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Prowl (Animated)

2023-07-28T11:23:45Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Animated cartoon */

{{factions|autobot|primusvanguard|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Prowl}}
:''Prowl is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Animated continuity family]].''
[[Image:Animated_Prowl_character_model.jpg|right|230px|thumb|True warriors must move like water. NINJA water.]]

Some people are team players, and some... well, aren't. '''Prowl''' falls into the latter category. A loner at heart, he has little interest in teamwork, something [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] finds extremely frustrating. Prowl feels cooperation with the [[Bumblebee (Animated)|loud]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|unsubtle]] Autobots around him would cramp his style: a keen [[Cyber-Ninja Corps|Cyber-Ninja]] prowess with elements of [[Circuit-Su]]<ref>Prowl's on-package [[bio]]</ref> and [[Metallikato]].<ref name="TEG">"[[The Elite Guard]]"</ref>

Seemingly bound up in his martial-arts philosophy is his deep, deep fascination with [[Earth]]'s natural environment. His quarters on [[Earth]] is missing most of its ceiling, allowing him a permanent window into nature. In fact, he seems to have a deeper appreciation of his new surroundings than the [[human]]s who grew up with them. The phrase "stop and smell the roses" is a life truth for Prowl, and he can spend hours motionless, watching the organic world play out around him.

When called to battle, Prowl uses an array of throwing weapons, such as cutting discs, that he can hurl with high accuracy. While useful as projectiles, these weapons tend to be far more damaging at close range and will occasionally bounce off their target with little damage if thrown from too great a distance. He can project [[hologram]]s of himself, using them to misdirect his enemies. He also has a jetpack, granting him limited flight.

Prowl is probably the most skilled fighter of his comrades, but this might not be saying much, as they were a mere [[space bridge]] repair crew before finding themselves suddenly defending the [[AllSpark]] against the resurgent [[Decepticon]]s.<ref>"[[Transform and Roll Out]]"</ref> In fact, [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]], witnessing him in action, remarked that Prowl must not have ''finished'' his cyber ninja training.<ref name="TEG">"[[The Elite Guard]]"</ref> The true story is more complex: having failed to protect the infant protoforms,<ref>"[[Five Servos of Doom]]"</ref> Prowl ended his studies in disgrace, seeking to commune with the Allspark. His quest for redemption and inner peace has ended in failure...so far.

{{bigquote|Stillness... then ''strike''.|Prowl getting past motion detectors|"[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]"}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
{{voiceactor|[[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English), [[Kōji Yusa]] (Japanese)|[[Lutz Schnell]] (German), [[Louis van Beek]] (Dutch), [[Gianluca Iacono]] (Italian), [[Junseok Song]] (Korean), [[Fritz Gianvitto]] (Portuguese), [[Rodrigo de la Paz]] (Latin-American Spanish, seasons 1 and 2), [[Mario Gutiérrez]] (Latin-American Spanish, season 3), [[Suso Álvarez]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Joonas Suominen]] (Finnish), [[Vincent Violette]] (French)}}

[[Image:TFA Five Servos Yoketron vs Prowl.JPG|thumb|left|300px|This looks ''way'' more exciting in motion.]]

Prowl tried to avoid being drafted into fighting in the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], but was apprehended by [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]] and taken to [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]]'s [[Cyber-Ninja Dojo|dojo]]. Seeing potential in the young 'bot, Yoketron offered to teach Prowl in exchange for dropping the charges against him. Despite some initial difficulties, Prowl soon became an accomplished martial artist, and eventually Yoketron deemed him worthy of a place in the [[Cyber-Ninja Corps]]. After receiving the shurikens that would become his signature weapons, Yoketron showed Prowl a hidden room in the dojo, accessible only via the advanced [[processor-over-matter]] technique. This room contained the [[protoform]]s the Cyber-Ninja Corps had sworn to protect, a last-ditch reserve of potential soldiers should [[Project Omega]] fail. However, Prowl proved unable to operate the door, and Yoketron thus sent him on an optics quest to master the skill and become a true Cyber-Ninja.

Prowl continued to struggle with the technique, however, and on returning to the dojo he discovered that an [[Lockdown (Animated)|unknown assailant]] had ransacked the dojo, stolen the protoforms, and mortally wounded Yoketron. Prowl attempted to save his master's life by transferring Yoketron's [[spark]] into the last remaining protoform, but only managed to make his master unhappy by sacrificing a little of the future to save the past. Assured by Yoketron that he would understand some day, Prowl watched his sensei's spark expire and mourned his loss. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

[[File:TransformAndRollOut-Prowljetpack.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Determined to find a way to finish his training, Prowl eventually left [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] entirely aboard his own personal [[Dawn Treader|starship]] and secluded himself in deep space for at least a million stellar cycles in the hopes of communing with the [[AllSpark]]. While meditating on a remote asteroid, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[space bridge]] repair crew stumbled across the Cyber-Ninja. [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] promised to work around him, but an [[energon cube]] set by [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] fell into the cavern and accidentally destroyed Prowl's ship. Stranded, Prowl grudgingly accepted Optimus Prime's offer to take him back to Cybertron after completing their tour of the sector, but fumed that his path had taken so many twists and turns that he didn't even know where he was... a sentiment to which Optimus Prime could relate. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

As the impromptu fifth member of Optimus Prime's repair crew aboard the starship ''[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Orion]]'', Prowl showed a lack of interest in both teamwork and in Optimus Prime's motivational speeches. While performing some routine maintenance on a malfunctioning space bridge, the team abruptly discovered the AllSpark itself, the life-giving artifact which had been hidden offworld during the Great War. However, the presence of the AllSpark ''also'' attracted the attentions of a group of [[Decepticon]]s led by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Determined to seize the artifact for himself, Megatron boarded the ''Orion'' and fought the Autobots inside, with Prowl responsible for cutting off one of Megatron's arms. The ship careened through the active space bridge and rematerialized over the planet [[Earth]]; though Prime managed to eject Megatron—wounded due to [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s sabotage—from their vessel, they were unable to stop the ship from crash-landing beneath [[Lake Erie]] and entered [[stasis pod]]s to survive.

[[File:TransformAndRollOut-Prowl.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Fifty years later, a glob of nanotechnological matter found its way into the vessel, which triggered the ship's autonomus systems and brought its Autobot crew back online. The Autobots decided to help the locals defend themselves from the nanotech monster wreaking havoc in nearby [[Detroit]], but mistook cars and trucks for the native life-forms and reformatted themselves into suitable disguises. The Autobots successfully took down the monster, but Prowl's refusal to work with the team led to him taking on the creature by himself and getting absorbed for his troubles. Gravely wounded, the Autobots rushed him back to their ship where Ratchet unsuccessfully tried to operate on him—it's likely that he might have died had [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] not discovered the power of her [[AllSpark Key]] and used it to miraculously save his life.

Over the next few days, the Autobots settled into life on Earth, became local celebrities, and set up shop in an [[Autobot Earth Base|abandoned factory]] while Prowl discovered he had a particular fondness for the planet's organic fauna. During the team's next major battle against [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], Prowl showed that he had become a much better team player after working with Bumblebee and Sari to save [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] and [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] from the airborne Decepticon, using his thrusters to slow a falling train car. {{storylink|Transform and Roll Out}} {{storylink|Dispatches}}

[[File:HomeIsWhereTheSparkIs-Prowl.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Prowl watched a local [[Skippy|cat]] stalk a bird and found it fascinating, but was aggravated when he was interrupted by human fans. Returning to base, he hid out in his Japanese-themed room, only to be interrupted by Prime and Bumblebee. Even worse, Sari threw a slumber party, pushing Prowl to the edge with the commotion. Ironically, when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] took over the factory, Prowl was able to show Bumblebee the value of stillness in battle, something the pair would work on later in a game of Twister. {{storylink|Home Is Where the Spark Is}}

Prowl joined Optimus, Ratchet and Bulkhead in an attempt to learn about Earth customs by watching television. They eventually stumbled upon a program wherein [[Meltdown (Animated)|Prometheus Black]] pitted the bio-enhanced [[Colossus Rhodes]] against Bumblebee, and the other four Autobots had to come to Bumblebee's rescue after Rhodes lost control of his augmentations. Prowl managed to take down Rhodes by throwing a couple of shurikens at the pistons that triggered Rhodes's enhancements and later helped rescue Professor Sumdac after Black had become the mutated "Meltdown". Finding Sumdac Tower in defense mode upon their arrival, Prowl, Bulkhead and Ratchet were pitted against Colossus Rhodes once more. Prowl tried to take Rhodes out as he had before, only to learn that Rhodes's one weakness had been reinforced since their last encounter. The battle was eventually won when Prowl noticed that a nearby church bell's toll was interfering with Rhodes's upgrades. Using this to their advantage, the Autobots managed to defeat the villain. Through some quick thinking, the Autobots then overpowered Meltdown by using the same force-field that had kept the Autobots from reaching him beforehand. {{storylink|Total Meltdown}}

[[File:AttentionSurplusDisorder-WraithandProwl.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left]]

''Bumblebee and Prowl inadvertently exposed the [[Wraith]]'s modus operandi on live television when they captured the Angry Archer. Later, when a news broadcast showed the Wraith using his holographic equipment to pass off as a ghostly figure, Bumblebee asked why the fellow couldn't just "scan a new altmode". Prowl explained that, even if the Wraith could, it would make little difference; the vigilante relied on mystery to aid him in his crime-fighting career. Since he and Bumblebee had stripped away the mystery, a change of appearance would hardly make a difference.''

''Later, when Bumblebee apprehended Colossus Rhodes, Prowl helped sign autographs for the grateful Detroiters. Later still, when the Autobots saw "Bumblebee" attack Michigan Stadium, Prowl helped clear the little Autobot's name by halting what was really a plot by the jealous Wraith. Prowl attempted to capture the Wraith as he made his getaway, only to realize he had been fooled by one of the masked vigilante's many holographic projections. Thankfully, Optimus Prime grabbed the real Wrait, who was shipped off the an asylum for treatment.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 2|Attention Surplus Disorder}}

[[File:Stiletto-SarifixesProwl.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]

''Prowl joined the rest of the Autobots in investigating a theft at Sumdac's laboratories. They discovered that the crime in question had been committed by an industrial saboteur going by the name of "[[Stiletto (Animated)|Stiletto]]". She soon attempted to collapse Detroit's Ambassador Bridge, prompting the Autobots to leap into action. During the confrontation, Prowl used his holographic abilities to blindside Stiletto. Stiletto managed to recover quickly from Prowl's trickery. She then used trickery of her own to dupe Bumblebee into exploding a truck's payload of gasoline, rendering Prowl unconscious for the remainder of the battle. The Autobots nonetheless managed to capture Stiletto, and Prowl was later patched up at Autobot headquarters.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 3|Stiletto}}

''Prowl and the other Autobots had to calm Bulkhead down when Porter C. Powell began to market Bulkhead's altmode as a vehicle for the masses, and further rubbed salt in the wound by using highly-doctored footage to have Bulkhead "promote" the vehicle. Thankfully, Sari and Bulkhead proved that the vehicle wasn't safe for the everyday citizen. Prowl later watched an announcement on television declaring that the "Bulkhead" line was being recalled.'' {{storylink|The Arrival issue 4|The Insincerest Form of Flattery}}

[[File:BlastFromThePast-ProwlsNinjaSkills.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

In an attempt to get [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to be less bumbling and destructive after an embarrassing incident at the [[Dino Drive]] park, Prowl tried to teach Bulkhead how to move with ninja-lke grace. His unsuccessful attempts to teach Bulkhead only undermined the green Autobot's confidence, and Prowl was taken out of commission when the park's rebuilt animatronics malfunctioned and Bulkhead fell on him. Finally, when these newly minted [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] escaped from a Sumdac lab and ran amok, Prowl realized that Bulkhead's destructive approach had its place and encouraged him to do what he did best. After the capture of the Dinobots, Prowl sensed [[spark]]s within the trio and, unwilling to let them be destroyed, secretly hid them on [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|a small island]] before they were melted down. As he explained to Bulkhead, "Just because something's big and lumbering and destructive, doesn't mean you give up on it." {{storylink|Blast from the Past}}

When [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]], a bounty hunter from Ratchet's past, appeared on Earth to abduct Optimus, Prowl and the other Autobots intervened. Though Prowl got passed the defenses of [[Death's Head (Animated)|Lockdown's ship]], and got the drop on the bounty hunter with his ninja skills, Lockdown managed to shut down Prowl by using one of his trophies: Ratchet's old [[Electromagnetic pulse|EMP generator]]. Thankfully, Ratchet was immune to the device, and rescued Optimus while the other Autobots were indisposed. {{storylink|The Thrill of the Hunt}}

[[File:Nanosec-ProwlsHologram.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Prowl was put on a training assignment to help Bumblebee and Bulkhead learn how to better blend in with their environment. Bumblebee's impatience put an early end to the exercise, and the yellow 'bot ran afoul of [[Nanosec]], a criminal that had nearly gotten away from him the day before. Prowl was unable to stop the speedy villain when he joined in trying to apprehend him. Later, the Autobots caught news of Nanosec robbing Sumdac Laboratories and pursued him across town until Nanosec's high-tech suit accelerated his aging until he collapsed from fatigue. With his boosters, Prowl aided Bumblebee as the yellow Autobot hurled Nanosec's stolen [[Destronium]] supply into Earth's upper atmosphere, where it exploded harmlessly. Prowl asked Bumblebee if he would like to race him back to base, but Bumblebee declined, having gotten enough high-speed chases for the day. {{storylink|Nanosec (episode)|Nanosec}}

Prowl and the other Autobots attended Sari's eighth birthday party. Though he wound up entertaining Sari's guests, Sari herself was left behind with Bulkhead. A few days after the event, Sari's birthday present [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] gained sentience and became a Decepticon, taking control of Detroits robots in an attempt to subjugate the city's human population. Prowl teamed up with Ratchet to fight back against the hostile robots, but between their sheer numbers and Soundwave interfering with their communications, the pair were soon overwhelmed until Bulkhead took out Soundwave and returned the malfucntioning robots to normal. {{storylink|Sound and Fury}}

When the Decepticons [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] arrived on Earth, the Autobots were quickly bested by the duo, and Optimus Prime decided that the AllSpark was no longer safe on the planet. When Prowl and the others headed off to fix their ship at the bottom of lake Erie, they encountered Blitzwing and Lugnut once more and fought them underwater, where their enemies couldn't use their flight powers. Optimus kicked up dirt from the bottom of the lake as cover, which Prowl used to great advantage to sneak up on and attack Blitzwing before the Autobots retreated back to their ship... which had been armed by Ratchet and Sari while Prowl and the others had bought them time. The Decepticons were blown away, and Prowl returned to their Earth base for repairs. {{storylink|Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found}}

[[File:SurvivalOfTheFittest-ProwlAndFanzone.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Reasoning correctly that the Decepticons would target Sari to get at the AllSpark Key, Prowl took to instructing her in the art of "ninja nerve blows". It was shortly after one of these sessions that his decision to save the Dinobots seemingly came back to haunt him when the gargantuan robots kidnapped the girl. He headed to their island home with Bulkhead in tow, the suspicious [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] shadowing them somewhat clumsily the whole way. However, the police captain was not prepared for the environmental hazards of the secluded island and had to be rescued by the pair of Autobots. Together, the three of them discovered that the Dinobots had been coerced into kidnapping Sari by [[Meltdown (Animated)|Prometheus Black]], whose corrosive touch they had come to fear. Forced along with Fanzone to fight the mad geneticist's [[Fusion creature|creations]] in a gladiatorial arena, Prowl began to develop a bond with the captain, who in turn came to trust Prowl. {{storylink|Survival of the Fittest}}

After his latest rescue mission ended in destructive disaster, Bulkhead attempted to pick up painting, to prove he could create as well as destroy. Prowl showed some appreciation for Bulkhead's new hobby, admiring his friend's capability of creating an image whole-cloth from his imagination... until he learned that the painting he was contemplating was, in fact, a still life depicting an "accident" Bulkhead had with Ratchet's blowtorch. Later, [[Headmaster (Animated)|Henry Masterson]], aka "The Headmaster" stole Bulkhead's body and used it to hold the entire city at ransom by threatening to overload the city's [[Sidney Biggles-Jones Memorial Solar Fusion Plant|power plant]]. Unable to overpower the Headmaster or prevent the power plant from overloading Sari and the Autobots instead quickly built and animated a makeshift robot that took the fatal trip into the plant's core and halted the chain reaction from within. The city safe once more, Prowl and the other Autobots attended the successful opening of Bulkhead's art show. {{storylink|Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster}}

[[File:Barnacle bots.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

When the Autobots detected a non-sentient Cybertronian energy signature form the woods outside of Detroit, Optimus sent Prowl, Bumblebee, and Sari to investigate on an impromptu "camping trip". Though Prowl felt at home in the middle of nature, his two companions weren't as well-adjusted to the change of scenery: Sari had an idealized vision of what camping was based on movies, and Bumblebee simply couldn't cope without technology. Prowl attempted to teach the other two the value of disconnecting one's self from the technological, only for the lesson to be cut short when a monstrous colony of mutant [[space barnacle]]s attacked. Prowl's attempt to fight the creature proved ineffective and he was eventually infected by the alien creatures, pursuing and eventually turning Bumblebee into a monster as well. By this time, however, Sari had found the boiler room within one of her father's mines and turned the scalding water on the Autobots to eradicate the aliens and restore them to normal. Returning to base, the Autobots came to the agreement that nature and technology could work in harmony to achieve greater things than either could on its own. {{storylink|Nature Calls}}

[[File:MegatronRisingPart1-DinobotIsland.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

When Decepticon energy signals were detected, the Autobots quickly realized that they were outnumbered. Bulkhead mentioned that the Dinobots might be able to help, not aware that Prowl hadn't told Optimus they had moved them to Dinobot Island. Prime was furious and ordered the two to take him there at once. After searching the island, the Autobots found the Dinobots. Prime's introduction was less than friendly, and Prowl was forced to smooth things over with Grimlock. They were unwilling to help, so the Autobots left, unsure of their next move. When Bumblebee contacted Prime, saying that Starscream was at Sumdac Tower, he ordered him to stand down. When they arrived at the tower, they saw Bumblebee fighting Starscream. Prime dryly noted that disobeying orders was becoming a habit, but Prowl wasn't too insulted.

