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B.O.T. (episode)

2017-12-07T23:30:25Z

LongHaul: /* Continuity errors */

{{featured}}
{| style="margin:0 1em 0 2em; padding:.5em; background:#f7f8ff; border:thin solid #aaa;display:block;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|-
|''This article is about the worst episode of Transformers ever. For a list of other meanings, see [[B.O.T. (disambiguation)]].''
|}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=65
|next=The Transformers: The Movie
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=59
|prev2=Neverending Struggle
|next2=War Dawn (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=44
|prev3=The Ultimate Doom, Part 3
|next3=Aerial Assault
|image=B.O.T.jpg
|caption=Smarter than a race of multimillion-year-old robots. ''Using Brawl's brain.''
|title="B.O.T."
|production code=#700-64
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|airdate=[[January 9]], 1986
|written by=[[Earl Kress]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After Swindle sells the components of his fellow Combaticons, three kids get their hands on Brawl's brain, using it to make a robot.'''

Or...

'''Worst. Episode. Ever.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:BOT-Road.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Here we come…drivin' down the street…]]
The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] enter an unidentified city for no discernible reason, then all transform to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] for no discernible reason. While transforming, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] knocks over [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] for no discernible reason. Brawl expresses his displeasure for an obvious reason. They then drive (yes, even [[Vortex (G1)|the]] [[Blast Off (G1)|flyers]] ''drive'') about ten feet down the street and form [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] for no discernible reason. He is immediately destroyed with a single shot by [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (who's there for no discernible reason). Defensor just leaves the pile of parts alone and unsupervised, apparently not bothering to alert the other [[Autobot]]s or anything. This enables Swindle—who has somehow survived ''without a scratch'' the explosion that reduced all the other Combaticons to a pile of parts — to gather up the bits. No human authorities are involved either.

Swindle then visits the generically evil foreign guy "[[El Presidente]]" on his ship filled with weapons in order to buy parts to repair the Combaticons.

Meanwhile, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] is running a simulation of his new [[orbit disruptor cannon]]. After [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] whines, Megatron explains that once the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]] is knocked from orbit, they will use [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]'s new device to control the tides. They will then use this colossal power to flood a single canyon, creating "a limitless source of power". What?

At the [[Combaticons' headquarters]], El Presidente's men load up the weapons and more advanced computer systems from the wrecked robots, as apparently Swindle forgot about that whole "repair" thing. Swindle then leaves to take the remaining parts to a dump. Shortly after they all leave, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] arrives, noting no one seems to be home. He discovers a piece of one of the Combaticons, then notices there's a trail of them. Confused, he asks Megatron what to do. Megatron calmly replies that he should perchance follow the trail of wreckage in order to discover where it may lead.

[[File:BOT-Luigi.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Giant turtles out to get him, creepy crabs are right behind.]]

Swindle arrives in a junkyard, where he threatens a junkyard worker before he starts to dump the leftovers. Starscream and Skywarp discover him in the act and capture him as he tries to escape. Back at the [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon base]], Soundwave installs a bomb in Swindle's head; he has 15 hours to reassemble the Combaticons before it goes off. Swindle takes the parts back from various mid-'80s evil foreign stereotypes and reassembles the team. However, they are unable to combine into Bruticus because Brawl's [[personality component]] is missing. Swindle is charged with getting the component back or the bomb will still go off.

Meanwhile, at [[Benjamin Franklin Pierce High School]], [[Robbins|Mr. Robbins]]'s demonstration of a laser is sabotaged by two sociopathic students, [[Martin and Roland]], who boost the laser's power output so high it instantly burns a hole through steel. Rather than involve the authorities, Mr. Robbins threatens them with an "F" in his class if they don't win a blue ribbon at the science fair, and assigns [[Elise Presser]] to assist them for no discernible reason.

Outside, the two assholes meet the meek and spineless Elise. They realize a high-rise is on fire across the street, and witness the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] coming to the rescue (well, four of them; [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] cuts the cables holding a rig two window-washers are on with his rotors—the bastard). This inspires them to build a robot for their project. The three rummage for parts in the same junkyard where Swindle dumped the Combaticons' leftover remains, and Elise discovers a random piece of machinery. They spend the night in the school's lab assembling their machine, and Martin dubs it "[[B.O.T. (G1)|B.O.T.]]". After several failures, Elise installs the random piece of machinery, which turns out to be Brawl's personality component. Naturally, Brawl-B.O.T. goes postal and starts trashing the place.

[[File:BOT-CompRoom.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Unbeknownst to all, the school was secretly funded by a hideously gargantuan Richie Rich.]]

Martin grabs the laser and fires, and B.O.T. runs off. The kids run to the school's preposterously-advanced computer lab, and use it to call the Protectobots. [[Teletraan I]] gets the SOS, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] sends [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] to investigate.

Swindle re-threatens the junkyard worker, who says that maybe some kids took the part Swindle is after. Swindle mutters "you better hope so"… then proceeds to rummage through the trash, seemingly instantly forgetting that whole "kids" angle.

The [[Autobot]]s arrive at the school. The kids seem disappointed that they didn't get the Protectobots, but quickly lead them to their runaway creation in the school's cafeteria. Brawl-B.O.T. knocks all three Autobots over with a single serving pan of corn on the cob (That high-school food, I tell ya, huh? Huh?), then deflects Gears's blaster-fire with a pot lid. Ironhide shoots molten lead at Brawl-B.O.T., but he leaps to grab a light fixture, avoiding the attack, and the now-weakened floor collapses under Ironhide. Brawl-B.O.T. runs for it, barricading the door out with remarkable speed, and heads for a seemingly abandoned building… as Swindle watches.

The Autobots follow, telling the kids to stay put. They enter the building, and find that Brawl-B.O.T. has taken an elevator thirty floors up. Ironhide wedges a stick into the doors, and the trio run up the stairs. Outside, the future serial killers grow instantly impatient, and drag Elise inside the building. They remove the stick, enter the elevator and head up.

A blast erupts ''behind'' the Autobots, and Ironhide orders them to shoot up. They shoot at absolutely ''nothing'', Ironhide declares they hit whatever it was, and they run right into Swindle. Meanwhile, the elevator has stopped. Roland is lifted up so he can open the emergency hatch, and discovers B.O.T. is trying to break the elevator cables.

[[File:BOT Defensor forcefield.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|My force field's only good for 10 seconds - you've got a plan for after that, right Prime? ...Prime?]]

Sadly, B.O.T. is prevented from snapping the cables by an energy blast to the back. The Autobots pick themselves up, seemingly having been soundly thrashed by Swindle all by himself. They all run outside to witness Swindle driving away. Back at Decepticon headquarters, Brawl is restored and the bomb removed, and Bruticus is formed again.

At the school, Elise inspects the remnants of B.O.T. to find that the "funny component" is gone. Martin decides to hunt it down by reworking the machine that read B.O.T.'s "brain response" so it can track the signal. The three drive to the ocean, and Elise rewires B.O.T.'s speech synthesizer so it receives and decodes signals rather than creating them, letting them hear what Brawl hears. Megatron insists on a test-run of the cannon, and picks Autobot headquarters as the target. (Because it's in orbit, you see. Wait, no, it isn't.) The kids rush off to warn the Autobots, who send a signal to the [[Protectobots' headquarters]].

Having been properly forewarned, the Autobots apparently just sit around and wait for Megatron to set up his giant cannon, get his troops into position just outside their base, and for the Combaticons to assemble Bruticus before starting to defend themselves. Bruticus basically stumbles around until he falls apart. The Protectobots arrive and random fighting ensues.

[[File:Elisetape.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|This is the light-hearted, end-of-episode comedy beat. No, seriously.]]

Inside the base, the kids think they need to help, and Elise has a rare moment of spine. Using Teletraan I, she sends B.O.T. out into the battlefield on a beeline to the disruptor cannon. The Protectobots combine into Defensor and generate a force field, protecting about four other Autobots. The Decepticons wait until the force field wears off, then one shot blasts Defensor to pieces. Bruticus re-forms and tries to fire the cannon, but it turns and blasts Starscream and Soundwave instead. B.O.T. is working the cannon using a conveniently-placed control panel at the base, and causes it to explode by hitting the clearly-marked "overload" button, sending Bruticus flying away and forcing a Decepticon retreat.

Back inside, the Autobots thank the kids for their help and offer their apologies for the loss of their robot. Elise asks if they have any spare parts so they can try again… and Roland and Martin duct-tape her mouth shut and drag her away while the Autobots just watch… ''argh argh argh''…
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (7)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (18)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (19)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (20)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (21)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (22)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (25)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (26)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (27)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (28)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (29)
|c2=
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (1)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (2)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (3)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (4)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (5)
*[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (6)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (11)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (30)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (31)
|c3=
*[[El Presidente]] (8)
*[[Robbins]] (14)
*[[Martin and Roland|Roland]] (15)
*[[Martin and Roland|Martin]] (16)
*[[Elise Presser]] (17)

|c4=
*[[B.O.T. (G1)|B.O.T.]] (23)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:BOT Swindle grabbed.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Until you can tell me what you mean by "brain" and "head", even you can't be trusted.]]
"Call sanitation. There's junk all over the street!"
:—'''Defensor''', leaving his mess for the humans to clean up. He's humanity's defender, not their maid.

"Megatron, I-I-I couldn't find Brawl's personality component! I didn't think it would ''matter''…"
:—'''Swindle'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s high opinion of his teammate.

[[File:BOT wet Gears.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|You are so right.]]
"Here, munch a little lead!"
:—'''Ironhide''' just before spraying something that's not lead at B.O.T.

"This is so degrading."
:—'''Gears''' on being beaten by Brawl-B.O.T. Or he was talking about the episode itself?

"We should've just taken the 'F' in Science."
:—'''Martin''', not knowing that if they did, we probably would have been spared this horrendous episode.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll melt you down for scrap [[tutonium]]!"
:—'''Megatron''' threatens Swindle with gibberish

==Notes==
{{quote|The episode "B.O.T." was one I always remembered from when I was young. But the thing is, I had just remembered the story focusing on Swindle selling off the other Combaticons, and I had totally mentally blocked out the whole school science project part of the story! Wow was I disappointed when I went back and watched that one!|[[Derrick J. Wyatt]]<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/interviews-27/derrick-wyatt-interview-166415/ ''Transformers Animated'' Art Director Derrick Wyatt interview at TFW2005.com]</ref>}}

===Continuity notes===
[[File:BOT Protectobot HQ exterior.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|E Cola. The cool, refreshing taste of uncooked pork.]]
*This episode establishes that the Combaticons have their [[Combaticons' headquarters|own separate base]], as do [[Protectobots' headquarters|the Protectobots]]. As this was the last episode before the jump to 2005, this is never touched on again.
*The billboard over the [[Protectobots' headquarters|Protectobots' urban headquarters]] seems to be advertising for [[E Cola]]. Mmmmmmm. Another advertisement for the beverage would appear years later in the Japanese series, ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', in the episode "[[Heroism!! The Birth of Super Ginrai]]".
*Skywarp lives up to a little-used note in his bio, which states that he would be "useless without Megatron's supervision."
*Personality components make a second appearance. Unlike in "[[The Revenge of Bruticus]]", they're a physical piece of metal hardware.
*"Soundwave's new device" is never seen, and aside from Megatron's indirect "soon we'll control the oceans" boast, is never referenced again after its original mention at the start of the episode.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Bruticus lives up to his bio he has "a tendency to stand still if he is not told what to do" and as Megatron promised at the end of "[[The Revenge of Bruticus]]", Bruticus is reprogrammed to obey only him
**Starscream somehow snatches Jeep mode Swindle into the air while in jet mode.
**Groove can retract his wrist and fire liquid nitrogen out of it. It's a foamy pink stuff this time.
**Ironhide shoots some brown goopy stuff that he claims is lead out of his retracted wrist.
**Wheeljack's gyro-inhibitor is now an energy beam that can blow up missiles.

===Real-world references===
*"Benjamin Franklin Pierce High School" is a reference to [[wikipedia:Hawkeye Pierce|Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce]], the character from ''[[wikipedia:M*A*S*H|M*A*S*H]]'' (who was also the inspiration for the [[Mini-Con]] [[Hawkeye]]'s bio).
*"We'll let the computer do the walking" refers to an ad slogan for the Yellow Pages - "Let your fingers do the walking!"
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**Sparking and clashing [[lightsaber]]s as Swindle zaps Brawl-B.O.T., and again as Soundwave restores Brawl's brain.

===Animation and technical errors===
*Argh.
[[File:BOT Bumblebee tries door.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Either Bumblebee's shrunk to the size of a human, or that's one humongous coffee pot on the counter to his left.]]
*The scenery in this episode is always ''huge''. In the opening scene, the five Combaticons are driving down a downtown street in a row (yes, ''even the fliers are driving on the ground'') with plenty of room. Humans are drawn tiny compared to the doors of their own buildings, and the Autobots fit easily inside human structures.
*The Combaticons get the wrong transformation sound effect (ascending pitch) when transforming to their vehicle modes.
*Swindle's vehicle mode is missing its Decepticon symbol as he gets stuck against Brawl.
*It's inherent to their color models, but the combination sequence makes it ''really obvious'' that Onslaught completely changes color from blue to white while transforming into Bruticus.
*The Bruticus scrap pile changes between shots; first it's a few scattered parts on the street, then it's a solid pile of them.
*Swindle pops out of the junk pile from beneath a yellow rectangle with wheels. The only yellow component on Bruticus is… Swindle.
*As Swindle drives past the guy with the radio on the docks, he's layered too far to the left and appears to be hovering above the road.
*When Swindle transforms to meet with El Presidente, his gun attaches to the side of his right arm. In the next shot, it's attached to the ''front'' of his arm (its usual, correct location.) Then in the next shot, it's on the ''left'' arm.
*In Megatron's simulation, Astrotrain is completely off-model - he's got no cockpit, his sides are purple instead of gray, he's got some kind of side vents that shouldn't be there, and his nosecone covers the entire front of his shuttle mode.
*Skywarp's voice is a bit off - much more nasally than usual.
*There is no indication as to what jet mode Starscream uses to capture jeep mode Swindle.
*Swindle's eyes aren't colored as he apologizes to the Russians. In the same shot, we suddenly hear the ticking-clock sound of the bomb in his head, when it has been silent till now. It will continue to pop up randomly until Swindle completes his mission.
*In the lineup shot of the Combaticons, Onslaught is the same height as everybody else, instead of being taller. Swindle's cannon is missing.
*When the teacher addresses Martin and Roland, his desk is visible behind him. The books that were on it - which were prominently burned through by the laser a moment earlier - have vanished.
*Roland's mouth moves when Martin says "Aw, come on" - especially noticeable since Roland then goes on to speak his own line in the same shot.
*The voice that says "Stay calm!" doesn't actually belong to any of the Protectobots. It might be a "non-finalized" First Aid, who otherwise hasn't spoken yet. Hot Spot's voice is likewise not the version that would be settled on in Season 3.
*While the kids are constructing B.O.T in the lab, Elise's glasses are clear instead of blue in one of the shots.
[[File:BrawlPersonalityComponent.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|Brawl's brain. Brawl is apparently operated by a tiny dude who sits inside his head.]]
*Brawl's personality component changes design several times between shots. In its main establishing shot, it's drawn as some sort of real-world electrical monitoring device, complete with gauges and buttons.
*When Elise says "Maybe I wired the box in wrong," one of her legs is drawn way too short, almost as if she's missing her right thigh.
*When Mr. Robbins turned on the laser, it shot a continuous beam. When Martin uses it on B.O.T., it fires bolts.
*The first two times we see the Ark, it has two engines rather than three.
*The "SOS" Gears receives is written in numbers rather than letters and isn't aligned to match the angle of Teletraan I's screen. Also, Gears is sitting in a human-looking chair we've never seen before.
*After threatening the dude at the junkyard, Swindle turns to leave, walking toward... the fence. He starts to clear some junk out of his way, but then the scene ends and we never find out if he realizes he's not walking toward the exit.
*The kids create and lose B.O.T. in the middle of the night. When the Autobots reach the school, it's bright and sunny outside. If this ''isn't'' an animation error, then we are forced to assume that Brawl-B.O.T. spent several hours not doing much at all, staying inside the school the whole time, while the kids waited for the Autobots to arrive.
*Gears' mouth isn't moving for the end of his "hunk of junk" line.
*Ironhide towers over the door to the kitchen, yet he fits inside a moment later. Three Autobots fit in the stairwell of the condemned building.
*As he delivers the line, "Well if that don't fry my circuits," Ironhide's left shoulder is missing.
*As everyone runs out of the kitchen, Ironhide clips through the door frame.
[[File:BFPierce High School.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The first shot of the front of the school shows it with two arches, but when the group chases after B.O.T., it's one big rectangular opening. On a similar note, Gears describes the high school as a "one-level structure", but it's pretty clearly two stories.
*The empty building is, presumably, the burnt-out skyscraper from before.... but it's totally changed its appearance when B.O.T. takes refuge in it.
*The elevator in the condemned building has two rows of lights above it, but in the close-ups there's only one row (with 12 lights, far fewer than the thirty needed for the number of floors Bumblebee says are in the building).
*The top of Ironhide's torso is all red as he runs up the stairs, and again as he gives the order to stop firing. Most of it should be gray. (The same error happens ''again'' at Autobot Headquarters when the kids warn the Autobots about the disruptor attack.)
*The "shooting at nothing upstairs" bit might be attributed to animation/script mismatch. The animation puts the Autobots in a circular staircase so they are plainly shooting at the clearly-lit curved wall directly ahead of them. It's ''possible'' the writer intended them to be shooting up a straight staircase into darkness… but that's pure conjecture.
*"Boost me up" - Martin (or Roland, who can tell)'s mouth isn't moving.
*Starscream has blue eyes (instead of red) as Brawl's brain is restored.
*Swindle's cannon is back on the side of his arm (instead of the front) as Megatron throttles him.
*When Swindle stumbles back alongside the other Combaticons, Onslaught's forehead is colored yellow, like his visor.
*After he forms in Decepticon Headquarters, Bruticus's nose is colored the same red as his eyes, giving the effect of a visor.
*During a close-up, Elise's red VW Beetle becomes Swindle-colored (including a purple hood!), then changes back and remains red through the rest of the scene.
*As Ironhide is contacting the Protectobots, he turns away from the screen, at which point the top of his shoulder suddenly turns partially red.
*When the Protectobots receive the signal, the lit-up part appears off to the side of the rest of the display.
*In a long, slow zoom-in on Protectobot headquarters, we have plenty of time to see that the front facade has a central hallway carved into it. Then when it lifts up for them to drive out, the entrance is a normal door.
*When the Combaticons combine at the beginning of the final battle, the footage from their combination inside Decepticon Headquarters a few minutes before is reused, but flipped, so Vortex and Blast Off appear on the wrong sides.
*Optimus and the Autobots attack from a cliff, but a few seconds later Optimus is standing in front of the Ark.
*Wheeljack's [[gyro-inhibitor shell|gyro-inhibitor]] appears to fire out of the air next to his left ear. (Also, it's animated as some kind of energy wave instead of a shell-launched weapon; also also, it's not for shooting down missiles, but for destabilizing a robot's sense of balance.)
*It's not real clear who fired the missiles, either. Onslaught was the last guy we saw shooting, but he was shooting laser beams.
*The production master used to create the DVD version of this episode includes an extra error not in the broadcast version: a shot that shows a wall behind Megatron and Soundwave as they face down Hot Spot in the middle of the desert. For the broadcast episode, the error was removed by deleting the entire shot and replacing it with reused footage of Gears and Wheeljack taken from about twenty seconds earlier in the episode (when Gears instructs Wheelajck to use his gyro-inhibitor). The end result is that it appears Gears is shouting the line Hot Spot delivers from offscreen.
*As Megatron transforms into gun mode, his shoulder rest appears and disappears - as does Soundwave's Decepticon symbol.
*Hot Spot's guns use the Decepticon laser sound effect.
*Hot Spot shoots Soundwave (carrying gun mode Megatron), knocking him backwards into Brawl. In the next shot, Megatron transforms and lands nearby - and Brawl, who has already collapsed under Soundwave, comes flying in and lands on Megatron, with Soundwave nowhere to be seen.
*As the Protectobots transform to Defensor, a huge wave of energy is shown (for no real reason).
*Bruticus's gun disappears from his hand between shots as he runs to the cannon.
*As Megatron orders Bruticus to fire the disruptor, his waist controls are colored in reverse (blue on the left and red on the right). This is corrected a few seconds later.
*As B.O.T. gains control of the disruptor, Megatron is far to the right of the other Decepticons, but a few shots later Soundwave and Ramjet are right behind him.
*Just before Soundwave is hit, he randomly lifts his left leg in the air.
*When the kids are watching B.O.T. on Teletraan's screen, the disruptor is no longer pointing to the left as it was before, and B.O.T. - who is supposed to be working the controls ''behind'' it - is now visible in front of it.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Combaticon pyramid.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|The Combaticons unveil their new routine as the Polyhex Cowbots cheerleaders.]]
[[File:BOT Orbit Disruptor Cannon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Megatron? Did you just build ''[[Masquerade|yet another]]'' [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|giant immobile cannon]]? Seriously dude?]]
[[File:BOT-Overload.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"I assure you, there is zero chance of this coming back to bite us!"]]
*''Argh''.
*In the opening scene, why didn't the Combaticons just combine into Bruticus right away, rather than transforming to vehicles, driving down the street for like two seconds, and ''then'' combining?
*Did Defensor really not see Swindle struggling out of the wreckage right in front of him?
*Swindle goes to El Presidente to ''buy'' parts to repair the other Combaticons. The next time we see them, he's ''sold'' the Combaticon parts. We can only presume that El Presidente made him a better offer than his original plan.
*As much fuss as Megatron makes over how much he wants Bruticus back, he sure doesn't act like it:
**Why does Megatron put a bomb in Swindle's head? If it goes off, he loses Bruticus for good.
**Why does Megatron have ''only'' Swindle go looking for the lost personality component?
**Fifteen hours seems like an impossibly tight deadline to track down dozens or hundreds of parts scattered ''all over the world'' (including the Middle East and Russia), retrieve them, reassemble them into complex high-tech robots, AND still have time left over to track down Brawl-B.O.T.
*How did Swindle know ''exactly'' where to find each and every Combaticon component across the globe once he sold them to ''El Presidente''?
*When Swindle went to a Soviet Army base to get the parts back the Red Army soldiers shooting at him had PPS submachine guns. Which were fazed out by the 1960's. They should instead have had either AK47 Assault Rifles (Caliber 7.62 x39mm) or the lighter caliber version they fielded the 1970's onward the AK74 Assault Rifle (Caliber 5.45 x 39mm).
*Just because Brawl is out of commission, the Combaticons have to form a robot-pyramid before becoming Bruticus. Why can't the other four just float up to their correct spots, like usual?
*The kids don't seem to recognize what Transformers are, but by this point in the series, they're internationally recognized, there are [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|holidays]] and [[Optimus Prime memorial|tributes to them]], etc. Despite this, they seem to instantly accept the existence of Transformers.
*Superhuman Elise:
**When B.O.T. is first activated, Elise is forcefully flung off the ladder by its arm. Somehow, she lands with only a soft thud and no real injuries.
*The Autobots seem to initially not understand what a high school is. This is in spite of the fact that they have been on Earth for a couple of years now and are friends with 3 school-aged humans, at least two of which (Carly and Chip) we ''know'' have a formal education.
*How did Swindle get above the Autobots on the way up? And how'd he get past them on the way down again?
*"Only Defensor can stand against Bruticus," says Optimus Prime... apparently forgetting that [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] did quite well against him just a few episodes back. And there's [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], too.
*Why did the Autobots do nothing while the Decepticons set up a gigantic cannon right outside their headquarters? They don't pop up and start shooting until the cannon is in place and Bruticus is assembled.
*The Autobots basically ''give up'' trying to beat the Decepticons, choosing to hide behind Defensor's force field. When the force field gives out, it would have been game over for the 'bots, if it weren't for Elise and the psycho twins.
*It's never really specified why Megatron specifically needs Bruticus to fire the cannon. If it's a size thing, he also has [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. The size thing is debatable because the cannon has a human-scaled control panel on it. Oy.
*On that note, the human-level control panel has a great big button clearly marked "Over Load" in English. Why did he install that?
**No, really, why?
*The disruptor cannon is supposed to be powerful enough to obliterate Autobot Headquarters and ''knock Earth's moon out of its orbit''. When it hits several of the Decepticons, it just knocks them into the air.
*Bruticus didn't notice B.O.T. fiddling with the controls right there in front of him?
*This episode was made.

===The surreal world of "B.O.T."===
*'''''Argh'''''.
[[File:BOT-ModelReuse.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Me an' my friends are Jem girls, especially Jimmy "The Legbreaker" Cianciulli!]]
[[File:Elpresidente.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|right|"The medals? This one is for being evil. This one is for having an accent. This one, for beard-growing. This one, a reward for having the most medals."]]
*Mr. Robbins's class is made up of a ''very'' odd collection of students. The ''least'' odd are the two women who are just recolored character models from ''[[Jem]]'', [[Hasbro]]'s then-current cartoon-advertised foray into girls' fashion dolls. Towards the back, however, appear to be [[Auto-Bop|thugs in business suits.]]
*The classroom itself appears to be ''huge'' in the initial shot. And why don't the desks have table tops? Only one girl is taking notes, holding a bunch of paper in her lap. There are no backpacks to be seen. And as Roland and Martin walk out, there's only an arch in front of them (with no actual ''doors'' attached to it!).
*The class, by the way, lasts for about two minutes before the bell rings.
*"El Presidente" apparently just holds court on a docked ship in a port somewhere, selling missiles to whoever walks in the door.
*The teens completely fail to notice a hundred-story building that is almost completely engulfed in flames and surrounded by emergency vehicles until they hear somebody fifty stories up call for help.
*Groove claims to use liquid nitrogen to put out the fire. Liquid nitrogen evaporates at -198 °C (-320 °F), so it would completely boil away the second it hits the atmosphere.<ref>[[wikipedia:Liquid nitrogen|Liquid nitrogen at Wikipedia]]</ref> On top of that, liquid nitrogen is not pink. (In fairness, virtually ''no'' episode of the cartoon portrayed this accurately - see also "[[Divide and Conquer]]", "[[Quest for Survival]]", and "[[Triple Takeover]]".)
*Streetwise catches the two falling window-washers with his ''metal'' arms after they've fallen about fifty stories, and somehow they're not splattered all over him. [[Prime Target (episode)|Remember, kids:]] [[A Plague of Insecticons|If anything besides the ground]] [[War Dawn (episode)|breaks your fall,]] [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2|you'll be just fine!]]
*Three high school kids can build a walking, fully articulated robot out of junk bits and Brawl's brain ''overnight'' that is ''stronger'' and ''smarter'' than the Autobots. (The latter would be a little more believable if it weren't for the "Brawl's brain" part.)
*"B.O.T." stands for '''B'''iotronic '''O'''perational '''T'''elecommunicator, as Martin spends several long minutes explaining to us. Even though this is supposed to describe what it does, at no point in the episode does B.O.T. ever communicate anything remotely, nor is he biomechanical.
*The high school's computer is astounding. It is exceedingly and hugely sci-fi in design, plus, how the kids were able to use it to send an SOS to the Autobots over the phone is… [[magic]] or something.
*Autobots are weaker than kitchenware: Gears carries a blaster that was made to injure or kill alien beings made entirely of metal, but it can't shoot through a pot lid.
*Similarly, B.O.T. somehow knocks over Gears, Ironhide and Bumblebee with a tray full of corn!
*Benjamin Franklin Pierce High School packs its hallways with some seriously heavy furniture - somehow it's heavy enough that Gears can't break through a stack of it.
*There is a fully functional elevator within a building that just suffered a ''massive'' fire. Shouldn't the power be shut off? Speaking of which, a wrecked building next to a high school seems like ''trouble''. Shouldn't it be boarded up, surrounded by security tape and guarded?
*The fully functional elevator appears to function well despite having a broken cable or two. Martin also spends an awfully long time just watching B.O.T. tearing up the cables.
*The speech synthesizer is "rewired" so that instead of "synthesizing and transmitting," it "receives and decodes". And this somehow lets the kids listen in on a conversation being held in the undersea Decepticon base… yeah, when this can almost be considered one of the episode's ''more'' plausible elements, something is very, very ''wrong''.
*The entire front of the Protectobots' headquarters just rotates up to let them depart. Wouldn't a simple garage door have sufficed? What if someone's walking down the sidewalk when this happens? ''Smack!''
*Apparently Roland and Martin carry duct tape around with them. Here, they use it to tape a girl's mouth shut. Who knows what they use it for the rest of the time!

===Trivia===
[[File:BOT MrRobbins.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|You think high school teachers get paid too much? This poor guy proves that you are so, so wrong.]]
[[File:Bot-episode-closingshot.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|And on that jovial note, we end Season 2. See you in the theaters [[1986|this summer]], kids, where we'll all die [[The Transformers: The Movie|abrupt, violent deaths]]!]]
*'''''Argh'''''.
*This episode introduces the most loathsome ''Transformers'' characters ever, Roland and Martin. Boosting a laser to a level that could grievously injure or kill someone as a ''prank'', the misogynistic duct-taping of Elise's mouth and constantly dragging her places against her will, and a general smarmy smugness level that makes Starscream seem humble.
*This episode was lampooned at the [[BotCon 2006]] [[MSTF]] presentation, and as far as the writers are concerned, it is the single ''dumbest'' episode in the entirety of ''Transformers'' animation.
*It is also possibly the worst advertisement for the combiner teams possible. Bruticus is destroyed with ''a single shot'' from Defensor, and later stumbles around like a concussed baby as the Autobots shoot at him. Defensor's force field is rendered utterly pointless as the Decepticons just wait for it to run out (no more than 20 seconds), then he too is blasted to bits with ease.
*This is one of the most device-laden episodes, featuring no less than the [[orbit disruptor cannon]], "Soundwave's new device", the school's overpowered laser, a brain-bomb, Brawn's personality doohickey, the eponymous human-built robot, the kids' locator device, and the speech synthesizer.
*Production-wise, it seems a bit odd to have three Season One Autobots respond to the kids' SOS, rather than showcasing the brand-new combiner team who would otherwise seem to be the spotlight buy-my-toy characters of the episode (this is even flagged up in the episode itself, when the kids try to CALL the Protectobots for help!) The cause is presumably the same last-minute shoehorning that got the Protectobots into "[[The Revenge of Bruticus]]".
*The original script's cast list for the episode notes that the "junkyard operator" is a spy, and that the only other thing we learn about him is that he gets taken away by the "Federal Authorities". Oh, and he has no lines.<ref>[[Metrodome]]'s Season 3 & 4 DVD set extras</ref> This bizarre plot twist obviously didn't make it into the final draft, but really, what's one more wad of nonsense at this point?
*This was the last episode of season two. Can you imagine if this was the last episode of ''The Transformers'' ever?
*Good God, I need a stiff drink.

===Foreign localization===

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Giovani inventori'''" ("Young Inventors")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''B.O.T.'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bruticus no Fukkatsu'''" (ブルーティカスの復活, "The Revival of Bruticus")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 5]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pàng Wá '''" (胖娃, "Fat Baby")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 8 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/movie/movie.html Movie Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bot (episode)}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

Blaster (G1)

2015-12-09T23:13:08Z

LongHaul: /* Marvel Storybooks continuity */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Blaster}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
:''Blaster is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:SDCCBlasterBoxArt.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"What it is, big mama? My mama ain't raise no dummies, I dug her rap!"]]
'''Blaster''' loves all Earth music, especially good, hard, LOUD rock 'n' roll. He can be found at the forefront of any situation in which he's involved, be it getting down and truly hopping to town, or kicking butt and taking names—both of which he does well, and both of which have led him into conflict with authority at times. Blaster marches to his own beat, whether it's a pounding bassline or pounding Decepticon skulls, and he's not shy when it comes to sharing his feelings about either! He maintains a shared enmity with his Decepticon counterpart [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], with whom he shares his powers over all forms of sound, and is often backed up by a team of his own [[Autobot Mini-Cassette]]s to match Soundwave's mini-minions on the battlefield.

