)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (6)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (7)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (8)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (13)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
*[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (15)
*[[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]] (17)

|c3=
*[[Richard Branson]] (3)

|c4=
*[[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]] (2)

}}

==Errors==
*What qualifies Snaptrap to perform repairs on Megatron?

==Items of note==
*Shockwave decided to use Megatron as a weapon against Galvatron at the end of "[[Enemy Action!]]"
*Here Megatron is forced to confront a vision of Lord Straxus, whose mind has infected Megatron’s after the botched mind swap in "[[Resurrection!]]" He defeats him subconsciously, thereby giving him the strength to reassert his own personality. Ironically this Megatron is later shown to be a clone created by Straxus that became infected with Megatron’s personality. {{storylink|Two Megatrons!|Two Megatrons!}}
*Despite Ultra Magnus' vow to defeat Galvatron once and for all the next time they meet, this is actually the last time that they will come face to face. So he didn't really break his promise, the opportunity just never came up. (It ''would'' have but the plans had to be dropped. <ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=42871#42871 Simon Furman Q&A]</ref>)
*The Decepticon Fortress was first built by the Decepticons in [[Power Play!|Power Play]] and later abandoned.
*Dirge is uncharacteristically alive in this story because the UK continuity ignored the events of the ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' mini-series in which he was killed off.
*For some reason, Snaptrap's head is permanently hidden by shadow in every panel he appears in. Perhaps Sullivan had spilt tea all over the top of his reference sheets?
*In the letters page, Grimlock says that [[Primus]] recreated [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] in his own image as Rodimus Prime<ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/popup.php?id=2085 Issue #160's Grim Grams at transfans.co.uk]</ref>.

==Back-Up Stories==
'''Issue #160:'''

* [[G.I. Joe (team)|Action Force]] - "Serpentor" Part 4
* [[Combat Colin]]

'''Issue #161:'''

* Action Force - "Road Safety - from the Air!"
* Action Force - "Battle Island"
* Combat Colin

==Reprints==
* This story was reprinted in the [[Collected Comics (Marvel)|Summer Special 1994]].

* It was reprinted again in the [[Titan Books]] trade paperback ''[[Space Pirates]]''.

==Covers (4)==
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUK-160.jpg|'''Issue #160'''
Image:MarvelUK-161.jpg|'''Issue #161'''
Image:Tfcolcom26.jpg|'''Summer Special 1994'''
Image:TitanSP.jpg|'''Space Pirates TPB'''
</gallery>

* '''Issue #160 cover:''' Ultra Magnus rising from the lava, by [[Bryan Hitch]].
* '''Issue #161 cover:''' Megatron confronted by Prime, by Bryan Hitch.
* '''Summer Special 1994 cover:''' Optimus Prime opening the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]].
* '''Space Pirates TPB cover:''' [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] have a little problem with [[Quintesson]]s, by [[Geoff Senior]] and Oliver Harud.

==Footnotes==
<references />
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Landfill (G1)

2011-03-11T05:45:14Z

Fishyofpain: New page: Not generic brown guy. Look at Landfill's Universe profile. Landfill is the red and yellow guy Hook is smacking around.

Not generic brown guy. Look at Landfill's Universe profile. Landfill is the red and yellow guy Hook is smacking around.

Landfill (G1)

2011-03-10T05:54:14Z

Fishyofpain: Undo revision 563314 by ItsWalky (Talk) I think you all need to take another look at "Out of Time!"

{{disambig3|Landfill}}
{{factions|autobot}}
:''Landfill is an [[Autobot]] [[Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Landfill g1 boxart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Picture this with stink-lines.]]

Why doesn't anybody like '''Landfill'''? Why do they step (very far) to the side when he passes by? He can't understand it. He's a really nice guy. He's always happy. He's good at his job, and he always does what he is told. Why, then, do his friends avoid him? This makes him very sad.

His comrades know the answer very well, but how do you tell a 'bot that he should clean his bodywork every once in a while, without upsetting him and making him think he's being insulted? It wouldn't help, anyway... he'd not see the need to clean up even if directly ordered to do so. It's a shame Landfill can't just realize on his own that if one is not to be selective about which cargoes he hauls, then one must be willing to use a little surfactant and solvent on occasion.

His [[Targetmaster]] partners [[Flintlock]] and [[Silencer]] try to make Landfill understand that if he wants to make friends, he has to work on his hygiene, but this effort is to no avail.