He was too busy being shocked by Megatron bursting through Sumdac Tower. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 1}}

Quickly regaining their composure, the Autobots attacked, only for Megatron to defeat all three of them himself. After the battle, Sumdac revealed his role in Megatron's resurrection, explaining that he had built his robotics empire by reverse-engineering Cybertronian technology; although Prowl and the other Autobots were furious at learning this, Prime reminded them that they had other priorities. Using residual AllSpark Key energy in Sumdac's lab, the Autobots repaired themselves, and Prime apologized for his harsh words. Although Ratchet and Sari had gotten the ''Orion'' flightworthy, the ship was shot down over Dinobot Island, where the Autobots made their last stand. During the subsequent battle, Prowl noticed that [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing's]] multiple personalities were connected to his [[alternate mode]]s. To cause his hotheaded side to emerge and transform into a tank, Prowl suggested that Bumblebee use his greatest strength—his obnoxious personality. {{storylink|Megatron Rising - Part 2}}

[[File:TheEliteGuard-ProwlAndJazz.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Though the Autobots managed to drive off the Decepticons, the cost proved high: not only had the AllSpark been lost, its essence shattered into a thousand crystalline fragments, and not only had Isaac Sumdac disappeared, kidnapped by the Decepticons as the villains went into hiding, but the destructive battle meant that humanity now viewed the team as potential menaces, despite their best efforts to repair the damage. Eventually, [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] and several members of the Autobot [[Elite Guard]] touched down in the city, and Prowl joined the rest of the team in meeting them aboard the ''[[Sigma Supreme]]''. Unable to detect the energy signatures of the hidden Decepticons, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] doubted the veractity of Prime's tale, and tensions nearly boiled over until the two Autobot teams worked together to quell a flood of police robots at a malfunctioning Sumdac plant. During the fight, Prowl was awed by Jazz's superior cyber-ninja skills. Prowl helped Jazz and Optimus infiltrate the plant while the others kept the drones busy, and together they removed the AllSpark shard that had caused the disaster—proving that Prime's story had some truth to it after all. {{storylink|The Elite Guard}}

Shortly afterwards, Sari was kicked out of her home by [[Porter C. Powell]]. Bumblebee and Bulkhead attempted to cheer up their friend after she moved in to live with the Autobots, but they botched every attempt they made. Prowl eventually felt the need to intervene, and advised the pair to simply listen to Sari. It turned out to be sound advice. {{storylink|The Return of the Headmaster}} Prowl later helped stop a runaway train powered by an AllSpark fragment. When Starscream stopped by again, Prowl was tasked with keeping civilians out of harm's way while Sentinel, Optimus and Jazz took down the AllSpark-powered Decepticon. {{storylink|Mission Accomplished}} Prowl helped clear trash from the city of Detroit during a garbage dispute in an effort to mend strained Autobot/human relations. {{storylink|Garbage In, Garbage Out}} Later, he helped search for an AllSpark fragment, only for the mission to be interrupted by a group of illegal street racers, the Street Demons, zooming by. When one of the racers caused two others to crash, Prowl stopped to help [[Ming-Li]] out of her wrecked vehicle. {{storylink|Velocity (episode)|Velocity}}

[[Image:Samprowl.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Got to get back... Back to the past. Samurai <s>Jack</s> <s>Jazz</s> Prowl.]]

As the Autobots helped fix an overpass as part of their ongoing repair efforts, the group spotted Blitzwing and Lugnut trying to sneak off with some construction supplies and had to stay late to fix it after failing to capture the duo. That night, Bulkhead returned home with two new 'bots in tow: [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]], two former construction vehicles brought to life by a pair of AllSpark fragments. Prowl tried his best to keep Sari away from the crass duo, and her encounter with the Constructibots left her without her signature pigtails. Though these new "Constructibots" were insufferable to begin with, they became an actual threat when they allied themselves with Megatron. Now calling themselves the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicon]]s, the duo attempted to snatch away the Autobots' AllSpark fragments for their new boss, but Bulkhead was able to drive off the pair. {{storylink|Rise of the Constructicons}}

While responding to a report of rampages on Dinobot Island, Prowl and Bulkhead were given Ratchet's EMP generator and stasis cuffs to detain the Dinobots. Discovering that Grimlock had a metal shard wedged in his foot, Prowl used the generator to dull Grimlock's sensors and remove the shard. However, they then received a call from [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] that Starscream had escaped. Heading to the Autobots' crashed ship, Prowl used [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Teletran-1]] to scan for Starscream, discovering him on the Moon. When Bulkhead refused to go on the mission, deeming it a suicide run, Prowl stole a shuttle and went off by himself. Locating Starscream on the Moon, he managed to place stasis cuffs on the Decepticon, but [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] appeared to take Starscream off Prowl's hands. During their fight, Starscream escaped and destroyed Prowl's shuttle. Stowing away on Lockdown's ship, Prowl suggested an alliance to capture him and Lockdown gave him a set of armor that would assist him in the hunt. Together, the pair cornered [[Clone number 3370318|what appeared to be Starscream]], but Lockdown revealed that he was working for Megatron. Prowl would not allow "Starscream" to be taken, but Lockdown tied Prowl up and left.

[[Image:Samurai prowl altmode.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

The other Autobots arrived and chewed out Prowl for his actions, but Prowl insisted that they retrieve Starscream first. During their pursuit, a [[Clone number 2716057|second Starscream]] somehow showed up and offered an alliance against Megatron. Prowl took down Starscream, but in his actions, he destroyed a bird's nest. Realizing that the modifications he had were going to his head, he resolved to abandon them... once they got Starscream. Prowl initially flubbed an attempt to spy on the meet between Megatron and Lockdown and quickly found himself outgunned until the other Autobots arrived with the second Starscream. During the standoff that followed, the two Starscreams revealed that they had bombs inside them. Prowl used the armor he had been given to send them into the sky, saving Detroit from destruction. Lockdown then contacted Prowl, offering him a partnership, but Prowl declined and returned Ratchet's EMP generator. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}

Prowl took part in a pursuit to catch Nanosec after the super-speedy villain got a second wind, but the chase came to an end when Bumblebee mysteriously slowed down to a stop. After the other Autobots returned to base for repairs, Bumblebee alerted the rest of his team that [[Swindle (Animated)|a Decepticon]] had built a machine that could freeze any electronic machine within its range, just as he had been earlier that day. Prowl and the others sped out to take on the threat. They were all affected by the device's power before they could reach their destination, and were only able to take on Swindle once Sari had deactivated his weapon. {{storylink|SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy}}

Prowl and the other Autobots gathered to listen in on an all-points bulletin from Ultra Magnus, alerting them that the criminal [[Wasp]] had escaped from prison. Later, Bumblebee told the rest of his team that he had stumbled upon a Decepticon transmission, and they reported his findings to the head of [[Cybertron Intelligence]], [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]]. {{storylink|Autoboot Camp}}

[[File:BlackFriday-BlackarachniaProwl.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Due to his inability to stay quiet, Prowl placed a bet on Bumblebee—that he couldn't go 10 cycles without talking. Should he keep to this, Prowl would fork over a case of axel grease. Bumblebee kept on slipping up, though Prowl was gracious enough to give him multiple shots at winning the bet. Prime took Prowl and Bumblebee with him to Dinobot Island to investigate Meltdown's prison break. The pair's bet was put on hold after both Prowl and Bumblebee were off-lined by Blackarachnia's cyber venom. After the day was saved, Prime used the antidote on the bots, and Bumblebee pointed out he'd been quiet for ages! Prowl dryly noted it took Bumblebee being comatose to achieve this, but the yellow bot didn't care—he just wanted his grease! {{storylink|Black Friday (episode)|Black Friday}}

Prowl had been helping Sari train through an obstacle course when he learned from Optimus that the Constructobots had resurfaced. The Autobots looked high and low throughout Detroit for Mixmaster and Scrapper, but without Sari's key to track their AllSpark signatures, the search proved fruitless. Then, Blitzwing dropped out of the sky and took on the whole crew. Pinned down by the Decepticon the Autobots learned that Sari was dealing with the Constructobots on her own back at headquarters, but couldn't get back to help her until Blitzwing abruptly ditched the battle. Although the Autobots raced home, they found that Sari had taken care of the intruders all by herself. {{storylink|Sari, No One's Home}}

[[File:ABridgeTooClosePart2-processorovermatter.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

When Bulkhead was kidnapped, Bumblebee brought the Autobot intelligence agent [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] to the plant, who revealed that Megatron was building a space bridge to conquer Cybertron from within. As Sari and Ratchet went to repair the ship, Prowl went with the others to rescue Bulkhead and shut down the space bridge. However, they were incapacitated by the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]]... just in time for Starscream and [[Starscream clone (Animated)|his clones]] to attack. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

Escaping the Constructicons, Prowl was able to lock stasis cuffs on [[Ramjet (Animated)|a lying clone]], but was soon occupied with [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]. When Prowl managed to disengage long enough to check on an injured Prime, [[Sunstorm (Animated)|a fawning clone]] managed to place stasis cuffs on him. Once he came back online, Prowl once again tried the processor-over-matter technique to disable his stasis cuffs, a gamble that ultimately paid off, and Prowl was able to throw a shuriken at Prime's stasis cuffs as he was being thrown through the space bridge. Unfortunately, power problems with the bridge arose, causing Megatron to add Starscream's AllSpark infused head to the mix. This caused a power overload which sucked up Megatron and Starscream, and nearly sucked up the Autobots as well. Fortunately, Ratchet had gone to the ''Orion'' and brought his old friend [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] back online; their transformed ship allowed himself to be sucked into the malfunctioning space-bridge, overloading and destroying the structure. Although the Autobots managed to rescue Professor Sumdac and reunited him with his daughter, Sari discovered that the skin of her right arm had been torn, revealing robotic circuitry underneath! {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

[[File:TransWarped-Prowl.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Hearing of Professor Sumdac's sketchy explanation of Sari's origins, Prowl infiltrated Sumdac's lab, scanned the professor and accessed his computer data. He later revealed his conclusions: Sari had begun her existence as a Cybertronian protoform. When a [[Rock Lord]] was TransWarped to Earth with Bumblebee inside, Prowl was surprised that Ratchet was taking his EMP generator into battle again. They barely got a chance to face the thing when Sari upgraded herself with her key and smashed the Rock Lord into bits. Unfortunately her upgrades went out of control and she wounded Bumblebee. While Ratchet tended to Bumblebee, Prime, Bulkhead and Prowl attempted to remove Sari's key from her. Prowl's ninja moves allowed him to extract the key and he rushed it back to Ratchet, only to find its charge had been expended.

After all that excitement was done, the Autobots were surprised when Omega Supreme, now under Megatron's control, transwarped into view and attacked them. Optimus and Prowl infiltrated the giant's leg, and Prowl headed for Omega's spark chamber while Optimus went to keep Megatron distracted. Prowl jacked in to Omega's memory, and was able to successfully encourage Omega Supreme to reject Megatron's control and reassert his own. The victory was short-lived, as Starscream took the opportunity to take over and eject both Prowl and Optimus from Omega Supreme. The problem was later solved via the application of a [[plasma dynamic thruster]], which sent Omega Supreme and his two prisoners randomly transwarping across the galaxy. {{storylink|TransWarped}}

With Professor Sumdac back on their side, the Autobots set about tracking down what remained of the Earthbound Decepticons. The first one they ran into was Lugnut. Optimus and Prowl managed to get stasis cuff onto him while the others kept him distracted. Of course, then they had the problem of getting him out of the crater, but while they were doing that, Bulkhead got into some trouble with the Constructicons and they were forced to go help. Prowl warned Bumblebee not to make any sparks because there was oil everywhere, but otherwise stood around watching everyone else win the fight. {{storylink|Three's a Crowd}} Prowl's keen ninja senses somehow failed to detect when [[Wasp]] switched identities with Bumblebee. He and Bulkhead hunted the city for the now fugitive "Wasp" and found him attacking a [[Hot Dog Bot]]. He managed to convince the pair he was Bumblebee, but they were attacked by [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]]. Prowl eventually clarified Bulkhead's garbled explanation to Optimus and Sentinel, after which they returned to the plant to unsuccessfully try to catch the real Wasp. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

[[Image:TFA Five Servos processor over matter.JPG|300px|right|thumb|Everyone knows ninjas have magical powers like that.]]

Assisting Optimus and the Elite Guard in hunting down a Decepticon, Prowl was as stunned as anyone else when Sentinel Prime apparently caught their quarry all by himself—and it was only the most recent of several solo captures Sentinel had made. He then learned that Optimus had spotted a silhouette wearing a unique helmet that evening. Going over the helmets in the data banks with Optimus, Prowl was amazed when his commander identified Yoketron's old helmet as the one he'd seen. As Prowl unsuccessfully tried to solve the mystery, Sentinel continued to capture Decepticons, but realized that all of the Decepticons were missing their unique weapons and modifications, despite Sentinel showing him Lugnut's power-punch mods in storage. Prowl still suspected something was up, however, and his theories were borne out when he overheard Sentinel talking via communicator to an unknown party.