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

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

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

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

[[File:MarvelUS18 blaster cyb altmode.jpg|left|thumb|225px|And you thought the 1980s cellphones were huge.]]
Scrounge's information brought new hope to the Autobot resistance, as it revealed that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] were still alive and well after four million years, fighting on a planet called Earth. {{storylink|The Smelting Pool!}} The Decepticons set about building a [[space bridge]] to this planet, and Blaster spied on the tests in his [[alternate mode]], gathering the information they need to launch an attack. Blaster personally battled Straxus on the bridge, tricking the Decepticon leader into damaging the portal before kicking him through it and apparently destroying him. Blaster and the rest of his Autobot allies were trapped on the Earth side of the bridge as it faded out. {{storylink|The Bridge to Nowhere!}}

Blaster and his men were attacked by the government anti-robot task force [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] and its super-powered agent [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] almost immediately upon arrival, and were captured and disassembled, their heads mounted on the wall of RAAT headquarters. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} To deal with the threat of the [[Battlecharger]]s, Blaster and the Autobots agreed to allow Circuit Breaker to jury-rig their bodies together into a giant exo-suit she would use to take the two Decepticons down, in exchange for their being rebuilt and released. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:FallenAngel blaster sonics galvatron.jpg|225px|thumb|Yeah, that's real good, Blaster, you keep doing that.]]
''Blaster's team followed their fellow RAAT captive [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] him back to the Ark, but along the way, their guide vanished, displaced to [[Limbo]] by the appearance of the future Decepticon, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Unwisely deciding to engage the Decepticon, Blaster tried hitting him with a blast of sonics, which sundered Galvatron's tenuous hold on sanity and only made him even more dangerous. Fortunately, the arrival of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] saved him, and he decided to try the tactic again while Galvatron was distracted. It ''almost'' worked this time, but Galvatron hurled a discarded [[sword]] in Blaster's direction, and he was only rescued from impalement by [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]. Blaster was soon knocked unconscious, and didn't witness Galvatron being driven off by the present-day Decepticons.'' {{storylink|Fallen Angel}} ''Blaster's team continued on their way to the Ark, and arrived just as the Autobots were preparing to hold a funeral for Optimus Prime. Blaster quietly questioned their decision to bury Prime rather than fire his body into space, but it proved a moot point when the Autobot leader turned out to not actually be dead, returning in the midst of the ceremony.'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

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

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

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

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

[[File:Blasterbeourleaderplease.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|"BLASTER, BE OUR LEADER, PLEAAAASE???"]]
Trapped in tape deck mode by a [[mode lock]], Blaster was helpless to aid the Protectobots when the Combaticons returned, but with the aid of four [[Spacehikers|human children]], he was freed and took [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] down by collapsing a pylon on him. Realizing that Blaster was far nobler than Grimlock, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] allowed him to go free, and Blaster rewarded the children for their help by taking them on a trip into space aboard the mode-locked [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. {{storylink|Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play}} Unfortunately, they were accosted in mid-flight by the now-airborne Ark, but the humans tossed Blaster out an airlock so he could avoid capture by Grimlock's forces. While Grimlock was occupied trying to stop [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from interfering in his attempted execution of the kids, Blaster rode a telecommunications satellite back to the Ark, where he his fellow Autobots, all sick of Grimlock's leadership, begged him to take over as leader. However, he was forced to surrender to his former commander in order to secure the kids' safety. {{storylink|Spacehikers!}}

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

With Optimus Prime's subsequent return both to life and to command of the Autobots, the faction's in-fighting issues ceased and more important matters could be dealt with—namely, rescuing their human ally [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] from the Decepticons' baffling new [[Club Con|desert island resort]]. [[File:MarvelUS50 blaster dies.jpg|left|275px|thumb]] Tasked with investigating, Blaster was loaded into a capsule in tape deck mode and dropped from the orbiting Ark into the Witwicky family garden, where he asked Buster's girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to sneak him into "Club Con". The pair were able to steal a pair of captive Autobot cassettes—[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]]—from the Decepticons, but this aroused the ire of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], and Blaster, unable to battle them effectively due to the human holidaymakers occupying the island, was forced to ditch the tapes in the ocean to break off the fight. Although forced to withdraw without Buster, Blaster and Jessie ''had'' learned something important: the tapes held data on a mysterious Cybertronian object heading for Earth. {{storylink|Club Con!}} ''The eruption of the "Time Wars" briefly tabled this mystery, but Blaster had no real role in that conflict, as he, Optimus Prime, and several other Autobots were temporarily displaced into Limbo to make room for a team of Autobots arriving from the future.'' {{storylink|Time Wars}}

A search of the waters where "Club Con" used to be proved fruitless, as the Decepticons quickly moved on after Blaster's incursion. {{storylink|Cold War!}} Soon after, the approaching object was revealed to be the Cybertronian database known as the [[Underbase]], the power of which was stolen by Starscream. Blaster joined [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] in co-ordinating a battalion of Autobots and Decepticons in defense of [[New York City]] against Starscream's worldwide rampage, and was the last to fall, shot dead atop the Brooklyn Bridge, like all those who attempted to stand against the cosmically-powered villain. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

Blaster's body was put into storage on the Ark, defying all of Ratchet's attempts to repair it, {{storylink|The Man in the Machine!}} {{storylink|Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?}} to the extent that the medic started to have nightmares about him and various other deactivated Autobots reviving as [[zombie]]s to kill him for his failures. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}}

[[File:Marvel77-Blaster.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|He used to be badass, now he's just a poor man's Perceptor...]]
A few years later, Grimlock succeeded where Ratchet had failed by using the miracle fuel [[Nucleon]] to revive the damaged Autobots, with Blaster being one of the first back on his feet. Arriving on Cybertron in the nick of time aboard the Ark, Blaster took part in and survived the battle with [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} In the aftermath, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] had Blaster run a check on the strange seismic activity Cybertron was suffering from, {{storylink|Still Life!}} with disastrous results: It turned out Cybertron was tearing itself apart without the binding life-force of [[Primus]] to sustain it. {{storylink|Exodus!}}

[[File:EndOfTheRoad-finalfive.jpg|left|thumb|Guess how many of these guys had Action Master toys on the shelves when this came out.]]
The Decepticons fled Cybertron, leaving the Autobots to die with their homeworld, but thanks to Grimlock planning ahead, {{storylink|A Savage Circle}} the Autobots managed to follow them to the planet [[Klo]], only to be caught in an ambush upon arrival. Blaster took a blast in the shoulder from [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] during the fight, but was one of the few who managed to survive the attack, and there was still more than enough fight left in him to join Grimlock and the other survivors in charging the Decepticon position. He was last seen shooting the head off [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]. [[Krunk|Uh oh.]] {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

{{--}}

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
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 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)}}

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

Blaster was seen briefly in [[2009]] at the start of the Time Wars, but did not end up joining Rodimus Prime on his mission into the past (see above). {{storylink|Time Wars}} After Galvatron was destroyed back in [[1989]] and the time line rebooted itself, Blaster was still among the Autobots stationed at Autobot City. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} He responded to [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]'s emergency signal when the Autobots crash landed on Earth after a crazed Rodimus Prime turned against them, and helped drive the evil possessing presence out of their leader. {{storylink|White Fire}}
{{-}}

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

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Command Performances!}} {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} {{storylink|...The Harder They Die!}}}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
{{TransformersComicMagazin}}
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}}}}

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

Blaster and his minions [[Stripes]], [[Tigatron]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Sundor]] and [[Blockrock]] subsequently teamed up with negative polarity [[Ravage (SG)|Ravage]]. {{storylink|Recordicons#Recordicons #12|Recordicons #12}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Falling into Place}}}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Blaster silverbolt destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
Sometime around [[2007]], Blaster was amongst those Transformers suffering ill effects from the infusion of [[Nucleon]] into their systems. It had apparently made him hyper-sensitive to noise and he was kept at the [[Nursery]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He, along with [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] were eventually given new Nucleon-free bodies at the [[Garage]]. Going against [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s orders that they should not get involved in the growing conflict with [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, Blaster began monitoring the old Decepticon comm-line subfrequencies and discovered that Soundwave was indeed responsible for keeping Cybertron's population aggressive through an irritant subsonic signal. Alerted to Blaster's hacking, Soundwave dispatched [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Snarler]] and [[Roadblock (G1)|Roadblock]]—the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]—to eliminate him, but the four former Nucleon patients used some quick thinking to subdue the Decepticons and report the signal to Autobot command. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}}

As the Decepticon invasion / uprising under Soundwave and Bludgeon began, Blaster tracked down Soundwave on the battlefield for a "battle of the bands". {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Soundwave attempted to defeat Blaster with finesse, using a variety of sonic tricks and frequencies to disorient his Autobot counterpart. To win, Blaster abandoned skill for brute force, and unleashed a sonic onslaught that overwhelmed Soundwave and brought him to his end. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

Blaster reintegrated into the Autobot forces, joining the bridge crew of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s flagship during the attack on the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]]. Unfortunately, the superior numbers and firepower of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his Cybertronians forced the Autobots to surrender. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}} They escaped captivity thanks to the ever-insubordinate [[Wrecker]]s staging their own attack on the Hub, and Blaster joined the crew as they made their way back to Cybertron to face an even greater menace. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 4}} The [[Matrix of Leadership|Anti-Matrix]] had consumed the population of Cybertron, transforming them into [[shadow-leech]]es. Blaster and the remaining Autobots forces secured the [[space bridge]] network to Earth and [[Nebulos]] while Rodimus Prime confronted the creature in [[Zero Space]], bringing an end to its machinations. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Sticker Adventures books===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}}}
{{-}}
===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
[[File:ListeningtoBlaster-ASW.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]|Me Grimlock wanna play LION "Trouble In Angel City" cassette in Blaster!]]
Blaster received a message from Decepticon headquarters and conveyed it to Optimus Prime; the Decepticons had taken [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] hostage, and were demanding the Autobots' surrender. The Autobots sent out a party to rescue their captured comrade, but the attempt failed. Afterwards, Blaster once more relayed a message from Megatron to Optimus; the Decepticon leader threatened to destroy all four captured Autobots and rebuild them into Decepticons if Optimus did not surrender before morning. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Attack of the Insecticons===
{{notemultipath}}
[[File:AttackoftheInsecticonsBustercockpit.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left]]
Blaster was witness to Ironhide testing the Sun-Pak, a device of Sparkplug's invention that would solve the Autbot's energy problems. When the Decepticons discovered of the device's existence, many possible adventures ensued. Most notably, after a failed attempt on Optimus's part to eliminate Starscream, who was leading the Decepticon's raid, Sparkplug is kidnapped by the Decepticons and Blaster is entrusted alongside Bumblebee and Buster with Sparkplug's rescue, while the rest of the Autobots are forced back to base in order to recharge. The trio is instructed to contact Autobot headquarters as soon as they come to know the Decepticons' location. Blaster was the one who managed to track down Starscream and Sparkplug, using his abilities to detect one of Starscream's transmissions. Blaster traces the transmission to a museum in the suburbs, and he and Buster sneak into the building while Blaster is camouflaged in tape-player mode. Hiding in one of the museum's planes until after-hours, at which point Starscream and Bombshell reveal they will use a Cerebro-shell to make Sparkplug compliant to their wills, Blaster and Buster debate whether to contact Megatron, and offer a recording made by Blaster earlier proving that Starscream is a Decepticon traitor in exchange for Sparkplug's release, or to fetch Bumblebee and take on the Decepticons personally.

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

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

{{--}}

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

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

===''Beast Wars Metals'' comic===

In a flashback to the launch of the ''Ark'', Blaster could be seen taking orders from Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Beast Wars Metals issue 3|Beast Wars Metals #3}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:AgeofWrath2 AutobotResistance.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Steeljaw was in the bathroom.]]
Around 6.5 million years ago, Blaster was one of the high-ranking Autobots who helped Ultra Magnus reunify their fractured faction at the end of the [[Dark Ages]], suggesting that he may have been in charge of one of the various splinter groups that formed during those troubled times. Over the next half-a-million years, the reunited Autobots worked to usher in a new Golden Age, and were finally poised to sign a peace treaty with the Decepticons and [[Ultracon]]s until the long-missing Megatron returned to Cybertron, launching an attack in the middle of the treaty ceremony with his new [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath}} With this new army, Megatron ushered in an [[Age of Internment]], capturing nearly the entire Autobot army and putting them to work as slaves, extracting the very core of Cybertron itself. Blaster managed to evade capture, however, and together with Perceptor, assembled a small rebel cell hiding out in the subterranean chambers of [[Iacon Command]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2}}

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

{{note|Dreamwave's subsequent backruptcy ended ''The Age of Wrath'' half-way through. Unreleased issues would have seen Blaster and his team use an ancient map of Cybertron's depths to infiltrate Megatron's slave camp, only for them to be discovered by Megatron himself. Blaster battled Megatron one-on-one, managing to use his sonic powers to briefly gain the upper hand, before losing a leg to the Decepticon leader. The sudden return of Grimlock, believed to have died during Megatron's first attack, gave the wounded Blaster the chance he needed to free the Autobot prisoners by deactivating their [[inhibitor claw]]s. Perceptor, meanwhile, used the data gleaned from studying the captured drone to deactivate the neural network linking the entire squadron, ending the Age of Internment.}}

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

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

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

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

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

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:SpotlightBlaster the voice.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''I'm gonna bust into your head through your cute lil' ears'' 
''and blow your minds with my sexy voice and out-of-sight sounds!'']]
Blaster was [[Reproduction#IDW Generation 1 continuity|constructed cold]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Before the war, he was a reporter for the [[Iaconian Newsfeed Service]], and reported live from the [[Nova Plaza]] after an assassination attempt on [[Nominus Prime]]. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}} When the [[Decepticon]] dictatorship of Cybertron began, Blaster used his bad experiences with state-censored media to set up the [[Nexis]], a pirate news broadcast that dared speak the truth about the new government. [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] attempted to assassinate him, but were defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] who asked for Blaster's help to hack the Iaconian Newsfeed Service's headquarters and send a rallying call for additional support against the Decepticon tyranny. {{storylink|Broadcast}} After his efforts had led to the Decepticons being overthrown and replaced with Optimus Prime's Autobot government, Blaster went back to legal news broadcasting. From the Nexis, he reported on the disastrous explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]] and interviewed [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]] about the [[Exodus (G1)|mass exodus]] triggered by its destruction. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} During the exodus he interviewed some of the disgruntled Cybertronians stranded at [[Starsreach Spaceport]], annoying [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'s Autobots who thought the media attention just served to make things worse. {{storylink|Massacre}}

In the wake of the exodus and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage in [[Harmonex]], Blaster reported that the [[Conclave of Representatives]] was refusing to disclose how many Cybertronians had left the planet and that Harmonex had been closed off, calling the government's intentions into question once more. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}}

Later, but still before the war, Blaster worked for security control for Sentinel Prime's government. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

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

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

[[File:AHM15 blaster and kup.jpg|thumb|I dunno...sex appeal?]]
In the year that followed the defeat of [[Nova Prime]], Blaster was among the Autobots captured by the Decepticon [[Turmoil]], but was soon rescued by a team led by Kup. All the other prisoners were members of the [[Wrecker]]s, suggesting Blaster may have joined the team at some point. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} Blaster remained with Kup's team, and was serving as the communications officer for his ship, the ''[[Trion]]'', when a simultaneous galaxy-wide uprising was staged by the Decepticons. Distress signals came pouring in, but all went silent in short order, save for one from Hot Rod, so the crew of the ''Trion'' went to save the turbo-revvin' young punk from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. The day was saved by Perceptor, although Blaster disapproved of the scientist's transformation into a warrior, saying he had "defiled himself". {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|Lost & Found}}

Blaster and the others harried the Decepticon fleet until they were baited into an ambush above Cybertron. There, the ship was shot down and forced to crash-land on the assumed uninhabitable world. Banding together to survive, they eventually encountered Optimus Prime's unit, only to find him incapacitated, the Matrix having been seized by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}} Blaster mingled with the other Autobots for a while, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} before warning Kup about an incoming [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] attack that forced them to relocate. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} With morale still dwindling, Blaster attempted to put his famous voice to work by trying to break up a fight between Hot Rod and [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] by injecting some reason, but was interrupted by [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] telling them they all deserved to die. [[File:AHM9 blaster breaks up argument.jpg|left|thumb|...kiss, damn it, my fanfic needs justification!]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 9|All Hail Megatron #9}} The Autobots were eventually saved when [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] decimated the swarm and carried them all to Earth, where they attacked Megatron and his troops. Blaster was ordered to block the Decepticons' communications, allowing the arrival of Omega Supreme to take them completely by surprise. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} He survived the great battle. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

Blaster remained on Earth with the other Autobots for the next three years, as they regathered their forces. [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] radioed in to Blaster when Prowl got himself nabbed by [[Skywatch]], an event which led to the death of [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] and the resignation of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|...For All Mankind}} Autobot leadership was split between Bumblebee and Hot Rod, and Blaster stayed with Bumblebee's group, which went on to form an alliance with [[Gordon Horiuchi]] of Skywatch. Blaster was among the Autobots who captured [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and other Decepticons for their new allies. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} Unfortunately, Horiuchi betrayed the Autobots and forced them to hunt one of their own kind, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. Bumblebee managed to get free from Horiuchi's control, and so Blaster and the others stayed behind to cover for him as he sought a solution for their problems. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} They pretended to be making plans to hunt down Hot Rod while Bumblebee recovered the control tech Skywatch was using to keep them in line. {{storylink|The Gift Horse}} Bumblebee was successful, and Blaster was later present when Bumblebee unveiled his new, more powerful form, to better serve as Autobot leader. {{storylink|Wings of Wax}}

Following the end of the war, Blaster was one of the Autobots who joined the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' in search of the mythical [[Knights of Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}} Much later, when the newly arrived [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] was on a rampage around the ship, Blaster hacked a security camera so the crew could see what he was doing when he holed himself up in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s office. {{storylink|Interiors}} He was later instructed by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to patch him in with Rodimus after the latter and some other crewmembers had been teleported to [[Theophany]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Blaster was among those invited to [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind's]] first attempt to awaken Rung from his coma with a storytelling session, but it didn't go so well thanks to [[Siren]]'s volume. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:UnderColdBlueStars-PipesBlasterWhirl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Swerve needs to go on an Electro-Scrambler Quest.]]
One of Blaster's duties on the ''Lost Light'' was to repair the long-range [[Transwarp|subspace]] communicator so that the crew could contact Cybertron, and he was annoyed all the while by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] who wanted to be the first to send a message. He thought he fixed it, but the message still couldn't get through as Swerve had the wrong hailing frequency. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Blaster reported to Rodimus when the ''Lost Light'' was contacted by the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]. {{storylink|Little Victories}} The subspace communicator still wasn't working properly, but this didn't stop [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] from leaving a message for [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] with Blaster while he was busy clearing a path through an asteroid belt with unwanted help from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Following the disappearance of an injured Ultra Magnus, Blaster used security footage to find out where he had gone, eventually leading the ''Lost Light'' to the lost moon [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. Rodimus led a team to its surface, leaving Blaster and Fortress Maximus in charge, but they lost contact with the away team when the ship was attacked by [[Legislator]]s who blocked their transmissions. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Blaster took a blast to the chest early in the battle and had to be protected by Maximus. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ámbus}} To make matters worse, when the insane Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] activated his [[universal killswitch]] to eradicate the Transformers who were "constructed cold", Blaster was one of those affected. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

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

Blaster continued to serve aboard the ''Lost Light'' as it departed again under the command of a new captain—a reformed Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Alongside the rest of the crew he evacuated the ship when it began mysteriously dematerializing piece by piece. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Stuck on board the [[Rodpod]] alongside 20 other others, he took a message from Rodimus on the ''[[Leading Light]]'' to rendezvous at [[Ofsted XVII]]. All original crew members then began disappearing one by one as well, Blaster among them. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

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

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Signal to Noise}} {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}}}

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

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

===''Cloud''===
[[File:Cloud Blaster.jpg|thumb]]

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Awakening (Cloud)|Awakening}} {{storylink|Shock (Cloud)|Shock}} {{storylink|Lightwave}}}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
{{ongoing}}
Blaster was a freedom fighter on a Decepticon-controlled Cybertron. He was one of the many thorns in Megatron's side that continuously evaded capture.

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

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}}}

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

==Commercial appearances==
* Blaster, Cosmos and Perceptor had a dance-off against Soundwave, Rumble and Frenzy. {{storylink|Blaster VS Soundwave 2013}}

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

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

Blaster was among the Autobots who fought the Decepticons after they joined forces with the Quintessons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness: Part 2}}
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Blaster participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
===''Transformers: Frontiers''===
{{charstubgame|{{storylink|Transformers: Frontiers}}}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Blaster''' (Autobot, 1985/1986)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''38'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Electro-scrambler|Electro-scrambler gun]]
[[File:G1 Blaster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Still think you're so superior, Soundwave?"]]
: Rather huge by the typical standards of Generation 1 Transformers, Blaster transforms into a miniature [[Non-vehicle non-beast alternate modes|"ghetto blaster" boombox]]. He features spring-loaded buttons: when pressed, his "start" button stays in the depressed position until his "stop" button is pressed, while pressing the "eject" button pops open his tape door, which can store a single [[Mini-Cassette]] Transformer. Due to what was presumably a 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. Blaster has rather limited useful articulation, located in his neck and shoulders.

:Blaster was reissued by Takara in 2006 as part of ''[[#TFC|The Transformers Collection]]'' and then by Hasbro in 2010 during ''[[#Hasbroreissue|Universe]]'' (see below)

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-communicators-blaster/420/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Blaster at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1985/Autobot/Blaster/blaster.htm More information on Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:G1toy twincast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (Autobot, 1987)
**''ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], Electro-Scrambler Gun

:For this Japanese-exclusive release, the first Blaster toy was [[redeco]]ed into a rather cacophonous new blue, yellow and red color scheme. Like his contemporary redeco Soundblaster, his chest door was [[retool]]ed in order to accommodate two cassettes at once, and changed from colorless clear plastic to translucent red as part of a gimmick with his pack-in partner, Steeljaw. This version of Steeljaw sports a new decal depicting [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], which reveals the Decepticon's weak spot when placed behind Twincast's red door, working in the same manner as a [[Tech Spec]]s decoder.

:Twincast was reissued as an [[e-HOBBY]] [[exclusive]] in 2006 (see below)
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Cybertron/Twincast/twincast.htm More information on Twincast at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:ActionMasterBlaster toy.jpg|upright=1.66|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]''
{{-}}

===Binaltech Asterisk===
[[File:Bta broadblast.jpg|upright=1.66|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 ''[[Transformers: Alternators|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 (BA)|Lumina Hoshi]].
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/Broadblast/broadblast.htm More information on Binaltech Asterisk Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===The Transformers Collection===
[[File:G1toy TFC blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Broadcast''' (reissue, 2006)
**''ID number:'' '''21'''
**''Accessories:'' Steeljaw, Electro-scrambler gun, cassette case

:Blaster's first reissue was the final instalment in Takara's ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' line of re-released Generation 1 toys. He features no notable changes from his original release, save for the fact that he comes packaged with Steeljaw, where his original release had gone without any pack-in partners.
{{-}}

===Collector's Edition===
[[File:G1toy twincast reissue.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (2006)
**''ID number:'' '''C-116'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]], Electro-scrambler gun, cassette case

:Twincast's first reissue was available as part of the [[Collector's Edition]] line exclusively through online retailer e-HOBBY, designed, as most e-HOBBY [[exclusive]]s were at the time, to accompany the mass-release of the standard reissue of the original Blaster. Though Twincast was unusual in that he was a pre-existing character, where the previous few years' worth of e-HOBBY exclusive redecos had been new characters, he did come packaged with a new partner: a redeco of the Eject/Rewind mold named [[Flip Sides (G1)|Flip Sides]]. The notable difference from the original Twincast was the absence of an Autobot sigil on his left upper arm. At the time, rather than feature unique packaging, all e-HOBBY exclusives came in a generic box in Autobot red or Decepticon purple; oddly, Twincast came in a Decepticon box, but since Flip Sides was characterized as a Decepticon sleeper agent, it just about made sense.
{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
[[File:Blasteruniversetoy.jpg|upright=1.66|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

:Blaster is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: 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 Key]] into him; Blaster comes with a translucent black, gunmetal-bordered [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]-style Autobot key, in contrast to the [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] key that came with Soundwave. The other two bombs store in indents on the underside of his wings.

: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]''
{{-}}{{anchor|Hasbroreissue}}
[[File:Universe2008 SDCC G1Blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (2010)
**''Series:'' G1 Series
**''Accessories:'' Electro-Scrambler Gun
:This reissue of Blaster comes with [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Eject (G1)|Eject]]. Released as part of the [[Transformers: 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 officially a [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] [[exclusive]] and was, in typical tradition, first made available at the Hasbro Toy Shop booth at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2010 and subsequently also sold via the Hasbro Toy Shop website. In addition, it was also made available at the Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong Fair 2010, and was later released at FanExpo Canada 2010.
{{-}}

===Device Label===
[[File:Device Label Broadcast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|What, not a real notebook?! You are the REAL ''Decept''icon!!]]
*'''Broad Blast''' ([[July 24|7/24]]/2010)
**''Accessories:'' USB cable

:''[[Transformers Device Label|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>
{{-}}

===Encore===
[[File:Encoretoy-Twincast.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Twincast''' (2012)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''22'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Nightstalker (G1)|Nightstalker]], [[Stripes]], [[electro-scrambler]], two mini-cassette cases

:Twincast was available again as part of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Encore]]'' series of reissues. For this release of Twincast, the techno detailing of his door is smoothed over for cartoon accuracy. Also to add to cartoon accuracy, his face is colored in a metallic yellow with metallic light blue eyes instead of silver with gold eyes. All of the original Twincast's stickers have been replaced with tampographed detailing for this release, including a large Autobot symbol on his chest (where the techno detail was present on previous releases). Twincast also features a darker blue from the previous releases as well as a different shade of yellow for his tape deck door.

:Twincast came with Nightstalker and Stripes.

:This toy was redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (toyline)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]].{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:Generationstoy-FOCBlaster.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.6]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (Voyager, 2012)
**''Series / Number:'' '''1 / 004'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''TG17'''
**''Accessories:'' Steeljaw/data disc, rifle
{{note|Fall of Cybertron Blaster was [[repurposing|repurposed]] as ''[[Transformers Cloud|Cloud]]'' Blaster.}}

: Part of the second wave of [[2012]] Voyager Class ''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]] [[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' toys, "Autobot Blaster" is a [[redeco]] and [[retool]] of ''Fall of Cybertron'' [[Soundwave (WFC)#GenerationsVoyager|Soundwave]], with a new, grinning head, as well as a new chest, wheels, and weapon. He transforms into an SUV-style "communications truck", and comes with a rifle which is based on Generation 1 Blaster's [[electro-scrambler]]. The rifle can peg (via [[5mm post]]) into his hands, right shoulder, and roof/back, and the rifle itself features a peg-hole on each side.

: He also comes with [[Legends Class]] [[Steeljaw (FOC)#Generations|Steeljaw]], who is a redeco/retool of [[Ravage (WFC)#Generations|Ravage]], and utilizes Blaster's main [[gimmick]], which is that he is capable of storing and launching Steeljaw and other "[[data disc]]" minions. When a button to the left of his head is pressed, his spring-loaded chest compartment is opened, allowing up to three data discs to be stored inside. When the disc/s is/are stored, his back panel/roof now acts as a plunger, and pushing/sliding on this plunger in either mode launches the disc/s out of his chest compartment, wherein they will land on and depress the buttons on their undersides, thus triggering their [[Flipchanger|spring-loaded transformation mechanisms]] and springing them into action! ...Hopefully.

: As an undocumented feature, the seat on his vehicle roof holds [[Diaclone]] drivers (and by virtue of similar sizes, ''[[Star Wars Transformers]]'' pilots). Additionally, Blaster's trigger finger is molded into his left hand, presumably so he can push his own eject button.

: His chest [[insignia]] is the [[live-action film series]] "angry eyes" Autobot symbol. Also, his [[stock photography]] depicts him with black antennae that are red on the final product, while his [[instructions]] reuse Soundwave's image for the "completed" robot mode.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/FOCBlaster/blaster.htm More information on Blaster at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{anchor|TitansReturnLeader}}
[[File:Transformers-Generations-Titans-Return-Leader-Class-Blaster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Transforms from innocent radio into Autobot communicator into concert stage and back!]]
*'''Autobot Blaster''' (Leader, 2016)
**''Accessories:'' 'Twin Cast' Titan Master partner, rifle, spotlight/rocket-sled

: Blaster is part of the first wave of Leader Class ''[[Titans Return]]'' figures. He includes a [[Titan Master]] partner, [[Twin Cast]], who can turn into his head or man Blaster's 'stage' mode. Blaster is also capable of holding Legends Class 'spy-tablet' figures in his chest compartment.
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

===Platinum Edition===

*'''Autobot Intel Ops''' (2015)
**''Series'': '''Platinum Edition'''
**''Accessories'': Concussion rifle, missile launcher, 3 missiles, 6 slides, slide holder

:Hasbro again re-released G1 Blaster in 2015 in the [[Transformers:_Platinum_Edition|''Platinum Edition'']] toyline. He was co-packed with [[Perceptor_(G1)|Perceptor]], [[Eject_(G1)|Eject]], [[Ramhorn_(G1)|Ramhorn]] and [[Steeljaw_(G1)|Steeljaw]] in a box with an opening front cover. Like the [[Blaster (G1)#Hasbroreissue|Universe (2008) reissue]], Blaster features metal-flake beige legs.
{{-}}

===Masterpiece===
[[File:MP25-Raoul and Blaster accessories.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* '''Tracks''' (2015)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-25'''

:''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Tracks (G1)#Masterpiece|Tracks]] comes with a non-transforming Blaster boombox accessory in homage to the two Autobots' team-up in "[[Auto-Bop]]".

{{-}}
[[File:MP26-Twincast and nose gun accessories.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* '''Road Rage''' (2015)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-26'''

:''Masterpiece'' [[Road Rage (G1)#Masterpiece|Road Rage]], a retool of Tracks, comes with a blue Twincast redeco of the boombox accessory.

{{comingsoontoy}}

==Merchandise==
===Transformers Gum===
[[File:TFgum blaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Broadcast''' (model kit, 1986)
**''Accessories:'' Electro-scrambler gun

:A snap-together model kit of Blaster was released by [[Kabaya]] as part of their ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line of candy toys. Released in the third wave of the line and sculpted from red, grey and black plastic with a few stickers for detail, Blaster is broadly identical to his larger figure, right down to the moulded-in left-over details from his ''MicroChange'' release like his power switch and dials . There is one major difference: his chest does not open, so he can't store any of the tapes from Kabaya's smaller ''[[Transformers Choco]]'' line the way the ''Transformers Gum'' Soundwave can.

::*''[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/g1-kabaya-cybertrons-441/broadcast-gum-3398/ More information on Transformers Gum Broadcast at TFW2005.com]''
{{-}}

===Decoy===
[[File:Decoy blaster.jpg|thumb]]{{anchor|TakaraDecoy}}
*'''Cybertron Hero Collection 22''' (multi-pack, 1986)
:Blaster was among the many characters rendered by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] as part of their series of 1.5" ''keshigomu'' figurines. Like all the Autobots in the series, Blaster was molded in soft red rubber, and featured a number sculpted into his back that was the sum total of his [[Tech Spec]]s, for use in the various games that could be played with the figurines.
:Blaster was available as part of a 22-piece box set of Autobot figures, in a variety of colours through "gachapon" capsule machines, and later, in a peach coloration randomly packed as part of various other box sets distributed by [[Seven]].

{{anchor|HasbroDecoy}}
*'''Blaster''' (Decoy, 1987)
**''Decoy number'': '''29'''
:The figurine was later brought over to [[Hasbro]] markets as part of the [[Decoy]] promotion, largely identical to the Japanese release except for the fact that the number on his back was replaced with a simple "checklist" number. Like all Autobot Decoys, he was a randomly-chosen pack-in available with the carded [[Throttlebot]]s, [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]

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

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

: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===
[[File:Robotheroesblasterthrust.jpg|upright=1.66|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==
[[File:MicroChangeRadiCassRobo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*Blaster had the preliminary names of '''Pulse'''<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/index.php?full=1&set_albumName=BotCon_2010_Sat_Panels&id=DSC05237&option=com_gallery&Itemid=4&include=view_photo.php Bob Budiansky's notes at BotCon 2010]</ref> and '''Blastbox'''.<ref>[[Production bible]] of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]</ref>
*Blaster began life as the ''[[Micro Change]]'' "Radi-Casse Robo" ("radio-cassette", you see), which was actually a functional AM radio. Though this feature was gutted from Blaster when he was released as part of the ''Transformers'' toyline, the original toy's power switch (on his right leg), earphone jack (on the back of his left leg) and tuning dial (on his chest) still remain, now as moulded, non-moving details. Even the toy's electro-scrambler gun is designed to serve as storage for the mono earphone which came with the toy, with the plug inserting into the stock, the cord winding around it, and the earphone itself tucking into the hole in the gun's main body. It was not the toy itself which was the radio; rather, the radio was a small "micro-cassette" which plugged into the toy's internal wiring when inserted into its chest, allowing it to play through the speakers in its legs in either mode. As the electronic equipment in the chest meant that the figure could not hold normal ''Micro Change'' cassettes there, it featured a compartment on its back which could hold a single tape instead. This compartment could still be found on some early releases of Blaster, though it was often mistaken by fans as a vestigial battery compartment, which was actually originally located in the toy's right leg.
*Despite the fact that Blaster's finalized [[character model]]—used in the Generation 1 cartoon, the UK Marvel comics and ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''—gives him a set of individual eyes, the Marvel issues drawn by [[Don Perlin]] and [[José Delbo]] base Blaster's head design on his toy, with a goggled visor. When the UK artists jumped to the American book late in its run, they continued to draw Blaster from his finalized model. [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] rationalized this discrepancy early on in the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Hunters|UK issue #118]] by explaining that Blaster's visor is retractable, and used to shield his especially delicate optical sensors from sunlight. Less explainable was [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]'s color choice for the comic version of Blaster: a red forehead and yellow face, a combination never used on a toy or in the cartoon.
**[[IDW Publishing]] tried for a hybridized look, giving Blaster an odd-looking "moustache" that was promptly discarded from his design after his introductory [[Spotlight: Blaster|''Spotlight'' issue]].
[[File:TFUK300 letterspage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*In an odd quirk of design, Blaster's character model breaks the row of buttons on his abdomen up into three buttons in [[robot mode]], but four in [[alternate mode]]. It's a product of the way his toy is made: it's got three separate button-chunks, like his robot mode model, but the centre chunk is two buttons sculpted together, so he's actually ''got'' four, like his alternate mode model. This was most evident in the cartoon; in the comic, as you can see from some of the pictures above, they'd often basically draw as many as they felt like.
*Blaster hosted the Marvel UK comic's letters page for the final 33 issues (from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]] to [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #332]]), to tie in with his Action Master toy. Here, the letters page was dubbed "Darn 'n' Blast", replacing [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind's]] "Dread Tidings", despite Dreadwind's holing himself up in the Marvel offices. The Decepticon finally left after a visit by three Christmas spirits, [[Ghost of the present|one of whom]] took on the appearance of Blaster.{{storylink|Dreadwind's Xmas!}} Blaster complained that Dreadwind had decorated the office in all purple and orange with a solitary picture of a dog with sad eyes. His characterization in the letters page is more in line with his fun-loving, hip and happening self from the cartoon than the rather grim, brooding, rebellious 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.
*According to Blaster himself on the UK letters page, he has two [[Relatives|siblings]]: [[Toaster]] and [[Karmen]]. And then there's [[Bluster]], his retroactively-created and less-seen brother.
*Since the release of ''Universe'' Blaster, there seems to be an attempt on the part of tech spec writers to balance Marvel's dark and brooding portrayal of Blaster with the rock 'n' roll loving version from the original US cartoon. The ''Universe'' write-up has Blaster organizing resistance cells with Perceptor (with NO mention of his musical interests), recalling the storyline in US comic #17-18. The 2010 San Diego Comic Convention release of the figure not only mentions Blaster's love of music ("Any music, from Cybertronian magna marches to down and dirty 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''), '''Blaster''' (ブラスター ''Burasutā'')
*''English:'' '''Billy''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub), '''Blaster''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub Twincast)
*''French:'' '''Tempo''' (Canada)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Össztűz''' ("All-fire")
*''Italian:'' '''Radiorobot''', '''Audiobot''' (''The Headmasters'', Blaster), '''Digital''' (Twincast)
*''Portuguese:'' '''Rajada''' (Portugal comic, "Gust"), '''Dinamitador''' (Brazil comic)
*''Spanish:'' '''Bill''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Plato''' (America, ''The Headmasters''), '''Platon''' (Twincast)
*''Chinese:'' '''Lùyīnjī''' (录音机, "Recorder")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Action Masters]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising characters]]
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk characters]]
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Superion (G1)

2015-08-02T01:42:09Z

LongHaul: /* Marvel The Transformers comics */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambig3|Superion}}
{{featured}}
:''Superion is an [[Autobot]] [[combiner]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Superion studioox.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I MUST SUCCEED!]]
As the first of the [[Autobot]] [[combiner]]s, '''Superion''' is an imperfect warrior at best. In other gestalt Transformers, the mental aspect of combination has famously resulted in instability and insanity, as disparate personalities have been meshed into one mismatched whole. Superion aims to overcome this not by achieving a more thorough melding of the minds, but rather, by ''shutting out'' all the different, conflicting personalities of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] who compose him. He suppresses absolutely everything save for his dedication to the destruction of the [[Decepticon]]s, and his rival [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] in particular—something that he is especially good at, despite the fact that his strangled thought processes leave him struggling to innovate or adapt to new tactics in battle. Other Autobots mistakenly interpret this single-mindedness and inability to engage on a social level as aloofness, as if Superion considered himself to be above his teammates, but he is truly physically and mentally incapable of giving any more of himself.