:''French-Canadian name'': '''Décharge'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
{{noteukonly}}
Landfill was a soldier under [[Emirate Xaaron]]'s command on Cybertron, first seen during the brief period where the [[Classic Pretender|Classic Pretenders]] rallied the resistance movement with several successful assaults on [[Thunderwing (G1)|Lord Thunderwing]]'s territory. {{storylink|Yesterday's Heroes!}}

When Galvatron and the heralds of [[Unicron]] assaulted Xaaron's camp, Landfill stayed behind to cover his leader's escape. He suffered some injuries battling [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|Hook]], but managed to survive thanks to Unicron calling off his dogs to hunt the errant Galvatron instead. {{storylink|Out of Time!}}

Landfill and Quickmix later attended Primus' oration on Cybertron, before the united Autobot and Decepticon forces. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

====Marvel UK future timelines====
''In an alternate 1991, Landfill was working with [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] when [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] manipulated them into protecting him from harm during the Decepticon Civil War. While the Autobot Code compelled them to drive off his assassins, Scorponok made good his escape from all his enemies. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}''

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{TransformersComicMagazin}}

Landfill was present when Powermaster Optimus Prime led the Autobots againt the joint Decepticon leaders Shockwave and Megatron, who had tried to hijack the oil reserves of [[Alaska]]. The Autobots drove off the Decepticons, but not before [[Quickmix]] shot a minibot because he turned off his targetting computer. Optimus then sat his troops down and explained to them the differences between Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2|Transformers in Action: Attack at Dawn}}

Landfill was among the Autobots monitoring the Decepticons from a distance when Megatron made peaceful gestures to Humanity in New York City. The Autobots returned to the Ark and discovered that a statue of Snaptrap that the Decepticons had gifted to New York was actually Snaptrap in disguise. Snaptrap went on a rampage and the Decepticons used this distraction to attack various other targets. Optimus Prime led the Autobots to narrowly defeat this menace. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 4#Transformers in Action: The Troy Principle|Transformers in Action: The Troy Principle}}

He took part in the rescue effort when an oil tanker was hijacked by the Decepticons. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 5|Transformers in the Battle for Peace: A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}}

When the Decepticons stole three nuclear missiles from the United State Federation to hold the world to ransom, Optimus Prime put the entire burden of discovering their whereabouts on the shoulders of the Double Targetmasters, who were sent to scout possible locations.{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 8|Transformers in Action: Megatron's Ultimatum}}

===''Generation 2'' cartoon===
[[Image:G2DoubleTargetmasters.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Off in that corner there.]]
Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, life existed. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities. Apparently among those robots were the Autobots Landfill, [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], and [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], who transformed from their vehicle modes and shot at some unknown attackers. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1}}

{{note|Footage from the [[commercial]] featuring the Autobot "Double Targetmaster" trio was spliced into the ''[[Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' version of the episode by way of the [[Cybernet Space Cube]]. Outside of this, they never actually appeared in the cartoon.}}
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:SpotlightBlaster Jazz Smokescreen Landfill.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Stuck in an enclosed space with Landfill. Poor guys.]]
Several hundred years ago, Landfill was sharing a foxhole with [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] on Cybertron, waiting for the latest broadcast from [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], the Voice of the war movement.

The broadcast... never came. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

After the [[Surge (event)|Surge]], Landfill was stationed in the [[Morobishi Canyons]] of [[Karashi Delta]]. The Autobots won that fight thanks to Landfill's courageous commander, the aerial strategist [[Rotorstorm]]. {{storylink|Bullets}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1-toy Landfill.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hey, is it me or does the whole room stink?]]
*'''Landfill''' (Targetmaster, 1988)

:Landfill transforms into a beige and brown off-road earth-moving dump truck, with a non-functional dumping tray (can't even put anything in it) due to his unusual arm transformation sequence. His Targetmaster partners Flintlock and Silencer (or any other accessories with handle pegs of the correct size) can be stored in the two peg holes on either side of the dumping tray.

:In robot mode it is revealed that the reason his tray is non-functional is because the arms are stored within two flip-over panels. As was the standard of smaller ''Generation 1'' toys of this era, Landfill has very limited articulation, all located in his ratcheting shoulder joints (and one has to hold the arm panels in place while rotating the arms themselves). Flintlock and Silencer can become two separate handguns, or either can attach to the rear of the other gun to form a single rifle.

: No version of this character or mold was released in Japan.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Landfill/landfill.htm More information on Landfill at TFU.info]

==Notes==
* Though his personal hygiene may imply the contrary, Landfill is a robot and has probably never been to [[BotCon]]. You probably, ahem, detected somebody else.

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

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Slobs]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]

User talk:65.26.33.78

2011-03-09T18:39:18Z

Fishyofpain: New page: STOP undoing this edit. You are INCORRECT.

STOP undoing this edit. You are INCORRECT.