Alerting Jazz, Prowl set out after Sentinel and discovered he'd been working with none other than Lockdown, who was wearing Yoketron's helmet. However, even as Prowl watched, Lockdown and the Starscream clone he'd just captured double-crossed Sentinel, and Lockdown revealed he'd been a student of Yoketron's too. Realizing who'd killed his sensei and destroyed the protoforms, Prowl attacked Lockdown and demanded the helmet. Lockdown complied, but the helmet had been rigged to spring a trap, and Prowl found himself bound tight and hauled aboard Lockdown's ship, there to have his mods removed and added to a duplicate of the power armor sidecar Lockdown had once lent him. However, Prowl was able to master the processor-over-matter technique to free himself, don the armor and battle Lockdown back outside. They landed by the Starscream clone just in time to have a scoreboard fall on them, but Prowl's processor-over-matter saved them from injury. The clone was captured, though Lockdown got away, and with a line to Cybertron finally open, Prime reported to [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] that Prowl was responsible for capturing all the Decepticons they had on the ship. Back in his quarters, Prowl graciously accepted Jazz's compliment that Yoketron would approve of the helmet's new owner, vowing to do all he could to be worthy of it. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

Prowl turned out with the other Autobots to see off Sentinel and his team as they left Earth for Cybertron. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}}

[[File:TFA Human Error Part 1 Automen.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

At [[Christmas]], Prowl theorized that [[Santa Claus]] could use holograms to deliver billions of presents in one night. He joined the other Autobots in drinking [[oilnog]], unaware that their drink had been spiked by Soundwave, who took the opportunity to trap the five 'bots in a virtual reality world of his own making. In this simulation, the Autobots awoke on Christmas to discover that they'd somehow turned into humans. Only Prowl seemed at ease with the change, taking the opportunity to experience life from a different perspective as the Autobots made their way to Sumdac Tower, playing with a [[Nancy Witwicky|baby]] and trying vegetarian food at a [[Burger Bot]] restaurant. The peace was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and the Autobots helped rescue people from a damaged building. Prowl dashed inside to rescue [[Gary]], exiting the building with a spectacular leap that ''should'' have been impossible. After an abortive attempt to fight the Decepticons in their new human forms, Prowl suggested they proceed to Sumdac Tower by bus.

They reached the tower, only to see the planet Cybertron move into view and blast it. As Megatron and a host of Decepticons landed, Prowl and Optimus began to come to the realization that none of what they were experiencing was real. When Megatron picked up Prowl, the Autobot was able to slice Megatron's arm off with one blow and resist being stepped on by Blitzwing. Prowl proceeded to float in the air, menacing Starscream before phasing through his foe's head. After the Decepticons evaporated, the Autobots found they were able to return to their robot forms just by willing it. At that point, a giant [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] scooped them up, while in the real world, Soundwave planned to reprogram them into Decepticons. {{storylink|Human Error, Part I}}

[[File:TFAni Human Error Part2 Evil Autobots.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

After Soundwave's reprogramming was interrupted, Prowl used processor over matter to escape the virtual world. Soundwave promptly caught him trying to free Optimus and put him back into the simulation, turning them back into humans and forcing them to pursue Soundwave's virtual avatar in nearby vehicles that matched their alternate modes. They had great difficulty adapting to driving and Prowl inadvertently did wheelies on his police cycle. The five Autobots were cornered by Soundwave, who began reprogramming them. Prowl was successful in using processor-over-mater to resist Soundwave's control, and when Soundwave used the Autobots in the real world to attack Sari and the group of "[[Substitute Autobot]]s" she'd gathered, he carefully made sure no one was harmed. As Soundwave focused on getting Optimus to offline Sari, Prowl took the opportunity to knock [[Ratbat (Animated)|Ratbat]] out of the Decepticon's hands, breaking his control. Soundwave responded by having Ratbat grab Prowl, lift him into the air and drop him into a building. After Optimus managed to defeat Soundwave, the Autobots reassembled, and Prowl reflected on how much they'd learned about what it meant to be organic. {{storylink|Human Error, Part II}}

[[Image:EndgamePart2-Prowlsmiles.jpg|left|thumb|300px|Prowl turns that frown (and his sunglasses) upside down.]]

When Omega Supreme's energy signature was detected on the Moon, Optimus decided that he needed an upgrade to keep up with Megatron. Prowl offered his boosters for Ratchet to study, and also offered to go to the Moon to check things out. Jazz insisted he stay on Earth and try to complete his cyber-ninja training. The pair retired to some woods, where Prowl was able to reconstitute an AllSpark fragment through meditation. After returning to base, they watch Ratchet repair Optimus after the testing of Prime's boosters, and Prowl encouraged his leader to take up the [[Magnus Hammer]]. As the Autobots discovered when they rushed outside, Megatron had created three clones of Omega Supreme, and they were on their way to Detroit. {{storylink|Endgame, Part I}}

With the three [[Lugnut Supreme]]s bearing in on the city, Optimus had serious doubts over whether he could take them. Prowl reassured him, saying that he'd be behind Optimus every step of the way. The two took to the sky, but despite their best efforts, the Lugnut Supremes couldn't be taken individually. When Prowl suggested looking for a way to remove them all at the same time, Prime used his Magnus Hammer to carry them away to Dinobot Island with a whirlwind. This destroyed one and disabled flight capabilities for the remaining two, but still they advanced.

Prime ordered Prowl and Jazz to help evacuate the city's humans towards Sumdac Tower, since its force shields should make it a safe place. After this was accomplished, Prowl and Jazz tried to stop the Lugnut Supremes with their melee weapons, but they were ineffectual. Prime radioed Prowl, telling him that the only way to stop them from destroying the city was to gather the power of the AllSpark. Prowl took Jazz back with him to the tower, which had just lost its force shield. As the two cyber-ninjas meditated, fragments of the AllSpark were telekinetically gathered from all corners of the city, thanks to their mastery of [[Processor-over-matter]]. Starscream was an unwitting casualty of this, as the Decepticon had flown too close, and the AllSpark fragment that kept him alive was yanked from his skull.

[[Image:EndgamePart2-lastminutesave.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Who's that playing "Unchained Melody"?]]

But Prowl and Jazz couldn't muster enough AllSpark fragments to serve their needs. Some of it was missing! With the Lugnut Supremes now threatening to blow up the city and everything else in a 100-mile radius, Prowl made a tough choice. He levitated himself up towards their growing AllSpark fragment collection and relinquished his own [[spark]], despite Jazz's protests. With one last serene smile, Prowl was lost momentarily in a flash of light. His uncolored body fell into Jazz's arms as the light dimmed.

[[File:EndgamePartII-CorpsemasterProwl.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Inaction Master Prowl, available at stores near you.]]

This last, desperate act enveloped the final Lugnut Supreme in an AllSpark-powered shell, capturing both Optimus Prime and Megatron inside. Prowl appeared once more, as an AllSpark ghost, to carry Prime away to safety.

With Megatron seemingly destroyed, Jazz carried the dead body of Prowl to the others. But before the Autobots could begin to mourn, Megatron reappeared, though heavily damaged. Prime fought the Decepticon leader with renewed vigor in the knowledge that this battle cost the life of his friend, but he stopped just short of killing the villain. Megatron and the other Decepticons were taken in captivity back to Cybertron, along with Prowl's body. Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Bulkhead were Prowl's pallbearers, and the crowds of Cybertron cheered their victory. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}}
{{-}}

===''Be the Hero'' books===
{{notemultipath}}
====''Prime Suspect''====
When the police began pursuing [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]] for breaking and entering, Prowl protected [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] and [[You|another kid]] who had been caught up in things, using his holograms to distract the cops. The trail led the Autobots to [[HomeTech]]'s laboratory, where the two kids were sent in to find the security footage of Prime apparently breaking in, which later necessitated a rescue by Prowl and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. The Autobots continued to follow the clues to HomeTech's main warehouse, where they fought [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]], the real mastermind behind the theft. {{storylink|Prime Suspect (Animated)|Prime Suspect}}

====''Quest for the AllSpark''====
Prowl chose [[Texas]] to conceal a fake [[AllSpark]] when [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] took control of [[Detroit]]'s robot workforce in an attempt to locate the artifact. He returned to Detroit in time to join [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] as they went to help Optimus and [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] fight [[Crush-A]]. {{storylink|Quest for the AllSpark}}

====''Web of Deception''====
Prowl saved Sari and her friend from drowning after their [[Sumdac Aquaskimmer Mk 1|Aquaskimmer]] was destroyed on the surface of Lake Erie. He, Bumblebee and Bulkhead subsequently found that the Autobot ship was offline and Optimus missing. Once everything was working again, Ratchet's scans located [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]]'s ship parked on the lake bed nearby, sending Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Prowl and the two young humans on a mission to investigate. While fighting the bounty hunter, they discovered the involvement of [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], who wanted revenge on Prime. After the clash, Prowl found he had to use [[Circuit-Su]] mediation to realign his inner processes before he could continue, however the delay led to Sari's young friend locating Blackarachnia and her eventual defeat. {{storylink|Web of Deception}}

====''Time-Quake''====
When strange time distortions began occurring across Detroit, the Autobots split up with special scanners to try and track down the cause of the problem. Prowl traced the signal to a disused warehouse on the Detroit River, arriving at around the same time as Bulkhead and a random [[You|human]]. Within, Prowl narrowly rescued the human when the floor collapsed, and in the basement the trio found a time machine. After Bulkhead and the human were plunged back in time, Prowl remained at the warehouse, but it was several days before the pair returned, having jaunted around history. Meanwhile, the other Autobots had tracked down the culprit behind the strange machine. Prowl and Bulkhead joined them at said culprit's hideout, but the foe was able to keep the Autobots at bay, forcing the human to go in to wrap things up. {{storylink|Time-Quake}}

===Titan Magazines===
When [[Quake-Maker]] attacked Detroit with, yep, earthquakes, Prowl was there saving people from falling rubble before the villain temporarily buried him. Once he got out, he found himself following the orders of new arrival [[Afterburn]] and helped beat Quake-Maker. {{storylink|Animated Comic issue 1#Burnout|Burnout}}

On his day off, Prowl went to a [[basketball]] game with Bulkhead, Sari and Afterburn. The speed, grace and tactics of the game thrilled him, leaving him with the belief they could learn much from basketball. Unfortunately he had to duck out of the game to stop the supervillain [[Crossroads]], who was causing robotic systems across Detroit. Working out with Sari that this was a diversionary tactic so Crossroads could reach [[Sumdac Tower]], Prowl and the others headed for the building, and Prowl disabled the villain's robot-controlling gauntlets with well-aimed shurikens. And he spouted basketball terms while doing this for... well, we dunno.

He stood in front of Afterburn while saying they should all keep their eyes out for the enemy. Surely a coincidental posing! {{storylink|Animated Comic issue 3|Crossroads!}}

[[Image:Prowl_CRUNK!.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Take that, ''Shattered Glass'' Bumblebee!]]

When Bumblebee was boasting about his incredible speed, Prowl pointed out that he was also reckless and a dangerous driver. Why, if Bumblebee had to follow rules when he drove, Prowl could whip him! This throwing of the gauntlet led to the two Autobots having a race at [[Crazy Coyote Canyon]], with Bulkhead joining in for the heck of it. With his superior reflexes and ''driving over'' his opponent, Prowl shot into the lead, smugly noting that reckless actions get you into trouble...

...and then, not looking where he was going, ran into a Decepticon trap. With Lugnut planning to use him as a piñata, only Bumblebee's arrival saved him, and reckless action saw the two escape. If that wasn't embarrassing enough for Prowl, Bumblebee beat him in the rest of the race and ''Bulkhead'' won the whole thing... ! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 25|The Race}}
{{--}}

===''Lil Formers''===
Prowl shared his weight loss secrets with a [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] from another universe. {{storylink|Lil Formers}}

===''The Cool'' comic===
Witnessing the mysterious Allspark being uncovered, Prowl along with the rest of Optimus Prime's crew fled through a space bridge gate in order to keep the artifact out of Decepticon clutches. Unfortunately, Megatron was able to board their ship and left Prowl defeated on the floor, leaving Optimus to deal with the Decepticon leader by himself. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 3}}

Prowl was among the Autobots who traveled to the [[Earth]] city of [[Detroit]] in order to protect the [[AllSpark]] from the Decepticons. When [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] attacked, Prowl joined in the fray, pitting his skills against Blackarachnia. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 1}}

[[Image:The CoolAutobotsRevivePrime01.jpg|thumb|200px|right]]

The Autobots were unable to prevent Starscream from seizing the AllSpark, however, and Prowl was helpless to defend himself from Starscream's AllSpark-powered aerial attacks. When [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] died stopping Starscream, and was subsequently revived by the power of [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]]'s [[AllSpark Key|key]], Prowl was there to greet him. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 2}}

Prowl later took part in defending [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] from a Decepticon raid. He expressed displeasure at [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]]'s aerial bombardments, observing that their weapons didn't have the range to counterattack. Once the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobot]]s saved the day, however, Prowl saw them off along with the rest of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 3}}

Prowl was present at [[Sumdac Systems]] headquarters when Megatron was revived in a new body. He fared poorly in battle, as Megatron swatted him away with a single blast of his [[fusion cannon]]. Prowl survived the fight and later greeted the [[Elite Guard]] when they arrived on Earth. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 5}}

Later, Prowl joined up with Lockdown, donning a set of power-boosting armor in order to take down [[Clone number 3370318|Clone #3370318]] (whom he mistook for the real Starscream). When Prowl learned that Lockdown would be selling "Starscream" to Megatron rather than Ultra Magnus, he attempted to stop his ex-partner, only to be subdued and rendered unconscious. Prowl eventually came to, joining the rest of the Autobots as [[Clone number 2716057|Clone #2716057]] attacked. Prowl defeated the clone, but destroyed an entire city park in the process. Prowl then recalled a lesson from his [[Cyber-Ninja Corps|Cyber-Ninja]] master, [[Yoketron (Animated)|Yoketron]], regarding power and choices. Realizing there was one Starscream too many, Prowl and the Autobots then rushed to a warehouse where Lockdown was meeting Megatron. The ''real'' Starscream had rigged the clones to explode and kill everyone. Using his head, Prowl attached his armor's rocket packs to the clones and sent them flying; harmlessly detonating in the sky. Prowl then discarded his armor, vowing to the memory of Yoketron that he would start his training over from scratch. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 6}}

Prowl then joined in the battle for the Decepticon [[space bridge#Animated cartoon|Space Bridge]]. He registered horror at the sight of Optimus Prime being blasted by [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]]. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 7}} When the battle for the Space Bridge had ended, Prowl joined the other Autobots in bidding farewell to [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], who sacrificed himself in the fight. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 8}}

At Autobot HQ, Prowl performed a full body-scan on Sari and determined that she was originally a Transformer [[protoform]] that scanned Professor Sumdac's DNA, creating an entirely new lifeform. Suddenly, the Autobots were attacked by Starscream in Omega Supreme's body! Prowl encouraged Bulkhead to keep the fiend busy until Optimus could return from wherever it is that he went. Once Optimus ''did'' return and vanquished the Decepticon, Prowl was put in charge of finding Starscream's leftovers and pulling them out of Omega Supreme. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 9}}

Prior to the final confrontation against the Decepticons, Prowl stood heroically alongside his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|The Cool Extra issue 1}}

When Optimus was nearly killed during his epic showdown with Megatron, Prowl joined the rest of the Autobots in looking on in horror. However, when the Autobots returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] victorious, Prowl was nowhere to be seen. His fate remains a mystery. {{storylink|The Cool Episode Final}}

===Precursor World===
A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling a white Prowl was a member of the [[White Order]]. At their base on the [[White Planet]], he notified his commander [[White Gallant Convoy]] of the conflict between [[G1 World|extradimensional]] warriors [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Star Convoy]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Generations Selects Special Comic (1)|Super Megatron]] on the [[Blue Planet (GS)|Blue Planet]]. When he suggested they intervene, Gallant directed him to stand down and let the [[Blue Order]] do their work. The matter resolved, the pair kept watching and marveled at Star Convoy's heroics for a time. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 2}}

Later, the Warrior was nearby when Gallant found out he'd made a real bad call as the [[Primus Vanguard]]'s [[Primus#The old universe|eponymous supreme leader]] warned him of the fall of the Blue Order and the threat of the now-supercharged Ultra Megatron Omega. Later still, the Warrior supported Gallant in battle when the similarly dimension-hopping [[Seacon (BW)|pirate]] [[Halfshell]] attacked looking to plunder the Order's holy [[Matrix Saber]]. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}}

===''Legacy VS500 Collection Special Comic''===
Prowl, with an embedded [[AllSpark]] fragment, was a spectator for the second week of the [[Speedia 500]] on [[Velocitron]]. He decided to join an impromptu third iteration of the race. {{storylink|Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 3}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Animated: The Game''===
[[Image:TFAnimated Game Prowl.jpg|thumb|right|120px]]
{{voiceactor|[[Jeff Glen Bennett]] (English)}}
Prowl set up the Autobots' headquarters into an obstacle course for [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to practice their skills on. When Ratchet picked up a Decepticon signal, Optimus dispatched Prowl to investigate. Taking to the roads, Prowl located a [[Decepticon Transmitter Drone]] and shot it down. After Ratchet modified the drone to return home, it escaped from the Autobot base and Prowl chased after it but failed to catch up with it. He later tracked down and captured [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]], after the bounty hunter gave Bumblebee some trouble. He joined Bumblebee at the Decepticon mine base, and offered [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] a lift back to headquarters. Following the safe return from Cybertron of Optimus, Bumblebee and Bulkhead, he expressed incredulity that Optimus had turned down the chance to join the [[Elite Guard]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The Game}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Animated: Action Packs''===
{{note|Prowl is featured as a playable game card. He is a black card, has a value of 6 points, and has the following power: "x2 if any Starscream is in play".}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: Action Packs}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Animated''===
====Legends Class====
{{anchor|RescueRatchet}}
[[Image:Legends animated prowl.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Even as a legend he keeps the epic transformation.]]
*'''Rescue Ratchet''' (Animated 3-pack, 2008)

: A [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] Prowl toy came packaged with this version of [[Ratchet (Animated)#Rescue|Ratchet]], as well as a Legends [[Starscream (Animated)#Legends Class|Starscream]]. It features a slightly different deco from the ''Universe'' release of the mold, including a silver chevron and a silver Autobot sigil.