Superion is made up of the five Aerialbots:

*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (torso)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (left leg)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (right arm)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (right leg)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (left arm)

In some universes, [[Airazor (Universe)|Airazor]] or [[Alpha Bravo]] replace Slingshot on the team, and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] transforms into Superion's weapon.

{{quote|You lack the '''killer instinct!'''|quote2=You're '''wrong''', Menasor! For you I have '''nothing else!'''|'''Menasor''' and '''Superion'''|"[[Heavy Traffic!]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
:{{voiceactor|[[Frank Welker]] (English, "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2" only), [[Ed Gilbert]] (English), [[Tomomichi Nishimura]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:KTVS2 superion vs menasor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]] When the five Aerialbots were created on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and brought to life by [[Vector Sigma]]—reactivated through the sacrifice of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]—[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] slyly alluded to Superion's existence by noting that ''six'' Autobots had been born that day. The other Autobots soon learned the true meaning of their leader's words when, during a battle back on [[Earth]], the Aerialbots merged to become Superion for the first time to counter the threat posed by Menasor. At first, Superion was able to match Menasor, but the Decepticon combiner's sheer aggression soon turned the tide. Struck by a building and trapped by a landslide, Superion was nearly run through by a factory smokestack until, at the last moment, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] appeared to intercept Menasor's attack. Helped free by Omega, Superion joined him in defeating Menasor, sending the Decepticons into retreat. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

[[File:Wardawn superion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Weeks later, back on Cybertron, Superion engaged a damaged [[guardian robot]] in battle, and found himself tossed around like a rag doll by the giant's immense strength. Summoning up all his power, Superion delivered a punch so explosive that the guardian was hurled up into the air, out of the building they were fighting it, and then shattered into pieces when it crashed back down. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}}

During a battle in the Middle East against [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and the Decepticons' [[Giant Purple Griffin|new flying fortress]], the Aerialbots were at a disadvantage, unable to combine into Superion thanks to the unexplained absence of Fireflight. Fortunately, their missing member soon turned up, and they formed Superion and promptly kicked the fortress out of the air. Turning his attention to Bruticus, Superion found himself flung to the ground, but as Bruticus lunged towards him, he quickly separated into his component parts to get out of the way, sending the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]] combiner sprawling. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}} Soon after, Superion got another crack at defeating Menasor while helping in the Autobot effort to defend the [[Statue of Liberty]]. This battle went a lot better for him than their last, as he singlehandedly defeated Menasor and destroyed Megatron's [[Lightning Bug]] weapon. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

[[File:ForeverLongTime superion fires.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In the year 2006, Superion accompanied [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] in investigating reports of [[Quintesson]] activity on an asteroid. Superion brought his prodigious power to bear against the aliens' starships and forced them into retreat, but this meant the aliens were unable to close the [[Time Window]] they had constructed on the asteroid. A robot named [[Alpha Trion (G1)|A-3]] emerged through the window, who was then hurled into space by an explosion caused by the attack of the returning Quintesson force. Superion managed to follow and grab him, but was then pinned down by Quintesson fire, and believe that he was doomed. As time began to unravel thanks to chronal energy leaking from the unclosed time window, A-3 transformed in Superion's very hands into his future self, revealing that he was actually Alpha Trion, whose life Superion ''had'' to save, so that his ''own'' could come to pass. The effect of the chronal energy then struck Superion himself, causing him to exist in two places at once, giving him double the firepower to repel the Quintessons once again. The duplicate Superion then faded away, and the Autobots soon returned A-3 to his proper place in time and closed the window. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

[[File:BurdenHardest superion in flight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Hounding [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] through an asteroid field, the Aerialbots formed Superion to really bring the pain. The two Decepticons rushed the getalt at the moment of his combination and were able to knock him aside long enough to escape through a nearby vortex. {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} Later, Superion was part of a team led by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] that prevented the Decepticons from using a comet to destroy [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. After the group was shot down over [[Eurythma]], Superion continued to fight the Decepticons until [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] incapacitated all of the Autobots using a [[Harmony|harmonic weapon]] he'd obtained from the [[Eurythman|natives]]. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

The Aerialbots were sent to investigate strange activities by the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], and formed Superion after coming under fire from both the Junkions and the Quintessons. Superion shrugged off the Quintesson fire, rammed their ship with his fists and shot through the ship's protective shield, hurting himself in the resulting explosion. [[File:ROOP1 superion hateplague.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]] The giant Autobot managed to send a distress call to Cybertron and was carried back to the planet with help from [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Just before passing out, Superion warned [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] of the Quintesson interference. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} Some time later, Superion joined in the Autobot effort to defend [[Japan]] against Decepticon attack, separating into his component Aerialbots to blast [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] before he collided with a speeding passenger train. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

When attempting to recover [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s body, the Aerialbots were infected with the [[Hate Plague]]. While infected, they combined into Superion, who smashed a hole through the roof of the lab they had entered. [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] led a team of Autobots to attempt to subdue Superion, but they were shot down by the raging gestalt. Later, Defensor was helping evacuate a bridge when Superion attacked. Defensor was able to knock Superion away, but he bounced off the bridge cables, making contact with Defensor and spreading the infection further. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} Superion was cured when the resurrected Optimus Prime unleashed the power of the Matrix to neutralize the plague. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}
{{-}}

====IDW ''Transformers: The Animated Movie'' adaptation====
During the [[Battle of Autobot City]] in 2005, Superion was unable to come to the aid of the stricken city, as he was defending [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]] alongside Omega Supreme and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] against [[:File:TAM TPB Gestalt Fight.jpg|an attack]] by Menasor and Bruticus. {{storylink|Transformers: The Animated Movie|The Animated Movie trade paperback}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' story pages=====
[[File:FSRLFstorypage7 superion vs triplechangers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
Around the time the Autobots initiated their "[[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]]" initiative to construct a mobile battle fortress, Superion battled Astrotrain and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], easily overpowering the two [[Triple Changer]]s with his massive hands. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 7|Story page #7}} The combiner did not fare so well in his next battle, against Menasor, but managed to achieve victory by dividing into the Aerialbots and binding the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]] gestalt, allowing him to be bombarded by Scramble City's arsenal. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)#Part 8|Story page #8}}

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' manga=====
[[File:FSRLF5 superion and communicator.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
When the Stunticons and Combaticons began tearing up a baseball stadium, [[Kenji]], the Autobots' young human ally, used his Superion [[wrist-communicator]] to call for help from the airborne combiner himself, as well as the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]. The Protectobots were first on the scene, but Superion soon came swooping in to back them up, only for Bruticus to join the fight as well. On Kenji's advisement, Superion blew the leg combination joints out from under the Decepticon combiners with his rifle, allowing the Protectobots to forcibly link up with them as new legs, flying the evil gestalts off and dropping them in the ocean. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}}

The Aerialbots' powers of flight made them the ideal choice to speed to the aid a group of Autobots in need of reinforcement on an island the Decepticons were using as a staging base for the launch of their counter to Scramble City, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Charged predominantly with protecting the local wildlife, the Aerialbots were joined in the mission by Protectobot medic [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (replacing a miffed Slingshot), who took up position as Superion's left leg to fly to the island. The combiner was nearly crushed by Trypticon, but the saurian city was distracted by the sudden appearance of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], Scramble CIty's robot form. Superion detached Air Raid, who buzzed Trypticon and taunted him into attacking Metroplex... who turned out to be a giant hologram courtesy of [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], through which Trypticon fell into the ocean. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}
{{-}}

=====Scramble City: Mobilization=====
{{voiceactor|[[Tomomichi Nishimura]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:ScrambleCity superions wrong trousers.jpg|thumb|225px|Ssssssssss........aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!]]
As the Autobots' Scramble City project was nearing completion, the location of the secret cavern in which they were finishing the battle station's construction was discovered by the Decepticons. The Aerialbots repelled the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] with an aerial barrage, but when the Stunticons came rolling onto the scene, they merged into Superion to deal with their old foes. A single kick from Superion tore up the ground beneath them and briefly buried the Stunticons, but they soon extricated themselves and formed Menasor to fight back. Tackled to the ground by the Stunticon combiner, Superion deftly separated into his component 'bots to avoid being stomped, then re-combined in an alternate configuration for more power. Menasor seized Superion out of the air as he attempted a flying kick and hurled him aside, so the Aerialbots tried switching configurations again, only for Fireflight to forget which limb he was supposed to be forming and fall off. Menasor exploited the opportunity to have [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] forcibly combine with Superion as the Autobot's missing leg, crippling him with great pain. A timely blast from Optimus Prime removed the Stunticon, allowing Fireflight to rejoin Superion, but the arrival of the Combaticons proceeded to tip the battle in the Decepticons' favor. Restrained by Menasor and pummelled by Bruticus, Superion had to eventually give up and split back into the Aerialbots to escape, but thankfully, Defensor and Metroplex soon showed up to win the day. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

=====Full Throttle Scramble Power!=====
[[File:FullThrottle superion vs menasor.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
The Aerialbots formed Superion to stop Menasor from stealing energy from a power plant, but the Decepticons had an extra trick up their sleeves: their new [[Omega Whip]] cannon, which threatened to shut down the Autobot combiner's whole body with its deadly electromagnetic beams. Though by all rights the two direct hits he took from the weapon should have knocked him offline, Superion's components redistributed their power to keep on fighting, hitting Menasor with a full-power blow. Unfortunately, the damage done by the Omega Whip had weakened Superion enough that Menasor was able to withstand his attack, and worse still, he was unable to change his limb configuration to counter Menasor's follow-up attack. Fortunately, Metroplex and the other Autobots soon arrived, and the sight of the giant city-bot left Menasor momentarily stunned, allowing Superion to get the upper hand. Disengaging Slingshot, Superion had him knock Wildrider loose from Menasor and take his place, immobilizing the Decepticon combiner so that Superion could stomp him into defeat. {{storylink|Full Throttle Scramble Power!}}

=====''Transformers 2010'' story pages=====
[[File:GreatWar superion torn apart.jpg|thumb]]
Superion and Defensor did not fare well against the Decepticons' newest combiner, [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)#Part 2|Story page #2}} They probably would have preferred to enact a hypothetical scenario that proposed what would happen if the Autobot combiners could make peace with the Decepticons; in this "imaginary tale", Superion sported [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] for a right arm, [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] as his left arm, Wildrider as his right leg, and [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] for his left leg. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (story page)#Part 5|Story page #5}}

=====''The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers''=====
Superion joined Defensor and Omega Supreme in battling Menasor, Bruticus and Devastator on the planet [[Feminia]], but were powerless before the Decepticons' trump card, Predaking. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5}}

=====''The Great Transformer War''=====
The Aerialbots were deployed to rescue the alien scientist [[Dalton (G1)|Dalton]] from captivity within Trypticon, forming Superion on approach. Unfortunately for them, the battle-station modes that [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] had adopted to hook up to Trypticon's city mode allowed them to launch the Stunticons and Combaticons into battle so rapidly that Superion was torn limb from limb mere moments after his combination. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}
{{-}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Ken Yamaguchi]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:HMep1 superion vs abominus.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
During the Decepticon invasion of Cybertron in the year 2011, the Aerialbots assembled as Superion to defend the planet against Galvatron's forces. Superion fought fiercely against [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]], and was almost shot in the back by the underhanded [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], but luckily, Optimus Prime was watching out for the giant warrior and Abominus wound up on the receiving end of the shot instead. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} As the battle continued, Superion, Defensor and [[Raiden (Headmasters)|Raiden]] came under heavy fire from the Decepticon combiners until the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]] dropped from the skies to rain down terror and artillery fire on the Decepticons. The battle proceeded to spread to Earth as the Decepticons endeavored to stop Hot Rod from recovering the missing [[Matrix of Leadership]]; Superion engaged Menasor in the Arctic to keep him from interfering with the young Autobot's quest. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

Sometime later, Superion fought with Bruticus outside Trypticon, staging a distraction so that [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]] could break into the Decepticon base and retrieve vital information. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}
[[File:HM16 autobot combiners.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
He was formed again, on Cybertron, during the Decepticon raid for the new super-metal [[cybertonuron]], this time scattering the Stunticons like tenpins. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} During the fight, he again clashed with Abominus (again) until Devastator accidentally shot his comrade (again). {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

When [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] attempted to usurp command of the Decepticons following the disappearance of Galvatron, the Aerialbots were among the Autobot forces who attacked his leadership rally on [[Moon (moon)|Earth's moon]]. They formed Superion to enter the fight, but the tide turned when Galvatron made an unexpected return and galvanized his troops to strike back, resulting in Superion getting zapped hard and fleeing with the other Autobots. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}}

Superion joined the entire Autobot army in journeying to the North Pole for a climactic battle with Scorponok. He fought against the evil combiners as the battle raged. Along with all the other Autobots present, Superion lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}
{{-}}

=====Metrowars=====
[[File:Metrowars superion.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67]]
Superion was stationed at [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]] while it was under reconstruction after an attack from [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]]. When Metrotitan and the Decepticons attacked again, the reborn Metroplex transformed and Superion manned one of Metroplex's cannons with [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]'s help. With Metroplex's firepower, the Decepticons were sent retreating. {{Storylink|Metrowars}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Superion drawing devastation derby.jpg|thumb|I feel so sketchy.]]
''Superion was first depicted in a series of visions experienced by [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], the Autobots' human friend who had once contained the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] itself within his brain. After a particularly serious nightmare, Buster subconsciously drew the image of a five-jet combiner robot, a design far more sophisticated than what had been achieved by Cybertronian science up 'til that point.'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} ''Another series of surreal dream images from Buster's mind saw the jet combiner in action, first destroying the Decepticon commander [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] who had recently bedeviled Buster, and then fighting against a new car-robot combiner. Realizing these dreams were in fact unfocused visions from the Creation Matrix itself, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] decided to mind-link with Buster during his next bout of REM sleep, guiding the visions into a more coherent stream of information. The link was successful, and Prime and Buster observed Superion fighting alongside his fellow combiner [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] against their Decepticon opposite numbers, [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] at the [[Pullen Power Plant]]. Relating this information to [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], Optimus and his chief engineer began planning on how to make these dreams into reality.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}/{{storylink|The Special Teams Have Arrived}}

[[File:Superion aerialbots over america.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|left|Able to leap tall dams in a single bound!]]
Using information recorded on the combination sequence of the Decepticons' Devastator, Wheeljack reverse-engineered and refined the process to create the Aerialbots. Unfortunately, the team was called into action at Hoover Dam before any of its members, save Silverbolt, had their personality programming completed. When the Aerialbots were forced to combine in order to destroy a massive energy drill sent over by the [[space bridge]], Superion was confronted with a human pawn named [[Ricky Vasquez]] carrying [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] in gun mode, infused with a [[cerebro-shell]] that forced him to obey the Decepticons' will. Still, Vasquez had begun to fight the Decepticons' control over him, and he tried to resist Megatron's order to shoot Superion. Seeing the human as a danger to his mission, Superion attempted to crush Vasquez and end the threat, but Silverbolt loudly cried out against that course of action inside his head. Strangely, Vasquez and Superion ended up not fighting each other, but themselves, frozen in mid-action as they fought against their own inner drives. Ultimately, Silverbolt forcibly disengaged Superion rather than risk harming an innocent life. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

[[File:Menasor superion heavy traffic.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I'm fading, I'm fading!]]
Following the near fatality at Hoover Dam, the Autobots erased the Aerialbots' programming and memories, reconstructing their minds from scratch and giving them an infusion of Matrix energy to start over again. Superion next saw action against the Decepticon combiner known as Menasor, fighting to protect his comrade [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and their human ally, [[Donny Finkleberg]]. Their fight was cut short, however, when the monomaniacal [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] agent named [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] used her powers to overload Superion's circuitry, leaving him open to a blast from Menasor's [[cyclone rifle]]. The RAAT agents managed to dismantle the combiner into his separate Aerialbot bodies and took them all captive along with several other Autobots. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}} The Autobots were only released after Circuit Breaker was forced to make a deal with them in order to end the threat of the rampaging [[Battlecharger]]s. {{storylink|Decepticon Graffiti!}}

[[File:Menasor superion perchance to dream.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left]|Who says I lack killer instinct?!]]
''Later, the Aerialbots confronted Menasor again, only this time their fusion into Superion let slip Silverbolt's secret shame: the mental merging allowed the other Aerialbots to learn of their leader's fear of heights. Horrified at being found out, Silverbolt caused Superion to lash out at Menasor with such savagery that they very nearly harmed the very humans they had come to save.'' {{storylink|...Perchance to Dream}}

''Still doubting the Aerialbots because of their Superion issues, Optimus placed [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in temporary command of the unit and had him test them. When Jetfire was gunned down by Decepticons, they formed Superion: once again, he was left crippled by the combination of personality flaws and could only concentrate on combat, tearing into the enemy in a crowded, urban area. When [[Danny Phillips|a bystander]] screamed at him to realise what he was doing, the giant proved incapable. However, because Jetfire had been offline at the time, he remained unaware of the issues with Superion.'' {{storylink|The Return of the Transformers}}

{{GIJoeTransformersfiction}}
[[File:Superion blood on the tracks.jpg|thumb|We are here to attack other Hasbro properties.]]
When Optimus Prime determined that a new human construction named [[Power Station Alpha]] might tempt the Decepticons into action, he sent Bumblebee to attend the unveiling as a precautionary surveillance measure. Sure enough, [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] made an appearance, and so Optimus sent Silverbolt and the Aerialbots as back-up. They arrived just in time to see Bumblebee being blown away by the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team guarding Power Station Alpha. Assuming their Superion form, the Aerialbots attempted to threaten the humans into allowing them to retrieve Bumblebee's body. {{storylink|Blood on the Tracks}} An intense but one-sided conflict raged between Superion and the Joes until he received a signal from [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], conveying the horrific news that Optimus Prime had died in battle while the Aerialbots were on their mission. Superion immediately disengaged and returned to the Ark. {{storylink|Power Struggle}} A short time later, the Autobots joined forces with both G.I. Joe and [[Cobra]] against the Decepticons, who planned to use Power Station Alpha to destroy the world. The Aerialbots entered the battle and became Superion to pit their strength against the mighty Devastator. Superion eventually scored the winning shot when his [[stress fracture cannon]] caused a malfunction in Devastator's coupling links, forcing him back into his individual Constructicon modes. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Superion inside story.jpg|thumb|left]]
At one point after the Aerialbots joined Earthforce, Superion was struck with a [[cerebro-shell]], courtesy of the Insecticon named Bombshell, and he began to run amok, crashing through sparsely populated areas on a beeline towards major human population centers. The Autobots were unable to stop him through sheer force, so they enlisted the help of a human reporter named [[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]], giving him instructions on how to infiltrate Superion's exo-structure and manually pull the cerebro-shell out of his circuitry. Spoon succeeded in the nick of time, freeing Superion's thought processes right as he reached a local township. {{storylink|Inside Story!}} [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] reported these events back to [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], prompting them to send in the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|Front Line! (issue)|Front Line!}}
{{-}}

=====The Big Broadcast of 2006=====
{{NoteMarvelBB2006}}
[[File:Superion quintesson cruiser big broadcast of 2006.jpg|thumb]]
After receiving reports from [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] that the [[Quintesson]]s were up to no good on the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodiums Prime]] sent the Aerialbots to investgate. Encountering a [[Quintesson Cruiser]] above the planet, they formed Superion, who fired his jets at the ship's force fields. The resultant explosion not only damaged the Quintesson craft but also knocked Superion unconscious. He was recovered by Sky Lynx, who returned him to Cybertron for repairs. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (US)}}
{{-}}

===The Special Teams===
The Aerialbots were created on Cybertron by Vector Sigma, but briefly defected to the Decepticons upon arrival on Earth. When they returned to the Autobot ranks, Megatron compensated for the loss of Superion's power by creating the Stunticons. The two teams clashed in battle over the [[Pullen Power Plant]], each assuming their combined form; Superion was able to deal Menasor a crippling blow with his stress fracture cannon, forcing him to withdraw. The Aerialbot combiner then disengaged to pursue Starscream, who had been observing the fight, but the Decepticon Air Commander outpaced Superion's components. {{storylink|The Special Teams}}
{{-}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
[[File:GalvatronsAirAttack superion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
When an Autobot salvage expedition was unexpectedly ambushed by Decepticons, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] became concerned that the Cons had developed a new form of surveillance. Silverbolt suggested his men perform a full scan of the area for any spy installation. The Aerialbots were unable to locate any sites on the ground, but a ghost of a radar contact at high altitude caught their attention. Forming Superion, they flew as high as possible and confirmed that ''something'' was out there in the upper atmosphere. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:PrimeDirective4 superion bombed.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
The Aerialbots were among the Transformers on the [[Ark II]] when it crashed in 1999 thanks to the machinations of [[Robert Hallo]] and [[Lazarus (G1)|Adam Rook]], but were not among those unfortunates that Rook subsequently rounded up and reprogrammed. Having apparently merged into Superion prior to the craft's impact, they and a handful of other Autobots lay deactivated at the bottom of the ocean until 2002, when they were reawakened by Optimus Prime, emerging from the waters in their combined form. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

Superion assured Prime he would be part of the coming battle. Soon after, while Superion and the other Autobots engaged the Decepticons in battle in the frozen wilderness of Canada, the US government dropped a bomb on both factions. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} Ironically enough, it was a metallic [[cyber-virus]] unleashed by Megatron's virus that saved them, solidifying around the dome of the explosion; [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] was concerned about the amount of effort it would take to extricate Superion from the metal dome, but the combiner put his worries to rest by punching his way out with sheer force.

Superion proceeded to fly the Autobots to [[San Francisco]] on his back, for a final showdown with Megatron's forces. Superion took on Devastator during the city-shaking battle, but was forced back into his component robots by an airstrike courtesy of the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and their unstoppable [[triangle formation]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}}
[[File:DWPrimeDirective6 Superion nuke.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|"They couldn't hit [[Big Convoy (BWN)|an elephant]] from this dist—"]]
The conflict came to an end when Hallo launched a nuclear missile at the city in an attempt to destroy all the Transformers; seeing no other recourse, the Aerialbots assembled into Superion and sacrificed their lives by flying straight into the missile, detonating it over the Pacific Ocean. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''Superion's faceplate was recovered from the ocean depths and incorporated into [[Hugo Fortuna]]'s private collection of Cybertronian and Cybertronian-derived technology. Fortuna's collection was uncovered by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Franklin Townsend]] while they were investigating the mysterious disappearance of several Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}}'' Like Devastator, Superion's remains were later [[:File:Superion dreamwave.jpg|taken in]] by the [[Earth Defense Command]] for study. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Superion DW GIJoe 5.jpg|left|thumb|Superion in WWII-era guise]]
After the Aerialbots awoke in [[1939]], they formed Superion during the battle against [[Cobra]] and the Decepticons on the [[Fera Islands]]. The giant saved [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] from falling off a cliff to their doom, before being sent onwards to the front lines. {{storylink|Wolves}} Superion waded towards the [[Terrordrome]], but was ordered to halt when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] noticed that Cobra were using their slaves as a human shield. Cobra used this opportunity to open fire on Superion with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s massive cannon mode. {{storylink|Trenches}} However, Superion stood strong, shielding his allies against enemy fire for as long as he could. He was eventually destroyed, but his sacrifice gave [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] a chance to rescue the slaves and get into the Terrordrome. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{ongoing}}
[[File:IDW RID9 the superion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.50]]
Dissatisfied with [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]]'s governance of the rebuilt [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] following the reformatting of Cybertron, the Aerialbots seceded from his ranks and left the city, venturing out into the untamed wilderness the rest of the planet had become. {{storylink|Stick Together}} There, they were found by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], who elected to use them as test subjects, exposing them to the mysterious energies that had previously been responsible for creating the "[[Deceptigod]]" combiner. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} The Aerialbots first succumbed to rage and madness, but then, the four smaller 'bots began to unify in purpose, hunting down Silverbolt, who resisted the process for longer. {{storylink|Night and the City}} To cope, the Aerialbots' minds and bodies—like those who combined into the Deceptigod before them—spontaneously reconfigured of their own accord, fusing the five Autobots together into "The Superion". {{storylink|Second Exodus}} Dismissing the newborn combiner as insane, Megatron left Superion in the wilderness, using the data he had gained from the experiment to perfect the combination process and create a new version of Devastator. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:PlanForEverything-ThisIssueSuperionDies.jpg|right|thumb|200px]]
When [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] came looking for the missing Aerialbots, the prehistoric Autobots soon succumbed to the energy's effects as well. Ironhide fled, following a recording message from Silverbolt that led him to Superion, who rescued him from his pursuers. {{storylink|Night and the City}} With a sufficiently large number of Transformers now in one place, the energies Megatron was broadcasting became too diluted to have any effect, restoring everyone to their right minds, {{storylink|Second Exodus}} and Ironhide then led them all back to Iacon to help save the city from Megatron. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Superion grappled with the new Devastator and was able to bring him down after the death of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who was controlling him from afar, caused his mind to shut down. However, as Superion turned his attention elsewhere, the Decepticon combiner rose again under the control of ''himself'' and attacked the Aerialbot combiner from behind, tearing him in half and killing Slingshot in the process. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}} The rest of the Aerialbots, still fused into Superion, were carried to a makeshift medical center in Iacon, where they were placed on emergency life-support. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

After Megatron's defeat, Starscream seized control of Iacon and exiled those who would not renounce their factions from the city. The injured Superion was allowed to remain in the city until he was repaired enough to make a decision for himself. {{storylink|Second Exodus}} Once the Constructicons became loyal to [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]], however, Starscream realized that all major factions now had access to combiners except the neutrals, and decided to make Superion theirs, drafting the two volunteers [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Alpha Bravo]] into the team to replace Slingshot. Starscream revived and recruited [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], who agreed to rebuild the combiner. {{storylink|The World of Tomorrow}} The [[Enigma of Combination]] accelerated the repair job. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|FIrst Contact}}

[[File:IDWRID33-repairingsuperion.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH_6iFYiryY Da-na-NUM, da-na-NUM].]]

The new team of Aerialbots were deployed over [[Caminus]] to combat the similarly rebuilt Menasor, who had teamed up with Swindle and were planning to rob the planet blind. Superion's greater mental stability and dexterity allowed him to outwit his rival, even splitting his body around one of Menasor's devastating haymaker punches, stumbling the Decepticon and allowing Superion to pummel him. Superion was glad to help the Camiens, although he mused that they should have called him sooner. {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}} Starscream later showed off "his" new combiner to the Camiens as part of his opening remarks. During the reconstruction process, Superion chatted with Optimus Prime about Starscream's political ambitions and what it was like to be a combiner, although Superion was unable to articulate his feelings on the latter. {{storylink|The Possible Light}} Things quickly took a turn for the worse when Prowl and the Constructicons came knocking and merged into Devastator, aiming to shut down the Space Bridge and cut off contact with the colonies. Superion moved to stop him, but the Autobot combiner and his modular limbs were no match for Devastator's brute strength. Devastator dragged his quarry back through the Space Bridge, but was distracted by Chromia, Ironhide, and the Decepticons. In the meantime, Starscream resuscitated his warrior with the Enigma, and created a new combiner — Defensor — from a group of nearby Autobots, and together the duo were able to temporarily take down Devastator. {{storylink|Mistakes and Mayhem}}

In the aftermath, Starscream stationed Superion and Defensor on Caminus, guarding the vital space bridge to Cybertron. Much to Optimus Prime's concern, Superion had not separated himself since his first fight with Menasor; Prowl commented that for all intents and purposes Superion ''was'' the new default form for the Aerialbots. Eventually, Menasor attacked once again, and he was joined by a rebuilt Devastator. Believing that Devastator, who now incorporated [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], was still loyal to Prowl, Defensor tried to fight him, sparking a brawl between the combiners. The battle sent all four combiners hurtling through the damaged space bridge and onto a distant alien planet. The quartet battled until a [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|new combiner]] arrived, promising to put a stop to the mayhem once and for all. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} This was easier said than done, and Defensor and Superion had to protect an uncertain Optimus Maximus from a berserk Devastator, even as Superion tried to remind Devastator of Scoop's loyalty to Starscream. Optimus Maximus finally managed to reach a consensus with his components, and the three combiners battled Devastator and Menasor in a fight that spanned across the colony worlds. Optimus, Defensor, and Superion managed to surround Devastator and tear him back into his component parts as the gang reappeared at Caminus. With Prowl in custody, Superion was saddened to think that Optimus Maximus might never form again. {{storylink|Combiner Wars Part 5}}

Superion later resumed his post at Caminus's space bridge, alongside a rehabilitated Devastator. {{storylink|Now and On Earth}}

{{-}}

==Commercial appearances==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G2superion commercial.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
The Aerialbots formed Superion to engage Menasor in battle on a rocky landscape, exchanging a ferocious volley of laser blasts before closing for hand-to-hand combat. Menasor flipped Superion, but as he moved in to finish him off, the Aerialbot combiner quickly countered with a blow that sent the Decepticon crashing backward into a cliff-face. As Menasor was buried beneath the rocks, Superion roared in triumph. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1|Aerialbots and Stunticons commercial}}
===''Generation 2''===
{{voiceactor|[[Garry Chalk]] (English)}}
Attacked by Bruticus in a suburban area, the Aerialbots merged into Superion and opened fire on the enemy combiner, downing him only long enough to give himself time to move the unnamed human cheering him on back to safety. As Bruticus launched back into action, Superion shoved him away, and the pair exchanged some explosive punches. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2|Aerialbots and Combaticons commercial}}
{{-}}

==Games==
[[File:BattleTacticsSuperion.jpg|thumb|right|200px|]]
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Superion participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He could only be recruited if all five of his components were already part of a team. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
The Aerialbots merged into Superion in order to fight back against Menasor when the Decepticons attempted to transform Earth into a new Cybertron using the power of the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. Superion was victorious and the Decepticons were sent fleeing. {{storylink|Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:Superion toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Guaranteed to break within 10 minutes of play.]]
*'''Superion''' ([[1986]]–[[1987|87]], [[1990]], [[1991]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-55'''
**''Accessories:'' Head, left & right fists, left & right feet, "blast shield" chest plate, "blast deflector" waist plate, Silverbolt's "electrostatic discharger rifle", ramp, small Aerialbots' individual guns
:Superion is formed out of all five Aerialbot toys, with Silverbolt serving as the central body component, and the four smaller team members as limbs, using additional attachments for Superion's hands and feet. A helmet covers Silverbolt's head and a red waist plate attaches onto his chest piece. He carries Silverbolt's [[electrostatic discharger rifle]], though his own [[bio]] describes his weapon as a "[[stress fracture cannon]]". As a "Scramble City"-style combiner, Superion's limbs are fully interchangeable; any of his limb-components, or any members of the other compatible combiner teams, are able to form either an arm or leg for the giant.

:Due to Silverbolt forming his torso, his design weaknesses are carried over to Superion. Additionally, as Silverbolt has rather thin legs, this leads to Superion having very thin thighs. His height coupled with the weight of his limbs can make Superion lean back, putting stress upon Silverbolt's weak and flimsy waist hinges.

:Along with Metroplex, Menasor, Bruticus and Defensor, Superion was designed for an aborted ''[[Diaclone]]'' line that would have been called ''Jizai Gattai'' ("[[Free-Combination]]"), which was shelved to make way for the ''Transformers'' line. Based on the extent to which the combination process detailed in Superion's patent design<ref>[http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=O1Y8AAAAEBAJ&dq Patent #JP61-115590]</ref> differs from the finished toy (to say nothing of the fact that Silverbolt appears as a fighter jet like the other Aerialbots, rather than a passenger plane), it is fair to assume that he was the first "Scramble City"-style combiner to be designed.

:In his original release year of 1986, Superion's five Aerialbot components could be purchased either individually, or in a giftset. The individual Aerialbots were later reissued in [[Europe]] as part of the ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' series in 1990, and were offered as mail-in promotional figures in [[Japan]] during 1991's ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Return of Convoy (toyline)|Return of Convoy]]'' line.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Superion/superion.htm More information on G1 Superion at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

[[File:G1toy actionmaster superion art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Superion''' (Action Master, unproduced)
**''Accessories:'' Gun, jetpack
:Artwork for an unmade Superion [[Action Master]] was featured in ''[[Transformers Generations]]''. As with all Action Masters, this non-transforming figurine of Superion was based on a combination of his animation model and his toy, and would have been armed with a gun and a winged jetpack. Superion would have been included with a motorcycle based on [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]]'s [[Turbo Cycle (G1)|Turbo Cycle]] that combined with Superion's accessories to form a gun emplacement he could have manned.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}

===''Generation 2''===
[[File:G2superion toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Guaranteed to break within 10 seconds of play... DAMN YOU SLINGSHOT!]]
*'''Superion''' ([[1994]])
**''Accessories:'' Head, left & right fists, left & right feet, "blast shield" chest plate, "deflector shield" waist plate, Silverbolt's "electrostatic discharger rifle", 2 missile launchers, 3 missiles, ramp, small Aerialbots' individual guns

:As part of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', Superion was [[redeco]]ed in colours deemed popular in products of the time, or something like that. Silverbolt's white is replaced by light blue, Slingshot is gold, Fireflight a much darker red, Skydive silver and Air Raid blue. In addition to still wielding Silverbolt's handgun, Superion was now armed with two spring-loaded missile launchers that came with Silverbolt, which he could either carry in his fists, or could mount jauntily on his hips by plugging into ports on Silverbolt's wings.

:Because Slingshot is so notorious for [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] you might be better off not merging this guy at all. Or throw [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] in there as a limb. That might work better, yeah.

:Unlike his original release, ''Generation 2'' Superion was only available by purchasing all five Aerialbots separately.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1994/Autobot/Superion/superion.htm More information on G2 Superion at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[File:Universe2008 Superion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|After '''14 years''', I can finally play with you for ''11'' seconds.]]
*'''Superion''' (Multi-pack, [[2008]])
**''Accessories:'' Four [[energon star]]s, four [[energon weapon]]s

:''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' Superion is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Superion Maximus]], formed from his components in the classic "Scramble City" manner, with individual multi-configuration energon weapons forming a hand or foot for each of his limbs. Although most of the original Aerialbot [[character]]s return in this set, [[Airazor (Universe)|Airazor]] replaces [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]; while the brief character description on the back of the box fits Slingshot, Hasbro [[Hasbro Q&A/October 2009: Answers|stated in a Q&A session]] that Airazor is a new character designed "in memorium" {{sic}}. Superion's components suffer some mostly [[for safety reasons|safety-related]] [[mold]] changes, including the severe blunting of Air Raid and Airazor's nosecones.

:Like the simultaneously released [[Bruticus (G1)#Universe (2008)|Bruticus Maximus]], Superion was initially intended as a ''Universe'' [[Target]] [[exclusive]], but these plans were cancelled in favor of releasing the toy in the ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' toyline instead, now representing the separate character of [[Superion (ROTF)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' Superion]]. A few non-American markets such as Australia and Singapore did receive the toy in ''Universe'' packaging, however, so it manages to make it onto this article.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/Superion/superion.htm More information on Universe Superion at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
{{anchor|generations}}
[[File:Generationstoy superion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1| "Now we can finally toss that extra Fireflight. About time you got here, Air Rai—"]]
*'''Air Raid''' (Deluxe, 2015)
*'''Skydive''' (Deluxe, 2015)
*'''Silverbolt''' (Voyager, 2015)
*'''Alpha Bravo''' (Deluxe, 2015)
:*'''Quickslinger''' (Deluxe, 2015)
*'''Firefly''' (Deluxe, 2015)
*'''Autobot Powerglide''' (Legends, 2015)
**''Accessories:'' Rifle, individual Aerialbots guns/fists/feet
:''[[Transformers: Generations|Generations]]'' Superion is an entirely new-mold combiner made up of four Deluxe figures ([[Fireflight (G1)#Generations|Firefly]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)#Generations|Skydive]], [[Air Raid (G1)#Generations|Air Raid]] and new team member [[Alpha Bravo]]) as limbs, with a Voyager figure ([[Silverbolt (G1)#Generations|Silverbolt]]) as the torso, as part of the ''[[Combiner Wars]]'' subline. Designed in the "Scramble City" style, all four Deluxe Aerialbots can each become either an arm or a leg, and come with double-barrelled guns that can transform into either a foot or a fist to complete the limb. The toys' packaging states that Skydive and Air Raid should the left and right arms, and Firefly and Alpha Bravo as the left and right legs. However in the image depicts Skydive and Firefly in each others position. Superion is armed with a large rifle made up of Silverbolt's shield and gun, which can link up with ''Combiner Wars'' [[Powerglide (G1)#Generations|Powerglide]] to create an even larger weapon.

:As Air Raid was not part of the first wave of ''Combiner Wars'' product, the figures' instructions and packaging depicted [[Drag Strip (G1)#Generations|Decepticon Dragstrip]] in his place as right arm, while one of Superion's two [[Stock photography|stock photos]] [http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/archive/d/d8/20141123152952!Generationstoy_superion.jpg depicted him with a second Firefly as his other arm]. The individual numbering the figures received, however, made it clear that a fifth Aerialbot would be coming in later waves to complete the "proper" Superion formation. Even ''later'' than that, [[Slingshot (G1)#Generations|Quickslinger]] was announced and subsequently released, intended as as an alternate limb for Superion and completing the original Aerialbot roster.

::*''[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers-toys/gallery/generations-combiner-wars/superion/3474/1/ Image gallery of ''Combiner Wars'' Superion at Seibertron.com]''
{{-}}{{anchor|GenerationsG2}}
[[File:Generations-Combiner-Wars-Generation-2-Superion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Hope you're not [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|crumbling]] this time, Quickslinger.]]
*'''Superion''' (Generation 2, 2015)
**''Accessories:'' Rifle, individual Aerialbots guns/fists/feet
:A very unexpected [[Redeco|redeco]] of the ''Combiner Wars'' Aerialbots, Superion notably replaces Alpha Bravo with Quickslinger. He is a thing of glorious, [[Neon|eye-searing]] 90's beauty.
{{charstubtoys}}
{{comingsoontoy}}

{{-}}

===Unite Warriors===
{{anchor|UniteWarriors}}
[[File:TakaraTomy-Unite-Warriors-UW-01-Superion.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Wait, you had an extra Fireflight? What did you do with it? I'll trade you a Slingshot!"]]
*'''Superion''' (Giftset, [[June 27|6-27]]-2015)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''UW-01'''
**''Accessories'': Rifle, individual Aerialbots' guns/hands/feet
:Takara's iteration of ''Combiner Wars'' Superion features a more cartoon-accurate paint scheme. He includes Slingshot, a retool of Firefly, instead of Hasbro's Alpha Bravo.

{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Watch===
[[File:Superion watch.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Superion''' (1986, [[1993]])
:Superion was one of three Transformers characters who lent their likenesses to digital watches released in Japan by Takara in 1986 to tie in with their [[Scramble City (toyline)|''Scramble City'' toyline]] (the others being [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] & [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]]). Cross-promoted in [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (manga)|''TV Magazine''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s manga]] as a [[wrist-communicator]] ([[#Fight!_Super_Robot_Lifeform_Transformers_comic|see above]]), the watch featured Superion's torso with a clock in his chest, which with the push of a lever "transformed" into a full tiny figure complete with legs, standing up on the watch band. The figure cannot be removed from the watch, but the arms do rotate.

:Superion and the other watches were later re-released in 1993 as part of an expanded line of Transformers watches that was sold directly in North America by Takara as ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' merchandise.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1993/Autobot/Superion/superion.htm More information on watch Superion at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Transformers Ramune''===
*'''Superion''' (1986)
**''ID number:'' '''1'''
:An unpainted figurine of Superion was available as part of the second range of [[Kabaya]]'s line of ''[[Transformers Ramune]]'' [[candy toy]]s, tying in with the ''Scramble City'' toyline. Like all figures in the series, Superion was sold in a [[blindpacking|blindpacked]] box with fizzy "ramune" candy, and featured a main body was made of hard red plastic, with soft grey PVC limbs articulated at the hips and shoulders.

[[File:Superion keshigomu.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|''Ramune'' figure on the left, ''Forms Robo'' on the right.]]
*'''Superion''' (1986)
:Later in 1986, in the third ''Ramune'' wave, Superion was among the characters immortalized as a soft rubber figurine, known as a ''keshigomu'' in Japan. He was available in either red, blue or yellow colors, and as before, came blindpacked with ramune candy. While similar to the separate range of ''keshigomu'' figures released by Takara that would later be imported by Hasbro as part of their [[Decoy]] promotion, Superion and his wave-mates saw no American release.

===''Forms Robo''===
*'''Superion''' (1986)
:Superion was also part of the small ''[[Forms Robo]]'' collection of larger ''keshigomu'', with this chunkier version of the character standing at around twice the height of his ''Ramune'' figure. Like the other figures in this series, Superion was packaged in an individual baggie and was available in red, blue, green and yellow.
{{-}}

===Collegeville Costumes===
[[File:Collegville superion costumes.jpg|thumb|I am a robot! I was built to scare you!]]
* '''Superion Halloween costume''' (1986)

:However odd his selection to receive the honor may seem, Superion was one of a small number of ''Transformers'' characters upon whom [[Collegeville Costumes]] based a [[Halloween]] costume. This two-piece affair adhered to the crappy time-worn tradition of consisting of a sculpted thin plastic mask held over the wearer's face with elastic, and a smock with a picture of Superion and his name on it.

*'''Superion mask''' (1986)

:Collegeville also immortalized Superion in their line of ''Transformers'' masks. Made from flat styrofoam, the mask featured a hinge that allowed the wearer to lift it up and down, transforming from kid to robot in the blink of an eye!
{{-}}

===''Gaia Scramble/Transformers Gum''===
[[File:Kabaya superion.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Superion''' (2013)
:This incarnation of Superion is formed by combining the separate Aerialbots available in two of [[Kabaya]]'s lines of [[candy toy]]s: Slingshot, Air Raid, Fireflight and Skydive were available as part of the ''[[Gaia Scramble]]'' line, while Silverbolt was released through the ''[[Transformers Gum]]'' line. All five figures are snap-together model kits that use stickers for details and come with a stick of gum; Fireflight and Slingshot share a mold, as do Air Raid and Skydive, each kit affecting slight differences in how they are assembled to differentiate the figures beyond color.
{{-}}

===Tiny Titans===
*'''Superion''' (Tiny Titans, 2015)
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Number'': '''4/12'''
{{charstubtoys}}

==Notes==
[[File:WarDawn superion combination.jpg|thumb|Everyone remembers Silverbolt, but does anyone remember that jet dude, the other jet dude, that jet guy, and Aerialbot #5? I think not!]]
*'Superion' is a partial Latinization of [[wikipedia:Hyperion (mythology)|Hyperion]], the name of a Titan in Greek mythology associated with the sun. The fully Latinized form would be 'Superio'. If following classical pronunciation, the last syllable of 'Superion' should be pronounced 'own', not 'on'.
*Being made up of very similar-looking planes did not help Superion when it came to firmly establishing which member of the team formed which of his limbs. Unlike the other combiner teams, with their unique modes and shapes, when simplified down for Superion's character model, the Aerialbots' limb forms are essentially identical, differentiated only by color, which in turn made errors very easy to make as well (as you can see from our sampling of Marvel Comics images). Broadly speaking, most depictions of Superion—the Generation 1 cartoon paramount among them—replicate his appearance as seen in his box art, which is the arrangement we have listed for the members at the top of this article. In an odd quirk, however, the team's combination sequence in the cartoon would often show the individual members moving into position in accordance with the toy's ''instructions''—Fireflight and Slingshot as the legs, and Air Raid and Skydive as the arms—only for them to change colors to match the "box art" layout at the moment of linking up, as shown in the sequence from "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" illustrated at right.
**Japanese media was a little more thorough on this, with ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization|Scramble City]]'' animating the combination in much more detail that clearly showed the correct Aerialbots moving into place, and a diagram in [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|issue #5]] of the ''[[TV Magazine]]'' manga labeling the limbs as such. However, that did not stop [[Studio OX]] from creating a mix-and-match Superion model that made Slingshot and Air Raid the arms, and Fireflight and Skydive the legs which they used through their works, and which you see at the head of this article.
*Superion's appearance varied in the media. The G1 figure's head had a sculpted mouth which was absent in most depictions, replaced by a boxy [[faceplate]]. Studio Ox and various Japanese illustrations retained the mouth and colored the face silver. The Combiner Wars version of Superion splits the difference, keeping the faceplate but painting it silver.
*Marvel UK is notable in how it ''really'' ran with Superion's tech spec, and its description of him having limited, "kill the enemy" mentality and being a "fierce and frightful machine". Of the four times he appeared in UK strips, ''three'' times have him turning out to be an uncontrollable threat (and the other time was a dream sequence!).

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Superion''' (スペリオン)
*''Italian:'' '''Pentajet''' (toy line and season 3)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Superion''' (Taiwan, 速伯利昂 ''Sù Bó Lì Áng''), '''Dà WúWèi''' (China, 大无畏, "Great Dauntless")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Superior''' (Brazil comic)

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

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Aerialbots]]
[[Category:Combined forms]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:Watches]]
[[Category:Ladybird Books Autobots]]

Auto Berserk

2015-06-16T17:34:25Z

LongHaul: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=33
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=24
|prev2=City of Steel (episode)
|next2=Microbots
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=16
|prev3=Atlantis, Arise!
|next3=Kremzeek!
|image=AutoBerserk Red Alert glowing circuits.jpg
|caption=The voices in my head just told me to kill you!
|title="Auto Berserk"
|production code=#700-32
|airdate=[[October 16]], 1985
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After having his logic circuits damaged in battle, Red Alert feels rejected by the Autobots and allies himself with Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AutoBerserk controlroom battle.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Sure is nice to have the G1 series on DVD, huh, Red?]]

After the [[Autobot]]s successfully test a new super-weapon called the [[Negavator]], they are attacked by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and the [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]], who attempt to steal it for the [[Decepticon]]s. While most of the Autobots exit the bunker to fight, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] stays behind to guard the facility and operate the Negavator. At first, [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] stays to protect Red Alert, but he is eventually lured away by the call of battle, despite Red's protestations. Defeated, the Decepticons retreat, but not before [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] fires a rocket into the control room, which causes the console Red Alert was operating to explode. The Autobots return to assist him, but the odder-than-normal Red Alert brushes off their help, accusing Inferno of betraying him. However, Red Alert's injuries go deeper than the surface. His logic chips have been affected, and he begins to feel as though everyone is against him.

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert consoleexplode.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|IT'S OVER 9000!]]

As the Autobots escort the Negavator back to [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the Decepticons launch a sneak attack in a ravine that Red Alert does not detect due to his insecurities and his damaged state of mind. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] are buried under the rubble caused by Rumble's landslide while the Decepticon jets attempt to take on the remaining Autobots, only to be thwarted when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] sprays a dark cloud of exhaust over them, obscuring their sensors and causing them to crash. With the Decepticons defeated a second time, Megatron retreats, leaving [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] behind. When Optimus Prime questions Red Alert about his lack of a warning on the attack, Red instead accuses the Autobots of wanting to do away with him and runs off at the suggestion that they repair his logic circuits. Starscream, observing this turn of events, follows Red into the city.

[[File:AutoBerserk Ironhide Not RedAlert.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|For me? Aw, you shouldn't have.]]

As the other Autobots try to find Red in the city, Starscream successfully gains the trust of the paranoid Autobot by sharing his similar situation, and together they form a partnership to steal the Negavator and bring both Optimus Prime and Megatron to account for their respective betrayals. Meanwhile, the Autobots have brought the Negavator back to the bunker and secured it in the lowest level while they recharge. [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and Inferno are concerned that Red Alert's logic circuits will explode if they do not find him soon. Red leads Starscream to a secret entrance into the bunker, but they are unaware they are being observed by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and, in turn, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who seems to be content to let the pair of traitors do the dirty work for him.

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert on Starscream.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|SURPRISE PIGGYBACK RIDE!]]

Inside the bunker, Red Alert and Starscream narrowly avoid death at the hands of the [[tunnel drone]], but manage to set off the alarms in the process, alerting the Autobots. Commandeering the Negavator, they blast their way out of the holding chamber and use the elevator to arrive on the top level. Awaiting them are the other Autobots, who mistakenly believe Red Alert is some kind of hostage to Starscream until he tells them their intentions. At this point, Megatron and Decepticons enter, causing a sputtering Starscream to agree with Megatron that he was merely delivering the weapon to his leader. When Red Alert realizes Starscream's duplicity, he attempts to fire the Negavator, only to be pulled out of the cockpit and blasted with the Decepticon's [[null-ray]]. The null-ray blast serves to stabilize Red's [[Circuits#Logic circuits|logic circuits]], unbeknownst to the Decepticons, who attempt to force him to use the Negavator on the Autobots. Unfortunately for Megatron, Red Alert instead sets the self-destruct mechanism on the superweapon, causing the Decepticons to flee.

[[File:AutoBerserk Infernosaves RedAlert.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't bother trying to crucify yourself, Inferno. You'll never get that last nail driven in.]]

The Autobots run as the Negavator explodes. Discovering that Red Alert is still inside, Ironhide, then Optimus Prime attempt to enter the blaze to save their friend, but Inferno insists on doing it himself, perhaps as penance for his earlier desertion of Red. Inferno saves Red Alert from being crushed even as the remorseful Red tells the gun-slinging fire truck to leave him behind. Outside, the other Autobots cheer as Inferno carries the injured Red Alert out of the flames. Red attempts to apologize for all the trouble he has caused them, but Optimus Prime is the one who accepts the blame, for it was his insistence on testing the Negavator that started their problems. Prime declares they are glad to have Red Alert back, and commends both him and Inferno for their bravery. Red replies that with friends like the Autobots, it's easy to be brave.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (2)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (4)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (8)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (9)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (10)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (11)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|Cassettes]]
**[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (13)
**[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)
**[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
**[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] / [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] † (16)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (18)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (19)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (20)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (21)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (23)

†-''Soundwave'' calls for ''Buzzsaw'', but ''Laserbeak'' ejects

|c3=
*Army Officer #1 (5)
*Army Officer #2 (6)
*Fire Chief (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Someday I want to build something that doesn't get trashed!"
:—'''Grapple''', digging out the ruins of his bunker.

"I'm fine! It's just an electroglitch that comes and goes. Comes and goes."
:—'''Red Alert''' demonstrates that he's definitely ''not'' fine.

"Why can't anyone see it?! '''Inferno wants my job!'''"
:—'''Red Alert''' spirals down into paranoia...

'''Inferno''': You need immediate repairs! 
'''Red Alert''': Don't give me any of that. You just want to disassemble me for spare parts! Never! I won't let you!
:— ...and hits bottom...

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert accusation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Red Alert's Goth phase. He spent all his time listening to Ministry and dreaming of becoming a black repaint.]]
'''Hoist''': Let me fix you! 
'''Red Alert''': Get back. I know ''just'' how you want to fix me!
:— ...and then grabs a shovel.

"I've got ''morons'' on my team!"
:—'''Megatron''' having a life-changing realization.

'''Ramjet''': Hey! My circuits electric blew just out! 
'''Skywarp''': Too mine! I'm blind flying! 
'''Starscream''': Away move, before collide we!
:—Seekers the, by Smokescreen scrambled.

'''Fire chief''': Hey! That's my car! Put it back where ya found it! 
'''Ironhide''': Aw, sorry, chief; it looked like a friend of mine! 
[''Transforms and drives off''] 
'''Fire chief''': No two ways about it—I gotta take that vacation!
:—Ironhide mistakes a real car for Red Alert

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Coloring errors:
** After Soundwave transforms in front of the Army general, his cheek guards are blue instead of gray.
** When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes:
*** His eject button is blue instead of gray. (And again as he prepares to take the Negavator.)
*** A Frenzy-colored Ravage tape is the first one out.
*** Frenzy sort of comes out twice, but the second Frenzy's colors are replaced with Ravage's half-way out.
** As he flees from the Negavator's shots, Soundwave's eyeband is white, then blue (instead of its proper red.)
** Frenzy's Decepticon sigil is yellow as he fires alongside Ravage.
** Rumble's eyeband is white as he climbs onto the Negavator.
** Hoist's feet are white instead of green as he climbs aboard the Negavator.
** As Megatron berates him, Soundwave has some bits of white on his upper helmet that shouldn't be there. Also, the ceiling is brown in that shot alone, while all other shots show it as the usual Decepticon purple.
** Starscream's air intakes are light gray instead of red as the smoke starts to wear off.
** The back of Ramjet's head is all dark gray as Megatron calls him a moron. The lower half should be white.
** As the Decepticons fly away from the canyon, Skywarp and Dirge fly past... followed by Thundercracker, who is in Dirge's colors for a split second, then changes to Skywarp's colors.
** Starscream's eyes are blue as he grapples with Red Alert.
** As the Autobots fire on the Decepticons, the white parts of Thrust's thighs are colored red.
** White feet on Hoist again as the Autobots prepare to evacuate the bunker.
** White tires on Hoist again as the Autobots look at the smoke coming from the bunker.
[[File:AutoBerserk-Grapple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]|That's the last of my buildings you destroy Decepticon! I'm gonna give you a knuckle sandwich!]]]
* Grapple's helmet colors change in this episode, from the orange seen in his previous appearances, to a more toy-based dark gray (with non-toy-based orange "horns"). It's consistently portrayed, indicating a different color model rather than an error.
* Grapple's mouth doesn't move for the first half of his "This'll teach you" line.
[[File:AutoBerzerk Frenzy warning.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]|Wait! Ah ah it's not what it looks like! I can explain!]]]
* Frenzy is about twice his usual size as he tackles Optimus.
* For some reason, Optimus's rifle gets only half of its usual sound effect as Optimus defends the Negavator, making it sound a bit like Megatron's fusion cannon.
* While Red Alert is talking to Prime after being damaged, the background switches from the grey of the bunker to orange like the Ark and back again.
* As the seekers walk into the Decepticon control room, Starscream's helm is white.
* The voice that says "The smoke is sticking to us" doesn't belong to any of the Transformers present. The closest match is an "off-model" Ramjet, though it sounds more like Smokescreen himself.
* Smokescreen gets the wrong (descending pitch) transformation noise as he returns to [[robot mode]].
* As the Decepticons retreat for the second time in the show, Ramjet mispronounces Starscream's name as "Starscweam".
* Starscream gets no transformation sound as he finishes returning to robot mode, nor as he takes off from his cliff.
* Ironhide also gets the ascending pitch transformation noise as he returns to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
* After the second commercial break, Starscream has gone from Red Alert's right to his left.
* Optimus presses the triangle on his wrist to determine his energy level, but in the next shots his finger moves up to the rectangles on his forearm and finally near his elbow.
* A few seconds later, Optimus and the others transform and Optimus' trailer rolls in ''through'' the building behind them!
* Thrust's robot mode colors are off consistently for the whole episode. His air intakes and shoulders are colored red instead of dark grey, and his face is a darker gray than normal.
* As Prime calls for the Autobots to return to headquarters, Hoist's feet, then his tires, are white (instead of green / black, respectively.)
* Thrust's line, "Just give the order, Megatron and I'll weld that traitor to the wall" is voiced as though he is offering that Megatron and Thrust will punish Starscream together, whereas it is quite obvious that he is rather addressing Megatron and offering to do the welding alone.
[[File:AutoBerserk Inferno RedAlert friendship.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* When the tunnel drone passes over the hole Starscream and Red Alert jumped down, its tentacles are missing.
* As the elevator doors open, a flash of blue light that should presumably be over Red Alert's horns appears next to the Negavator.
* No transformation noise as Starscream retreats.
* Megatron and 5 jets are seen flying away; there should be six jets.
* When Ironhide walks past Optimus Prime with the intention of rescuing Red Alert from the fire of the Negavator's destruction, his right arm clips right through Prime's left arm.
* After having spoken the final line of the episode, Red Alert's mouth keeps moving during the fadeout.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Autoberserk rumble in negavator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Behold!My new power!Egg Beetle go!]]
[[File:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|My eyes! The goggles do nothing!]]
* Rumble, Hoist and Megatron all use the Negavator's cockpit at various points in the episode, and somehow every time it's the right size for whomever's controlling it.
* When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes and calling their names, he calls for Buzzsaw, but Laserbeak is ejected instead and seen throughout the episode.
* Prime orders Red Alert to "analyze that noise"... in reference to a rock that just landed right in front of him.
* Judging by the dialog, the script seems to call for the Autobots to lose sight of Red as they chase him through the city. The animation to convey this, however, simply isn't there. The Autobots are ''right behind'' Red, then in the very next shot, they're pulling up to the burning building. With the not-Red Alert fire chief's car in plain sight the whole time, Hoist says "Oh no!" as if they've lost sight of Red, only for Ironhide to chime in "I see 'im!" a second later.
* Even as a "fly car" to respond to emergencies where a full-size rescue vehicle may not be required, It's pretty unlikely that a fire chief's car would be a Lamborghini Countach, but we can really lay that one at the feet of Hasbro/Takara, who developed the toy that became Red Alert.
* In Act 3, the Negavator's effect suddenly changes from "cleanly vaporize" to "cause big explosion".
* It's always bizarre when the Autobots cough in reaction to smoke; it happens here as they leave the bunker. Optimus even squeezes his eyes shut.
* Megatron became fairly acquainted with Grapple in "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]"; how does he not recognize him hiding amongst his troops in the final battle for the Negavator?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:AutoBerserk Hoist and Grapple digging.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Soundwave heaves out four of his current five cassettes in one go, the most we've seen thus far in the series. (Although apparently he doesn't know [[FIRRIB|the difference between Laserbeak and Buzzsaw]]...)
* Gadgets and powers:
** The "horns" on Red Alert's head light up when his sensors detect Decepticon activity nearby... at least, that's how they work when he's not going loony.
** Optimus Prime's gun apparently has a "machine gun" setting.
** Hoist extends a pair of tentacle-like grapplers from his tow truck form to clear out the rubble of the bunker.
** Later, he extends a multi-segment crane arm with a huge grappling claw on the end. Grapple has the same claw attached to his crane arm.
** Smokescreen's smoke emerges from nozzles hidden behind his rear lights, rather than the usual tailpipe. It gets to show off its "magnetic" properties, adhering to the Seekers after they fly through it.
** Smokescreen uses his other ability as well, blowing out the Seekers' electrical circuits with blasts that he fires from his fists.
* Frenzy actually tackles Optimus Prime. Strong little guy. Or nuts.
* This is one of the few times, possibly the only time, when Megatron criticizes Soundwave.

===Real-world references===
*Red Alert cops the tagline of Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry: "Go ahead, Soundwave... make my day."
*Megatron's line about "morons" is a verbatim quote from the 1969 classic ''Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid''.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine can be faintly heard as Buzzsaw strafes the bunker.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst and X-Wing diving as Soundwave's crew retreats.
** ''Falcon'' engine roar for Rumble's missile.

** ''Falcon'' engine burst and Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding, as Megatron launches to take the Negavator.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Ramjet descends toward the Negavator.
** [[Death Star]] turbolaser as the Autobots drive off the Decepticons in the canyon.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Starscream takes off from his cliffside perch.

===Trivia===
[[File:AutoBerserk Negavator in bunker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*And just why were the peaceful Autobots working on a highly destructive super weapon anyways? No wonder Red Alert was paranoid.
* This is Red Alert's biggest role in Transformers fiction, and has shaped many fans' perception of him... despite the fact that he was off his rocker for most of it.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Wahre Freunde'''" ("True Friends")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 13]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Tradimento inesistente'''" ("Inexistent Betrayal")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La furia di Red Alert'''" ("The Fury of Red Alert")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Negavator o Ubae!'''" (ネガベイターを奪え!, "Capture the Negavator!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20]], [[1985]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Elektronnoye besoumiye'''" (Электронное безумие, "The Electronic Madness")
:*''Original airdate:''

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 3: Programmed for Evil ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0808814/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://teletran93.deepspace93.com/tf2/ep33/ Teletran93's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/auto_berserk.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

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

Auto Berserk

2015-06-16T03:30:01Z

LongHaul: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=33
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=24
|prev2=City of Steel (episode)
|next2=Microbots
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=16
|prev3=Atlantis, Arise!
|next3=Kremzeek!
|image=AutoBerserk Red Alert glowing circuits.jpg
|caption=The voices in my head just told me to kill you!
|title="Auto Berserk"
|production code=#700-32
|airdate=[[October 16]], 1985
|written by=[[Antoni Zalewski]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''After having his logic circuits damaged in battle, Red Alert feels rejected by the Autobots and allies himself with Starscream.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AutoBerserk controlroom battle.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Sure is nice to have the G1 series on DVD, huh, Red?]]

After the [[Autobot]]s successfully test a new super-weapon called the [[Negavator]], they are attacked by [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and the [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]], who attempt to steal it for the [[Decepticon]]s. While most of the Autobots exit the bunker to fight, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] stays behind to guard the facility and operate the Negavator. At first, [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] stays to protect Red Alert, but he is eventually lured away by the call of battle, despite Red's protestations. Defeated, the Decepticons retreat, but not before [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] fires a rocket into the control room, which causes the console Red Alert was operating to explode. The Autobots return to assist him, but the odder-than-normal Red Alert brushes off their help, accusing Inferno of betraying him. However, Red Alert's injuries go deeper than the surface. His logic chips have been affected, and he begins to feel as though everyone is against him.

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert consoleexplode.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|IT'S OVER 9000!]]

As the Autobots escort the Negavator back to [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the Decepticons launch a sneak attack in a ravine that Red Alert does not detect due to his insecurities and his damaged state of mind. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] are buried under the rubble caused by Rumble's landslide while the Decepticon jets attempt to take on the remaining Autobots, only to be thwarted when [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] sprays a dark cloud of exhaust over them, obscuring their sensors and causing them to crash. With the Decepticons defeated a second time, Megatron retreats, leaving [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] behind. When Optimus Prime questions Red Alert about his lack of a warning on the attack, Red instead accuses the Autobots of wanting to do away with him and runs off at the suggestion that they repair his logic circuits. Starscream, observing this turn of events, follows Red into the city.

[[File:AutoBerserk Ironhide Not RedAlert.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|For me? Aw, you shouldn't have.]]

As the other Autobots try to find Red in the city, Starscream successfully gains the trust of the paranoid Autobot by sharing his similar situation, and together they form a partnership to steal the Negavator and bring both Optimus Prime and Megatron to account for their respective betrayals. Meanwhile, the Autobots have brought the Negavator back to the bunker and secured it in the lowest level while they recharge. [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and Inferno are concerned that Red Alert's logic circuits will explode if they do not find him soon. Red leads Starscream to a secret entrance into the bunker, but they are unaware they are being observed by [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and, in turn, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who seems to be content to let the pair of traitors do the dirty work for him.

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert on Starscream.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|SURPRISE PIGGYBACK RIDE!]]

Inside the bunker, Red Alert and Starscream narrowly avoid death at the hands of the [[tunnel drone]], but manage to set off the alarms in the process, alerting the Autobots. Commandeering the Negavator, they blast their way out of the holding chamber and use the elevator to arrive on the top level. Awaiting them are the other Autobots, who mistakenly believe Red Alert is some kind of hostage to Starscream until he tells them their intentions. At this point, Megatron and Decepticons enter, causing a sputtering Starscream to agree with Megatron that he was merely delivering the weapon to his leader. When Red Alert realizes Starscream's duplicity, he attempts to fire the Negavator, only to be pulled out of the cockpit and blasted with the Decepticon's [[null-ray]]. The null-ray blast serves to stabilize Red's [[Circuits#Logic circuits|logic circuits]], unbeknownst to the Decepticons, who attempt to force him to use the Negavator on the Autobots. Unfortunately for Megatron, Red Alert instead sets the self-destruct mechanism on the superweapon, causing the Decepticons to flee.

[[File:AutoBerserk Infernosaves RedAlert.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Don't bother trying to crucify yourself, Inferno. You'll never get that last nail driven in.]]

The Autobots run as the Negavator explodes. Discovering that Red Alert is still inside, Ironhide, then Optimus Prime attempt to enter the blaze to save their friend, but Inferno insists on doing it himself, perhaps as penance for his earlier desertion of Red. Inferno saves Red Alert from being crushed even as the remorseful Red tells the gun-slinging fire truck to leave him behind. Outside, the other Autobots cheer as Inferno carries the injured Red Alert out of the flames. Red attempts to apologize for all the trouble he has caused them, but Optimus Prime is the one who accepts the blame, for it was his insistence on testing the Negavator that started their problems. Prime declares they are glad to have Red Alert back, and commends both him and Inferno for their bravery. Red replies that with friends like the Autobots, it's easy to be brave.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (2)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (4)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (8)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (9)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (10)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (11)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (12)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (7)
*[[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|Cassettes]]
**[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (13)
**[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (14)
**[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
**[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] / [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] † (16)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (18)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (19)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (20)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (21)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (23)

†-''Soundwave'' calls for ''Buzzsaw'', but ''Laserbeak'' ejects

|c3=
*Army Officer #1 (5)
*Army Officer #2 (6)
*Fire Chief (24)
}}

==Quotes==
"Someday I want to build something that doesn't get trashed!"
:—'''Grapple''', digging out the ruins of his bunker.

"I'm fine! It's just an electroglitch that comes and goes. Comes and goes."
:—'''Red Alert''' demonstrates that he's definitely ''not'' fine.

"Why can't anyone see it?! '''Inferno wants my job!'''"
:—'''Red Alert''' spirals down into paranoia...

'''Inferno''': You need immediate repairs! 
'''Red Alert''': Don't give me any of that. You just want to disassemble me for spare parts! Never! I won't let you!
:— ...and hits bottom...

[[File:AutoBerserk RedAlert accusation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Red Alert's Goth phase. He spent all his time listening to Ministry and dreaming of becoming a black repaint.]]
'''Hoist''': Let me fix you! 
'''Red Alert''': Get back. I know ''just'' how you want to fix me!
:— ...and then grabs a shovel.

"I've got ''morons'' on my team!"
:—'''Megatron''' having a life-changing realization.

'''Ramjet''': Hey! My circuits electric blew just out! 
'''Skywarp''': Too mine! I'm blind flying! 
'''Starscream''': Away move, before collide we!
:—Seekers the, by Smokescreen scrambled.