: Other than the various Legends Prowls below, this mold would have also been used to make [[EZ Collection]] [[Turbo Cycle (G1)|Turbo Cycle]], but that toy was cancelled.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/AniLegendsProwl/prowl.htm Prowl (Rescue Ratchet 3-pack) at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|ClearSmokeLOC}}
[[Image:AniLegendsProwlClearSmoke.jpg|thumb|300px|Clear smoke? Future Detroit's air filtration systems are truly amazing!]]
*'''Prowl Clear Smoke Ver.''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

: A redeco of Legends Prowl in smokey translucent black, with some opaque grey parts. He was only available at Apita stores in Japan, given away for free to customers who purchased Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] or [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]].

{{-}}{{anchor|ClearVerCollection}}
[[Image:AniEZLimited.jpg|300px|thumb]]
*'''EZ Collection Limited Clear Version''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set included a redeco of Legends Prowl in mostly translucent black with some opaque parts. The set was given away at Family Mart stores in Japan as part of their raffle token promotion. Unlike Prowl Clear Smoke Version, this version of Prowl is painted to resemble his normal coloration, only clear. The "EZ Collection Limited Clear Version" set was prize D, and included four different translucent EZ Collection figures, the other three being Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, and Starscream.

{{-}}{{anchor|EliteGuardLOC}}
[[Image:AniEZEliteGuardProwl.jpg|thumb|300px|This needs Saba badly.]]
*'''Prowl Elite Guard Version''' (EZ Collection, 2010)

:A white, black, and gold redeco of Legends Prowl, Prowl Elite Guard Version shares its overall deco with the Tokyo Toy Show exclusive Deluxe Class figure. It was only available blindpacked in TakaraTomy's EZ Collection Volume 4.

{{-}}
====Deluxe Class====
{{anchor|Deluxe_Class}}
[[Image:Prowl anim toy.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|No, you're not seeing things, both of his wheels are part of his robot mode, and it's still symmetrical.]]
*'''Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Takara ID number:'' '''TA-05'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, traffic light "chain" weapon
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] (Hasbro), [[Alex Kubalsky]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] (concept artist)}}

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Prowl transforms into a black and gold police "superbike" of made-up model. Two of his hubcaps are removable, and they both can reconfigure into three-bladed "mecha stars" which he can hold in robot mode. The mecha stars have a pseudo-[[Automorph Technology|automorph feature]]; pulling out on one blade simultaneously opens the other two. He also comes with a traffic light "chain" weapon which he can hold in robot mode, but it cannot be stowed in superbike mode. Unfortunately, it also has a tendency to break his thumbs off if held by the handle. As advertised on the back of the box, his rear bike mode lights can flip forward to form "flash blasters".

:Partly due to his lithe proportions, as well as both the waist ball joint and double-jointed knees required for his transformation, Prowl is ''extremely'' [[Articulation|poseable]].

:The Japanese [[TakaraTomy]] release features a glossy, shiny paint job for the entire front of his bike, painting his headlights, and having an almost [[Vacuum metallizing|vac-metal]]-like finish for his headlights and gold parts. The Autobot [[insignia]] on his abdomen/vehicle front is now in full color, bordered in white.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/Prowl/prowl.htm Prowl at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|BattleInSpace}}
*'''Battle in Space''' (Deluxe 2-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, traffic light "chain" weapon

: This Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] two-pack features an unchanged Deluxe Prowl and an unchanged Battle Damaged Deluxe [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] from the ''Battle Begins'' two-pack. The bundle was a 2008 [[Walmart]]-[[exclusive]] [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]] release in 2008.

{{-}}{{anchor|Samurai}}
[[Image:Samuraiprowldeluxe.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|Bludgeon redeco in 5...4...3...]]
[[Image:Samuraiprowlsplitwheels.jpg|right|125px|thumb|Yours won't do this.]]
*'''Samurai Prowl''' (Deluxe, 2009)
**''Takara ID number:'' '''TA-34'''
**''Accessories'': Sidecar/battle armor, wheel/"sword", 2 bladed mecha stars
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] (Hasbro)|[[Marcelo Matere]] (packaging artist)}}

: Part of the sixth wave of ''Animated'' Deluxe Class toys, this [[redeco]] and heavy [[retool]] of Prowl includes an all-new sidecar which transforms into the "samurai" armor that appeared in "[[A Fistful of Energon]]". Roughly 80% of the original robot mode is retooled, leaving only parts such as the biceps, interior of the arms, and the lower legs untouched. Among other deco changes, his gold is paler, and all of his translucent plastic is now teal. The robot mode "wings" are now designed to fold upwards, and a pair of slots were added to accommodate the body of the samurai armor. A new, smaller head with a translucent plastic visor replaces the original head so that the samurai helmet can fit, and either of the new pegs on his forearms can be used to mount the new wheel/blade weapon. Additionally, he gains thigh [[Swivel joint|swivel]]s, making him even ''more'' posable.

:A change was made to the wheel/sword weapon between the photography and final production stages. The Hasbro stock photography shows that the wheel was originally able to split down the middle, with each half pegging onto a forearm. However, this is not possible on the production version. The two halves are screwed together, and there's no hint of a second connection piece when disassembled. It's probable that the divided pieces constituted [[For safety reasons|a choking hazard]]. This modification, on the other hand, allows the sidecar to actually roll.

:Prowl's bladed ninja stars don't really seem to be intended to be removed from his legs, but with a bit of force, you can still pry them out of there. They have, however, been remolded so they're now fused together and no longer able to open, but they are exchangeable with the stars from the original Deluxe Prowl. While not being included, he can also still hold the chain traffic light from the original version.

:Prowl loses a lot of his original maneuverability when you put his Samurai armor on, and also becomes a little more tricky to balance, but that's the price you pay for the ability to blind your enemies with overexposure to pure awesomeness and teal translucent plastic.

:The Japanese TakaraTomy release is virtually identical to the Hasbro version, with the only notable change to the Japanese version being the use of a white and red Autobot symbol on his torso rather than a non-outlined silver one.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/SamuraiProwl/prowl.htm Samurai Prowl at TFU.info]

{{-}}{{anchor|TakaraVsBlitzwing}}
*'''Darkness Showdown: Prowl / Blitzwing''' (Multi-pack, [[April 24]] 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, traffic light "chain" weapon

: In the Takara ''Animated'' line, Prowl was also available in a "Darkness Showdown" (暗闇の対決, ''kurayami no taiketsu'', also called "Battle in the Dark" on English on the box-back) two-pack with [[Blitzwing (Animated)#Toys|Blitzwing]]. Released in the second wave of ''Animated'' product, both toys are identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|EliteGuard}}
[[File:Ani-toy Prowl EliteGuardDx.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Now he's a different kind of assassin.]]
*'''Prowl Elite Guard Ver.''' (Deluxe, [[July 15]]-[[July 18|18]] 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, traffic light "chain" weapon

: Available [[exclusive]]ly at [[Tokyo Toy Show]] 2010, "Prowl Elite Guard Ver." is a redeco of the original Deluxe-class Prowl toy in a pseudo-policey white, black and gold color scheme, with a head deco inspired by [[Prowl (G1)|"Generation 1" Prowl]], silver-chromed headlamps, and of course the [[Elite Guard]] symbol on his windshield/chest. Yes, even the traffic light "chain" weapon is redecoed in white.

: The packaging is unchanged from the original retail release, bar a sticker on the front of the bubble. It is currently unknown how many of this toy were produced.

{{-}}{{anchor|BITD}}
*'''Battle in the Dark: Prowl VS Blitzwing''' (Two-pack, 2010)
**''Accessories:'' 2 bladed mecha stars, traffic light "chain" weapon

: This Japanese two-pack contains the TakaraTomy versions of the original Deluxe Class Prowl, as well as Voyager Class [[Blitzwing (Animated)#BITD|Blitzwing]].
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2008)===
[[Image:Legends animated prowl.JPG|right|300px|thumb|Itty-bitty ninja.]]
*'''Prowl''' (Legends, 2008)
{{toydesigner|[[Bill Rawley]] (Hasbro)}}

:A slight repaint of the Legends Prowl included with the Rescue Ratchet 3 pack was available in the Universe 2008 line as well as Legends versions of Starscream (also included in the 3 pack), Optimus and Bumblebee. He was also available as part of a ''Universe'' three-pack with the three aforementioned slightly repainted Legends figures.

: This mold was going to be used as "[[Turbo Cycle (G1)#EZ Collection|Turbo Cycle]]" in Takara's ''[[EZ Collection]]'' series, but that release was ultimately canceled.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/AniLegendsProwl/prowl.htm More information on ''Universe'' Prowl at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''EZ Collection''===
*'''Prowl''' (EZ Collection, 2010)
**''ID Number'': '''EZ-19'''
:In Japan, The ''Universe'' Animated Prowl toy was re-released as part of the 3rd volume of EZ Collection, in blindpacked packaging.
{{--}}

===''Legacy''===
[[File:TF-Legacy-Deluxe-Class-Aniprowl.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|In order to become one with the Allspark, Prowl had to sacrifice his lithe thighs, and some of his [[chin]].]]
*'''Animated Universe Prowl''' (Deluxe Class, [[2023]])
**''Origin universe'': '''Animated Universe'''
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''TL-33'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': [[August 26]], 2023
**''Accessories'': 2 Bladed Mecha Stars
{{toydesigner|[[Sam Smith]] (Hasbro), [[Takashi Kunihiro]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Emiliano Santalucia]] (concept artist)<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJwohOubg1/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D Design notes on ''Legacy'' Prowl] from [[Hasbro]] designer [[Sam Smith]]</ref>}}<ref>[[January 31]], [[2023]]'s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l33J9hIaQm8 Hasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstream] on YouTube, with [[Delaney Norris]], [[Evan Brooks]], [[Mark Maher]] and [[Ben MacCrae]].</ref>

:Released in the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: Evolution]]'' Deluxes, "Animated Universe Prowl" is a ''Generations''-styled version of the character that transforms into a police motorcycle in 20 steps. He comes with two Mecha Stars, dubbed as "[[Evo-Fusion]]" technology. Like his original toy, they can be stored in his motorcycle wheels, but now open by twisting the outside instead of by a single blade. Both hands are sculpted to hold the stars by their blades, while his right hand can additionally hold other 5mm accessories.

:Hilariously, his head can be seen peeking out from his front window in vehicle mode due to his transformation; he even has a fuel gauge and a speedometer molded into the back of his head.

:Notably, this is the first mainline ''Animated'' toy since the show's cancellation in [[2009]].

::*''[https://www.instagram.com/p/CoJwohOubg1/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D Designer commentary on ''Legacy'' Prowl from Sam Smith]''
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
[[File:TFA-Board-Game-Prowl-figurine.jpg|upright=0.5|thumb]]
*'''Transformers Animated Game Collection''' (2008)

: Released as part of the board game set, this Prowl is a (very) show-accurate mini-figure figure based on his animation model.

: Prowl is also sold with Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Optimus Prime minifigures, and of course: 3 board games (''Transformers Animated'' Game, Checkers, and Tic Tac Toe), and a 100-piece puzzle.
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:Animated_Prowl_season_3_character_model.jpg|thumb|Hhm, [[Drift (AOE)|foreshadowing]]?]]
*Prowl's eyes are a reference to ''{{w|2000 AD (comic)|2000 AD}}''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s {{w|ABC Warriors}},<ref>[https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=8564559979841180115 Comment section for "Back from Botcon" entry in Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref> specifically to the character Joe Pineapples.
*Prowl's general robot mode design, down to his khaki legs, tall boots, and helmet-shaped head, is meant to evoke a {{w|California Highway Patrol}} motorcycle cop, circa ''{{w|CHiPs}}''. Eat your heart out, {{w|Erik Estrada}}.<ref name="Hey">[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Derrick Wyatt explains Prowl's design in his personal blog]</ref>
*Despite his alternate mode being the smallest among the core cast, [[Size changing|Prowl's robot mode is about the same height as Ratchet's, and much taller than Bumblebee's]].
*Since he was in the AllSpark energy and able to save Optimus Prime after he relinquished his spark he seems to have fused with it much like [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Vector Sigma]]. It also seems possible that his spark, rather than truly being extinguished has fused with the AllSpark since he did appear as a spark ghost.
*Amazingly, Hasbro hadn't originally intended to make a Samurai Prowl toy until one of their team saw the episode.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/tf_animated/271043.html Derrick J. Wyatt Q&A... answers!]</ref> The on-show introduction of the samurai armor certainly wasn't your typical [[To sell toys|marketing vehicle]], considering Prowl's speech about how he didn't need the armor after all and everybody crediting him with a wise choice when he abandoned and destroyed it. This leads to some mildly amusing backtracking once Hasbro finally produced the toy, with a [[Five Servos of Doom|new episode]] airing that just happened to feature a second, identical set of armor that Prowl could now wear because he <s>had a new toy out</s> had grown as a person and could now handle the responsibility.
*Prowl's retractable [[mouthplate]] was inspired by [[Snake-Eyes]] from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]].<ref>[http://derrickjwyatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/hey-everybody-its-prowl.html Response to comments in "Hey Everybody, It's Prowl!" article on Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref>
*Prowl shares his [[body-type]] with fellow Autobots [[Horsepower (Animated)|Horsepower]] and [[Sparkride (Animated)|Sparkride]].
*In the ''Transformers Animated'' profile shorts, Prowl is introduced to the audience by Bulkhead in "[[Meet Prowl]]".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Prowl''' (プロール ''Purōru'')
*''Russian:'' '''Syshhik''' (Сыщик, "Detective")
{{--}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Animated Autobots]]
[[Category:Cyber-Ninja Corps]]
[[Category:Ghosts]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Legacy Autobots]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:White Order]]
[[Category:Zombies]]

Sunstreaker (G1)

2023-06-28T09:08:11Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Dreamwave Generation One continuity */

{{factions|autobot|unicron|cobra|csficon}}
{{disambig3|Sunstreaker}}{{suite}}
:''Sunstreaker is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Autobots secret weapon sunstreaker wax.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Hi. I'm better than you.]]
'''Sunstreaker''' knows to the core of his [[spark]] that he is better than any other Autobot, and he makes sure everyone else knows it, too. His sociopathic tendencies, combined with his incredible vanity and arrogance, usually result in tension between himself and the other Autobots. He is generally unwilling to help those who are having trouble keeping up, and is quite audible when it comes to complaining about the shortcomings of everyone else. The only Autobot he truly gets along with is his [[twin]] [[Relatives|brother]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and even that can seem strained at times.