'''Fire chief''': Hey! That's my car! Put it back where ya found it! 
'''Ironhide''': Aw, sorry, chief; it looked like a friend of mine! 
[''Transforms and drives off''] 
'''Fire chief''': No two ways about it—I gotta take that vacation!
:—Ironhide mistakes a real car for Red Alert

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Coloring errors:
** After Soundwave transforms in front of the Army general, his cheek guards are blue instead of gray.
** When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes:
*** His eject button is blue instead of gray. (And again as he prepares to take the Negavator.)
*** A Frenzy-colored Ravage tape is the first one out.
*** Frenzy sort of comes out twice, but the second Frenzy's colors are replaced with Ravage's half-way out.
** As he flees from the Negavator's shots, Soundwave's eyeband is white, then blue (instead of its proper red.)
** Frenzy's Decepticon sigil is yellow as he fires alongside Ravage.
** Rumble's eyeband is white as he climbs onto the Negavator.
** Hoist's feet are white instead of green as he climbs aboard the Negavator.
** As Megatron berates him, Soundwave has some bits of white on his upper helmet that shouldn't be there. Also, the ceiling is brown in that shot alone, while all other shots show it as the usual Decepticon purple.
** Starscream's air intakes are light gray instead of red as the smoke starts to wear off.
** The back of Ramjet's head is all dark gray as Megatron calls him a moron. The lower half should be white.
** As the Decepticons fly away from the canyon, Skywarp and Dirge fly past... followed by Thundercracker, who is in Dirge's colors for a split second, then changes to Skywarp's colors.
** Starscream's eyes are blue as he grapples with Red Alert.
** As the Autobots fire on the Decepticons, the white parts of Thrust's thighs are colored red.
** White feet on Hoist again as the Autobots prepare to evacuate the bunker.
** White tires on Hoist again as the Autobots look at the smoke coming from the bunker.
[[File:AutoBerserk-Grapple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Grapple's helmet colors change in this episode, from the orange seen in his previous appearances, to a more toy-based dark gray (with non-toy-based orange "horns"). It's consistently portrayed, indicating a different color model rather than an error.
* Grapple's mouth doesn't move for the first half of his "This'll teach you" line.
[[File:AutoBerzerk Frenzy warning.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]|Wait! Ah ah it's not what it looks like! I can explain!]]]
* Frenzy is about twice his usual size as he tackles Optimus.
* For some reason, Optimus's rifle gets only half of its usual sound effect as Optimus defends the Negavator, making it sound a bit like Megatron's fusion cannon.
* While Red Alert is talking to Prime after being damaged, the background switches from the grey of the bunker to orange like the Ark and back again.
* As the seekers walk into the Decepticon control room, Starscream's helm is white.
* The voice that says "The smoke is sticking to us" doesn't belong to any of the Transformers present. The closest match is an "off-model" Ramjet, though it sounds more like Smokescreen himself.
* Smokescreen gets the wrong (descending pitch) transformation noise as he returns to [[robot mode]].
* As the Decepticons retreat for the second time in the show, Ramjet mispronounces Starscream's name as "Starscweam".
* Starscream gets no transformation sound as he finishes returning to robot mode, nor as he takes off from his cliff.
* Ironhide also gets the ascending pitch transformation noise as he returns to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
* After the second commercial break, Starscream has gone from Red Alert's right to his left.
* Optimus presses the triangle on his wrist to determine his energy level, but in the next shots his finger moves up to the rectangles on his forearm and finally near his elbow.
* A few seconds later, Optimus and the others transform and Optimus' trailer rolls in ''through'' the building behind them!
* Thrust's robot mode colors are off consistently for the whole episode. His air intakes and shoulders are colored red instead of dark grey, and his face is a darker gray than normal.
* As Prime calls for the Autobots to return to headquarters, Hoist's feet, then his tires, are white (instead of green / black, respectively.)
* Thrust's line, "Just give the order, Megatron and I'll weld that traitor to the wall" is voiced as though he is offering that Megatron and Thrust will punish Starscream together, whereas it is quite obvious that he is rather addressing Megatron and offering to do the welding alone.
[[File:AutoBerserk Inferno RedAlert friendship.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* When the tunnel drone passes over the hole Starscream and Red Alert jumped down, its tentacles are missing.
* As the elevator doors open, a flash of blue light that should presumably be over Red Alert's horns appears next to the Negavator.
* No transformation noise as Starscream retreats.
* Megatron and 5 jets are seen flying away; there should be six jets.
* When Ironhide walks past Optimus Prime with the intention of rescuing Red Alert from the fire of the Negavator's destruction, his right arm clips right through Prime's left arm.
* After having spoken the final line of the episode, Red Alert's mouth keeps moving during the fadeout.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Autoberserk rumble in negavator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Behold!My new power!Egg Beetle go!]]
[[File:AutoBerserk OptimusPrime closedeyes.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|My eyes! The goggles do nothing!]]
* Rumble, Hoist and Megatron all use the Negavator's cockpit at various points in the episode, and somehow every time it's the right size for whomever's controlling it.
* When Soundwave is ejecting his tapes and calling their names, he calls for Buzzsaw, but Laserbeak is ejected instead and seen throughout the episode.
* Prime orders Red Alert to "analyze that noise"... in reference to a rock that just landed right in front of him.
* Judging by the dialog, the script seems to call for the Autobots to lose sight of Red as they chase him through the city. The animation to convey this, however, simply isn't there. The Autobots are ''right behind'' Red, then in the very next shot, they're pulling up to the burning building. With the not-Red Alert fire chief's car in plain sight the whole time, Hoist says "Oh no!" as if they've lost sight of Red, only for Ironhide to chime in "I see 'im!" a second later.
* Even as a "fly car" to respond to emergencies where a full-size rescue vehicle may not be required, It's pretty unlikely that a fire chief's car would be a Lamborghini Countach, but we can really lay that one at the feet of Hasbro/Takara, who developed the toy that became Red Alert.
* In Act 3, the Negavator's effect suddenly changes from "cleanly vaporize" to "cause big explosion".
* It's always bizarre when the Autobots cough in reaction to smoke; it happens here as they leave the bunker. Optimus even squeezes his eyes shut.
* Megatron became fairly acquainted with Grapple in "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]"; how does he not recognize him hiding amongst his troops in the final battle for the Negavator?

===Continuity notes===
[[File:AutoBerserk Hoist and Grapple digging.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* Soundwave heaves out four of his current five cassettes in one go, the most we've seen thus far in the series. (Although apparently he doesn't know [[FIRRIB|the difference between Laserbeak and Buzzsaw]]...)
* Gadgets and powers:
** The "horns" on Red Alert's head light up when his sensors detect Decepticon activity nearby... at least, that's how they work when he's not going loony.
** Optimus Prime's gun apparently has a "machine gun" setting.
** Hoist extends a pair of tentacle-like grapplers from his tow truck form to clear out the rubble of the bunker.
** Later, he extends a multi-segment crane arm with a huge grappling claw on the end. Grapple has the same claw attached to his crane arm.
** Smokescreen's smoke emerges from nozzles hidden behind his rear lights, rather than the usual tailpipe. It gets to show off its "magnetic" properties, adhering to the Seekers after they fly through it.
** Smokescreen uses his other ability as well, blowing out the Seekers' electrical circuits with blasts that he fires from his fists.
* Frenzy actually tackles Optimus Prime. Strong little guy. Or nuts.
* This is one of the few times, possibly the only time, when Megatron criticizes Soundwave.

===Real-world references===
*Red Alert cops the tagline of Clint Eastwood's character Dirty Harry: "Go ahead, Soundwave... make my day."
*Megatron's line about "morons" is a verbatim quote from the 1969 classic ''Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid''.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine can be faintly heard as Buzzsaw strafes the bunker.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst and X-Wing diving as Soundwave's crew retreats.
** ''Falcon'' engine roar for Rumble's missile.

** ''Falcon'' engine burst and Death Star firing/Alderaan exploding, as Megatron launches to take the Negavator.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Ramjet descends toward the Negavator.
** [[Death Star]] turbolaser as the Autobots drive off the Decepticons in the canyon.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Starscream takes off from his cliffside perch.

===Trivia===
[[File:AutoBerserk Negavator in bunker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*And just why were the peaceful Autobots working on a highly destructive super weapon anyways? No wonder Red Alert was paranoid.
* This is Red Alert's biggest role in Transformers fiction, and has shaped many fans' perception of him... despite the fact that he was off his rocker for most of it.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Wahre Freunde'''" ("True Friends")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 13]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Tradimento inesistente'''" ("Inexistent Betrayal")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La furia di Red Alert'''" ("The Fury of Red Alert")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Negavator o Ubae!'''" (ネガベイターを奪え!, "Capture the Negavator!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20]], [[1985]]

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Elektronnoye besoumiye'''" (Электронное безумие, "The Electronic Madness")
:*''Original airdate:''

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 3: Programmed for Evil ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;[[Wikipedia:LaserDisc|LaserDisc]]
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 3 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
* [http://imdb.com/title/tt0808814/ IMDb's page for this episode]
* [http://teletran93.deepspace93.com/tf2/ep33/ Teletran93's page for this episode]
* [http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/auto_berserk.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

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

Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!!

2015-02-02T22:47:33Z

LongHaul: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Masterforce
|ep=32
|image=Secretorders.jpg
|caption=Well, if they're secret, how are we supposed to know what to do?
|title="Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!!"
|japanese=秘密指令!サイバトロン基地を破壊せよ!!
|romaji=Himitsu Shirei! Cybertron Kichi o Hakaiseyo!!
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|airdate=[[December 6|6 December]] 1988
|writer=[[Toyohiro Ando]]
|director=[[Yoshikata Nitta]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Installed as a double-agent within the Autobot ranks, Clouder begins a sabotage scheme that sets up their base for an all-out Decepticon attack. '''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:SecretOrders Clouder Jnrs buddy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|I know this cool bicycle shop where we can play video games and pretend to be Tarzan.]]

Still believing that the [[Decepticon]] spy [[Clouder]] is one of them, the [[Autobot]]s have welcomed him into their [[Autobot Base|base]]. As [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] spends a quiet afternoon showing him around, he sneaks into the Barrier System room and downloads information on Autobot Base's location. [[Cab]] and [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]] find him, but he claims he was just mesmerized by the equipment, and he and the [[Headmaster Junior]]s go on to relax with cartoons and cookies.

A little later, Clouder excuses himself from the Juniors' company and leaves the base in his [[transtector]]. Once out of range, he transforms to his Decepticon falcon mode and meets with the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors, who are waiting in the forest nearby, handing off the downloading information to them. His flight does not go unnoticed, however, as [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] witnesses him emerging from the trees and spots the Juniors below. Unaware that this Decepticon falcon is Clouder, he returns to the Autobot base and consults the computer records for an identification, only to discover that access to the system has been locked out. When he asks the Autobot Juniors who is responsible for tampering with the computers, Minerva takes the blame, but Hawk suspects they are covering for their new "friend".

[[Image:SecretOrders sinister Clouder.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Im such a creep.]]
Meanwhile, beneath the ocean, the Decepticon Juniors have delivered Clouder's information to the other Decepticons, who are operating out of [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s base mode. Obtaining the base's location is only the first step in the plan, as they must now await Clouder's delivery of the plans to the compound. The young [[Godmaster]] wastes no time in going about this task, sneaking around the base and planting explosives which detonate within a matter of minutes. When Hawk and the Juniors race to investigate the damage, Clouder enters the control room and downloads the necessary data. In response to the news of the explosions, [[Ginrai]] and the Autobot Godmasters return to the base from [[Canada]]. Hawk voices his suspicions to Ginrai without naming names, but Ginrai takes his meaning, and they go outside to speak freely. Ginrai throws out Hawk's claims and defends Clouder, but Shūta overhears them and tells the other Juniors. While he and Cab share in Hawk's suspicions, Minerva protests the innocence of their new "comrade".

[[Image:SecretOrders Clouder vs Godmasters.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
After night has fallen, as the assembled Autobots prepare to conduct a base-wide search, their computers suddenly go haywire as they are hit by jamming waves. The waves are the work of the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors, who are preparing for their next rendezvous with Clouder—[[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] has accidentally started broadcasting the waves early, tipping the Autobots off to their presence. Cancer cuts the waves off, and Metalhawk and [[Ranger]] head out to investigate. Clouder follows them out, professing to have been ordered to do so by Ginrai, and breaks off from the group to meet with the Decepticons in his falcon form. As he hands the Juniors the data, however, Metalhawk catches them in the act and hears Clouder referred to by name by the Decepticons. With the identity of the traitor confirmed, a battle between the two erupts. Ranger and [[Lightfoot]] arrive to help, and together, they bring Clouder down. Clouder is subsequently imprisoned in the Autobot base, and much anger and regret ensues, particularly from Ginrai and Minerva.

[[Image:SecretOrders Jnrs bound Clouder.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Clouder is starting to have second thoughts about volunteering to be in Shūta's knife throwing act.]]
The data stolen by Clouder, meanwhile, is brought back to [[Mega]] and [[Giga]] by the Juniors, and they order [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]] and [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] to attack a city in order to draw as many of the Autobots out of their base as possible. Predictably enough, Ginrai and the Godmasters head out, at which point Overlord transforms to vehicle mode, and he and the Decepticon Juniors roll out for their attack on the Autobot base. As they mass on the mountain ridge overlooking the base, Clouder triggers his remaining bombs with a concealed detonator, and as the explosions tear through the base, destroying their communications systems, the Decepticon onslaught begins!

In the city, Ginrai and [[Godbomber]] clash with Buster and Hydra as the other Godmasters aid in rescues and repairs. Knowing that the success of the Decepticons' strategy rides on their drawing the fight out, Buster and Hydra try a new formation—Hydra leaps onto Buster's shoulders, and they merge their [[Chōkon Power]] in a mighty "Chōkon Scramble" attack! Unaware of the fate of his comrades back at the base, Ginrai fights on...

As the forest around the Autobot base burns, a fierce attack from the Decepticons destroys their weapons system, and a final missile strike cuts power to the entire complex. As Metalhawk and the Juniors look out at the Sun cresting the horizon, the looming form of Overlord's base mode appears, and the ringing laughter of Mega and Giga can be heard...

[[Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes|To be continued...]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] (12)
* [[Godbomber]] (19)

'''Human Autobots'''

* [[Ginrai]] (5)
* [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] (6)
* [[Shūta Gō]] (7)
* [[Cab]] (8)
* [[Road King]] (16)
* [[Ranger]] (17)
* [[Lightfoot]] (18)

|c2=
* [[King Poseidon]] (2)

'''Human Decepticons'''

* [[Clouder]] (1)
* [[Giga]] (3)
* [[Mega]] (4)
* [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] (9)
* [[Wilder]] (10)
* [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] (11)
* [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (13)
* [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]] (14)
* [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] (15)
}}

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When the Autobots realize that Clouder is the traitor, the "eyeholes" on his Decepticon [[insignia]], as well as the hole in the crest, are colored purple, instead of black, like his armor.
*Clouder's hairline seems to drastically recede once he's tied up.
*During the push through the forest toward the Autobot base, the rails on Giga's tank are a light gray, when they should normally be the same teal color as Overlord's shins/ramps.
*During the rescue scenes in the city, there's a terribly blatant animation loop in which three people run past Ranger a number of times in quick succession.

===Continuity errors===
*The sun is beginning to set as Clouder's explosives go off… and yet it ''still isn't dark'' by the time that Ginrai and the Godmasters arrive… having travelled from ''Canada'' to ''Japan''. Not the only time that ''Masterforce'' has had characters travel large distances in next to no time, but come ''on''.

*At the end of the previous episode, Ginrai looked at Clouder in an over-the-shoulder look as though he were suspicious of Clouder for something. But, in this episode, when Hawk tells Ginrai that he suspects Clouder to be a traitor, Ginrai openly states that he fully trusts Clouder and denies him of being a traitor. Why would he look at someone he fully trusts in a suspicious manner?

===Continuity notes===
*Clouder "joined" the Autobots in the [[Appearance!! The Final Godmaster|previous episode]].

*The "Scramble" in "Chōkon Scramble" appears to refer to Buster and Hydra's rudimentary combination, since "Scramble" was the term used to refer to the power of combination in ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', "[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]" and the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (manga)|associated manga]].

===Real-world references===
[[Image:Tortoise and hare.jpg|right|180px|thumb|]]
*The cartoon that the Headmaster Juniors and Clouder are watching appears to be a slapstick version of Aesop's fable, "[[wikipedia:The Tortoise and the Hare|The Tortoise and the Hare]]".
*As Giga and Mega begin their assault on the Autobot Base, one of the shots of ordinance being raised into position is an almost-exact rendition of the [[wikipedia:List of spacecraft from the Space Odyssey series#Aries_Ib|Aries Ib]] lunar lander being lowered into the [[wikipedia:Clavius Base|Clavius]] moonbase as seen in [[wikipedia:2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|''2001: A Space Odyssey'']].

===Trivia===
*This episode features the debut of the third and final set of eyecatches (commercial bumpers) for the series. They feature God Ginrai, [[Grand Maximus]], [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] and Overlord, with the God Ginrai bumper being repeated at the conclusion of the episodes, rather than a fifth unique one being used, as has been the case in the past.
*The insert song "[[Kiseki no Transformer]]" features once again. For the last time this time.
*Although it's not the first episode of ''Super-God Masterforce'' to go out on a cliffhanger, it ''is'' the first to actually have "To Be Continued" appear at the end.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Destroy the Autobots' Headquarters'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' — DVD Box 02 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 2 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Super God Masterforce'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Super-God Masterforce episodes]]

Go, Goshooter - Showdown in the Wasteland

2015-01-25T19:28:35Z

LongHaul: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Masterforce
|ep=6
|image=Wasteland.jpg
|caption=FIERY PHOENIX!
|title="Go, Goshooter—Showdown in the Wasteland"
|japanese=行けゴーシューター・荒野の対決
|romaji=Yuke Gō Shūtā—Kōya no Taiketsu
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|writer=[[Hiroyuki Hoshiyama]]
|director=[[Hiroki Shibata]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|airdate=[[May 17|17 May]] 1988
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Wilder continues to revisit his past when he kidnaps a former member of his gang who turned against him, and Shūta has to lead the Headmaster Juniors in rescuing him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:GoGoshooter Mary asks for help.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"Hey what are you looking at?! You stay away from my boyfriend!"]]
In the [[Decepticon]] [[Decepticon Base|base]] at the bottom of the ocean, [[Blood]] lectures the [[Headmaster Junior]]s on the [[Chōkon Power]], the three primal energies of life—Chichōkon, the power of Earth, Jinchōkon, the power of Man, and Tenchōkon, the power of the Heavens. The Decepticons aspire to destabilize the balance of life on Earth by disrupting any one of the three Chōkon Powers, taking that energy for their own evil ends. [[Wilder]] decides to make a very personal start to the theft of Jinchōkon from human beings, selecting as his victim his former friend [[Chris]], previously a member of his [[Jack Boys]] motorcycle gang who left the group after Wilder joined the Decepticons. Chris is snatched off the streets by the gang under Wilder's orders, but his sister, [[Mary]], spots the kidnap and follows on her scooter. She soon loses their trail, and, searching for help, spots a police car—only it's not an actual officer's vehicle, but the [[Transtector]] belonging to [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]], who is out shopping with [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] and [[Cab]] for a party for their last night in America. The Headmaster Juniors listen to Mary's story, and vow to help save her brother; she leads them to one of the gang's hangouts in the barren land outside the city.

[[Image:GoGoshooter Wilder's shiny transtector.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
At the gang's hideout, the kidnapped Chris is brought before Wilder; although Wilder proceeds to deliver a speech about how the power they now possess means they have nothing to fear, he also seems to display a genuine friendship for Chris when he asks him to stay with the gang—making him all the more furious when Chris refuses, telling Wilder that he is a changed man, causing Wilder to hurl his former friend into a wall and punch and kick him until he bleeds. At that point, a gang member alerts Wilder to the approach of Mary and the [[Autobot]] Headmaster Juniors. A battle ensues, with Shūta drawing the attention of the three Decepticon Juniors while Cab attempts to sneak into the hideout and get Chris to safety. [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] spots him, however, and Minerva then comes to his aid while Shūta continues to battle Wilder.

[[Image:GoGoshooter Cancer Mary knifepoint.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"I know you have one! Gimme your [[Salt-Man Z]] toy!"]]
[[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] tips the battle when he disconnects from his Transtector and captures Mary, putting a knife to her throat and preventing the Autobots from acting. Chris recovers from his beating in time to see his sister in danger and sneaks away from the gang, who are caught up watching the fight, stealing a motorcycle and driving it straight into Cancer's head. Chris leaps free as the bike explodes, and Cancer is toppled, allowing Mary to escape while Minerva paralyzes the other Decepticons with her Shock Gun. With Mary and Chris both safe, the Autobot Juniors transform to vehicle mode and make themselves scarce.

[[Image:GoGoshooter motorcycle attack.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This heroic image doesn't show one second later when Chris is engulfed in a terrible explosion.]]
Back at the [[Ocean Research Institute of California|Ocean Research Institute]], [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] joins the Juniors, Chris and Mary in a dinner party cooked by Cab. As Chris sees the friends laughing and joking together, he is reminded of his early days with Wilder, and how much his friend changed in the name of power. Diver tells Chris that all the Autobots are his friends, and Chris decides to make a new start with his life.

Meanwhile, back in the Decepticon base, Gilmer walks through the main hall alone, passing by the pillar atop which rests the glowing orb of light as he mutters to himself that Wilder is still a weakling. No sooner have the words passed his gills, however, than a bolt of crackling energy leaps from the orb and rips through Gilmer, who screams and begs forgiveness...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] (13)

'''Human Autobots'''

* [[Cab]] (10)
* [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] (11)
* [[Shūta Gō]] (12)

|c2=
* [[Blood]] (1)
* [[Devil Z]] (2)
* [[Gilmer]] (3)
* [[Dauros]] (7)

'''Human Decepticons'''

* [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] (4)
* [[Wilder]] (5)
* [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] (6)

|c3=
* [[Mary]] (8)
* [[Chris]] (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"Uh, this is a police car, but I'm obviously not a policeman."
:—'''Shūta'''

"Hey, Shūta! When you said leave the barbecue to you, did you mean the eating?"
:—'''Cab'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:GoGoshooter Decepticon Cab.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
*The shop the kids are shopping at is a "Super Marcket".
*While challenging Bullhorn, Cab is drawn with a red Decepticon mark in place of his Autobot symbol.
*In the park, while sitting on the bench speaking about Chris being in danger, Minerva's eyes move up and down slightly.
*Getting pummeled by Wilder, Shūta loses his autobot symbol for an instant.
*When Chris first sees Mary in the clutches of Cancer, her left hand appears slightly off with an especially thin thumb.
*Climbing down from the cave Chris appears to be stepping on thin air at times.
*Humorously, it appears as if Minerva is moving the same portion of food from one plate to another twice. In another perspective not long after, the same part of the table has an empty plate with a wine glass sitting beside it. A third perspective of the table has the plates of food return, but an empty plate and wine glass from the first scene (in the corner nearest Minerva) is missing.

===Transformers references===
*For the first time since its debut in "[[Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt]]", we once again see the pulsating globe of light in the Decepticon base. As discussed in that article, since we have to list it in the character table above there's no point in hiding the fact that it's the Decepticon emperor, [[Devil Z]], but the significance of the orb is not yet known in the show itself. This episode really draws viewers' attentions to it, however, with a lingering shot early in the episode, and the final scene (described above) making it clear that this ain't just Dauros's nightlight.
*The Autobot Headmaster Juniors have been visiting Diver in America since [[Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules|last episode]].
*Likewise, we also learned about Wilder's past with the Jack Boys in the previous episode. He appears to have rebuilt the gang in the interim.

===Trivia===
*As noted in the article for "[[Birth! Headmaster Jrs]]", the "Goshooter" mentioned in the title is Shūta's "Transformer" name, derived from the traditional Japanese construction of one's full name. It's the name his toy was sold under, although it's never actually used in dialogue and doesn't appear in the show again in any capacity after this episode.
*This episode introduces the mysteries of Chōkon Power—although it bears very little relevance to the events of the episode itself, it will go on to be one of the most important concepts in ''Super-God Masterforce''.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Battle in the Barren Lands'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''Go, Goshooter! Showdown in the Wasteland'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::* The three energies of the Chōkon Power are now "kinds of [[Energon]]," or Energon Power made up of Earth Energon, Spark Energon and Star Energon.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' — DVD Box 01 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 2 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Super God Masterforce'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Super-God Masterforce episodes]]

Go, Goshooter - Showdown in the Wasteland

2015-01-25T19:26:32Z

LongHaul: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Masterforce
|ep=6
|image=Wasteland.jpg
|caption=FIERY PHOENIX!
|title="Go, Goshooter—Showdown in the Wasteland"
|japanese=行けゴーシューター・荒野の対決
|romaji=Yuke Gō Shūtā—Kōya no Taiketsu
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|writer=[[Hiroyuki Hoshiyama]]
|director=[[Hiroki Shibata]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|airdate=[[May 17|17 May]] 1988
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Wilder continues to revisit his past when he kidnaps a former member of his gang who turned against him, and Shūta has to lead the Headmaster Juniors in rescuing him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:GoGoshooter Mary asks for help.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]
In the [[Decepticon]] [[Decepticon Base|base]] at the bottom of the ocean, [[Blood]] lectures the [[Headmaster Junior]]s on the [[Chōkon Power]], the three primal energies of life—Chichōkon, the power of Earth, Jinchōkon, the power of Man, and Tenchōkon, the power of the Heavens. The Decepticons aspire to destabilize the balance of life on Earth by disrupting any one of the three Chōkon Powers, taking that energy for their own evil ends. [[Wilder]] decides to make a very personal start to the theft of Jinchōkon from human beings, selecting as his victim his former friend [[Chris]], previously a member of his [[Jack Boys]] motorcycle gang who left the group after Wilder joined the Decepticons. Chris is snatched off the streets by the gang under Wilder's orders, but his sister, [[Mary]], spots the kidnap and follows on her scooter. She soon loses their trail, and, searching for help, spots a police car—only it's not an actual officer's vehicle, but the [[Transtector]] belonging to [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]], who is out shopping with [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] and [[Cab]] for a party for their last night in America. The Headmaster Juniors listen to Mary's story, and vow to help save her brother; she leads them to one of the gang's hangouts in the barren land outside the city.

[[Image:GoGoshooter Wilder's shiny transtector.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
At the gang's hideout, the kidnapped Chris is brought before Wilder; although Wilder proceeds to deliver a speech about how the power they now possess means they have nothing to fear, he also seems to display a genuine friendship for Chris when he asks him to stay with the gang—making him all the more furious when Chris refuses, telling Wilder that he is a changed man, causing Wilder to hurl his former friend into a wall and punch and kick him until he bleeds. At that point, a gang member alerts Wilder to the approach of Mary and the [[Autobot]] Headmaster Juniors. A battle ensues, with Shūta drawing the attention of the three Decepticon Juniors while Cab attempts to sneak into the hideout and get Chris to safety. [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] spots him, however, and Minerva then comes to his aid while Shūta continues to battle Wilder.

[[Image:GoGoshooter Cancer Mary knifepoint.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"I know you have one! Gimme your [[Salt-Man Z]] toy!"]]
[[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] tips the battle when he disconnects from his Transtector and captures Mary, putting a knife to her throat and preventing the Autobots from acting. Chris recovers from his beating in time to see his sister in danger and sneaks away from the gang, who are caught up watching the fight, stealing a motorcycle and driving it straight into Cancer's head. Chris leaps free as the bike explodes, and Cancer is toppled, allowing Mary to escape while Minerva paralyzes the other Decepticons with her Shock Gun. With Mary and Chris both safe, the Autobot Juniors transform to vehicle mode and make themselves scarce.

[[Image:GoGoshooter motorcycle attack.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This heroic image doesn't show one second later when Chris is engulfed in a terrible explosion.]]
Back at the [[Ocean Research Institute of California|Ocean Research Institute]], [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] joins the Juniors, Chris and Mary in a dinner party cooked by Cab. As Chris sees the friends laughing and joking together, he is reminded of his early days with Wilder, and how much his friend changed in the name of power. Diver tells Chris that all the Autobots are his friends, and Chris decides to make a new start with his life.

Meanwhile, back in the Decepticon base, Gilmer walks through the main hall alone, passing by the pillar atop which rests the glowing orb of light as he mutters to himself that Wilder is still a weakling. No sooner have the words passed his gills, however, than a bolt of crackling energy leaps from the orb and rips through Gilmer, who screams and begs forgiveness...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] (13)

'''Human Autobots'''

* [[Cab]] (10)
* [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] (11)
* [[Shūta Gō]] (12)

|c2=
* [[Blood]] (1)
* [[Devil Z]] (2)
* [[Gilmer]] (3)
* [[Dauros]] (7)

'''Human Decepticons'''

* [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] (4)
* [[Wilder]] (5)
* [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] (6)

|c3=
* [[Mary]] (8)
* [[Chris]] (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"Uh, this is a police car, but I'm obviously not a policeman."
:—'''Shūta'''

"Hey, Shūta! When you said leave the barbecue to you, did you mean the eating?"
:—'''Cab'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:GoGoshooter Decepticon Cab.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
*The shop the kids are shopping at is a "Super Marcket".
*While challenging Bullhorn, Cab is drawn with a red Decepticon mark in place of his Autobot symbol.
*In the park, while sitting on the bench speaking about Chris being in danger, Minerva's eyes move up and down slightly.
*Getting pummeled by Wilder, Shūta loses his autobot symbol for an instant.
*When Chris first sees Mary in the clutches of Cancer, her left hand appears slightly off with an especially thin thumb.
*Climbing down from the cave Chris appears to be stepping on thin air at times.
*Humorously, it appears as if Minerva is moving the same portion of food from one plate to another twice. In another perspective not long after, the same part of the table has an empty plate with a wine glass sitting beside it. A third perspective of the table has the plates of food return, but an empty plate and wine glass from the first scene (in the corner nearest Minerva) is missing.

===Transformers references===
*For the first time since its debut in "[[Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt]]", we once again see the pulsating globe of light in the Decepticon base. As discussed in that article, since we have to list it in the character table above there's no point in hiding the fact that it's the Decepticon emperor, [[Devil Z]], but the significance of the orb is not yet known in the show itself. This episode really draws viewers' attentions to it, however, with a lingering shot early in the episode, and the final scene (described above) making it clear that this ain't just Dauros's nightlight.
*The Autobot Headmaster Juniors have been visiting Diver in America since [[Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules|last episode]].
*Likewise, we also learned about Wilder's past with the Jack Boys in the previous episode. He appears to have rebuilt the gang in the interim.

===Trivia===
*As noted in the article for "[[Birth! Headmaster Jrs]]", the "Goshooter" mentioned in the title is Shūta's "Transformer" name, derived from the traditional Japanese construction of one's full name. It's the name his toy was sold under, although it's never actually used in dialogue and doesn't appear in the show again in any capacity after this episode.
*This episode introduces the mysteries of Chōkon Power—although it bears very little relevance to the events of the episode itself, it will go on to be one of the most important concepts in ''Super-God Masterforce''.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Battle in the Barren Lands'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''Go, Goshooter! Showdown in the Wasteland'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::* The three energies of the Chōkon Power are now "kinds of [[Energon]]," or Energon Power made up of Earth Energon, Spark Energon and Star Energon.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' — DVD Box 01 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 2 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Super God Masterforce'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Super-God Masterforce episodes]]

Go, Goshooter - Showdown in the Wasteland

2015-01-25T19:25:45Z

LongHaul: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=Masterforce
|ep=6
|image=Wasteland.jpg
|caption=FIERY PHOENIX!
|title="Go, Goshooter—Showdown in the Wasteland"
|japanese=行けゴーシューター・荒野の対決
|romaji=Yuke Gō Shūtā—Kōya no Taiketsu
|production code=
|production company=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei]]
|writer=[[Hiroyuki Hoshiyama]]
|director=[[Hiroki Shibata]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|airdate=[[May 17|17 May]] 1988
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Wilder continues to revisit his past when he kidnaps a former member of his gang who turned against him, and Shūta has to lead the Headmaster Juniors in rescuing him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:GoGoshooter Mary asks for help.jpg|thumb|left|200px]"Hey what are you looking at?! You stay away from my boyfriend!"]
In the [[Decepticon]] [[Decepticon Base|base]] at the bottom of the ocean, [[Blood]] lectures the [[Headmaster Junior]]s on the [[Chōkon Power]], the three primal energies of life—Chichōkon, the power of Earth, Jinchōkon, the power of Man, and Tenchōkon, the power of the Heavens. The Decepticons aspire to destabilize the balance of life on Earth by disrupting any one of the three Chōkon Powers, taking that energy for their own evil ends. [[Wilder]] decides to make a very personal start to the theft of Jinchōkon from human beings, selecting as his victim his former friend [[Chris]], previously a member of his [[Jack Boys]] motorcycle gang who left the group after Wilder joined the Decepticons. Chris is snatched off the streets by the gang under Wilder's orders, but his sister, [[Mary]], spots the kidnap and follows on her scooter. She soon loses their trail, and, searching for help, spots a police car—only it's not an actual officer's vehicle, but the [[Transtector]] belonging to [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]], who is out shopping with [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] and [[Cab]] for a party for their last night in America. The Headmaster Juniors listen to Mary's story, and vow to help save her brother; she leads them to one of the gang's hangouts in the barren land outside the city.

[[Image:GoGoshooter Wilder's shiny transtector.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
At the gang's hideout, the kidnapped Chris is brought before Wilder; although Wilder proceeds to deliver a speech about how the power they now possess means they have nothing to fear, he also seems to display a genuine friendship for Chris when he asks him to stay with the gang—making him all the more furious when Chris refuses, telling Wilder that he is a changed man, causing Wilder to hurl his former friend into a wall and punch and kick him until he bleeds. At that point, a gang member alerts Wilder to the approach of Mary and the [[Autobot]] Headmaster Juniors. A battle ensues, with Shūta drawing the attention of the three Decepticon Juniors while Cab attempts to sneak into the hideout and get Chris to safety. [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] spots him, however, and Minerva then comes to his aid while Shūta continues to battle Wilder.

[[Image:GoGoshooter Cancer Mary knifepoint.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"I know you have one! Gimme your [[Salt-Man Z]] toy!"]]
[[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] tips the battle when he disconnects from his Transtector and captures Mary, putting a knife to her throat and preventing the Autobots from acting. Chris recovers from his beating in time to see his sister in danger and sneaks away from the gang, who are caught up watching the fight, stealing a motorcycle and driving it straight into Cancer's head. Chris leaps free as the bike explodes, and Cancer is toppled, allowing Mary to escape while Minerva paralyzes the other Decepticons with her Shock Gun. With Mary and Chris both safe, the Autobot Juniors transform to vehicle mode and make themselves scarce.

[[Image:GoGoshooter motorcycle attack.jpg|thumb|right|200px|This heroic image doesn't show one second later when Chris is engulfed in a terrible explosion.]]
Back at the [[Ocean Research Institute of California|Ocean Research Institute]], [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] joins the Juniors, Chris and Mary in a dinner party cooked by Cab. As Chris sees the friends laughing and joking together, he is reminded of his early days with Wilder, and how much his friend changed in the name of power. Diver tells Chris that all the Autobots are his friends, and Chris decides to make a new start with his life.

Meanwhile, back in the Decepticon base, Gilmer walks through the main hall alone, passing by the pillar atop which rests the glowing orb of light as he mutters to himself that Wilder is still a weakling. No sooner have the words passed his gills, however, than a bolt of crackling energy leaps from the orb and rips through Gilmer, who screams and begs forgiveness...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] (13)

'''Human Autobots'''

* [[Cab]] (10)
* [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]] (11)
* [[Shūta Gō]] (12)

|c2=
* [[Blood]] (1)
* [[Devil Z]] (2)
* [[Gilmer]] (3)
* [[Dauros]] (7)

'''Human Decepticons'''

* [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] (4)
* [[Wilder]] (5)
* [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] (6)

|c3=
* [[Mary]] (8)
* [[Chris]] (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"Uh, this is a police car, but I'm obviously not a policeman."
:—'''Shūta'''

"Hey, Shūta! When you said leave the barbecue to you, did you mean the eating?"
:—'''Cab'''

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
[[Image:GoGoshooter Decepticon Cab.jpg|thumb|right|200px]]
*The shop the kids are shopping at is a "Super Marcket".
*While challenging Bullhorn, Cab is drawn with a red Decepticon mark in place of his Autobot symbol.
*In the park, while sitting on the bench speaking about Chris being in danger, Minerva's eyes move up and down slightly.
*Getting pummeled by Wilder, Shūta loses his autobot symbol for an instant.
*When Chris first sees Mary in the clutches of Cancer, her left hand appears slightly off with an especially thin thumb.
*Climbing down from the cave Chris appears to be stepping on thin air at times.
*Humorously, it appears as if Minerva is moving the same portion of food from one plate to another twice. In another perspective not long after, the same part of the table has an empty plate with a wine glass sitting beside it. A third perspective of the table has the plates of food return, but an empty plate and wine glass from the first scene (in the corner nearest Minerva) is missing.

===Transformers references===
*For the first time since its debut in "[[Terror! The Decepticons' Manhunt]]", we once again see the pulsating globe of light in the Decepticon base. As discussed in that article, since we have to list it in the character table above there's no point in hiding the fact that it's the Decepticon emperor, [[Devil Z]], but the significance of the orb is not yet known in the show itself. This episode really draws viewers' attentions to it, however, with a lingering shot early in the episode, and the final scene (described above) making it clear that this ain't just Dauros's nightlight.
*The Autobot Headmaster Juniors have been visiting Diver in America since [[Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules|last episode]].
*Likewise, we also learned about Wilder's past with the Jack Boys in the previous episode. He appears to have rebuilt the gang in the interim.

===Trivia===
*As noted in the article for "[[Birth! Headmaster Jrs]]", the "Goshooter" mentioned in the title is Shūta's "Transformer" name, derived from the traditional Japanese construction of one's full name. It's the name his toy was sold under, although it's never actually used in dialogue and doesn't appear in the show again in any capacity after this episode.
*This episode introduces the mysteries of Chōkon Power—although it bears very little relevance to the events of the episode itself, it will go on to be one of the most important concepts in ''Super-God Masterforce''.

===Foreign localization===
'''English'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Battle in the Barren Lands'''" ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

:*''Title:'' "'''Go, Goshooter! Showdown in the Wasteland'''" ([[Shout! Factory]] sub)
::* The three energies of the Chōkon Power are now "kinds of [[Energon]]," or Energon Power made up of Earth Energon, Spark Energon and Star Energon.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote|jsubs}}
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2003 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' — DVD Box 01 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 2 — ''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''The Transformers: Super God Masterforce'' ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Japan Generation 1'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Super-God Masterforce episodes]]

The Burden Hardest to Bear

2015-01-08T16:40:02Z

LongHaul: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=93
|series2=2010
|ep2=28
|prev2=The Face of the Nijika
|next2=Daniel's Adventure
|image=Matrix burden 2.jpg
|caption=You found me beautiful, once.
|title="The Burden Hardest to Bear"
|production code=700-114
|airdate=[[November 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Overwhelmed by the burdens of leadership, Rodimus Prime doesn't care too much when the Decepticons steal the Matrix of Leadership away from him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:BurdenHardest Defensor Bruticus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So, uh... If what it looks like is about to happen happens... does it count as an orgy?]]

At dawn, the people of [[Japan]] are awakening to do their daily tasks: fishing, going to shrines, and sword practice. Then, the [[Decepticon]]s show up to cause random trouble.

[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] begin harassing a few fishermen, but are chased off by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] tries to ram a train head on (real smart) only to have the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] drive him away. [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] fight it out, when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep|Sweeps]] arrive, but are driven off by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. However, instead of thanking the [[Autobot|Autobots]] for saving many lives, the government of Japan is very upset, saying that the Autobots frightened people and ruined business (thankless bipeds). When [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and brings more problems to Rodimus, the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] loses patience, [[Transformation|transforms]], and drives off. Kup explains that Rodimus is merely strained under the burden of command, much like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was in his early days as leader, and Marissa decides to follow him, to let him have someone to talk to.

[[Image:Matrix burden 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Galvatron takes the brown acid.]]

Meeting up on the highway, however, the two are attacked by [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], who knock Marissa's [[spinner]] into a lake and force Rodimus off a cliff. When they inspect Rodimus, they find the Matrix. Realizing that [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] will be ''really'' happy, they steal it and return to [[Chaar]]. In his throne room, Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, but instead of making it even more powerful like he had hoped, visions of the [[Ancient Autobots]] (including Optimus Prime himself) seep out of the barrel and demand that Galvatron return the Matrix. Galvatron orders [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to destroy the Matrix, believing it better to be destroyed if the Decepticons can't have it. Scourge, however, inserts the Matrix into himself, and becomes more powerful... but at a startling price.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod recover.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Augh... can't get the mental image of Bruticus/Defensor out!]]

Meanwhile, the Autobot leader wakes up, to learn that he's reverted to Hot Rod. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] argue that they should go after the Decepticons, but Hot Rod feels that the Matrix isn't worth it, and jets off. Real smart idea, Roddy. On Chaar, Scourge challenges Galvatron, defeating him and Cyclonus easily, before leading the Decepticons off to Earth. Galvatron and Cyclonus still function, and set off in pursuit in the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]''.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yoink!]]

On Earth, Hot Rod, while watching a martial arts class, gets some perspective and some wisdom from the kendo instructor, and realizes that he needs to get the Matrix back. Meanwhile, Scourge arrives in Japan with his forces, tossing around the Autobots. Broadside tosses him to the ground and he frightens an elderly woman. Ozu, one of the kendo students, comes to her aid, attacking Scourge with a sword and he begins to chase the pair. He corners them in a blind alley, only for Hot Rod to arrive. Shocked at the changes the Matrix has wrought in Scourge, Hot Rod defeats the Decepticon and reclaims the Matrix, becoming Rodimus Prime once more. Galvatron and Cyclonus find a less powerful, and very frightened, Scourge. And they are none too happy with him...

As the Decepticons retreat, Rodimus realizes that he must deal with his missing part, as have those who came before him. Kup reminds him that no matter who carries the Matrix, he will retain that part forever.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (13)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (14)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (21)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (22)
* [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (23)
* [[Ancient Autobots]] (35)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (36)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (37)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (38)

|c2=
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (2)
* [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (3)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (15)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (19)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (20)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (26)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (27)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (28)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (31)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (32)
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (33)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (34)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (39)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (40)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (41)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (42)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (43)

|c3=
* [[Ozu's sensei]] (16)
* [[Ozu (G1)|Ozu]] (17)
* [[Prime Minister of Japan]] (29)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (30)
* [[Old Japanese lady]] (44)
}}

==Quotes==
"Eh, you've had worse times." 
"Yeah, when do they get better? That's what ''I'' wanna know."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus'''

"[[Wikipedia:Second City Television|He done blowed up real good]]."
:—'''Wildrider''', master of grammar

"You dropped it, didn't you? You broke the Matrix, didn't you?!"
:—'''Galvatron'''

"Aren't you getting a little carried away here? I'm still me, you're still you: Matrix, schmatrix."
:—'''Hot Rod''' is flippant after losing a hand-me-down.

"We're too late, Galvatron! Scourge has already launched his assault!" 
"He doesn't know the meaning of the word assault, but he's going to learn!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron'''

"Oh no, we're trapped! We'll be killed!" 
"Remarkable. The woman is clairvoyant!" 
:-'''Scourge''' mocks his intended victim.

"The Matrix did this to you? Then I have to take it back. I see now it is my obligation. I belong to it... as much as it belongs to me!"
:—'''Hot Rod'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s realization at last.

"Well, son of a gun. Found that missing part, huh?" 
"Not just the Matrix, Kup, a missing part of... myself."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Coloring errors:
** Devastator is colored olive green rather than light green in the opening battle.
** Behind him, Predaking is colored entirely orange.
** The first time we see Cyclonus, his nose cone is purple. In the next shot, part of it is grey.
** Onslaught - visible for only a split second as Bruticus separates - remains in the light gray color of Bruticus's torso, even though he should be dark blue. Swindle's weapons are also colored the same yellow as Swindle himself, instead of dark gray.
** Rodimus' spoiler should be orange in the middle, but many shots have it colored completely in yellow.
** Magnus's missiles are white instead of red as he turns to receive Kup's report on the missing Hot Rod. In the same shot, Springer's cheekguards are abnormally huge.
** In one shot of Optimus Prime's "ghost", he is colored completely blue.
** The orange shapes on Cyclonus' chest are colored red in several shots.
** In the pan across the fallen Cyclonus, Hook (standing between Predaking and Drag Strip) is colored like Dead End.
* Devastator splits apart into the Constructicons off-screen, with no transformation sound and no indication of ''why'' he separated.
[[File:BurdenHardestBear Constructicons water.JPG|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Hook has two optics instead of a visor as the Constructicons retreat.
* A shot of Astrotrain from the human train's perspective shows no tracks on the ground.
[[File:BurdenHardest superion in flight.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Superion's mouthplate doesn't move as he speaks; his voice continues giving the command to separate after his components have separated.
* The Aerialbots' lasers simply come from unmarked points on their wingtips.
* Rodimus' crest is missing the horizontal line during most shots in this episode.
* When Rodimus is called to the palace, he's missing his Autobot logo.
* As he says, "When do they get better, that's what I want to know," Rodimus' face becomes all glitched up, with a partially miscolored helmet and a huge shadow line where his eyes should be.
* For some reason, the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] [[insignia|logo]] on Marissa Faireborne's shoulder has been replaced with "AOC".
* When Rodimus drives away from Marissa, his smoke trail appears behind Kup instead of in front of him. Also, Sky Lynx is missing in the shot.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Rodimus' display shows a rear angle shot of Dead End and Wildrider, but he's in'' front'' of them.
[[File:BurdenHardesttoBear Stunticons Matrix.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Wildrider "I've got an idea Dead End why don't we sell this on ebay! What do you think?! Dead End "I think that is a great idea Wildrider! We might be able to get a few bucks for it. Heh heh!" ]]
* When Wildrider holds the matrix, it looks like a big yellow blob. The next shot shows it in the usual colors and configuration.
* After Wildrider and Dead End drive off with the Matrix, Rodimus reverts to robot mode; the animation of him settling into place is played twice.
* While Rodimus is reverted to Hot Rod, he's still occasionally drawn using Rodimus Prime's [[character model]].
[[File:BurdenHardest Chaar and moons.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"...A burnt-out hulk of a planet called Chaar, a world of... ash... and ruin? What?"]]
* Chaar is portrayed using Cybertron's post-Movie model, with two similarly designed moons.
* Attending Galvatron's throne room are several Decepticons of made-up design, colored as Constructicons (in the same olive-yellow seen previously.)
* Galvatron's throne changes color and design multiple times throughout one scene.
* The ghost image of Optimus has two fog lights instead of four.
* As Galvatron tosses the Matrix to Scourge:
** [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] have replaced the generic non-Constructicons that were there previously; they are also drawn as normal-scaled Decepticons.
** The Matrix is missing its handles.
* When Rodimus wakes and touches his forehead in the next scene, his face is partly purple.
* A few shots later (during the "Matrix, schmatrix..." lines), the depressions in Rodimus' shoulders are blue instead of white.
* Galvatron is missing the red squares on the tops of his shoulders in most shots.
* Wrong lasers:
** Cyclonus' gun fires a yellow laser. That's the Autobot color (it should be purple). It also uses a non-standard sound effect.
** Hot Rod carries a gray laser gun rather than the usual red rifle. It has a non-standard sound effect instead of Prime's rifle sound effect.
** In the battle scenes just before the Decepticons retreat, ''nobody'' has the standard Autobot or Decepticon laser sound effects.
[[File:Burden-hardest-to-bear-scourge-morphs.jpg|thumb|right|400px|It's an evolution revolution! or I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by!]]
* After he dispatches Galvatron and Cyclonus, Scourge transforms with one of the most cheatsy sequences in the whole series - he simply melts or morphs into his vehicle form.
* The sensei continues making aggressive fighting noises long after his student opponent has lost his weapon and retreated.
* Galvatron's ship is gray instead of purple.
* The first shot of Galvatron aboard his ship has the whole bottom half of his face in dark gray instead of just his chin
* Two of the hovercraft-mode Sweeps accompanying Scourge are drawn with the heads-sticking-up model.
* Confusing animation and editing makes it very unclear what's happening at the start of Scourge's assault. We're supposed to see a large outdoor video screen showing a character firing a laser gun; then a transport passing by on the street gets blown up by Scourge, making it seem like the movie character blew up the transport - but it all happens so fast there's no time to figure it out.
* Scourge's energy blasts are very poorly animated, often lacking their glow effect and sometimes failing to connect with their targets at all.
* Kup's cry of pain comes ''before'' Scourge actually blasts him.
* When Galvatron opens the airlock door, one shot has "AIR LO'''O'''K" written on it.
* The Matrix is in Scourge's chest, but later Hot Rod pulls it out of his stomach.
* As Hot Rod holds the Matrix, one shot has his arm pipes clipping through it.
* Hot Rod sticks the Matrix into his chest without opening a compartment for it.
* As Galvatron and Cyclonus fly Scourge away from the city, Galvatron is mouthing something, but there's no dialogue.
* In the last shot of the episode, Ultra Magnus is missing his shoulder missiles and Kup is missing the white part of his chest.
* The version of this episode on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVDs features a glitch with an unstable horizontal line appearing at the top of the picture throughout the episode. The error appears to be on the episode's master copy, as the version included on the [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] DVDs has the picture slightly zoomed in order to avoid showing the offending line.

===Continuity errors===
* It's not clear what caused the Constructicons to separate and retreat; they seemed to be handling Broadside with ease up to that point.
* The humans who call out "Mayday! Mayday!" don't appear to have a radio on their ship.
* The wanton assault of the Aerialbots seems more likely to blow up the railroad tracks than actually blast Astrotrain off of them.
* Wildrider now has a very bad Southern accent, perhaps in response to his "dun blowed up real good" line.
* Galvatron says the Matrix eluded the Decepticons for year'''s''', but he had it for a while during the movie (which happened less than one year ago in the timeline).
* It's not really clear why Galvatron puts the Matrix in his cannon rather than his chest.
* Why didn't the ancient Autobots pop up when Galvatron had the Matrix during the movie? (one possible explanation: he never placed the Matrix inside himself in the movie, instead only wearing it on a chain.)
* Likewise, why does Scourge get all mutated when Galvatron didn't?
* We don't hear Optimus' voice during the "return the Matrix" chant.
* After Galvatron tells Scourge to get rid of the Matrix, the [[scene transition]] has two Decepticon logos, but the next scene is of the Autobots.
* Just before he quits the Autobots, Hot Rod states that "this war has been going on now for a few dozen millennia". Back in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", we learned that the Third Cybertronian War started nine million years ago, which is about ''750'' dozen millennia... assuming, of course, that we want to take Hot Rod's pointedly off-handed remark as being based on historical accuracy, which is kind of a stretch for a guy who's at the end of his rope and sarcastically railing about "the known universe and its outlying suburbs".
* The Decepticon army is inexplicably small in the second half of the episode, consisting of just Predaking, a couple of Sweeps, and some Constructicons who come and go.
* Funny how the old lady with the cane ''runs'' away from Scourge during his attack!
* Ozu injures Scourge (a giant metal robot, juiced up on Matrix steroids) with his sword.
* Scourge is portrayed as ultra-powerful early on, but is defeated by a ramming and three shots from Hot Rod's gun at the episode's end.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Burdenhardest marissa finds rodimus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Spend $14.99 to get the same guy, just minus two lines on his face.]]
[[File:Burden-hardest-to-bear-galvatron-cannon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|" 'Front Toward Enemy'? What does that mean?! ARE YOU THREATENING ME?!"]]
* Broadside appears in his more toy-based model, with a faceplate, smaller head and large separated optics. He's also shown to be ''huge'', in keeping with his aircraft carrier mode, something which other episodes often failed to convey.
* This episode is one of a handful that finds excuses to turn Rodimus back into Hot Rod, presumably since that toy needed to be plugged as well.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Bruticus can somehow tilt his back cannons forward and fire them over his shoulders.
** It seems that ''someone'' remembered the Stunticons' "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|automatic forcefields]]", as Wildrider survives a head-on collision with Rodimus without a scratch, while Rodimus goes down in flames.
* When Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, he says "Now, [['Til all are one|all shall become one]], under Galvatron's rule!"
* After he rams Scourge, Hot Rod transforms in a manner similar to one of his transformations from the movie.
* This episode marks the last appearance of Springer, Broadside, Astrotrain, Devastator and Marissa Faireborn in US continuity.
* Astrotrain actually travels on the railroad his locomotive mode was designed for in this episode.
* The Ancient Autoboot "ghosts" emerging from the Matrix include:
** A [[generic]] character design that was previously seen in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]" and "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]". His colors have changed, though, and he dropped the antennas on the sides of his head he sported in "The Key to Vector Sigma".
** Optimus Prime
** A variety of other designs appear alongside him, none of which match either the leaders we saw back in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|Five Faces of Darkness]]" or will see in "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]". At least one is based on [[Internuncio|these guys]].
*** The yellow, the red and the orange-and-blue Matrix ghosts' character models were reused in the Japanese [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]] as various generic Autobots.
* While the episode order can vary, it's a little funny that the episode about Rodimus finally getting used to being leader of the Autobots was followed by the episode in which Optimus returns to replace him.

===Real-world references===
[[File:BurdenHardesttoBear MountFuji.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
[[File:BurdenHardestBear Sensei.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
[[File:BurdenHardestToBear Japanese PM.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Ris is rery rad ror rusiness! I mean, uh, bad for rusiness-san! Bad-san for business-san! Yeah."]]
[[File:Burden-hardest-to-bear-imperial-palace.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Set in Japan (see also: "[[Kremzeek!]]"), the episode is replete with references to Japanese culture. We see a fishing boat (all wood, with hand-cast nets), a high speed bullet train passing by Mt. Fuji, a kendo dojo, a woman about to offer prayer at a Shinto shrine garden, and a surprisingly accurate rendition of the [[Wikipedia:Tokyo Imperial Palace|Tokyo Imperial Palace]] and its Seimon Ishibashi bridge, where Rodimus meets with the Prime Minister. We also see Rodimus get chewed out by government guys who are stereotypically worked up about robot battles being "very bad for business." And of course there's that metaphorical rising sun in the opening shot.
* The train driver calls in the incident with Astrotrain to "JNR Central", referring to [[wikipedia:Japanese National Railways|Japanese National Railways]] (which in the real world would be dissolved and privatized only a year after this episode aired.) The specific line is called out as the [[wikipedia:Yamanote Line|Yamanote Line]], which... is an urban transit line entirely within Tokyo, and certainly doesn't pass by Mt. Fuji, but hey, points for trying! The train itself appears to be very loosely based on the [[wikipedia:0 Series Shinkansen|0 Series Shinkansen]] trainsets.
* The voice acting for several Japanese characters in this episode employs a very stereotypical Western view of Asian people and their pronunciation of English words.
* Though the concept and word are real, the Japanese word "Giri" does not actually carry the rather-negative connotations of "The burden hardest to bear" implied by Kup's mistranslation. Rather, "Giri" more accurately means "Responsibility/duty", which is a gladly accepted honor and virtue in Japanese culture rather than a painful annoyance. In the thematic/emotional context of this episode, "The ''duty'' hardest to bear" would have been a more fitting title. An even more appropriate word would have been ''Gimu'', meaning ''"obligation"'', as a ''gimu'' is something which '''must''' be done whether you wish to or not.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Scourge launches for Earth with the ''Millenium Falcon'' engine burst noise.

===Trivia===
* This is one of the most well-illustrated episodes of season 3, with lots of deep, detailed shading and well-proportioned characters.
* The Japanese train drivers appear to be wearing... spacesuits?
* When Scourge starts mutating, at one point it looks like he's... [[Humanization|crying]]?
* This episode marks the first time in Transformers fiction that the word [[Slag (slang)|slag]] is used as an insult.
* Isn't it convenient that Scourge launches his attack on Earth in Japan, where the Autobots happen to be located?
* When Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon and it fails to fire, he briefly looks directly ''into the barrel of his cannon'' before berating [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]].

* Those government spokesmen who complained about the fighting in the beginning must be ''pissed'' after all the destruction we see at the end!

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' '''Die Last der Verantwortung''' ("The Burden of Responsibility")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 重すぎた使命 (''Omo Sugi ta Shimei'', "The Mission Too Heavy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 11]], [[1987]]
:*When they recover the Matrix of Leadership, [[Issei Masamune|the Narrator]] misidentifies [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] as [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. Which is very strange because the [[Battlecharger]]s weren't sold at Japanese retail, but the Stunticons were.
:* A "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment unique to Japan was attached to this episode. It focuses on the many battles between [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. It replaces the original "Secret Files" segment which focused on the Decepticons.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Samaya tyajkaya nosha''' (''Самая тяжкая ноша'', "The Heaviest Burden")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 11: The Decepticon Possession ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_burden_hardest_to_bear.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burden Hardest to Bear}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

The Burden Hardest to Bear

2015-01-08T16:38:48Z

LongHaul: /* Animation or technical glitches */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=93
|series2=2010
|ep2=28
|prev2=The Face of the Nijika
|next2=Daniel's Adventure
|image=Matrix burden 2.jpg
|caption=You found me beautiful, once.
|title="The Burden Hardest to Bear"
|production code=700-114
|airdate=[[November 19]], 1986
|written by=[[Michael Charles Hill]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Overwhelmed by the burdens of leadership, Rodimus Prime doesn't care too much when the Decepticons steal the Matrix of Leadership away from him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:BurdenHardest Defensor Bruticus.jpg|left|200px|thumb|So, uh... If what it looks like is about to happen happens... does it count as an orgy?]]

At dawn, the people of [[Japan]] are awakening to do their daily tasks: fishing, going to shrines, and sword practice. Then, the [[Decepticon]]s show up to cause random trouble.

[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] begin harassing a few fishermen, but are chased off by [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]. [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] tries to ram a train head on (real smart) only to have the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] drive him away. [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] fight it out, when [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep|Sweeps]] arrive, but are driven off by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. However, instead of thanking the [[Autobot|Autobots]] for saving many lives, the government of Japan is very upset, saying that the Autobots frightened people and ruined business (thankless bipeds). When [[Marissa Faireborn]] arrives and brings more problems to Rodimus, the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] loses patience, [[Transformation|transforms]], and drives off. Kup explains that Rodimus is merely strained under the burden of command, much like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] was in his early days as leader, and Marissa decides to follow him, to let him have someone to talk to.

[[Image:Matrix burden 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Galvatron takes the brown acid.]]

Meeting up on the highway, however, the two are attacked by [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]], who knock Marissa's [[spinner]] into a lake and force Rodimus off a cliff. When they inspect Rodimus, they find the Matrix. Realizing that [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] will be ''really'' happy, they steal it and return to [[Chaar]]. In his throne room, Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, but instead of making it even more powerful like he had hoped, visions of the [[Ancient Autobots]] (including Optimus Prime himself) seep out of the barrel and demand that Galvatron return the Matrix. Galvatron orders [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] to destroy the Matrix, believing it better to be destroyed if the Decepticons can't have it. Scourge, however, inserts the Matrix into himself, and becomes more powerful... but at a startling price.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod recover.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Augh... can't get the mental image of Bruticus/Defensor out!]]

Meanwhile, the Autobot leader wakes up, to learn that he's reverted to Hot Rod. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] argue that they should go after the Decepticons, but Hot Rod feels that the Matrix isn't worth it, and jets off. Real smart idea, Roddy. On Chaar, Scourge challenges Galvatron, defeating him and Cyclonus easily, before leading the Decepticons off to Earth. Galvatron and Cyclonus still function, and set off in pursuit in the ''[[Revenge (G1)|Revenge]]''.

[[Image:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Yoink!]]

On Earth, Hot Rod, while watching a martial arts class, gets some perspective and some wisdom from the kendo instructor, and realizes that he needs to get the Matrix back. Meanwhile, Scourge arrives in Japan with his forces, tossing around the Autobots. Broadside tosses him to the ground and he frightens an elderly woman. Ozu, one of the kendo students, comes to her aid, attacking Scourge with a sword and he begins to chase the pair. He corners them in a blind alley, only for Hot Rod to arrive. Shocked at the changes the Matrix has wrought in Scourge, Hot Rod defeats the Decepticon and reclaims the Matrix, becoming Rodimus Prime once more. Galvatron and Cyclonus find a less powerful, and very frightened, Scourge. And they are none too happy with him...

As the Decepticons retreat, Rodimus realizes that he must deal with his missing part, as have those who came before him. Kup reminds him that no matter who carries the Matrix, he will retain that part forever.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (8)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (10)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (13)
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (14)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (21)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (22)
* [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (23)
* [[Ancient Autobots]] (35)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (36)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (37)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (38)

|c2=
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (2)
* [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (3)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (15)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (18)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (19)
* [[Sweep|Sweeps]] (20)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (26)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (27)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (28)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (31)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (32)
* [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (33)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (34)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (39)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (40)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (41)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (42)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (43)

|c3=
* [[Ozu's sensei]] (16)
* [[Ozu (G1)|Ozu]] (17)
* [[Prime Minister of Japan]] (29)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (30)
* [[Old Japanese lady]] (44)
}}

==Quotes==
"Eh, you've had worse times." 
"Yeah, when do they get better? That's what ''I'' wanna know."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus'''

"[[Wikipedia:Second City Television|He done blowed up real good]]."
:—'''Wildrider''', master of grammar

"You dropped it, didn't you? You broke the Matrix, didn't you?!"
:—'''Galvatron'''

"Aren't you getting a little carried away here? I'm still me, you're still you: Matrix, schmatrix."
:—'''Hot Rod''' is flippant after losing a hand-me-down.

"We're too late, Galvatron! Scourge has already launched his assault!" 
"He doesn't know the meaning of the word assault, but he's going to learn!"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Galvatron'''

"Oh no, we're trapped! We'll be killed!" 
"Remarkable. The woman is clairvoyant!" 
:-'''Scourge''' mocks his intended victim.

"The Matrix did this to you? Then I have to take it back. I see now it is my obligation. I belong to it... as much as it belongs to me!"
:—'''Hot Rod'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s realization at last.

"Well, son of a gun. Found that missing part, huh?" 
"Not just the Matrix, Kup, a missing part of... myself."
:—'''Kup''' and '''Rodimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
* Coloring errors:
** Devastator is colored olive green rather than light green in the opening battle.
** Behind him, Predaking is colored entirely orange.
** The first time we see Cyclonus, his nose cone is purple. In the next shot, part of it is grey.
** Onslaught - visible for only a split second as Bruticus separates - remains in the light gray color of Bruticus's torso, even though he should be dark blue. Swindle's weapons are also colored the same yellow as Swindle himself, instead of dark gray.
** Rodimus' spoiler should be orange in the middle, but many shots have it colored completely in yellow.
** Magnus's missiles are white instead of red as he turns to receive Kup's report on the missing Hot Rod. In the same shot, Springer's cheekguards are abnormally huge.
** In one shot of Optimus Prime's "ghost", he is colored completely blue.
** The orange shapes on Cyclonus' chest are colored red in several shots.
** In the pan across the fallen Cyclonus, Hook (standing between Predaking and Drag Strip) is colored like Dead End.
* Devastator splits apart into the Constructicons off-screen, with no transformation sound and no indication of ''why'' he separated.
[[File:BurdenHardestBear Constructicons water.JPG|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Hook has two optics instead of a visor as the Constructicons retreat.
* A shot of Astrotrain from the human train's perspective shows no tracks on the ground.
[[File:BurdenHardest superion in flight.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Superion's mouthplate doesn't move as he speaks; his voice continues giving the command to separate after his components have separated.
* The Aerialbots' lasers simply come from unmarked points on their wingtips.
* Rodimus' crest is missing the horizontal line during most shots in this episode.
* When Rodimus is called to the palace, he's missing his Autobot logo.
* As he says, "When do they get better, that's what I want to know," Rodimus' face becomes all glitched up, with a partially miscolored helmet and a huge shadow line where his eyes should be.
* For some reason, the [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] [[insignia|logo]] on Marissa Faireborne's shoulder has been replaced with "AOC".
* When Rodimus drives away from Marissa, his smoke trail appears behind Kup instead of in front of him. Also, Sky Lynx is missing in the shot.
* Improbable viewpoints:
** Rodimus' display shows a rear angle shot of Dead End and Wildrider, but he's in'' front'' of them.
[[File:BurdenHardesttoBear Stunticons Matrix.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Wildrider "I've got an idea Dead End why don't we sell this on ebay! What do you think?! Deadend "I think that is a great idea Wildrider! We might be able to get a few bucks for it. Heh heh!" ]]
* When Wildrider holds the matrix, it looks like a big yellow blob. The next shot shows it in the usual colors and configuration.
* After Wildrider and Dead End drive off with the Matrix, Rodimus reverts to robot mode; the animation of him settling into place is played twice.
* While Rodimus is reverted to Hot Rod, he's still occasionally drawn using Rodimus Prime's [[character model]].
[[File:BurdenHardest Chaar and moons.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"...A burnt-out hulk of a planet called Chaar, a world of... ash... and ruin? What?"]]
* Chaar is portrayed using Cybertron's post-Movie model, with two similarly designed moons.
* Attending Galvatron's throne room are several Decepticons of made-up design, colored as Constructicons (in the same olive-yellow seen previously.)
* Galvatron's throne changes color and design multiple times throughout one scene.
* The ghost image of Optimus has two fog lights instead of four.
* As Galvatron tosses the Matrix to Scourge:
** [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] have replaced the generic non-Constructicons that were there previously; they are also drawn as normal-scaled Decepticons.
** The Matrix is missing its handles.
* When Rodimus wakes and touches his forehead in the next scene, his face is partly purple.
* A few shots later (during the "Matrix, schmatrix..." lines), the depressions in Rodimus' shoulders are blue instead of white.
* Galvatron is missing the red squares on the tops of his shoulders in most shots.
* Wrong lasers:
** Cyclonus' gun fires a yellow laser. That's the Autobot color (it should be purple). It also uses a non-standard sound effect.
** Hot Rod carries a gray laser gun rather than the usual red rifle. It has a non-standard sound effect instead of Prime's rifle sound effect.
** In the battle scenes just before the Decepticons retreat, ''nobody'' has the standard Autobot or Decepticon laser sound effects.
[[File:Burden-hardest-to-bear-scourge-morphs.jpg|thumb|right|400px|It's an evolution revolution! or I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by!]]
* After he dispatches Galvatron and Cyclonus, Scourge transforms with one of the most cheatsy sequences in the whole series - he simply melts or morphs into his vehicle form.
* The sensei continues making aggressive fighting noises long after his student opponent has lost his weapon and retreated.
* Galvatron's ship is gray instead of purple.
* The first shot of Galvatron aboard his ship has the whole bottom half of his face in dark gray instead of just his chin
* Two of the hovercraft-mode Sweeps accompanying Scourge are drawn with the heads-sticking-up model.
* Confusing animation and editing makes it very unclear what's happening at the start of Scourge's assault. We're supposed to see a large outdoor video screen showing a character firing a laser gun; then a transport passing by on the street gets blown up by Scourge, making it seem like the movie character blew up the transport - but it all happens so fast there's no time to figure it out.
* Scourge's energy blasts are very poorly animated, often lacking their glow effect and sometimes failing to connect with their targets at all.
* Kup's cry of pain comes ''before'' Scourge actually blasts him.
* When Galvatron opens the airlock door, one shot has "AIR LO'''O'''K" written on it.
* The Matrix is in Scourge's chest, but later Hot Rod pulls it out of his stomach.
* As Hot Rod holds the Matrix, one shot has his arm pipes clipping through it.
* Hot Rod sticks the Matrix into his chest without opening a compartment for it.
* As Galvatron and Cyclonus fly Scourge away from the city, Galvatron is mouthing something, but there's no dialogue.
* In the last shot of the episode, Ultra Magnus is missing his shoulder missiles and Kup is missing the white part of his chest.
* The version of this episode on the [[Shout! Factory]] DVDs features a glitch with an unstable horizontal line appearing at the top of the picture throughout the episode. The error appears to be on the episode's master copy, as the version included on the [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] DVDs has the picture slightly zoomed in order to avoid showing the offending line.