The main reason [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] keeps him around is most likely Sunstreaker's effectiveness on the battlefield. Ruthless and skilled in all forms of combat, there is not much Sunstreaker cannot handle. As a front-line warrior, Sunstreaker is a great asset for the [[Autobot]] army. If a rather scary one.

{{bigquote|I'm transforming! I see my true beauty emerging!|Sunstreaker|"[[The Autobot Run]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:State games 1.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.0|Cannot, in fact, beat Megatron with one hand behind his back.]]
''Prior to the outbreak of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s [[Great War (G1)|planet-wide civil war]], Sunstreaker was a gladiator in the [[Games (competition)|Games]] held between the [[Polities of Cybertron|city states]]. He was once brutally beaten by [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] in combat, and would have been killed if [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] had not stepped in.'' {{storylink|State Games}}

[[File:Magnificent6_crop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Magnificent 1+]]
''Early into the Autobot-Decepticon war, Sunstreaker was a member of the [[Magnificent Six]] a team of Autobot warriors tasked with infiltrating Decepticon-held territories and sowing discord from within. During a mission to [[Yuss]], he helped destroy a band of Decepticons terrorizing the town, and was hailed as a hero by the resident [[neutral]]ists for it. A retaliatory strike proved harder to repel, as the Autobots found themselves facing off against [[Megadeath (G1)|Megadeath]] and his elite cadre. The Magnificent Six managed to hold Yuss's borders for a week, but the locals grew to resent them as the violence took its toll on them. The civilians were eventually pushed into betraying the Autobots after Sunstreaker made an indelicate joke about the destruction of Yuss's Ampodrome, a beloved museum. The entire unit was captured and submitted to horrendous torture under Megadeath's care.''

''In one of Megadeath's sadistic games, the Decepticon gave five of the six Autobots blasters, and offered them a chance to win their freedom; they only needed to stop him from killing [[Stampede]], the only unarmed member. Sunstreaker and the others failed to even take up arms, so thoroughly had the Decepticon succeeded in breaking them by that point. Afterwards, Megadeath gave the Autobots two hours to find his neutralist prisoners before he detonated five [[neutron bomb]]s and obliterated the entire region. Finding their mettle, the Autobots forwent any attempt to rescue either themselves or the civilians for the Decepticon's entertainment. They instead hid, then ambushed and crippled Megadeath when he came to investigate their lack of action. Megadeath refused to divulge where he had stashed the neutralists, so the Autobots left him behind to die to his own device. When questioned about what had transpired during their mission, the survivors lied and claimed not to remember any of it.'' {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}

Sunstreaker was among the crew of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] that crashed on [[Earth]] four million years. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

An erroneous account would later place Sunstreaker as part of a group of Autobots posted on Cybertron hundreds of years ago who, upon detecting the [[Underbase]] heading towards Earth, sent out [[Raindance|two]] [[Grand Slam (G1)|mini-cassettes]] to forewarn the Autobots posted on the organic world of its arrival. {{storylink|Club Con!}}<ref>The flashback in "[[Club Con!]]" depicting Sunstreaker, Beachcomber, Perceptor, and [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] on Cybertron is screwy for all kinds of reasons. Aside from the fact that Sunstreaker was on Earth at the time and Defensor hadn't even been created then, Beachcomber and Perceptor would first learn that Optimus Prime still lived in "The Smelting Pool!", when they intercepted the signal that [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] sent in "[[The Next Best Thing to Being There!]]".</ref>

[[File:SunstreakerBlastsSkywarp.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|When Sunstreaker "puts his shoulder into it"... people get slagged.]]
Sunstreaker and the rest of the Ark's crew were eventually awakened in [[1984]]. {{storylink|The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers}}

''In the first few days on Earth, Sunstreaker was teamed up with [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] in a mission to scout out Megatron's new base. When [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] showed up and thrashed Jazz, Sunstreaker opted to run rather than risk his finish getting messed up. He diverted the jets' attack towards a human military camp, and though he received minimal damage, his plan worked; by bringing the Decepticons close enough to the camp, the humans were provoked into themselves attacking the Decepticons. Thundercracker and Skywarp were driven off, but some soldiers were injured in the confrontation.'' {{storylink|...Perchance to Dream}} He engaged the Decepticons in battle at the [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service|Witwicky garage]], firing his [[electron pulse gun]] at the incoming jets while his brother Sideswipe took the fight to them with his [[Jet pack|rocket backpack]], but ultimately failed to keep them from kidnapping [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]. {{storylink|Power Play!}} Sunstreaker took part in the mission to rescue Sparkplug from the Decepticons' [[Fortress Sinister|fortress]] and managed to hit Skywarp with one of his shoulder-mounted, laser-guided, ground-to-air [[missile]]s during a brief skirmish, thus proving (at least to himself) that he was Cybertron's greatest warrior. {{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

''While repairing the Ark, Sunstreaker looked on as [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] flipped out and attacked Sideswipe, the former's mind altered thanks to a short circuit. After the renegade Autobot had been seemingly destroyed in trial by combat with [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], Sunstreaker was depressed but was soon overjoyed to learn that Brawn's apparent death had been a [[Hologram|holographic ruse]] perpetrated by [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] and Optimus Prime.'' {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} ''Shortly afterwards the Ark was attacked by the Decepticons and Sunstreaker tussled with [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] before all the combatants were disabled by [[Aunty|Auntie]], the Ark's computer, and only freed thanks to the unlikely pairing of [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]].'' {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}} Sunstreaker was relatively low on fuel after this, and so gave up his remaining power in the transference chambers to power up Prime, [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and Mirage for combat against the Decepticons... but then joined them for the battle anyway. {{storylink|The Last Stand}}

[[File:SunstreakerScrapped.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9|Poor Sunstreaker was too sociopathic for even the comic.]]
When [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] took control over the Decepticons and possession of the Ark, he destroyed Sunstreaker's body as a demonstration and warning to the deposed [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The New Order}} His remains were strung up from the Ark's ceiling thereafter. {{storylink|Repeat Performance!}} Because of this, Sunstreaker's body was in disrepair for a very long time; at one point, when [[G.B. Blackrock]] asked about him in the med bay, Jazz told him that [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] wasn't even sure if Sunstreaker would ever be operational again. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

[[File:Grimlockwasthatwise.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67|"I get to do something again--we're fighting [[Unicron|WHAT]]?"]]
However, Sunstreaker was fully repaired in time to view the duel between [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. The match was interrupted by a Decepticon attack, and Sunstreaker came under fire. {{storylink|Totaled!}} He was badly damaged again, and he wound up in stasis aboard the Ark again, to be revived by [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] in [[1990]], when he and the other newly revived Autobots joined the attack on [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} Surprisingly, he survived ''that'' battle as he was able to attend the first meeting of the shaky Autobot-Decepticon alliance. {{storylink|Exodus!}} Once the alliance had fallen apart, the Autobots tracked [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s forces to the planet of [[Klo]] where they were ambushed and most of them, including Sunstreaker, were killed. However, he was resurrected a short time later thanks to the arrival of Optimus Prime and the [[Last Autobot]]. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

=====Future timelines=====
In the far-flung future year of [[2005]], the Decepticons staged an assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. Optimus Prime and his soldiers on [[Moonbase One]] traveled to Earth to defend their comrades. Sunstreaker was present when Prime rolled out to engage Megatron in battle personally. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Sunstreakerg1uk.jpg|thumb|I'm YELLOW, dammit!]]
An injured Sunstreaker, along with several other Autobots, was awakened not by Nucleon, but by [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]]'s [[mind bug]]. Galvatron had studied their dreams in the aim of finding dissenting members of the Autobots that he hoped to put into his own employ, but after a short skirmish, Galvatron's own mind was hijacked by an invention cobbled by [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]. Sunstreaker had been off-line so much while on Earth that he needed the others to explain who Galvatron was to him. {{storylink|...Perchance to Dream}} Unlike everyone else who was brought back, Sunstreaker came out of the experience with absolutely no changes in personality, temperament, or maturity! Even though he'd relived letting people die! {{storylink|Transformers Annual 1990|1990 Sunstreaker profile}}

Sunstreaker and the others would go on to join the Earthforce unit, under [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s command. {{storylink|Break-Away!}} Initially operating out of their [[Ark shuttlecraft|shuttle]], they decided to abandon the [[Autobot Code]] and do things their own way. {{storylink|Once upon a Time...}} After [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] foolishly broadcast [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'s location over an open channel, [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and Sunstreaker had to race to beat the Decepticons to the site. Prowl had just disabled an [[Global warming satellite|atmosphere-destroying bomb]] of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s before it reached apex, but the poison on board was still a viable threat. They didn't beat the Decepticons to the landing site, but before they could jump into the fray, Prowl pulled Jazz and Sunstreaker aside. He had already cleared out the poison, so the two Decepticon factions were fighting over nothing! {{storylink|Life in the Slow Lane}}

Sunstreaker often got into fights with Dinobots as they couldn't resist dissing him. {{storylink|Transformers Annual 1990|1990 Sunstreaker profile}}

Later, Sunstreaker helped Jazz, [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] ruin the Decepticon [[Enclave]] and any chance of peace between Megatron and Shockwave by faking an assassination attempt on Megatron. Once the Decepticons' in-fighting had taken them out of the caves they had originally been holding their soirée in, the Autobots took the opportunity to have some festivities of their own, nabbing what snacks their enemies had left behind. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}}

Sunstreaker was present with the entire Earthforce team outside Autobot Earthbase when Wheeljack unveiled his brand-new unbreachable defensive system. This was unfortunate, as Wheeljack had forgotten that, once activated, the system could only be turned off from the inside, forcing Prowl to run the gauntlet and reach the shutdown console within. {{storylink|The House that Wheeljack Built!}}

When [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] kidnapped the Autobots' ally, [[Irwin Spoon]], Sunstreaker joined the other Autobot cars for an impromptu chase scene. He negotiated his way through the various [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]] attacks and delaying tactics, but finally hit the wall (literally) when Motormaster detached his cab segment and left his trailer jackknifed across the highway. 'Streaker hit it head-on, and wound up with a legitimate complaint about his bodywork. {{storylink|End of the Road! (UK)|End of the Road!}}

Much later, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus]] unwittingly reunited the surviving members of the [[Magnificent Six]] for a mission to the [[Acid Wastes]]. He suspected the [[Underbase]]'s ruins still held a connection to Cybertron's core, which they could tap into to defeat [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. Despite the mission's urgency, Sunstreaker and the others made excuses to be excluded from it. Optimus was bewildered by this apparent display of cowardice, and sent them forth anyways, with [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] along to round out the team.

[[File:Magnificent Six the end.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|It was a profoundly sombre moment; the mournful atmosphere only slightly punctured when Silverbolt lit one of his farts.]]
Sunstreaker, [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], Prowl, Wheeljack, and Jazz found themselves haunted by their past trauma, causing them to hesitate with increasing frequency as they delved deeper into the region. When they reached the remnants of [[Yuss]], all five froze in place completely, despite all attempts Silverbolt made at prodding them forward. They were thus incapable of fighting back when they were accosted by a swarm of mutated mechs, survivors of the Neutronic holocaust that they had failed to prevent millions of years ago. But another ghost from their past held even greater sway over them: [[Megadeath (G1)|Megadeath]] had survived as well, and took the group captive once more! Having realized that his teammates were plagued by past trauma, Silverbolt sought to shock Sunstreaker and the others back to their senses through ridicule, calling the five "the Autobots' resident losers." This riled them enough for the truth of what had transpired in Yuss to finally come forth. Silverbolt convinced his comrades that they were stronger than they thought, and the group's confidence slowly returned. With hate and cold fury driving them, Sunstreaker and his war-time companions confronted Megadeath while Silverbolt saw to the mutated neutralists being freed from his control. Sunstreaker and the others battered down their former torturer, only stopping short of the killing blow. But Megadeath would rather kill himself, while taking the Autobots with him, than admit defeat; he breached his own nuclear core, beginning a destructive chain reaction. The Autobots fled to once more avoid annihilation.

Having overcome their ghosts, the Autobots resumed their initial mission, and reached the former site of the Underbase with the neutralists in tow. {{storylink|The Magnificent Six!}}

=====Another Time & Place=====
Sunstreaker stormed the [[Hydrus Four]] facility with his fellow Autobots to rescue Grimlock and the Dinobots. He almost took a shot in the back from a Decepticon, but Optimus Prime took out his attacker. {{storylink|Another Time & Place}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
[[File:Invasion-Radcontrolroom.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|If I'm in the back you can't see my sweet new body!]]
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe joined Optimus Prime's crew on Earth after Megatron resurfaced. They braved the Ark's defenses in order to break inside and recover their lost comrade, Ratchet. As an expression of his concern, Sunstreaker made no mention of the chips and tarnish of his paint job when they freed Ratchet, and together the twins carried their medic friend away to safety. {{storylink|At Fight's End}}

Subsequently, Sunstreaker was stationed with several other Autobots in [[Canada]] within the ''[[Ark II]]''. He was present one day when [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] reported from the [[Ironworks (facility)|Ironworks]] base in [[Oregon]] about a foiled attack by [[Overlord (G1)|Gigatron]] and his Decepticons. Soon thereafter, due to the actions of an evil [[Ultra Magnus (SG)|Ultra Magnus]] from [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|another dimension]], a rift of space time opened over Earth, causing catastrophes worldwide. Sunstreaker assisted his peers in evacuating a devastated city block. {{storylink|Invasion (issue)|Invasion}}

Most of the Autobots relocated to the Ironworks after their Earth transported into the negative polarity universe. Sunstreaker and the crew were pulled to safety in [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock's]] shuttle as the planet started to come apart around them. {{storylink|The Future Buried...}}
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====''Regeneration One''====
{{noteRG1}}
[[File:Destinypt5 one last charge.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Sunstreaker was part of the unit that accompanied Optimus Prime to confront Megatron on the devastated planet Earth. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 3}} After the battle had been won, Sunstreaker and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] were assigned to guard the crashed Ark. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}}

He was later seen at the [[Presidium (facility)|Presidium]] during [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s final charge against the attacking Decepticon forces. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}
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====''Transformers '84''====
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers '84 issue 0|'84 #0}} }}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:RollForIt Sunstreaker Chip.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
{{main|Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity}}

An original member of the Autobots when they crash-landed on Earth, Sunstreaker participated in a fair amount of battles against the Decepticons. He also did a fair amount of ''zilch'' in those battles. By 2005, he was stationed on the Autobot Moon Base as part of Optimus Prime's crew, while also being stationed on Autobot City, Earth, as part of Ultra Magnus's troops. He got around.

In a splinter timeline, Sunstreaker had a few more unremarkable adventures, such as one where he ''almost'' gained a [[Binaltech (technology)|Binaltech]] body, but didn't. He later joined the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]] and became partners with the human [[Kelly (RID)|Junko Shiragami]], whose hair he enjoyed sniffing.