===Continuity errors===
* It's not clear what caused the Constructicons to separate and retreat; they seemed to be handling Broadside with ease up to that point.
* The humans who call out "Mayday! Mayday!" don't appear to have a radio on their ship.
* The wanton assault of the Aerialbots seems more likely to blow up the railroad tracks than actually blast Astrotrain off of them.
* Wildrider now has a very bad Southern accent, perhaps in response to his "dun blowed up real good" line.
* Galvatron says the Matrix eluded the Decepticons for year'''s''', but he had it for a while during the movie (which happened less than one year ago in the timeline).
* It's not really clear why Galvatron puts the Matrix in his cannon rather than his chest.
* Why didn't the ancient Autobots pop up when Galvatron had the Matrix during the movie? (one possible explanation: he never placed the Matrix inside himself in the movie, instead only wearing it on a chain.)
* Likewise, why does Scourge get all mutated when Galvatron didn't?
* We don't hear Optimus' voice during the "return the Matrix" chant.
* After Galvatron tells Scourge to get rid of the Matrix, the [[scene transition]] has two Decepticon logos, but the next scene is of the Autobots.
* Just before he quits the Autobots, Hot Rod states that "this war has been going on now for a few dozen millennia". Back in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", we learned that the Third Cybertronian War started nine million years ago, which is about ''750'' dozen millennia... assuming, of course, that we want to take Hot Rod's pointedly off-handed remark as being based on historical accuracy, which is kind of a stretch for a guy who's at the end of his rope and sarcastically railing about "the known universe and its outlying suburbs".
* The Decepticon army is inexplicably small in the second half of the episode, consisting of just Predaking, a couple of Sweeps, and some Constructicons who come and go.
* Funny how the old lady with the cane ''runs'' away from Scourge during his attack!
* Ozu injures Scourge (a giant metal robot, juiced up on Matrix steroids) with his sword.
* Scourge is portrayed as ultra-powerful early on, but is defeated by a ramming and three shots from Hot Rod's gun at the episode's end.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Burdenhardest marissa finds rodimus.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Spend $14.99 to get the same guy, just minus two lines on his face.]]
[[File:Burden-hardest-to-bear-galvatron-cannon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|" 'Front Toward Enemy'? What does that mean?! ARE YOU THREATENING ME?!"]]
* Broadside appears in his more toy-based model, with a faceplate, smaller head and large separated optics. He's also shown to be ''huge'', in keeping with his aircraft carrier mode, something which other episodes often failed to convey.
* This episode is one of a handful that finds excuses to turn Rodimus back into Hot Rod, presumably since that toy needed to be plugged as well.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Bruticus can somehow tilt his back cannons forward and fire them over his shoulders.
** It seems that ''someone'' remembered the Stunticons' "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|automatic forcefields]]", as Wildrider survives a head-on collision with Rodimus without a scratch, while Rodimus goes down in flames.
* When Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon, he says "Now, [['Til all are one|all shall become one]], under Galvatron's rule!"
* After he rams Scourge, Hot Rod transforms in a manner similar to one of his transformations from the movie.
* This episode marks the last appearance of Springer, Broadside, Astrotrain, Devastator and Marissa Faireborn in US continuity.
* Astrotrain actually travels on the railroad his locomotive mode was designed for in this episode.
* The Ancient Autoboot "ghosts" emerging from the Matrix include:
** A [[generic]] character design that was previously seen in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2]]" and "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]". His colors have changed, though, and he dropped the antennas on the sides of his head he sported in "The Key to Vector Sigma".
** Optimus Prime
** A variety of other designs appear alongside him, none of which match either the leaders we saw back in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|Five Faces of Darkness]]" or will see in "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]". At least one is based on [[Internuncio|these guys]].
*** The yellow, the red and the orange-and-blue Matrix ghosts' character models were reused in the Japanese [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'' cartoon]] as various generic Autobots.
* While the episode order can vary, it's a little funny that the episode about Rodimus finally getting used to being leader of the Autobots was followed by the episode in which Optimus returns to replace him.

===Real-world references===
[[File:BurdenHardesttoBear MountFuji.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
[[File:BurdenHardestBear Sensei.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
[[File:BurdenHardestToBear Japanese PM.jpg|thumb|right|200px|"Ris is rery rad ror rusiness! I mean, uh, bad for rusiness-san! Bad-san for business-san! Yeah."]]
[[File:Burden-hardest-to-bear-imperial-palace.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ]]
* Set in Japan (see also: "[[Kremzeek!]]"), the episode is replete with references to Japanese culture. We see a fishing boat (all wood, with hand-cast nets), a high speed bullet train passing by Mt. Fuji, a kendo dojo, a woman about to offer prayer at a Shinto shrine garden, and a surprisingly accurate rendition of the [[Wikipedia:Tokyo Imperial Palace|Tokyo Imperial Palace]] and its Seimon Ishibashi bridge, where Rodimus meets with the Prime Minister. We also see Rodimus get chewed out by government guys who are stereotypically worked up about robot battles being "very bad for business." And of course there's that metaphorical rising sun in the opening shot.
* The train driver calls in the incident with Astrotrain to "JNR Central", referring to [[wikipedia:Japanese National Railways|Japanese National Railways]] (which in the real world would be dissolved and privatized only a year after this episode aired.) The specific line is called out as the [[wikipedia:Yamanote Line|Yamanote Line]], which... is an urban transit line entirely within Tokyo, and certainly doesn't pass by Mt. Fuji, but hey, points for trying! The train itself appears to be very loosely based on the [[wikipedia:0 Series Shinkansen|0 Series Shinkansen]] trainsets.
* The voice acting for several Japanese characters in this episode employs a very stereotypical Western view of Asian people and their pronunciation of English words.
* Though the concept and word are real, the Japanese word "Giri" does not actually carry the rather-negative connotations of "The burden hardest to bear" implied by Kup's mistranslation. Rather, "Giri" more accurately means "Responsibility/duty", which is a gladly accepted honor and virtue in Japanese culture rather than a painful annoyance. In the thematic/emotional context of this episode, "The ''duty'' hardest to bear" would have been a more fitting title. An even more appropriate word would have been ''Gimu'', meaning ''"obligation"'', as a ''gimu'' is something which '''must''' be done whether you wish to or not.
* ''Star Wars'' sound effects:
** Scourge launches for Earth with the ''Millenium Falcon'' engine burst noise.

===Trivia===
* This is one of the most well-illustrated episodes of season 3, with lots of deep, detailed shading and well-proportioned characters.
* The Japanese train drivers appear to be wearing... spacesuits?
* When Scourge starts mutating, at one point it looks like he's... [[Humanization|crying]]?
* This episode marks the first time in Transformers fiction that the word [[Slag (slang)|slag]] is used as an insult.
* Isn't it convenient that Scourge launches his attack on Earth in Japan, where the Autobots happen to be located?
* When Galvatron inserts the Matrix into his cannon and it fails to fire, he briefly looks directly ''into the barrel of his cannon'' before berating [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]].

* Those government spokesmen who complained about the fighting in the beginning must be ''pissed'' after all the destruction we see at the end!

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' '''Die Last der Verantwortung''' ("The Burden of Responsibility")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' 重すぎた使命 (''Omo Sugi ta Shimei'', "The Mission Too Heavy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 11]], [[1987]]
:*When they recover the Matrix of Leadership, [[Issei Masamune|the Narrator]] misidentifies [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] as [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]. Which is very strange because the [[Battlecharger]]s weren't sold at Japanese retail, but the Stunticons were.
:* A "[[Secret Files of Teletraan II]]" segment unique to Japan was attached to this episode. It focuses on the many battles between [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. It replaces the original "Secret Files" segment which focused on the Decepticons.

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' '''Samaya tyajkaya nosha''' (''Самая тяжкая ноша'', "The Heaviest Burden")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2000 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 11: The Decepticon Possession ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;Laserdisc
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2004 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/synopses/the_burden_hardest_to_bear.html Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burden Hardest to Bear}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episodes]]

Minerva (human)

2014-12-08T18:39:38Z

LongHaul: /* Super-God Masterforce cartoon */

{{featured}}
{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Minerva}}

:''Minerva is a [[human]] [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster Junior]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Minerva nekotom.jpg|thumb|375px|Able was I, ere I saw Minelba.]]

'''Minerva''' (ミネルバ ''Mineruba'') is [[Minerva's parents|the daughter of]] [[Mont Porte]]'s ambassador to [[Japan]], half-French on her mother's side, and a happy, charming, friendly, talented girl brimming with idealism and care for her fellow man. But Minerva's idealism is a naive kind: petitioning to join the Autobots out of a desire to "fight evil", she quickly found that the reality of war was a lot more than she was prepared for. Already very uncomfortable with violence and now thrown into the heart of a war in which ''children'', of all beings, are so casually made a part of the conflict, Minerva is left struggling to rationalize her role as a warrior, even one on the side of good. As such, she usually refrains from entering battle herself unless circumstances absolutely demand it, instead operating as a battlefield medic and tending to the human victims of the [[Transformer]]s' battles. In the final analysis, Minerva's timidness leaves her simply treating the symptoms of the disease, rather than fighting the cause.

As an Autobot Headmaster Junior, Minerva is bonded to a [[Transtector]] from the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], which takes the form of an emergency rescue vehicle. Using her [[Master-Brace]]s, she can summon a suit of armor that enhances her physical strength, speed and reflexes, which allows her to transform into a head for her Transtector and function as a full-size Transformer robot armed with a paralyzing "Shock Gun". Outside of combat situations, Minerva is a much more easy-going girl. Clearly raised in an overly "traditional" manner befitting an ambassador's daughter and tutored in various "feminine skills", she is a talented dancer, painter, cook and medic, and has inherited the poise, grace and beauty of her mother, making her the object of many of her male teammates' affections. A word or two of praise from Minerva is enough to bring any Autobot out in a hot flush.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Yuriko Yamamoto]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Minerva uniform.jpg|left|thumb|The name is Minerva and I'll be your host this page.]]
When the news came that her family was moving to Japan, Minerva was especially excited at the prospect of learning traditional Japanese dance, but she could never have guessed that the plane on which they flew would be attacked by the [[Decepticon]] [[Pretender]], [[Blood]], who was searching for Mont Porte's prize-winning biologist, [[Blanieux|Professor Blanieux]]. Their jet crashed in Corsica, but Minerva and her family escaped with only minor injuries, and she was only too happy to talk to the "government investigators" who came to her in the hospital where [[Minerva's parents|her parents]] were being treated. In particular, the two young boys that accompanied the investigators, [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]] and [[Cab]], were very taken with Minerva. The following day, when Professor Blanieux arrived to rendezvous with Minerva's father before he and the family headed on to Japan, the investigators, Shūta and Cab accompanied them on their private jet for fear of any further Decepticon attacks. Blood did indeed strike at the plane, and to combat him, the investigators revealed that they were, in fact, the Autobot [[Pretender]]s. Although Minerva was initially angry with Shūta and Cab for lying to her, she was impressed with their bravery when the jet's [[stewardess]] turned out to be a Decepticon [[Destroid]] and they fought and incapacitated her. With the Decepticons' plan foiled, Shūta and Cab suggested that Minerva could join them in attending the [[International School]], and she happily agreed. {{storylink|Kidnapping!? The Targeted Jumbo Jet}}

[[File:Minerva armor.jpg|thumb|"What do you mean, 'anything can happen in the next half-hour?'"]]
Having seen the evil of the Decepticons firsthand, Minerva was only to happy to say yes when Autobot leader [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] asked if she wanted to help the Autobots in their fight against them. At first, Hawk was unsure if she was up to the task, but Minerva obtained her parents' permission and assured Hawk that she was willing to spend her life saving the lives of others. Together with Shūta and Cab, Minerva was given Masterbraces and a Transtector and became a Headmaster Junior warrior. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}}

While [[Holographic battle drone|training]] with [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] in America, however, Minerva displayed her lack of confidence with her new power, but was soon forced to face up to the responsibilities it carried when the Decepticons' Headmaster Juniors attacked a nearby city. Unable to summon the courage to join Shūta and Cab in the fight, Minerva was only galvanized into action when she saw a [[little girl (Masterforce)|young girl]] become buried under rubble on news coverage of the battle. Racing into action without a second thought, Minerva followed the girl's [[Pis|dog]] to her side and rescued her, but tragedy then struck when [[Wilder]] killed the poor animal. Finally filled with the emotional fury that drove her to fight, Minerva transformed to robot mode and took out two of the three villains, forcing them to retreat. After the battle, Minerva helped the girl bury Pis and promised to buy her a new puppy just like him. {{storylink|Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules}}

[[File:Minerva mf.jpg|left|thumb|What? Lightrays naturally form and angle like that!]]
On a mission to Kenya, Minerva's choice of ensemble definitely made the trip for Shūta and Cab, but it also left her quite open for a deadly scorpion sting. Thankfully, this was prevented by a well-timed shot from [[Ricky]]. While the other Autobots battled the Decepticons in the area, Minerva put her medical talents to use treating an injured fawn for which Ricky was caring. {{storylink|Panic! Protect the Wild Animals!!}} Upon returning to Japan, the trio participated in the [[Mt Fuji Foothills Hang Gliding Competition Tournament]], only for it to be attacked by the Decepticon [[Godmaster]]s [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] and [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]]. Minerva treated the injured hang-gliders while the battle raged. {{storylink|Super Warriors - The Godmaster Brothers}}

Not long thereafter, the Autobots were joined by their own Godmaster, [[Ginrai]], whom Minerva and the other Juniors were eager to meet. {{storylink|Ginrai: God On of Rage!!}} They arrived to welcome him at the harbour when he came to visit them, but during the drive back to the headquarters, the team was attacked by the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors, and Ginrai kidnapped [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] for interrogation. Minerva attempted to make the boy's imprisonment bearable, appalled by Ginrai's use of handcuffs. Even when Cancer shattered a glass of juice that she attempted to offer him, cutting her with the shards, she refused to let Shūta and Cab hurt him. When Ginrai threatened Cancer with physical force, she tried to stop him, but was ordered out of the room, so she watched the ensuing interrogation on a viewscreen.

[[File:Minerva cancer.jpg|thumb|225px|First [[Mayumi]], then Minerva... Cancer might be scared [[Mega]] will be next.]]

Learning what they needed from him, the Autobots released Cancer into the hands of Hydra and Buster, but Hydra immediately discovered a homing beacon on Cancer's back and attacked the Autobots in retaliation. Buster seized Minerva and placed his blaster to her head, but surprisingly, Cancer snatched her away, begging the Godmasters not to kill anyone. The surprised Decepticons were overpowered by Ginrai and retreated, with Cancer shouting back that his act of kindness was simply payback for the drink. {{storylink|A Strange Friendship: Cancer and Minerva}}

Worrying that Ginrai would hate her after her argument with him, Minerva went to Metalhawk with her concerns, and he encouraged her to talk it out with him. Heading out to join Ginrai, Shūta and Cab at a barbecue, Minerva arrived in time to overhear Ginrai praise her honesty, and she consequently plucked up the courage to join them and apologize, setting things right once more. She was subsequently with Ginrai when he discovered the trailer for his Transtector {{storylink|Friend or Foe!? The True Form of the Monster!!}} and was part of the battle when he unleashed its power against [[King Poseidon]]. During this fight, Minerva appealed to Cancer to abandon the Decepticons and join the Autobots, but she was struck down by [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] before her words could sink in. {{storylink|Heroism!! The Birth of Super Ginrai}}

[[File:Minerva robotmode.jpg|left|thumb]]

The Headmaster Juniors' summer break coincided with the discovery of another Autobot Godmaster, [[Lightfoot]], {{storylink|Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter}} and as such, they were able to accompany Ginrai, Metalhawk and [[Lander (Masterforce)|Lander]] on their search for the next Godmaster, camping in the Rocky Mountains. While picking mushrooms, Minerva spotted a forest patrolman named [[Ranger]] talking with Bullhorn and immediately suspected he was a Decepticon, but was unable to tell the other Autobots when she returned to the camp and found Shūta and Cab fishing with him. When a storm lashed the campsite that night, the group took Ranger up on his offer of taking refuge in his cabin, where Minerva was able to tell her fellow Juniors her suspicions. She was soon proven wrong, however, when Ranger revealed a strange, glowing rock that he had discovered, which turned out to be a Transtector with which he then bonded, becoming the next Autobot Godmaster. {{storylink|An Enemy? The Third Godmaster, Ranger}}

When the [[Six Changer]] [[Sixknight]] arrived on Earth, allied himself with the Decepticons and challenged Ginrai to a duel, Minerva was among the spectators of the battle, but found herself playing a more important role when she was captured by Blood and [[Gilmer]]. The Pretender duo threatened her life in order to make Ginrai stand down, but as they argued over who gets to hold her Sixknight was enraged at their interference and forced them to let her go so that they could duel honourably. {{storylink|A Powerful Foe!! Sixknight the Wanderer}} Sixknight ultimately lost to Ginrai, but returned soon after, attempting to comprehend how he'd lost to a human. As he and Ginrai were in the middle of talking, the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors attacked a nearby city in order to draw the Autobots out, as part of a plan by Cancer to prove to his fellow Juniors that Minerva meant nothing to him. Sixknight responded to their attack with deadly force, and the horrified Minerva was forced to team up with Cancer's little Decepticon buddy [[Browning]] to blind Sixknight with a smokescreen, allowing the Decepticon Juniors to escape. {{storylink|The Autobot Warrior, Sixknight?!}}

[[File:Minerva karin.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Never thought you'd see the GIRL wearing the least skimpy swimsuit, did you?]]

With the summer break coming to a close, Minerva joined Shūta and Cab on a trip to Cab's home in the [[Karin Islands]], where her beauty particularly struck Cab's elderly guardian [[Donq]]. Minerva's medical talents were required to help treat a sick friend of Cab's named [[Copo]], as all the local doctors had been kidnapped by the Decepticons as part of an outlandish plan, but the Autobots rescued them and all was set right. {{storylink|Save the Little Girl! The Chōjin Warriors, the Godmasters}} Crazy Decepticon plans were still the order of the day when the Juniors returned to school to hear stories of a mysterious fortune-teller on television who predicted disasters across the planet. Minerva dismissed it all as made-up nonsense, but had to eat her words when all the predictions came true and she and the other Juniors had to protect a town from a raging flood, only for it all to turn out to have been yet another Decepticon scheme. {{storylink|Expose the Decepticons' Dark Trap!}}

Soon thereafter, Minerva, Shūta and Cab were at last let in on a secret the other Autobots had been keeping from them: the "Bomber Project", a plan to construct a power-up drone known as "[[Godbomber]]" for Ginrai to help him fight [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]], a mighty Decepticon presently approaching from space. {{storylink|Super Ginrai Gets Blown Away in the Desert!?}} Ginrai was subsequently injured by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] in a battle in the desert, and Minerva treated his wounds before he was admitted to a hospital. {{storylink|Will the Bomber Project Be Destroyed!?}} Ginrai was insistent on going through with the mission despite his injuries, so Minerva had Shūta and Cab spar with him a little to help him work through the pain. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Into the Sky!!}} Alas, the three Juniors and the other Autobots could do nothing but watch as Ginrai and [[Grand Maximus]] battled Overlord and BlackZarak on [[Earth]]'s [[moon (moon)|moon]], but in the end, the Autobots triumphed. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon}} After he returned to Earth, Godbomber even revealed a new power, transforming into a robot that Minerva and the Juniors discovered they could combine their [[Chōkon Power]] to control. {{storylink|Destroy Godbomber!!}}

[[File:Minerva clouder.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|That's right! That's the spot baby! Ohhhh Double Clouder! (Double Clouder thinks he can win Minerva over by giving her a massage. He might be right!)]]

When the Autobots tracked the Decepticons down to an island in the Pacific, Minerva was injured by a blast from Overlord, but was suddenly swept up and carried to safety by a new robot named [[Clouder]], who introduced himself as the final Godmaster. {{storylink|Appearance!! The Final Godmaster}} Minerva welcomed Clouder into the Autobot ranks and gave him a tour of their headquarters, even covering for him when his apparent curiosity led him to fiddle with the base computer. She dismissed Shūta and Cab's suspicions of Clouder, but Hawk shared in the boys' doubts and trailed Clouder, proving that he was, in fact, a Decepticon spy. Unfortunately, this did little to help the Autobots, as the Decepticons soon attacked using the information Clouder had provided, while bombs he had planted in the base crippled its defences. {{storylink|Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!!}} With Hawk injured and the other Autobots occupied in battle, Minerva and the Juniors were left to defend the base alone, but ultimately, the Autobots were forced to abandon it before it was destroyed. {{storylink|Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes}}

Soon after, BlackZarak was able to reach the Earth, and the conflict took a step up as cities all over the world were targeted. When Cancer was buried in a pile of rubble during an attack on his home country of China, Minerva began to dig him out. Shūta and Cab were only to happy to let him rot until Ginrai ordered them to help. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Save Cancer!?}} At last convinced by this display of concern and respect, Cancer defected to the Autobots. {{storylink|God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base}}

[[File:Ginrai juniors.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|That is one intense séance.]]

When BlackZarak, now merged with Decepticon emperor [[Devil Z]], threatened North American with his [[Devil Power]] from his staging point within the Grand Canyon, Minerva was part of a team along with Shūta, Cab and Ranger who were attacked by King Poseidon. {{storylink|Autobots! Desperate Attack!!}} The Juniors got a chance at a rematch in the Alps, where King Poseidon nearly cut Minerva in two before Metalhawk stepped in to rescue her. Ginrai arrived to defeat the combiner, but Metalhawk and the Juniors were badly wounded and forced to remain behind as Ginrai headed to the summit of the Matterhorn to face BlackZarak. {{storylink|Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z}} Minerva used the time to take care of Metalhawk's injuries, but soon, Ginrai and BlackZarak's fight carried them down the mountain, where BlackZarak transformed into an even more powerful serpent mode. Minerva, Shūta and Cab could feel the burning energy of Ginrai, and all three Juniors found themselves transported into his chest cockpit, where their energies helped him destroy BlackZarak. His host destroyed, Devil Z raged impotently until Ginrai and the Juniors united every last drop of their power in the Final Fire Guts attack, which completely destroyed the arch-villain. In the aftermath of the battle, the Autobots were all immediately enveloped in a glow and transformed from robots back into their human forms. Minerva was the first to realize that their Masterbraces had disappeared, and moments later, the truth of the situation was revealed: the death of Devil Z had caused their bond to their Transtectors to be severed. Their Transtectors, however, all lived on, evolved into true super-robot lifeforms through the power of their bond. Minerva's Transtector departed for space with all the others to carry on the fight against the Decepticons. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}

====''Cloud''====
{{storylink|Wandering}}
{{charstubfiction}}

====''Victory'' cartoon====
[[File:Minerva victory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Odds are, you only like two of these characters.]]
{{voiceactor|[[Tomoko Maruo]] (Japanese)}}

Several years later, when Ginrai's now-living Transtector was fatally wounded in battle with Decepticon leader [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], Minerva's own Transtector, having taken its partner's name for its own, was summoned to Earth along with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] for medical support. Unfortunately, it was soon determined that nothing could be done for Ginrai, save to rebuild him in an entirely new form. {{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} Using a design crafted by Autobot [[Supreme Commander]] [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], Minerva, Wheeljack and Perceptor rebuilt Ginrai as [[Victory Leo]] {{storylink|Fight!! Victory Leo}} and subsequently implanted a circuit in Star Saber's head that would allow him and Victory Leo to combine. {{storylink|Awaken! Victory Leo}} Perceptor was wary of the strain on Star Saber's body when the combination was first used, but when Minerva pressed him for details, he assured her everything would turn out fine. {{storylink|The Tide Is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification}}
{{-}}

====Metrowars====
Following a devastating attack by [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], Minerva, with the help of [[Glit (KP)|Glit]], rebuilt [[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]] from his [[Master Class]] body into a new body, sans [[Energon Matrix]]. She filled Manta Ray into what was happening with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] after Metrotitan's attack. {{Storylink|Metrowars}}

===''Super-God Masterforce'' comic===
[[File:Minerva manga.jpg|left|thumb|In the name of [[Unicron|The Moon]], I will punish you!]]

Minerva was a schoolfriend of Shūta and Cab's, who joined them in begging Metalhawk to allow them to become members of the Autobots. After a period of intense training, the trio were given Master-Braces and Transtectors and became Headmaster Juniors, but didn't fare very well in their first battle against a [[Lobclaw]]. Minerva was first to fall to the [[Seacon (Masterforce)|Seacon]], and Metalhawk had to leap in to bail them out. {{storylink|Headmaster Jrs Are Born}}

During a battle between Metalhawk and Blood in the dead of night, Hawk called upon the Juniors to provide rescue operations in the city. Minerva and Shūta had to silently sneak out of the International School dorms, and once they arrived on the scene, they were attacked by the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors. Although outmatched, they were able to overpower their foes when Cancer was distracted by some injured humans nearby, and with their enemies dispatched, Minerva dispensed first aid. {{storylink|Destined Confrontation: The Children of Good and Evil}}

When news came from America of the discovery of the first Autobot Godmaster, Minerva and the other Autobots waited at the harbor for his arrival, only to be attacked by the Decepticon Godmasters, Buster and Hydra. Ginrai arrived to save them, and Minerva and the Juniors became fast friends with him, {{storylink|Enter on the Stage! The Name of the Savior Is Ginrai!}} later travelling to [[Athenia]] to see him appointed [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

[[File:Ginrai juniors manga.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The creepiest smiles ''ever''. Yikes.]]

The Juniors' relationship with Ginrai grew closer with the creation of Godbomber, a drone piloted by Minerva, Shūta and Cab that combined with Ginrai and allowed him to defeat Overlord and BlackZarak. {{storylink|God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination!}} When Shūta and Cab were captured by the Decepticons, however, Minerva had to pilot Godbomber alone and crashed it through the walls of Overlord's base mode in order to save her friends. As their injuries were bandaged back at the Autobot base, Minerva was embarrassed by the two boys' jokes about how she was like a mother to them. {{storylink|The Earth Family of Good and Evil}}

Minerva and the Juniors accompanied Ginrai into battle aboard Godbomber for several further conflicts, including the recruitment of the final Godmaster, Clouder, who Minerva welcomed into the Autobot ranks with a big home-cooked meal. {{storylink|Decepticons' Great Counterattack!}} In the final battle against BlackZarak, now fused with Decepticon emperor Devil Z, the villain turned on his fellow Decepticons, leading them to unite with the Autobots in defeating him. Minerva and all the other Transformers united their energies in the “Perfect Transformer Attack,” which obliterated both villains. The death of Devil Z caused the bond between the humans and their Transtectors to be broken, and Minerva became a normal kid again as her now-living Transtector and those of all the other Autobots headed into space to continue the fight against the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Birth of the Super Lifeforms}}

===''Classics''===
[[File:Minervabusinessproposition.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|That neckline says otherwise!]]

Minerva, the daughter of a French mother and a Japanese father, was chosen out of the [[Japanese Self Defense Core]] to be part of [[Project Transtector|Project: Transtector]]. For a while she piloted a battle armor suit fashioned from Transformer scrap found around the globe, until the project ended when most of its subjects collapsed under psychological stress. Minerva survived seemingly unscathed, except for that one time she stole a starfighter and followed "visions" directly to the Autobot, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and began dating [[Muzzle|his head]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 22|Minerva's ''Classics'' profile}}

She ended up joining Muzzle and Nightbeat's team, which also included [[Siren]] and [[Quig]], [[Lug]], and the disgruntled [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]. While traveling the universe, they set their ship down on the planet [[Azure]] for repairs. If "setting the ship down for repairs" means "getting shot down in high orbit and crashing it into the only repair bay equipped to fix it".

[[File:Minervaneedlenose.jpg|thumb|225px|If "[[Cheap Shots]]" were [[Fab Four|the Beatles]], I'd be its Yoko Ono!]]

Nightbeat found that he was a person of interest to a potential client, a sentient ship named ''[[Amory]]'', but not before Minerva and the others battled her hired "thugs". ''Amory'' required the services of Nightbeat and his team in finding her pilot, [[Phyrion]]. Minerva and the other humans pored over the evidence, but they could find no lead. Ultimately, the entire arrangement was revealed to be a setup put together by the Decepticons [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] and [[Needlenose]], who had assembled an alleged "new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]" by promising payment to [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] and [[Stranglehold]] for their assistance. Ruckus wasn't very smart, however, and had brought his hostage with him. The Decepticons were brutalized and Phyrion was returned to Amory. Regretting her involvement, Amory paid the Autobots for her services.

Despite their short run-in with good luck, Minerva and the rest of the crew were still stranded on Azure without a working ship. In the meantime, surely someone was in need of a detective... {{storylink|Cheap Shots}}

==Toys==
===Super-God Masterforce===
[[File:MF-toy Minerva.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|The three vehicle-mounted weapons fire aspirin, we promise.]]
*'''Minelba''' {{sic}} (Headmaster Junior, 1988)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-303'''
**''Accessories'': Transtector, seat/helmet, left & right "Shock Blasters", "Shock Gun"

:Minerva's Transtector is referred to as an ambulance, but let's be honest - it's a Porsche 959 with an emergency rescue color scheme that wouldn't likely be very useful in transporting patients around. The roof is hinged and can be opened to reveal an interior cockpit that Minerva herself can sit inside of; the prominent hinge itself is rather cleverly disguised as a lightbar, something that Minerva's American mold-partner, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], lacks. Her Shock Blasters plug in just above the vehicle's headlights, while her larger Shock Gun can be plugged onto the roof.

:In robot mode, Minerva's cockpit seat becomes a helmet, into which the small Shock Blasters plug as antennae. Like all Headmaster toys, Minerva has a flip-down panel on her chest which covers a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readings for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers are activated when Minerva (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into the neck socket. Minerva has her robot mode face plainly visible on her back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, she lacks the flip down panel that covers the face featured on larger Headmasters. As another consequence of being a smaller Headmaster, Minerva's chest cavity was apparently too small for 3 individual tumblers. As a result, all Headmaster heads inserted will display her pre-molded (and painted) Speed, Strength, and Intelligence readings (7, 5, 8) on one large sliding plate.

:As noted above, Minerva shares a mold with the American Headmaster Nightbeat, but it is unclear which character came first in the design process.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Cybertron/Minerva/minerva.htm More information on Minerva at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{anchor|Nightbeat}}
[[File:G1Nightbeat toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Not-Beat.]]
*'''Minerva Night Beat''' (Headmaster Junior, 1988)
**''Accessories'': Transtector, seat/helmet, left & right Shock Blasters, Shock Gun

: Essentially just a Japanese release of [[Hasbro]]'s Nightbeat toy, this version of the Minerva toy was only available by mail order, for the price of 1800 yen and four [[Robot Point]]s. It is unknown if this version of the toy came in a simple mailer box or in [[Hasbro]] packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Nightbeat/nightbeat.htm More information on Minerva Night Beat (well, Nightbeat) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
[[File:Minerva-PVC.jpg|thumb|100px|I will NOT make the Knee Test!]]
===Super Collection Figure===
*'''Minerva''' (2001)

:A PVC figurine of Minerva, based on her robot mode character model, was available in the second "act" of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line. Like all the figures in the act, it was available as both a standard full-color figure, and as a colorless clear plastic version, one of each in a case of twelve blind-packed PVCs.

*'''Metalhawk & Minerva''' (2001)

:A second Minerva figurine was released in the fifth, ''Masterforce''-centric act of the line, this time as an unarmored human in her school uniform. Only available packaged with the act's [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] figurine, it was available in both full-color and metallic silver "pewter" versions, again at a ratio of one each per case of twelve. In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of the figures came packaged with the right arm of the BlackZarak "Build-A-Figure".
{{-}}

===Gutto Kuru Figure Collection===
[[File:CMs gutto kuru minerva.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Armor inspired by the cartoon, Face inspired by a blow-up doll.]]
*'''Minelba''' {{sic}} (2012)
**''Accessories:'' Helmet, smiling face, gleeful face, angry face, 4 pairs of hands

:A posable figure of Minerva in her Headmaster Junior armor was made by [[CM's Corporation]] as part of their [[Gutto Kuru Figure Collection]]. She comes with a removable helmet and several swappable faces, and the robot face molded onto her backpack can be compressed and hidden to leave room for her long hair.

*'''Minelba Special Color Ver.''' ([[Wikipedia:Wonder Festival|Wonder Festival Summer 2012]] exclusive, 2012)
**''Accessories:'' Helmet, smiling face, gleeful face, angry face, [[Hi-Q]] head

:A recolor of Minerva in the blue and yellow of her American counterparts Nightbeat and Muzzle was available exclusively at the Summer Wonder Festival 2012 convention in Japan. In addition to the regular figure's accessories, this exclusive comes with an extra head based on Hasbro Powermaster [[Hi-Q]], which can be attached to CM's separately-sold Ginrai figurine.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Upon her release, Minerva was the first female Transformer toy. Many years later, though, her position would be retroactively usurped when [[Freezon]] was retconned into being female.
* Minerva's name is consistently [[romanization|mis-anglicized]] as "Minelba" in every English instance of the name on Japanese packaging and [[bio]] material. There is essentially no difference between the "L" and "R" sounds in Japanese, and at the time it was standard practice to substitute "ba" for the "va" sound (though this has changed in later years).
* According to her supplementary [[bio]] card, Minerva was 15 years old, making her the oldest Autobot Headmaster Junior.
* Minerva's precise nationality is a bit ambiguous. Her mother is stated to be French, but whether her ambassador father is Japanese or from the Republic of Mont Porte is not made explicitly clear in the cartoon. Her father is, at least, explained to be Mont Porte's ambassador to Japan, which would suggest he is a Mont Porte native, but some sources, including ''[[Transformers: The Ark II|The Ark II]]'', have claimed that he is Japanese (by way of describing Minerva as "half-French, half-Japanese").

[[File:Chromia Minerva toy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Probably buddies with [[Arcee (Energon)|Ariel Paradron-Type]].]]
* Although Minerva's Transtector doesn't have room to ferry patients like a real ambulance would (which is what it's referred to being as), it would qualify as a [[Wikipedia:Fly-car|fly-car]] due to it having a faster response time to emergencies (and saving ambulance resources if the situation is minor).
* Minerva's living transtector was the only one of the Headmaster Junior trio to return in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Victory'' cartoon]]. Conversely, while Shūta and Cab returned in the pages of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]], Minerva did not beyond [[Warrior of Love, Star Saber!|one flashback]]. According to writer [[Masumi Kaneda]], the reason for this was because the manga would then have been "buried in female characters".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050207000229/www.tfpulp.com/archive/interview/interview.html Interview with Masumi Kaneda on TFPulp.Com, courtesy of the Wayback Machine]</ref> Besides the obvious sexism, there was all of [[Patty Minakaze|''one'' regular female character]]; the three others ([[Illumina]], [[Esmeral (Victory)|Esmeral]], and [[Lyzack]]) only briefly appeared in one issue.
* Minerva's color scheme was used for the DVD-exclusive "White Version" [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. It made her look quite like [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]].