{{-}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books===
Sunstreaker and Optimus lifted themselves up into Earth orbit using electro-magnetic lifts. Wielding a gigantic sheet of reflective metal between them, they beamed back towards the Decepticons’ satellite the deadly heat the evil robots had used to melt the [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]] into a puddle of molten rock. The satellite's energy turned against itself caused it to explode spectacularly. {{storylink|Satellite of Doom}}

Sunstreaker was one of the Autobots sent to attack Megatron and Soundwave during their latest scheme to extract oil from underneath the jungle of Brazil. The Decepticons managed to escape once more during the attack. {{storylink|Storms of Destruction}}
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===Sticker Adventures books===
In the aftermath of a battle with the Decepticons, the Autobots found that Decepticon activities had seemingly stopped altogether. Taking advantage of the situation, Optimus went on a trip. Shortly afterwards, Gears discovered that the Autobot's entire fuel supply had been stolen. Thinking he was exaggerating, Sunstreaker told Gears to stop complaining, only for Bumblebee to tell him Gears was correct in his assertion. With their fuel gone, the Autobots were at a huge disadvantage when the Decepticons attacked again. Thankfully, Optimus returned just in time with a new shipment of fuel. Re-energized, the Autobots forced the Decepticons to flee once again. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons}}

When the Decepticons attacked an Autobot construction site, Sunstreaker helped his fellow Autobots in driving them back. {{storylink|Return to Cybertron}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Galvatron Attacks}}}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Storybooks continuity===
Sunstreaker joined Optimus and the rest of the thirty-five Autobots stationed on Earth on an invasion of the Decepticons' headquarters. In the battle that ensued, he blasted Rumble in order to prevent him from creating an earthquake, only to be shot himself by Skywarp. Thankfully, Sunstreaker's durable steel skin resisted the blast. The Autobots were enventually jettisoned from the Decepticons' headquarters and, after some minor repairs, returned to confront Megatron, now with the Decepticons' plan to take over the Earth well under way. Megatron revealed his trump card, The Devastator, for the first time. Unfazed by the formation of the colossus, Sunstreaker led a small group of Autobots as a first strike force against the gestalt. For all of his efforts, Sunstreaker was picked up like a doll by The Devastator while the rest of his squand were blasted by The Devastator's gun. Thanks to the Dinobots' timely intervention, the Autobots eventually succeeded in defeating the Decepticons, and returned to their own base victorious. {{storylink|Battle for Earth}}

[[File:DevastatorvsSunstreaker-ASW.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.65]]
Sunstreaker was enjoying some alone time, polishing his chrome while he admired his transformation abilities. He was so engrossed in looking at his reflection in a nearby pond that he failed to notice [[Devastator (G1)|a giant Decepticon]] sneaking up on him. Only when the robot blotted out Sunstreaker's light did the vain Autobot take notice. Though Sunstreaker attempted to escape, the Decepticon stomped down on him, damaging his chrome. Sunstreaker's ego having been bruised, he attempted to engage the enemy. This only resulted in Sunstreaker being captured and brought to a prison cell within the Decepticons' headquarters.

The Decepticon warrior, Devastator, revealed to Sunstreaker that he was the combined form of six Constructicons. Megatron approached Sunstreaker, and informed the hostage that his teammates would soon be forced into surrendering. Sunstreaker took a potshot at Megatron as the Decepticon leader walked away, and was bombarded by the Decepticons for his insolence. Sunstreaker crawled to a corner of his cell to tend to his wounds.

The other Autobots attempted to rescue Sunstreaker. This resulted in [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] to be captured by Devastator as well, and they were put in Sunstreaker's cell.

The next morning, the four prisoners were brought outside to look upon a statue of Devastator. Megatron informed his prisoners that the statue was a gift from the Autobots, signifying that they surrendered. Despite a letter from Optimus conceding this to be the state of affairs, Sunstreaker and the others refused to accept that the Autobots would simply forfeit the Earth. The statue was in fact an Autobot ruse. Reinforcements burst forth from within the false peace offering, and the Autobots ambushed Devastator. A massive battle followed, with the Autobots emerging victorious. Sunstreaker was amongst the Autobots still standing after the kerfuffle, and was instructed by Optimus to help carry the wounded back to Autobot headquarters. {{storylink|The Autobots' Secret Weapon}}
{{-}}

===Marvel coloring books===
Sunstreaker was one of the many Autobots who saved Sparkplug and Buster Witwicky from being killed by a squad of Decepticons. Later, when the Decepticons attacked the Hoover Dam, <s>Spin-Out</s> Sunstreaker fought Thundercracker and was badly damaged. Thankfully, Sparkplug was able to fix him in no time, and the Autobots managed to repel the Decepticons once more. {{storylink|The Deadly Fuel Shortage}}

Sunstreaker was part of the Autobot convoy that accompanied Optimus Prime when the Autobots learned the Decepticons were stealing fuel from all across the globe with the help of a [[molecular transfer device]]. Laserbeak attempted to sneak up on Sunstreaker, but Jazz stepped in and used his flamethrower to blast the Decepticon. {{storylink|Summertime Coloring Book}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|A Message From Outer Space}} {{storylink|The Big Book of Coloring Fun}}}}

Sunstreaker (or Sideswipe) was part of a small strike team of Autobots assembled by Ultra Magnus to help the Dinobots, who were currently engaged in battle against the Decepticons, just outside of Autobot City. After they defeated the Decepticons, Sunstreaker/Sideswipe and the others were cheered on by the nearby oil rig workers as they drove back to Autobot City. {{storylink|Battle at Oil Valley}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Invasion of the Decepticon Camp}}}}

Sunstreaker was returning from a road trip with Daniel, Hound and Hot Rod, Bumblebee, Blurr, Wheelie, Springer and Kup when the group paused to eat at a rest stop. As the Autobots ingested Energon Cubes, Hot Rod asked Kup to tell a story. Kup told the others the story of how, upon first crash landing in Mt. St. Hillary, the Ark had lost an enormous shipment of Energon Cubes that remained lost to the day. Enthralled by Kup's story, the rest of the group were all eager to go looking for this lost treasure. Then Springer and Sunstreaker noticed Laserbeak taking off from their location. The two Autobots attempted to shoot him down to no avail. The Autobots realized that Laserbeak had been spying on them the whole time, and would soon inform Galvatron about the lost Energon shipment. Sunstreaker and the others rushed back to Metroplex to inform Ultra Magnus on the situation. After a brief conference, Ultra Magnus led his troops to the Ark's crash site. Finding the Decepticons there already, the two factions began to fight. When the Energon stash was uncovered, it was completely gobbled up by Starscream who proclaimed himself the most powerful Decepticon. With nothing left to fight over, Sunstreaker and the Autobots left Galvatron and Starscream to their squabble. {{storylink|The Lost Treasure of Cybertron}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Hot Rod's Escape}}}}
{{-}}

===Big Looker storybooks continuity===
Upon first awakening on Earth after being offline for about 65 million years, Sunstreaker was one of the Autobots who attempted to take the Decepticons by surprise while the evil robots still did not know what Earth forms the Autobots had taken. Though they successfully took by surprise a squadron of Decepticons, the Autobots had not anticipated a second group flying in from the opposite direction. Thanks to a warning from Spike and Sparkplug, the Autobots managed to fend off the Decepticons, and came to accept Earth as their new home. {{storylink|Battle for Cybertron}}

During a Decepticon plot to steal an oil truck, [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] short-circuited the truck's wiring so that it couldn't move. Sunstreaker countered his move, however, using electron pulses to restart the truck and get it back in action. {{storylink|Decepticon Hijack}}

When the Decepticons invaded a car show at the Coliseum, Sunstreaker was one of the robots in disguise who infiltrated the show to thwart the Decepticon plot. {{storylink|Car Show Blow Up}}
{{-}}

===The Battle for Planet Earth===
{{voiceactor|[[Peter Marinker]] (English)}}
Sunstreaker was among the Autobots who traveled to [[South America]] in search of energy, and fought the Decepticons on [[Mount Sheelah]]. {{storylink|Terror of Mount Sheelah}} Resting after a day of hard work repairing the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], Sunstreaker and the other Autobots watched [[television]]. On learning that the Decepticons were kidnapping humans, Sunstreaker agreed that [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] was best suited to go investigate the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Bumblebee to the Rescue (G1)|Bumblebee to the Rescue}} He was also among the Autobots who thwarted the Decepticon invasion of [[Stanley Lake]] dam. {{storylink|Menace at the Dam}} When [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] announced he wanted to defect to the Autobots, Sunstreaker thought the Air Commander's experience might be of use to them. As it turned out, Starscream was a spy, and the Autobots used him to send the Decepticons on a wild goose chase, during which Sunstreaker and the rest of the Autobots destroyed the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Espionage!!!!!}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe marveled at Spike's explanation of electricity that comes from the sky. {{storylink|Autobots' Lightning Strike}}

Sunstreaker was part of a battle unit assembled by Optimus Prime to stop the Decepticons from seizing control of...a single windmill. (No, really.) {{storylink|Laserbeak's Fury}}

===''S.T.A.R.S.'' continuity===
When [[Johnny (G1)|Johnny]] spotted [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] stealing energy, he called his Autobot allies through his S.T.A.R.S. control center. Sunstreaker was amongst those who responded to Johnny's call. {{storylink|Have the Decepticons defeated us once and for all?}} Sunstreaker and the other Autobots struggled against Thundercracker energy-syphoning powers. {{storylink|Can one boy, alone, hold back the evil Decepticons?}} What happened afterwards is not known.

Later, Ultra Magnus pleaded for [[you]] to "requisition" Sunstreaker and other Autobots in order to combat the Decepticon threat. Using the human power known as "imagination," S.T.A.R.S. recruits could perceive what it was like to be Sunstreaker. {{storylink|You Have Been Chosen.}}

Before the construction of Autobot City on Earth, Optimus led a convoy of Autobots to find the ideal location for their new base's construction. Sunstreaker was amongst the troops accompanying Optimus. As they drove along, the Autobots were ambushed by the Decepticons. The battle that ensued later came to be known as "[[Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction (G1)|Digital Doom on the Highway to Destruction]]." {{storylink|Rodimus Prime remembers the Transformers greatest battle on Earth.}} {{storylink|The Autobots Are Under Attack!}}
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===''Find Your Fate Junior''===
{{notemultipath}}
====Dinobots Strike Back====
In the path where Mirage used a hologram of Optimus Prime to lure the four [[cerebro-shell]]-controlled [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] over the edge of [[Bandit's Bluff]] and into the ocean, Sunstreaker was one of the Autobots crewing [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray's]] destroyer mode. He helped haul the unconscious quartet aboard for safe transport back to the Ark.

If Optimus Prime chose to immediately attack the Dinobots without a real plan, Sunstreaker responded to Sideswipe's request for help defeating [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] with a series of high-energy electron pulses, ultimately knocking the Dinobot commander over and dislodging his cerebro-shell. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}
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====Earthquake====
[[File:EarthquakeAutobotheadquarters.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
While the Autobots were enjoying a lull in Decepticon activity, Sunstreaker took the time to polish up his "gorgeous body." He also mused on how the Decepticons would have trouble enjoying down-time, as they all transformed into machines of war.

In one possible sequence of events, Beachcomber, Windcharger and Powerglide uncovered a Decepticon ploy to destroy Center City. When splitting up the Autobot forces to combat the Decepticons on two fronts, one at their headquarters and the other at Center City, Optimus assigned Sunstreaker to the secondary team.

If the secondary team was tasked with attacking the Decepticons’ fortress, they were able to stealthily infiltrate the base and discover the Decepticon's lab. Sunstreaker may have bumped into Cosmos if the Autobot spaceship joined their team thereafter, and led him to the rest of the squadron. The Autobots were then able to redirect the Destruction Beam back to its source, destroying the Decepticons and their base.

In another version of these events, Megatron called his troops to his location, so that they could all partake in Cosmos's dismemberment. Before the Decepticons were able to begin, Cosmos spotted the secondary team hiding nearby. Surrounding the Decepticons, the secondary team engaged their enemies. Though the Autobots defeated the Decepticons, they were unable to interfere with the Destruction beam. The Destruction beame then reached its target, and Center City was destroyed. Though the Autobots were able to gain control of the Decepticon fortress and destroy the lab, they were not able to wipe out all of the evil robots, and enjoyed a pyrrhic victory at best.

In a completely different possible series of events, Beachcomber returned early from his day off to inform the Autobots that Jessie had been taken captive by the Decepticons. Optimus then brought Sunstreaker along for the rescue mission that followed. Shortly before arriving at their destination, the Autobots had to choose their next course of action; they could either storm the Decepticon fortress by force, or try to sneak in through a secret passage Buster had previously discovered.

If they decided to storm the fortress, Beachcomber would become nervous, and urge his fellow Autobots to find a more peaceful way to resolve the situation. This moment of hesitation ultimately cost the Autobots the battle, and the Decepticons triumphed that day.

If they decided a stealthier approach, the Autobots quietly entered the Decepticon base, and set out to shoot down any Decepticons they encountered, save Megatron, whom they planned on capturing. Sunstreaker was incapacitated early in the Autobots’ raid, and had to be left behind so that the mission could continue. {{storylink|Earthquake (book)|Earthquake}}

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====Decepticon Poison====
[[File:DecepticonPoisonBigBattle.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
When a new batch of fuel had just arrived at Autobot headquarters, Sunstreaker insisted on being fueled up first. Sparkplug obliged and topped him up. As it turns out, the Decepticons had poisoned the latest batch of fuel, leaving Sunstreaker unable to transform.

If the Autobots decided to assume a defensive strategy in light of these events, Sunstreaker was comforted by Optimus as he began to be wracked with sickness pains.

In one possible sequence of events that ensued, Perceptor gave out the right amount of an antidote the Autobot scientist had created, allowing Sunstreaker to resume his robot form and take arms against an incoming squadron of Decepticons. The antidote having given Sunstreaker and the rest of the cured Autobots a case of battle fever, the bunch were eager to take on the Decepticons head on in combat. The more level-head Prowl suggested instead a more conniving approach, where the Autobots would ambush their assailants.

If Optimus allowed Sunstreaker and the rest of the refuelled Autobots to venture headlong into battle, Sunstreaker lead the charge, firing the opening shot against Megatron. Though his blast managed to stun Megatron for an instant, the Decepticons soon began retaliating. Though Sunstreaker's squad started out strong, they soon found themselves overpowered by Megatron, prompting Optimus to lead a second wave into battle. Sunstreaker was injured by a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon, prompting Ratchet to emerge from headquarters and repair him in the middle of the battlefield. Though he continued to fight, Sunstreaker was downed once more, and had to be retrieved by Grapple when the Autobots ran out of fuel and needed to retreat back inside their headquarters. Thankfully, the Decepticons had been injured enough throughout the battle, prompting them to retreat as well.

If Optimus instead followed Prowl's plan, he instructed Sunstreaker and the others to transform into vehicle mode and play dead. The Decepticons, believing the Autobots to be already dead, disarmed themselves in order to carry out the Autobots’ “carcasses.” Now with the element of surprise against unarmed opponent, the Autobots Transformed and were able to easily defeat the evil robots.

In another possible turn of events, Perceptor gave out too much of his antidote to each Autobot. Though Sunstreaker initially cheered, finding himself able to transform once more, he soon found himself literally falling to pieces. The Autobots finding themselves completely outmatched against an all-out Decepticon attack were made short work of by the Decepticons.

In yet another possible scenario, the Autobots used the tainted fuel to create a toxic cloud that successfully fended off the Decepticons attack. This plan gave Perceptor the time he needed to cure Sunstreaker and the others with his antidote. Their ranks fully replenished and the Decepticons turning tail meant the Autobots had earned themselves another victory.

In completely different possible sequence of events, Optimus successfully retrieved the antidote to the poison from the Decepticons’ poison lab, and with Ratchet's help, brought Sunstreaker and the rest of the poisoned Autobots back from the precipice of death. Though Sunstreaker was eager to get revenge on the Decepticons, Optimus informed his Autobots that the Decepticons were planning to poison the humans’ nearby water reservoir, and that mission took precedence.

If Optimus led his troops back to the Decepticons’ poison lab, Sunstreaker was amongst the Autobot convoy that drove into action. Whatever decisions the Autobots made from this point forward, they were successful in foiling the Decepticons’ plot. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}
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====The Invisibility Factor====
[[File:InvisibilityFactorHotRodKupSunstreakerLaughing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
In one possible scenario, the Decepticons gained control of an [[Invisibility Device]]. When the invisible Decepticons attacked Metroplex city, Sunstreaker and the rest of the Autobots were reduced to scrap metal, unable to fight the unseen enemy.

In another scenario, Sunstreaker was sent out along with Springer, Prowl and Jazz to accompany Kup and Hot Rod when the latter two claimed to have spotted a ship with invisibility capabilities out in the desert.

If the team gave up searching for the ship, Sunstreaker and the rest of the Autobots within Metroplex were caught by surprise by a fleet of identical ships swooping down upon them. The Autobots were all destroyed as Galvatron gloated of his victory.

If Hot Rod and Kup convinced the other Autobots to keep on looking, Hot Rod eventually found trail marks, indicating that a heavy object the size of their spacecraft had indeed landed and had been dragged away. Sunstreaker and the others followed the trail to a more rocky terrain, where tracking the ship would become more difficult. The trail seemingly lost, the Autobots then heard someone incoming, and took cover. From their hiding places, they saw the Decepticons Scavenger, a human captive within the grasp of his steam-shovel.

If the Autobots decided to rescue [[Sarah Sanders]] immediately, Scavenger dropped the woman, and cried for help while attempting to flee.

If the Autobots pursued Scavenger, they found him rejoining a whole squadron of Decepticons. Fighting the Decepticons immediately would cost them their lives. Otherwise, if the Autobots decided on a retreat when faced by the whole squadron of Decepticons, they managed to do so by blinding their enemies by their high beams and then splitting off into different direction. They later regrouped and found Sarah wandering in the desert.

If the Autobots asked Sarah to build them their own Invisibility Device, Sarah refused, stating she would not build weapons for war. Running away from the group Sarah was almost killed when Dirge passed overhead and dropped a missile on her position. After rescuing her from the Decepticon attack, Sunstreaker and the others brought Sarah to safety within Metroplex. Grateful for the rescue, Sarah showed the Autobots how to create an [[Invisibility Scrambler]] to counteract the Decepticons’ Invisibility Device. Anticipating the Decepticons’ attack, the Autobots successfully defeated the evil robots when they came. The battle over, Sunstreaker shared a laugh with Kup and Hot Rod, the latter having made a quip about “seeing right through the Decepticons’ plans.”

If instead of asking Sarah to build them an Invisibility Device, Sunstreaker and the others attempted once more to retrieve her ship, the whole group snuck over to where the Decepticons were stationed. Once there, Hot Rod and Prowl argued over which plan of action would be the smartest to undertake next.

If the Autobots agreed with Hot Rod to try and take the Decepticons by surprise with a head-on attack, the Autobots manage to stun the Decepticons by dazzling them with their headlights. Sunstreaker provided Hot Rod some cover fire while the young Autobot raced down and snatched the Invisibility Device from the Decepticons. The Autobots then successfully peeled back, congratulating one another on a job well done.

If the Autobots agreed with Prowl to take a moment to come up with a more detailed plan, Prowl instructed Hot Rod to taunt the Decepticons into following him. The plan worked, and the bulk of the Decepticons took off after the young Autobot. With only Scavenger, Shockwave and Galvatron left behind, Sunstreaker and the others easily defeated the Decepticons still guarding the spaceship, and forced Galvatron to retreat. In one possible scenario that followed, Sunstreaker helped destroy a hidden Decepticon base that Hot Rod found while the Decepticons gave him chase. In another, Sunstreaker watched on as Sarah left in her spaceship in order to destroy it, vowing it would never be used to bring destruction.

In an alternate scenario where the Autobots silently trailed Scavenger while the Decepticon held Sarah Sanders captive, Sunstreaker and the others followed him all the way to the Decepticons’ secret desert base. Inside, they spied upon Galvatron telling Sarah Sanders that the Decepticons would use Cerebro-Shells to control her mind, so that she would reveal to them to secret of invisibility. At this point, the Autobots decided to step in. A direct attack would only end in the Autobots’ defeat. {{storylink|The Invisibility Factor}}
{{-}}

===3H comics===
[[File:Universe2003packageart-Sunstreaker.jpg|thumb|"I'm exclusive!"]]
After the [[Pax Cybertronia]], Sunstreaker left Cybertron with four other survivors of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] ([[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]], [[Shadow Striker (Universe)|Shadow Striker]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]). One year after Cybertron was reformatted into a technorganic planet, they returned. They were greeted by many of the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] inhabitants and with vast media coverage.

However, what appeared to be celebratory fireworks struck the five Autobots and also the Maximals [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. They were transported to a fiery cauldron deep within [[Unicron]], where all but Trailbreaker were rebuilt painfully into new bodies.

Seeing an arena up ahead, the seven moved towards it, only to be attacked by a swarm of shape-shifting, lava-like creatures. Sunstreaker and the others were overwhelmed and taken into the arena (or, the [[Cauldron]]), where they were caged along with a multitude of Transformers kidnapped from across the multiverse. {{storylink|Abduction|Abduction}}

The Unicron-influenced ambience of the place was slowly driving the more violent of the group mad. This, of course, included Sunstreaker. He and Sideswipe were forced into combat in the arena (each wielding spiffy [[energon]] weapons), but were rescued by a reborn [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]. The group, sans a corrupted Blackarachnia and Shadow Striker, fled back to Cybertron. {{storylink|OTFCC Live-Action Drama}} {{storylink|Escape (Universe)|Escape}} {{storylink|Homecoming (Universe)|Homecoming}}

The conflict against Unicron went on for an unspecified amount of time, until one last desperate raiding party on the Chaos Bringer, which included Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and many others. During the final battle with [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minions of Unicron]], Unicron began to dissolve beneath the combatants (as a result of the [[Unicron Singularity]]). Sideswipe grabbed Sunstreaker and used his jetpack to get them into a portal presumably back to their native Cybertron. {{storylink|Revelations Part 2}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
{{quote|"Why, you arrogant—yow! I should rewire that smug mug of yours right here—blaw!—right now!" 
"Don't kid yourself—this face is worth more than ''you'' are."|[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and Sunstreaker|"[[Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation]]"|noquote=true}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective2 SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|A family that pelvic thrusts together, stays together.]]
Before joining the Autobot army, Sunstreaker was a successful mural artist. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ultimate Guide}} When both [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] disappeared into a prototype space-bridge, ushering in the "Dark Ages" of Cybertron's civil war, the Autobots and Decepticons broke into several smaller factions. Sunstreaker remained with the "main" Autobot group, fighting under Prowl's command. He was present at the [[Autobase]] when [[The Fallen]] broke in to abduct [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] from one of its holding cells. Though Sunstreaker fought valiantly to stave off the ancient Transformers, he was unable to prevent the enemy from achieving his objective, and absconding with the Decepticon. {{storylink|Confrontation (issue)|Confrontation}}

Sunstreak was aboard the Ark when it crashed on Earth millions of years ago. He and the other Autobots awoke in 1984 to restart their war with the Decepticons. He was part of [[Operation Liberation]] in 1998, a joint human-Autobot effort to defeat the Earth-bound Decepticons. At the end it was a success, and the captured Decepticons, along with the Autobots and a human crew, departed Earth en route to Cybertron in the ''[[Ark II]]''. The ship, however, was sabotaged and exploded upon liftoff.

A few years later Megatron and other Transformers, including Autobots, were seen causing havoc. It was discovered that [[Lazarus]], a scientist who participated in the ''Ark II'' project, was responsible for the sabotage of the ''Ark II'' and the resurrection of several Transformers under his control via technological tampering. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}}

[[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] of the [[United States military|U.S. Military]] contacted [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] to ask him if he could do something to help them reactivate Optimus Prime, whom they had recovered locked in a state of stasis. Spike managed to reactivate Optimus with a portion of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] that Optimus had given him prior the ill-fated journey of the ''Ark II''. Optimus subsequently went to the Arctic and used the Matrix to reactivate several Transformers, including Sunstreaker and his brother Sideswipe. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}

Sunstreaker accepted the new task at hand and fought alongside his brother when the Autobots faced the Decepticons at Lazarus' ruined base, before Hallo betrayed the Autobots by attempting to destroy both factions with a nuclear weapon. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} The Autobots survived when Megatron's technovirus absorbed the blast, and Sunstreaker helped his comrades recover the captive Autobots imprisoned inside the base.

[[File:DWPrimeDirective5 SideswipeSunstreaker Devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|DULL HEROIC RUNNING!]]
As Jazz's unit worked on Megatron's virus, Sunstreaker followed Optimus Prime to [[San Francisco]] for the last battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} When [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was taken down, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe heroically (though foolishly) charged at [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] rather than, say, shoot him; they were surprisingly beaten up. After Optimus Prime destroyed Devastator's head, Sunstreaker was restrained by the surviving Decepticons. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}} However, through human intervention, Optimus Prime freed his Autobots and the battle was rejoined. Sunstreaker tag-teamed with his brother to pummel Soundwave, though the Decepticons eventually escaped when Superion sacrificed his life to save the city from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear missile launch. After Optimus Prime came back online, Sunstreaker and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] discovered the traitorous [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] buried under rubble. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

''During the conflict with the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]], Sunstreaker was one of the Autobots chosen by Optimus Prime to join the strike on occupied Las Vegas. Sunstreaker was edgy about having to work with Megatron and the Decepticons, and was ready to draw his rifle at a moment's notice during the groups' meeting. Still, he remained sensitive enough to [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]'s feelings to comfort his human friend when he was feeling useless, letting Spike know he always did his very best. In Las Vegas, Sunstreaker and the other Autobots lent their energies to Optimus Prime for his [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-inspired Finishing Move against the Keepers. {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}} Later, Sunstreaker and the Autobots battled alongside the Decepticons again, against the treacherous forces of the American military. Sunstreaker and several other Autobots fell before the processor-eating power of the President's new toy, the [[deconstructionite]]s.'' {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}}

Sunstreaker was among the Autobots entrenched against Megatron's forces in [[Alaska]] when both groups were ambushed by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], leading a united Cybertronian army, and declaring all Earthbound Transformers to be war criminals. Helping provide cover-fire, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe enabled the Autobots to escape Shockwave's troops, while the Decepticons were taken captive. However, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] tracked down the Autobots' recon team, intent on enforcing [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s edict. {{storylink|New World Order}} While he headed a group to accompany Magnus, Optimus Prime ordered a portion of his troops into hiding in [[Portland]], [[Oregon]]. This group, led by [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], included Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]. {{storylink|Brothers' Burden}}

After the end of Shockwave's despotic rule over Cybertron, the Autobots on Cybertron made contact with Sunstreaker's crew for an update and promised to send supplies. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}} However, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], and his cassettes soon escaped to Earth with [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. Attacking the Ark, they defeated all of Jazz's group minus Ratchet and Brawn. Sunstreaker and the others were left in a lake by the Decepticons, deactivated. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}

[[File:DW Extermination Sunstreaker kills Kickback.jpg|left|upright=2.2|thumb]]
[[Orion|A ship]] crewed by [[Mini Vehicle|Minibots]] (led by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]) arrived on Earth with supplies, and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] pulled the deactivated from their would-be watery grave. They were promptly arrested by Commander [[Marissa Faireborn]] of the [[Earth Defense Command]] and her armored troops, {{storylink|The Omega Effect}} who transported the Autobots to a secret underground facility. {{storylink|Atonement}} The damaged Autobots were repaired, and Commander Faireborn came to Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Jazz with a mission; the population of the American city of [[San Desto]] had all vanished, and they were to uncover the how and why of it. As they headed into the field, Sunstreaker was particularly vocal about his distaste of the [[EDC Night Force Unit|humans]], calling them "germs" to their faces, and was an all-around sourpuss to even his fellow Autobots, especially [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]]. Yet, when he and Sideswipe were alone together, Sunstreaker showed signs of concern towards the "fleshbags" accompanying them on the mission... only for the moment to be interrupted by screams coming from a nearby movie theater. Sunstreaker went inside the building to investigate, at which point the Autobots realized that they were dealing with an [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] infestation. {{storylink|Infestation (Dreamwave)|Infestation}}

Faced with innumerable bugs, Sunstreaker didn't think anyone on his team would make it out alive. Though he and Sideswipe were captured after being stunned by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], they managed to escape thanks to Bumper's intervention. They then joined the rest of their team's last stand against the enemy swarm, wherein Sunstreaker helped take out both [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] and Shrapnel, and tore through the Insecticon clones like paper. When Bombshell activated the [[cerebro-shell]]ed human population of San Desto to attack the Autobots, Sunstreaker was also all-too-ready to kill the lot of them, though Jazz was more sensibly opposed to the idea. Bumper saved them all again by managing to track down Bombshell, and taking him out, disabling his mind-control network over the town. {{storylink|Extermination}} The ''Orion'' picked up Sunstreaker and the other Autobots from the EDC's Nevada base shortly after saving San Desto. {{storylink|Lost and Found (issue)|Lost and Found}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Firefly Sunstreaker GIJoevsTFs3.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75]]
Sunstreaker was among the Transformers found and reprogrammed by the human terrorist organization [[Cobra]], and along with Sideswipe and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], he was reformatted into a Cobra [[Stinger (G.I. Joe)|Stinger]]. He, his brother and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] were sent to attack the [[SPS Research Facility]], but the two siblings were rammed by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] while charging at the main entrance, and Cobra eventually retreated. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} When Wheeljack freed the Autobots from Cobra's control, Sunstreaker helped Sideswipe and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] fight against the similarly freed Decepticons [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}
{{-}}

===''The Beast Within''===
After a brutal battle during which [[Beast (G1)|The Beast]], a monstrous gestalt of unimaginable power, was released, Sunstreaker's butchered form lay smoldering in a mass grave of both Autobot and Decepticon corpses. {{storylink|The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:Sunstreaker Head-On.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
{{main|Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity}}
The story of how Sunstreaker became a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] and a [[combiner|gestalt]] limb, and got a [[Bob (IDW)|pet]].
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei!'' pack-in manga===
When an awesome but reckless human kid spray painted graffiti on the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s, Sunstreaker got involved to keep the furious Decepticons from destroying the boy. He and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] defended the kid until they drove off the Decepticons. After a stern warning about the dangers of angering homicidal giant robots, Sunstreaker undermined the day's lesson by suggesting they try it ''again''. {{storylink|Henkei! Henkei! volume 5|Henkei! Henkei! #5}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Visualize Shot 7}}}}

===''Mini Mayhem!''===
Optimus told a couple of humans that the Transformers were in the midst of doing something really interesting... and showed them Hot Rod and Sunstreaker eating a pie!