===Foreign names===
*''English:'' '''Nightbeat''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Phantom'''
*''Russian:'' '''Vetochka''' (Веточка, "Tree Branch")
*''Spanish:'' '''Cher''' (America)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Classics humans]]
[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce humans]]
[[Category:Victory Autobots]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics continuity humans]]

Minerva (human)

2014-12-08T18:34:22Z

LongHaul: /* Super-God Masterforce cartoon */

{{featured}}
{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Minerva}}

:''Minerva is a [[human]] [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster Junior]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Minerva nekotom.jpg|thumb|375px|Able was I, ere I saw Minelba.]]

'''Minerva''' (ミネルバ ''Mineruba'') is [[Minerva's parents|the daughter of]] [[Mont Porte]]'s ambassador to [[Japan]], half-French on her mother's side, and a happy, charming, friendly, talented girl brimming with idealism and care for her fellow man. But Minerva's idealism is a naive kind: petitioning to join the Autobots out of a desire to "fight evil", she quickly found that the reality of war was a lot more than she was prepared for. Already very uncomfortable with violence and now thrown into the heart of a war in which ''children'', of all beings, are so casually made a part of the conflict, Minerva is left struggling to rationalize her role as a warrior, even one on the side of good. As such, she usually refrains from entering battle herself unless circumstances absolutely demand it, instead operating as a battlefield medic and tending to the human victims of the [[Transformer]]s' battles. In the final analysis, Minerva's timidness leaves her simply treating the symptoms of the disease, rather than fighting the cause.

As an Autobot Headmaster Junior, Minerva is bonded to a [[Transtector]] from the planet [[Master (planet)|Master]], which takes the form of an emergency rescue vehicle. Using her [[Master-Brace]]s, she can summon a suit of armor that enhances her physical strength, speed and reflexes, which allows her to transform into a head for her Transtector and function as a full-size Transformer robot armed with a paralyzing "Shock Gun". Outside of combat situations, Minerva is a much more easy-going girl. Clearly raised in an overly "traditional" manner befitting an ambassador's daughter and tutored in various "feminine skills", she is a talented dancer, painter, cook and medic, and has inherited the poise, grace and beauty of her mother, making her the object of many of her male teammates' affections. A word or two of praise from Minerva is enough to bring any Autobot out in a hot flush.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Yuriko Yamamoto]] (Japanese)}}

[[File:Minerva uniform.jpg|left|thumb|The name is Minerva and I'll be your host this page.]]
When the news came that her family was moving to Japan, Minerva was especially excited at the prospect of learning traditional Japanese dance, but she could never have guessed that the plane on which they flew would be attacked by the [[Decepticon]] [[Pretender]], [[Blood]], who was searching for Mont Porte's prize-winning biologist, [[Blanieux|Professor Blanieux]]. Their jet crashed in Corsica, but Minerva and her family escaped with only minor injuries, and she was only too happy to talk to the "government investigators" who came to her in the hospital where [[Minerva's parents|her parents]] were being treated. In particular, the two young boys that accompanied the investigators, [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]] and [[Cab]], were very taken with Minerva. The following day, when Professor Blanieux arrived to rendezvous with Minerva's father before he and the family headed on to Japan, the investigators, Shūta and Cab accompanied them on their private jet for fear of any further Decepticon attacks. Blood did indeed strike at the plane, and to combat him, the investigators revealed that they were, in fact, the Autobot [[Pretender]]s. Although Minerva was initially angry with Shūta and Cab for lying to her, she was impressed with their bravery when the jet's [[stewardess]] turned out to be a Decepticon [[Destroid]] and they fought and incapacitated her. With the Decepticons' plan foiled, Shūta and Cab suggested that Minerva could join them in attending the [[International School]], and she happily agreed. {{storylink|Kidnapping!? The Targeted Jumbo Jet}}

[[File:Minerva armor.jpg|thumb|"What do you mean, 'anything can happen in the next half-hour?'"]]
Having seen the evil of the Decepticons firsthand, Minerva was only to happy to say yes when Autobot leader [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] asked if she wanted to help the Autobots in their fight against them. At first, Hawk was unsure if she was up to the task, but Minerva obtained her parents' permission and assured Hawk that she was willing to spend her life saving the lives of others. Together with Shūta and Cab, Minerva was given Masterbraces and a Transtector and became a Headmaster Junior warrior. {{storylink|Birth! Headmaster Jrs}}

While [[Holographic battle drone|training]] with [[Diver (Masterforce)|Diver]] in America, however, Minerva displayed her lack of confidence with her new power, but was soon forced to face up to the responsibilities it carried when the Decepticons' Headmaster Juniors attacked a nearby city. Unable to summon the courage to join Shūta and Cab in the fight, Minerva was only galvanized into action when she saw a [[little girl (Masterforce)|young girl]] become buried under rubble on news coverage of the battle. Racing into action without a second thought, Minerva followed the girl's [[Pis|dog]] to her side and rescued her, but tragedy then struck when [[Wilder]] killed the poor animal. Finally filled with the emotional fury that drove her to fight, Minerva transformed to robot mode and took out two of the three villains, forcing them to retreat. After the battle, Minerva helped the girl bury Pis and promised to buy her a new puppy just like him. {{storylink|Rage!! Little Devils with No Need for Rules}}

[[File:Minerva mf.jpg|left|thumb|What? Lightrays naturally form and angle like that!]]
On a mission to Kenya, Minerva's choice of ensemble definitely made the trip for Shūta and Cab, but it also left her quite open for a deadly scorpion sting. Thankfully, this was prevented by a well-timed shot from [[Ricky]]. While the other Autobots battled the Decepticons in the area, Minerva put her medical talents to use treating an injured fawn for which Ricky was caring. {{storylink|Panic! Protect the Wild Animals!!}} Upon returning to Japan, the trio participated in the [[Mt Fuji Foothills Hang Gliding Competition Tournament]], only for it to be attacked by the Decepticon [[Godmaster]]s [[Buster (Masterforce)|Buster]] and [[Hydra (Masterforce)|Hydra]]. Minerva treated the injured hang-gliders while the battle raged. {{storylink|Super Warriors - The Godmaster Brothers}}

Not long thereafter, the Autobots were joined by their own Godmaster, [[Ginrai]], whom Minerva and the other Juniors were eager to meet. {{storylink|Ginrai: God On of Rage!!}} They arrived to welcome him at the harbour when he came to visit them, but during the drive back to the headquarters, the team was attacked by the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors, and Ginrai kidnapped [[Cancer (Masterforce)|Cancer]] for interrogation. Minerva attempted to make the boy's imprisonment bearable, appalled by Ginrai's use of handcuffs. Even when Cancer shattered a glass of juice that she attempted to offer him, cutting her with the shards, she refused to let Shūta and Cab hurt him. When Ginrai threatened Cancer with physical force, she tried to stop him, but was ordered out of the room, so she watched the ensuing interrogation on a viewscreen.

[[File:Minerva cancer.jpg|thumb|225px|First [[Mayumi]], then Minerva... Cancer might be scared [[Mega]] will be next.]]

Learning what they needed from him, the Autobots released Cancer into the hands of Hydra and Buster, but Hydra immediately discovered a homing beacon on Cancer's back and attacked the Autobots in retaliation. Buster seized Minerva and placed his blaster to her head, but surprisingly, Cancer snatched her away, begging the Godmasters not to kill anyone. The surprised Decepticons were overpowered by Ginrai and retreated, with Cancer shouting back that his act of kindness was simply payback for the drink. {{storylink|A Strange Friendship: Cancer and Minerva}}

Worrying that Ginrai would hate her after her argument with him, Minerva went to Metalhawk with her concerns, and he encouraged her to talk it out with him. Heading out to join Ginrai, Shūta and Cab at a barbecue, Minerva arrived in time to overhear Ginrai praise her honesty, and she consequently plucked up the courage to join them and apologize, setting things right once more. She was subsequently with Ginrai when he discovered the trailer for his Transtector {{storylink|Friend or Foe!? The True Form of the Monster!!}} and was part of the battle when he unleashed its power against [[King Poseidon]]. During this fight, Minerva appealed to Cancer to abandon the Decepticons and join the Autobots, but she was struck down by [[Bullhorn (Masterforce)|Bullhorn]] before her words could sink in. {{storylink|Heroism!! The Birth of Super Ginrai}}

[[File:Minerva robotmode.jpg|left|thumb]]

The Headmaster Juniors' summer break coincided with the discovery of another Autobot Godmaster, [[Lightfoot]], {{storylink|Lightfoot: A Dramatic Encounter}} and as such, they were able to accompany Ginrai, Metalhawk and [[Lander (Masterforce)|Lander]] on their search for the next Godmaster, camping in the Rocky Mountains. While picking mushrooms, Minerva spotted a forest patrolman named [[Ranger]] talking with Bullhorn and immediately suspected he was a Decepticon, but was unable to tell the other Autobots when she returned to the camp and found Shūta and Cab fishing with him. When a storm lashed the campsite that night, the group took Ranger up on his offer of taking refuge in his cabin, where Minerva was able to tell her fellow Juniors her suspicions. She was soon proven wrong, however, when Ranger revealed a strange, glowing rock that he had discovered, which turned out to be a Transtector with which he then bonded, becoming the next Autobot Godmaster. {{storylink|An Enemy? The Third Godmaster, Ranger}}

When the [[Six Changer]] [[Sixknight]] arrived on Earth, allied himself with the Decepticons and challenged Ginrai to a duel, Minerva was among the spectators of the battle, but found herself playing a more important role when she was captured by Blood and [[Gilmer]]. The Pretender duo threatened her life in order to make Ginrai stand down, but as they argued over who gets to hold her Sixknight was enraged at their interference and forced them to let her go so that they could duel honourably. {{storylink|A Powerful Foe!! Sixknight the Wanderer}} Sixknight ultimately lost to Ginrai, but returned soon after, attempting to comprehend how he'd lost to a human. As he and Ginrai were in the middle of talking, the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors attacked a nearby city in order to draw the Autobots out, as part of a plan by Cancer to prove to his fellow Juniors that Minerva meant nothing to him. Sixknight responded to their attack with deadly force, and the horrified Minerva was forced to team up with Cancer's little Decepticon buddy [[Browning]] to blind Sixknight with a smokescreen, allowing the Decepticon Juniors to escape. {{storylink|The Autobot Warrior, Sixknight?!}}

[[File:Minerva karin.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Never thought you'd see the GIRL wearing the least skimpy swimsuit, did you?]]

With the summer break coming to a close, Minerva joined Shūta and Cab on a trip to Cab's home in the [[Karin Islands]], where her beauty particularly struck Cab's elderly guardian [[Donq]]. Minerva's medical talents were required to help treat a sick friend of Cab's named [[Copo]], as all the local doctors had been kidnapped by the Decepticons as part of an outlandish plan, but the Autobots rescued them and all was set right. {{storylink|Save the Little Girl! The Chōjin Warriors, the Godmasters}} Crazy Decepticon plans were still the order of the day when the Juniors returned to school to hear stories of a mysterious fortune-teller on television who predicted disasters across the planet. Minerva dismissed it all as made-up nonsense, but had to eat her words when all the predictions came true and she and the other Juniors had to protect a town from a raging flood, only for it all to turn out to have been yet another Decepticon scheme. {{storylink|Expose the Decepticons' Dark Trap!}}

Soon thereafter, Minerva, Shūta and Cab were at last let in on a secret the other Autobots had been keeping from them: the "Bomber Project", a plan to construct a power-up drone known as "[[Godbomber]]" for Ginrai to help him fight [[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]], a mighty Decepticon presently approaching from space. {{storylink|Super Ginrai Gets Blown Away in the Desert!?}} Ginrai was subsequently injured by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] in a battle in the desert, and Minerva treated his wounds before he was admitted to a hospital. {{storylink|Will the Bomber Project Be Destroyed!?}} Ginrai was insistent on going through with the mission despite his injuries, so Minerva had Shūta and Cab spar with him a little to help him work through the pain. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Into the Sky!!}} Alas, the three Juniors and the other Autobots could do nothing but watch as Ginrai and [[Grand Maximus]] battled Overlord and BlackZarak on [[Earth]]'s [[moon (moon)|moon]], but in the end, the Autobots triumphed. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Showdown on the Surface of the Moon}} After he returned to Earth, Godbomber even revealed a new power, transforming into a robot that Minerva and the Juniors discovered they could combine their [[Chōkon Power]] to control. {{storylink|Destroy Godbomber!!}}

[[File:Minerva clouder.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|That's right! That's the spot baby! Ohhhh Double Clouder!]]

When the Autobots tracked the Decepticons down to an island in the Pacific, Minerva was injured by a blast from Overlord, but was suddenly swept up and carried to safety by a new robot named [[Clouder]], who introduced himself as the final Godmaster. {{storylink|Appearance!! The Final Godmaster}} Minerva welcomed Clouder into the Autobot ranks and gave him a tour of their headquarters, even covering for him when his apparent curiosity led him to fiddle with the base computer. She dismissed Shūta and Cab's suspicions of Clouder, but Hawk shared in the boys' doubts and trailed Clouder, proving that he was, in fact, a Decepticon spy. Unfortunately, this did little to help the Autobots, as the Decepticons soon attacked using the information Clouder had provided, while bombs he had planted in the base crippled its defences. {{storylink|Secret Orders! Destroy the Autobot Base!!}} With Hawk injured and the other Autobots occupied in battle, Minerva and the Juniors were left to defend the base alone, but ultimately, the Autobots were forced to abandon it before it was destroyed. {{storylink|Disaster! The Autobot Base Explodes}}

Soon after, BlackZarak was able to reach the Earth, and the conflict took a step up as cities all over the world were targeted. When Cancer was buried in a pile of rubble during an attack on his home country of China, Minerva began to dig him out. Shūta and Cab were only to happy to let him rot until Ginrai ordered them to help. {{storylink|God Ginrai - Save Cancer!?}} At last convinced by this display of concern and respect, Cancer defected to the Autobots. {{storylink|God Ginrai: Showdown at the Decepticon Base}}

[[File:Ginrai juniors.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|That is one intense séance.]]

When BlackZarak, now merged with Decepticon emperor [[Devil Z]], threatened North American with his [[Devil Power]] from his staging point within the Grand Canyon, Minerva was part of a team along with Shūta, Cab and Ranger who were attacked by King Poseidon. {{storylink|Autobots! Desperate Attack!!}} The Juniors got a chance at a rematch in the Alps, where King Poseidon nearly cut Minerva in two before Metalhawk stepped in to rescue her. Ginrai arrived to defeat the combiner, but Metalhawk and the Juniors were badly wounded and forced to remain behind as Ginrai headed to the summit of the Matterhorn to face BlackZarak. {{storylink|Malevolent and Inhuman! The True Form of Devil Z}} Minerva used the time to take care of Metalhawk's injuries, but soon, Ginrai and BlackZarak's fight carried them down the mountain, where BlackZarak transformed into an even more powerful serpent mode. Minerva, Shūta and Cab could feel the burning energy of Ginrai, and all three Juniors found themselves transported into his chest cockpit, where their energies helped him destroy BlackZarak. His host destroyed, Devil Z raged impotently until Ginrai and the Juniors united every last drop of their power in the Final Fire Guts attack, which completely destroyed the arch-villain. In the aftermath of the battle, the Autobots were all immediately enveloped in a glow and transformed from robots back into their human forms. Minerva was the first to realize that their Masterbraces had disappeared, and moments later, the truth of the situation was revealed: the death of Devil Z had caused their bond to their Transtectors to be severed. Their Transtectors, however, all lived on, evolved into true super-robot lifeforms through the power of their bond. Minerva's Transtector departed for space with all the others to carry on the fight against the Decepticons. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}

====''Cloud''====
{{storylink|Wandering}}
{{charstubfiction}}

====''Victory'' cartoon====
[[File:Minerva victory.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Odds are, you only like two of these characters.]]
{{voiceactor|[[Tomoko Maruo]] (Japanese)}}

Several years later, when Ginrai's now-living Transtector was fatally wounded in battle with Decepticon leader [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], Minerva's own Transtector, having taken its partner's name for its own, was summoned to Earth along with [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] for medical support. Unfortunately, it was soon determined that nothing could be done for Ginrai, save to rebuild him in an entirely new form. {{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} Using a design crafted by Autobot [[Supreme Commander]] [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], Minerva, Wheeljack and Perceptor rebuilt Ginrai as [[Victory Leo]] {{storylink|Fight!! Victory Leo}} and subsequently implanted a circuit in Star Saber's head that would allow him and Victory Leo to combine. {{storylink|Awaken! Victory Leo}} Perceptor was wary of the strain on Star Saber's body when the combination was first used, but when Minerva pressed him for details, he assured her everything would turn out fine. {{storylink|The Tide Is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification}}
{{-}}

====Metrowars====
Following a devastating attack by [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]], Minerva, with the help of [[Glit (KP)|Glit]], rebuilt [[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]] from his [[Master Class]] body into a new body, sans [[Energon Matrix]]. She filled Manta Ray into what was happening with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] after Metrotitan's attack. {{Storylink|Metrowars}}

===''Super-God Masterforce'' comic===
[[File:Minerva manga.jpg|left|thumb|In the name of [[Unicron|The Moon]], I will punish you!]]

Minerva was a schoolfriend of Shūta and Cab's, who joined them in begging Metalhawk to allow them to become members of the Autobots. After a period of intense training, the trio were given Master-Braces and Transtectors and became Headmaster Juniors, but didn't fare very well in their first battle against a [[Lobclaw]]. Minerva was first to fall to the [[Seacon (Masterforce)|Seacon]], and Metalhawk had to leap in to bail them out. {{storylink|Headmaster Jrs Are Born}}

During a battle between Metalhawk and Blood in the dead of night, Hawk called upon the Juniors to provide rescue operations in the city. Minerva and Shūta had to silently sneak out of the International School dorms, and once they arrived on the scene, they were attacked by the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors. Although outmatched, they were able to overpower their foes when Cancer was distracted by some injured humans nearby, and with their enemies dispatched, Minerva dispensed first aid. {{storylink|Destined Confrontation: The Children of Good and Evil}}

When news came from America of the discovery of the first Autobot Godmaster, Minerva and the other Autobots waited at the harbor for his arrival, only to be attacked by the Decepticon Godmasters, Buster and Hydra. Ginrai arrived to save them, and Minerva and the Juniors became fast friends with him, {{storylink|Enter on the Stage! The Name of the Savior Is Ginrai!}} later travelling to [[Athenia]] to see him appointed [[Supreme Commander]] of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Battle Begins! The United Earth-Space Troops}}

[[File:Ginrai juniors manga.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The creepiest smiles ''ever''. Yikes.]]

The Juniors' relationship with Ginrai grew closer with the creation of Godbomber, a drone piloted by Minerva, Shūta and Cab that combined with Ginrai and allowed him to defeat Overlord and BlackZarak. {{storylink|God Ginrai's Amazing Super-God Combination!}} When Shūta and Cab were captured by the Decepticons, however, Minerva had to pilot Godbomber alone and crashed it through the walls of Overlord's base mode in order to save her friends. As their injuries were bandaged back at the Autobot base, Minerva was embarrassed by the two boys' jokes about how she was like a mother to them. {{storylink|The Earth Family of Good and Evil}}

Minerva and the Juniors accompanied Ginrai into battle aboard Godbomber for several further conflicts, including the recruitment of the final Godmaster, Clouder, who Minerva welcomed into the Autobot ranks with a big home-cooked meal. {{storylink|Decepticons' Great Counterattack!}} In the final battle against BlackZarak, now fused with Decepticon emperor Devil Z, the villain turned on his fellow Decepticons, leading them to unite with the Autobots in defeating him. Minerva and all the other Transformers united their energies in the “Perfect Transformer Attack,” which obliterated both villains. The death of Devil Z caused the bond between the humans and their Transtectors to be broken, and Minerva became a normal kid again as her now-living Transtector and those of all the other Autobots headed into space to continue the fight against the Decepticons. {{storylink|The Birth of the Super Lifeforms}}

===''Classics''===
[[File:Minervabusinessproposition.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|That neckline says otherwise!]]

Minerva, the daughter of a French mother and a Japanese father, was chosen out of the [[Japanese Self Defense Core]] to be part of [[Project Transtector|Project: Transtector]]. For a while she piloted a battle armor suit fashioned from Transformer scrap found around the globe, until the project ended when most of its subjects collapsed under psychological stress. Minerva survived seemingly unscathed, except for that one time she stole a starfighter and followed "visions" directly to the Autobot, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and began dating [[Muzzle|his head]]. {{storylink|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 22|Minerva's ''Classics'' profile}}

She ended up joining Muzzle and Nightbeat's team, which also included [[Siren]] and [[Quig]], [[Lug]], and the disgruntled [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]. While traveling the universe, they set their ship down on the planet [[Azure]] for repairs. If "setting the ship down for repairs" means "getting shot down in high orbit and crashing it into the only repair bay equipped to fix it".

[[File:Minervaneedlenose.jpg|thumb|225px|If "[[Cheap Shots]]" were [[Fab Four|the Beatles]], I'd be its Yoko Ono!]]

Nightbeat found that he was a person of interest to a potential client, a sentient ship named ''[[Amory]]'', but not before Minerva and the others battled her hired "thugs". ''Amory'' required the services of Nightbeat and his team in finding her pilot, [[Phyrion]]. Minerva and the other humans pored over the evidence, but they could find no lead. Ultimately, the entire arrangement was revealed to be a setup put together by the Decepticons [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] and [[Needlenose]], who had assembled an alleged "new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]" by promising payment to [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] and [[Stranglehold]] for their assistance. Ruckus wasn't very smart, however, and had brought his hostage with him. The Decepticons were brutalized and Phyrion was returned to Amory. Regretting her involvement, Amory paid the Autobots for her services.

Despite their short run-in with good luck, Minerva and the rest of the crew were still stranded on Azure without a working ship. In the meantime, surely someone was in need of a detective... {{storylink|Cheap Shots}}

==Toys==
===Super-God Masterforce===
[[File:MF-toy Minerva.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|The three vehicle-mounted weapons fire aspirin, we promise.]]
*'''Minelba''' {{sic}} (Headmaster Junior, 1988)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-303'''
**''Accessories'': Transtector, seat/helmet, left & right "Shock Blasters", "Shock Gun"

:Minerva's Transtector is referred to as an ambulance, but let's be honest - it's a Porsche 959 with an emergency rescue color scheme that wouldn't likely be very useful in transporting patients around. The roof is hinged and can be opened to reveal an interior cockpit that Minerva herself can sit inside of; the prominent hinge itself is rather cleverly disguised as a lightbar, something that Minerva's American mold-partner, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], lacks. Her Shock Blasters plug in just above the vehicle's headlights, while her larger Shock Gun can be plugged onto the roof.

:In robot mode, Minerva's cockpit seat becomes a helmet, into which the small Shock Blasters plug as antennae. Like all Headmaster toys, Minerva has a flip-down panel on her chest which covers a spring-loaded mini-Tech-Spec-meter which gives readings for Speed, Strength and Intelligence. The tumblers are activated when Minerva (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into the neck socket. Minerva has her robot mode face plainly visible on her back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, she lacks the flip down panel that covers the face featured on larger Headmasters. As another consequence of being a smaller Headmaster, Minerva's chest cavity was apparently too small for 3 individual tumblers. As a result, all Headmaster heads inserted will display her pre-molded (and painted) Speed, Strength, and Intelligence readings (7, 5, 8) on one large sliding plate.

:As noted above, Minerva shares a mold with the American Headmaster Nightbeat, but it is unclear which character came first in the design process.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Cybertron/Minerva/minerva.htm More information on Minerva at TFU.info]''
{{-}}
{{anchor|Nightbeat}}
[[File:G1Nightbeat toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Not-Beat.]]
*'''Minerva Night Beat''' (Headmaster Junior, 1988)
**''Accessories'': Transtector, seat/helmet, left & right Shock Blasters, Shock Gun

: Essentially just a Japanese release of [[Hasbro]]'s Nightbeat toy, this version of the Minerva toy was only available by mail order, for the price of 1800 yen and four [[Robot Point]]s. It is unknown if this version of the toy came in a simple mailer box or in [[Hasbro]] packaging.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Nightbeat/nightbeat.htm More information on Minerva Night Beat (well, Nightbeat) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
[[File:Minerva-PVC.jpg|thumb|100px|I will NOT make the Knee Test!]]
===Super Collection Figure===
*'''Minerva''' (2001)

:A PVC figurine of Minerva, based on her robot mode character model, was available in the second "act" of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Super Collection Figure]]'' line. Like all the figures in the act, it was available as both a standard full-color figure, and as a colorless clear plastic version, one of each in a case of twelve blind-packed PVCs.

*'''Metalhawk & Minerva''' (2001)

:A second Minerva figurine was released in the fifth, ''Masterforce''-centric act of the line, this time as an unarmored human in her school uniform. Only available packaged with the act's [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] figurine, it was available in both full-color and metallic silver "pewter" versions, again at a ratio of one each per case of twelve. In eight out of every ten cases, the pewter version of the figures came packaged with the right arm of the BlackZarak "Build-A-Figure".
{{-}}

===Gutto Kuru Figure Collection===
[[File:CMs gutto kuru minerva.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Armor inspired by the cartoon, Face inspired by a blow-up doll.]]
*'''Minelba''' {{sic}} (2012)
**''Accessories:'' Helmet, smiling face, gleeful face, angry face, 4 pairs of hands

:A posable figure of Minerva in her Headmaster Junior armor was made by [[CM's Corporation]] as part of their [[Gutto Kuru Figure Collection]]. She comes with a removable helmet and several swappable faces, and the robot face molded onto her backpack can be compressed and hidden to leave room for her long hair.

*'''Minelba Special Color Ver.''' ([[Wikipedia:Wonder Festival|Wonder Festival Summer 2012]] exclusive, 2012)
**''Accessories:'' Helmet, smiling face, gleeful face, angry face, [[Hi-Q]] head

:A recolor of Minerva in the blue and yellow of her American counterparts Nightbeat and Muzzle was available exclusively at the Summer Wonder Festival 2012 convention in Japan. In addition to the regular figure's accessories, this exclusive comes with an extra head based on Hasbro Powermaster [[Hi-Q]], which can be attached to CM's separately-sold Ginrai figurine.
{{--}}

==Notes==
*Upon her release, Minerva was the first female Transformer toy. Many years later, though, her position would be retroactively usurped when [[Freezon]] was retconned into being female.
* Minerva's name is consistently [[romanization|mis-anglicized]] as "Minelba" in every English instance of the name on Japanese packaging and [[bio]] material. There is essentially no difference between the "L" and "R" sounds in Japanese, and at the time it was standard practice to substitute "ba" for the "va" sound (though this has changed in later years).
* According to her supplementary [[bio]] card, Minerva was 15 years old, making her the oldest Autobot Headmaster Junior.
* Minerva's precise nationality is a bit ambiguous. Her mother is stated to be French, but whether her ambassador father is Japanese or from the Republic of Mont Porte is not made explicitly clear in the cartoon. Her father is, at least, explained to be Mont Porte's ambassador to Japan, which would suggest he is a Mont Porte native, but some sources, including ''[[Transformers: The Ark II|The Ark II]]'', have claimed that he is Japanese (by way of describing Minerva as "half-French, half-Japanese").

[[File:Chromia Minerva toy.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Probably buddies with [[Arcee (Energon)|Ariel Paradron-Type]].]]
* Although Minerva's Transtector doesn't have room to ferry patients like a real ambulance would (which is what it's referred to being as), it would qualify as a [[Wikipedia:Fly-car|fly-car]] due to it having a faster response time to emergencies (and saving ambulance resources if the situation is minor).
* Minerva's living transtector was the only one of the Headmaster Junior trio to return in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|''Victory'' cartoon]]. Conversely, while Shūta and Cab returned in the pages of the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]], Minerva did not beyond [[Warrior of Love, Star Saber!|one flashback]]. According to writer [[Masumi Kaneda]], the reason for this was because the manga would then have been "buried in female characters".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050207000229/www.tfpulp.com/archive/interview/interview.html Interview with Masumi Kaneda on TFPulp.Com, courtesy of the Wayback Machine]</ref> Besides the obvious sexism, there was all of [[Patty Minakaze|''one'' regular female character]]; the three others ([[Illumina]], [[Esmeral (Victory)|Esmeral]], and [[Lyzack]]) only briefly appeared in one issue.
* Minerva's color scheme was used for the DVD-exclusive "White Version" [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]. It made her look quite like [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]].

===Foreign names===
*''English:'' '''Nightbeat''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Phantom'''
*''Russian:'' '''Vetochka''' (Веточка, "Tree Branch")
*''Spanish:'' '''Cher''' (America)

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Classics humans]]
[[Category:Cloud Autobots]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Mail order exclusives]]
[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Autobots]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce humans]]
[[Category:Victory Autobots]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics continuity humans]]

Susan Blu

2014-12-01T03:49:37Z

LongHaul:

{{disambig3|Susan}}
[[File:SusanBlu1.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|''Ki Ki Ki MA MA MA!'']]
'''Susan Blu''' (born [[July 12]], [[1948]], and sometimes credited as '''Sue Blu''') is an American actress, voice actress and voice director. Some of her past voice acting roles are Granny Smurf from ''The Smurfs'', Stormer and Lindsay Pierce from ''[[Jem]]'', Judge J.B. from ''BraveStarr'', Galadria from ''[[Visionaries]]'' and Buttons from ''[[My Little Pony]]''. Some of the shows she has directed are both the 1987 and 2003 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', ''Men in Black: The Series'', ''Godzilla: The Series'' and ''Extreme Ghostbusters''.

You can also see her get speared through the back by Jason Voorhees in ''[http://www.filmsite.org/series-friday13th7.html / Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood]''.

==Voice roles==
===''The Transformers''===
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
*[[Beta (G1)|Beta]]
*[[Marissa Faireborn]]
*[[Karen Fishook (G1)|Karen Fishook]]
*[[Michelle]]
*[[Attack of the Alien Robots director#Production assistant|Production assistant]]

===''Beast Wars''===
*[[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] (script reading)
*[[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]]
*[[Una]]

===''Transformers Animated''===
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]
*[[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]]

===Additional===
*[[Tailgate (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW Tailgate]] ("[[Prevenge]]" script reading)

==Voice direction==
*''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''
*''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''
*''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''
*''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers Prime]]'' ("[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]" through "[[Speed Metal]]" only)

==Convention appearances==
*[[BotCon 1998]]
*[[BotCon 2014]]

==Notes==

*In 2006, Blu recorded a DVD commentary for [[Sony|Sony Wonder]] ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' DVD alongside writer [[Flint Dille]] and director [[Nelson Shin]].
*Susan Blu was originally tapped to voice direct ''Transformers: Prime'', however, the death of her wife, actress Cynthia Songe, forced her to step away from the series after "Speed Metal". She was then replaced by [[Jamie Simone]].
*Blu was interviewed as a special feature for [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]]'s ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' The Complete Series DVD set.

==External links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089454/ Susan Blu at the Internet Movie Database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blu, Susan}}
[[Category:Convention guests]]
[[Category:Mainframe Entertainment]]
[[Category:English voice actors]]
[[Category:Hasbro Studios]]
[[Category:Voice directors]]

Susan Blu

2014-12-01T03:46:51Z

LongHaul:

{{disambig3|Susan}}
[[File:SusanBlu1.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|''Ki Ki Ki MA MA MA!'']]
'''Susan Blu''' (born [[July 12]], [[1948]], and sometimes credited as '''Sue Blu''') is an American actress, voice actress and voice director. Some of her past voice acting roles are Granny Smurf from ''The Smurfs'', Stormer and Lindsay Pierce from ''[[Jem]]'', Judge J.B. from ''BraveStarr'', Galadria from ''[[Visionaries]]'' and Buttons from ''[[My Little Pony]]''. Some of the shows she has directed are both the 1987 and 2003 ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', ''Men in Black: The Series'', ''Godzilla: The Series'' and ''Extreme Ghostbusters''.

You can also see her get speared through the back by Jason Voorhees in ''[http://www.filmsite.org/series-friday13th7.html/ Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood]''.

==Voice roles==
===''The Transformers''===
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
*[[Beta (G1)|Beta]]
*[[Marissa Faireborn]]
*[[Karen Fishook (G1)|Karen Fishook]]
*[[Michelle]]
*[[Attack of the Alien Robots director#Production assistant|Production assistant]]

===''Beast Wars''===
*[[Antagony (BW)|Antagony]] (script reading)
*[[Transmutate (character)|Transmutate]]
*[[Una]]

===''Transformers Animated''===
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]]
*[[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]]

===Additional===
*[[Tailgate (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW Tailgate]] ("[[Prevenge]]" script reading)

==Voice direction==
*''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''
*''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''
*''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''
*''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers Prime]]'' ("[[Darkness Rising, Part 1]]" through "[[Speed Metal]]" only)

==Convention appearances==
*[[BotCon 1998]]
*[[BotCon 2014]]

==Notes==

*In 2006, Blu recorded a DVD commentary for [[Sony|Sony Wonder]] ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' DVD alongside writer [[Flint Dille]] and director [[Nelson Shin]].
*Susan Blu was originally tapped to voice direct ''Transformers: Prime'', however, the death of her wife, actress Cynthia Songe, forced her to step away from the series after "Speed Metal". She was then replaced by [[Jamie Simone]].
*Blu was interviewed as a special feature for [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]]'s ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' The Complete Series DVD set.

==External links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0089454/ Susan Blu at the Internet Movie Database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blu, Susan}}
[[Category:Convention guests]]
[[Category:Mainframe Entertainment]]
[[Category:English voice actors]]
[[Category:Hasbro Studios]]
[[Category:Voice directors]]