Later, Sunstreaker overheard Grimlock announce that he had resolved to become a waiter, so he could spit in people's drinks. {{storylink|Mini Mayhem!}}

===''United''===
Sunstreaker was in attendance for a ceremony commending the Autobot [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s and [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s after they had retrieved the cure for a deadly nano-virus infecting the Autobots stationed on Earth. {{storylink|The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos}}

===''Transformers: All Spark''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Great Aspirations}} {{storylink|Conclusion}}}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Sunstreaker was among the Autobots pulled into a strange world of giants, where he ended up in battle with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Robots in Disguise! The Transformers Are by Your Side!?}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[File:EverybodyHatesMetroplex SunstreakerTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|right]]
Sunstreaker was stationed within [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] when both [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and a mind-controlled [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] lay siege to the Autobot city. To his surprise, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Imhotep Rodimus]] returned to Metroplex in the midst of the battle to retake his place as leader of the Autobots. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

===''Q-Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Yūichi Nakamura]] (Japanese)}}
{{Charstubfiction|{{storylink|Mystery of a Certain Explorer}} {{storylink|Mystery of Return of Convoy}}}}

===2006 IDW ''Beast Wars'' continuity===
Sunstreaker was one of the many casualties of the Great War before the signing of the [[Pax Cybertronia]]. {{storylink|Dawn of the Predacus}}

===''TransTech''===
During the conflict between the [[Screaming Eagles]] and [[S.K.A.R.]] in [[Primax 806.30 Gamma]], Sunstreaker was binary-bonded to the Screaming Eagles' artillery expert, [[D-Day]]. After a globe-spanning confrontation which almost destroyed Earth, the Autobots and G.I. Joes emerged victorious. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2016/05/01}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' continuity===
====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' marketing material====
[[File:Earthrise-Sunstreaker-art.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6]]
{{bigquote|They can't beat the best.}}
After Cybertron fell, the Autobots left their homeworld aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', traveling through space in pursuit of the [[AllSpark]]. Sunstreaker was a [[Cybertronian military insignia|Ground Command Special Ops Private]] {{storylink|Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' toy packaging}} and/or Ground Command Infantry Private.<ref>Sunstreaker's ''Earthrise'' toy's instructions refer to him as a Ground Command Infantry Private; all other sources agree on him being a Ground Command Special Ops Private.</ref> {{storylink|Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' toy instructions}} His function was a warrior, his primary objective was to win at both combat and life, and his primary weapons were laser-guided ground-to-air rockets. {{storylink|War for Cybertron: Earthrise|''Earthrise'' webpage}}<ref>[https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/brands/earthrise ''Earthrise'' website]</ref>

====''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' cartoon====
While the Autobots and [[Maximal]]s searched for the Allspark on Earth, the artifact produced an illusion of Sunstreaker to Sideswipe, part of its defense mechanism to lead would-be threats astray. Sideswipe happily recognized and called out to his brother, though he presumably snapped back to reality after. {{storylink|Kingdom episode 3}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|''Transformers'' #30]]}}
[[File:WeAreNotMeantToBeDarkness Companions.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|WE'RE ABOUT TO SAVE A LOT OF MONEY ON CAR INSURANCE!!!]]
Sunstreaker served under [[Pyra Magna]] during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], being right beside her on the bridge of their ship when [[Turmoil]]'s ship was accidentally destroyed. While Pyra Magna was imprisoned for this, Sunstreaker remained loyal to her and joined back up with his fellow [[Companion]]s after Pyra was released and enlisted by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to combat the Decepticon menace. The Companions hid under a [[shimmer field]] as Pyra met with [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] as part of a parlay and sprung into action when it turned into an assassination attempt on their leader. Facing off with a group of Decepticons Strika had brought along, Sunstreaker directed his comrades in battle as they made their way to Pyra's side. After driving the Decepticons off, Pyra announced that they would be putting their support behind Optimus Prime for the time being. {{storylink|War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness}}

Optimus next had Pyra and her Companions aid in evacuating the besieged city of [[Protihex]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}} Sunstreaker was later part of the strike team who went to the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] with Pyra Magna to rescue [[Termagax]] from an [[Insecticon clone]] swarm and secure the [[Enigma of Combination]]. After the swarm was dealt with and Termagax gave permission for the Autobots to defend her from an incoming Decepticon assault, Sunstreaker positioned [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] on the roof of [[House (building)|House]] as snipers. Next, he had [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] prepare a trench for the Autobots as cover to repel the oncoming Decepticon army. When the [[Rainmaker|Rainmakers]] approached their position, Sunstreaker reassured the worried [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] that they had a countermeasure prepped and his snipers took the Decepticons down. The Autobots then entered into battle with the rest of the Decepticons as they surged forward. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust II|Sea of Rust II}} Sunstreaker and [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]] held the line with their troops until the battle was over. The Enigma of Combination was lost to the Sea of Rust, but fortunately there were no casualties on the Autobot side. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|Enigmatic}}

[[File:WarsEndPartThree SunstreakerSwift.jpg|upright=1.6|right|thumb|]]
Sunstreaker and the Companions were present for the siege of [[Crystal City]] as the Autobots resisted Strika's army of Decepticons. {{storylink|A Dust of Crystals}} The tide turned when [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]], the last Titan, returned from space with an Autobot combiner named [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] as well. Much of the Decepticon army fled and Sunstreaker took [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] of the Heavies prisoner. The Autobots were able to sue for a temporary truce with Strika. {{storylink|The Landscape of Fear}} Exarchon was spotted in the Sonic Canyons, and Pyra Magna brought out her Companions to finish the last war. Sunstreaker and the others found Sixshot's Decepticons also opposing the Threefold Spark, although many of the [[Rise]] had thrown in with Exarchon. {{storylink|War's End Part Two}} Their first assault was repulsed, and Pyra Magna regrouped with Sixshot to plan tactics. Sunstreaker was incensed at the idea of collaborating with Decepticons, but deferred to his general. {{storylink|War's End Part Three}} Circumstances improved when Megatron's Techy Trinity arrived with a solution -- a Titanspark in a modified spark-cage, designed to capture Exarchon's unique spark and prevent it from escaping again. The plan was put into motion, and the united Cybertronians succeeded in containing Exarchon's spark before destroying it altogether. The truce had reached its breaking point, though, and the Autobots and Decepticons soon returned to their respective camps. {{storylink|War's End Part Four}} Sunstreaker fought in the final battle at [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]], and journeyed to the [[Winged Moon]] aboard the last ''Ark''. {{storylink|Transformers: Fate of Cybertron|Fate of Cybertron}}

====Alternate future====
When an experiment accidentally catapulted [[Jumpstream]] through [[unspace]] and onto the Cybertron of a possible future, she encountered a drone-like Sunstreaker that had been enslaved by a [[Voin]] asserter. The Voin and its drones led Jumpstream to the ruler of this alternate Cybertron— [[Exarchon]]. {{storylink|Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|Test Flight I}}
{{-}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Sunstreaker, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] fled from a Decepticon attack, and hid behind a mountain concealing the Autobots' newest warrior, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]! {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Jetfire and Shockwave|Jetfire and Shockwave commercial}}
*Sunstreaker helped fend off [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] alongside his fellow Autobots. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Triple Changers and Perceptor|Triple Changers and Perceptor commercial}}

==Games==
===''Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons''===
When Optimus embarked on his mission to rescue the Autobots' [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] troops from the Decepticons, Sunstreaker could come to Optimus Prime's aid, helping him navigate more quickly through the Decepticons' maze-like base. {{storylink|Adventure Game: Defeat the Decepticons}}

===''Transformers G1: Awakening''===
[[File:Gluawakening sunstreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
Sunstreaker 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. As one of the more badly damaged Autobots, Sunstreaker was stored in [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] until the Autobots could gather enough energon to revive him. {{storylink|Transformers G1: Awakening}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Legends''===
At some point, Sunstreaker fought in a battle alongside [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. {{storylink|Fan Favorite}}

After Optimus Prime's defeat at the hand of Megatron, Sunstreaker was involved in the skirmishes in Autobot city that ensued. {{storylink|The Omega Corps}}

When [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his minions set their sights on the secrets of [[Gravitronic Energy]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and Sunstreaker had to save the human scientists and their research. {{storylink|Box Trap}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{main|Bubbles#As Sunstreaker}}
Sunstreaker appears as a character unlockable in Challenge Events. He is portrayed by Bubbles. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Sunstreaker-(CW).jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
Sunstreaker participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a Rare character who could be acquired as a reward in the "Optimus Maximus Awakes!" event. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
When [[Teletraan Alpha]] told Sideswipe to face the impending chaos with bravery instead of anger, Sideswipe asked if Teletraan had been talking to Sunstreaker, claiming he sounded just like him. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation|Devastation}}

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

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Sunstreaker-Earth-Wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Hi. You know I'm better than all those [[Breakdown (G1)|other]] remolds people find]]

Sunstreaker came to Earth when Ironhide contacted him about information about the [[Fractal Map]]. When Ironhide said that he didn't want to step into a large crowd of Laser turrets, Sunstreaker said they couldn't touch him (literally and metaphorically) so he took them down. Starscream scolded Sunstreaker for being a cunning coward, only for Sunstreaker to retort that they may have been outnumbered, but not outgunned! Optimus was clearly impressed. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|The Lost Map Campaign}}

Sunstreaker got all giddy and excited when he learned his brother, Sideswipe, decided to show up. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Transformers: Earth Wars}}

When Optimus heard about Megatron trying to create another combiner, Optimus volunteered himself and [[Ironhide (G1)|some]] [[Prowl (G1)|other]] [[Mirage (G1)|bots]], including Sunstreaker to combine, resulting in the all righteous combiner [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|OPTIMUS MAXIMUS!!!]] {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Countdown to Combination Event}}

*'''Class''': Gunner
*'''Lowest Star Rating''': 1 star (2 star if not using Campaign mode)
*'''Weapons:''' Sunstreaker uses a standard issue [[grenade launcher]], with custom paint applications.
*'''Ability: Incendiary Rockets''' Shoots out 6 incendiary rockets towards the target area dealing damage over 6 seconds! (Level 1)
**'''Cost''': 7 ability points +2 for reuses.

===''Transformers Online'' (2017 video game)===
[[File:Sunstreaker TFO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{bigquote|No one can beat the best.}}

Sunstreaker considered himself the most handsome Autobot of them all. He would go to the trouble to discredit his Autobot colleagues, just to intimidate anyone who comes in contact with him. Sideswipe thinks Sunstreaker is the strongest Autobot on the battlefield, as the latter's performance is cold-blooded, ruthless, and merciless. Of course, no one easily praised Sunstreaker as much as Sideswipe did. Otherwise, Sunstreaker would stop to strike a pose in response to that ignorance.

In battle, Sunstreaker wielded the "[[Lightning Greaves]]" and the "[[Phlogistic Grenade Launcher]]". His active skill was "Magnet Mines":
*'''Magnet Mines''' — Sunstreaker deploys a Magnet Mine unit. When this unit is within enemy range, it will split apart into multiple mine traps in the opponents' path. Each mini-mine deals 350 points of damage. {{storylink|Transformers Online (2017 video game)|Transformers Online}} <ref>[http://tfol.qq.com/act/a20160726data/hero10.shtml Sunstreaker on the Transformers Online website]</ref>
{{-}}
===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
[[File:Sunstreaker-Forged to Fight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Not pictured: His iconic Combiner Wars sword showing off his status as the best swordsman on New Quintessa.]]
As a Brawler, Sunstreaker enters the fight in Pristine state Armoring up and Evading, and at low health he becomes Blemished and gains Melee Buffs and Unstoppable. A Signature upgrade to a Premium Model lets him keep his Armor and Melee buffs after they expire.
{{-}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Sunstreaker was a violent warrior whose penchant for brutality alienated him and his brother from the other Autobots. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

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

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

==Notes==
*Sources from the early days of ''Transformers'' refer to [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]'s brother as "'''Spinout'''"<ref name="bible">[http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#017 "Nearly the equal of his twin brother, Spinout, in combat, but less cold-blooded." From page 17 from the ''Transformers'' [[production bible|show bible]].]</ref> or "'''Spin-Out'''".<ref name="marvelage">[http://starlogged.blogspot.com/2012/03/transformers-arrive-in-marvel-age.html Article from Marvel Age #17, announcing the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|upcoming ''Transformers'' comic]].]</ref> Before the name change, the bot that would be Sunstreaker was intended to be a yellow, Autobot-aligned release of the ''[[Diaclone]]'' "No. 15 New Countach LP500S" toy – the mold that would eventually see release, in red, as Sideswipe. Evidently, plans changed, and the characters had their molds swapped, creating the yellow "No. 1 Countach LP500S" Sunstreaker and the red New Countach Sideswipe that we know today. This whole shebang resulted in discrepancies such as Sideswipe being noted for his [[jet pack]] (in reality, Sunstreaker's vehicle mode exposed engine) and Sunstreaker's red shoulder stickers (which were intended to match with an otherwise red toy). In [[2016]], the [[Fun Publications]] prose story "[[The Toxic Transformer]]" would pay homage to Sunstreaker's production history, introducing a new character named [[Spin-Out (G1)|Spin-Out]] in a red Sunstreaker body-type – though the Spin-Out/Sunstreaker toy as originally planned would have looked more like another ''Diaclone'' refugee, [[Tigertrack]].
*According to a [[story page]] in the October 1985 issue of ''[[TV Magazine]]'', Sideswipe and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] are brothers, with Sideswipe being slightly older than Red Alert. This connection may have been invented because, aside from Sideswipe and Red Alert sharing the same mold, Sunstreaker was not sold in the Japanese market outside of a special "versus" set with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]. However, the familial dynamic between Sideswipe and Sunstreaker was '''not''' changed in the Japanese dub of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon, leading some Japanese fans to consider the three Lamborghini characters as triplets.
*In August 2006, while discussing story plans that were cut short by the bankruptcy and closure of [[Dreamwave Productions]], former Dreamwave staffer [[Matt Moylan]] alleged that writers [[Adam Patyk]] and [[James McDonough]] wrote Sunstreaker as gay in their comics.<ref>[http://tinyurl.com/2ugos3 Moylan on the TFW2005 Boards]</ref> Patyk and McDonough themselves, however, denied that this was the case.<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/community/showpost.php?p=512360&postcount=66 Patyk and McDonough on the TFArchive forum]</ref>
*Simon Furman's reason for making Sunstreaker a Headmaster at IDW? Because he's the one character who'd ''least'' want to ''be'' a Headmaster.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIkqheta3GE Moonbase Two interview with Nick Roche, 27:58 in]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sunstreaker''' (サンストリーカー ''Sansutorīkā'')
*''French:'' '''Solo''' (Canada)
*''Hebrew:'' '''Sorék Shémesh''' (סורק שמש, "Sun Scanner")
*''Hungarian:'' '''Napcsillantó''', '''Napvillantó''' ("Sun-flasher")
*''Italian:'' '''Lince''' ("Lynx")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Tàiyángwén''' (Taiwan, 太陽紋, "Sun Streak"), '''Fēimáotuǐ''' (China, 飞毛腿, "Scud")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Raio Solar''' (Portugal comics, "Sun Beam"), '''Raiado''' (Brazil comics, "Crease")
*''Russian:'' '''Mercatel''' (Мерцатель, "Twinkler")
*''Ukrainian:'' '''Promin'''' (Промінь, "Ray")
{{--}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Artists]]
[[Category:Children of Primus]]
[[Category:Classics Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:United Autobots]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Autobots]]

Drift issue 1

2022-09-02T11:34:21Z

NotaTfFanObv: The link leading to the script for Drift #1 doesn't go anywhere, anymore. I've changed it to a web-archived version.

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Drift]]'' #1
|prev=
|next=Drift issue 2
|title=
|image=Transformers Drift Issue 1 Cover A.jpg
|caption=I'm a ninja! I'm from Japan!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 8]]/[[September 9|9]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=September 2010
|written by=[[Shane McCarthy]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|editorial consultant=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=Unknown
}}
'''After being labeled a traitor, Deadlock escapes to an unknown planet. There he encounters a mysterious stranger...'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Deadlock smokejumper dreadwing drift 1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
[[Drift (G1)|Deadlock]] leads an assault on an [[Autobot]] unit under the command of [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] on [[Dabola]]. The [[Decepticon]]s run roughshod over the Autobots, causing Sunstreaker to order a retreat. While the Decepticons celebrate, [[Not Carnivac|one of the team]] steps forward and reminds them all that their orders from [[Turmoil]] were not to fire unless fired upon, but once again, Deadlock had disobeyed his commander's instructions. Deadlock announces he is concerned with results, and Turmoil will never find out anyway. The Decepticon smirks as he says that Turmoil will find out because he is going to tell him, and Deadlock will soon be as good as dead. Deadlock deals with this threat by shooting the Decepticon in the head. He declares that wars aren't won by cowards and it is time for new leadership. He turns to the others and asks "Who's with me?"

Turmoil looks down on a stasis locked Deadlock, who is being held by Turmoil's troops. Deadlock is called a betrayer, but responds that Turmoil needs him. Turmoil brushes the statement off, and takes aim, saying that Deadlock's recklessness is becoming desperate. Deadlock suddenly kicks Turmoil's gun arm, forcing him to blast one of the guards. He then makes a break for it. He reaches an escape pod but pauses at a console before leaving. He escapes and Turmoil orders his troops to track the pod. It is revealed that Deadlock initiated the emergency system protocols, and by the time everything is up and running again, Deadlock will be long gone. Turmoil orders the word to be spread: Deadlock is to be killed on sight.

On a distant planet, Deadlock crashes. Climbing from the wreckage, he reflects on his situation, his mind returning to his past living in the gutters of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] before he was saved by an unknown individual. He climbs a nearby cliff, only to stumble across a huge base. As he looks on, a cloaked figure appears behind him. Deadlock attacks but the stranger dodges his strikes, telling him to be calm as he is a friend. Deadlock is incredulous, but the stranger reiterates he means him no harm. He identifies himself as [[Wing (IDW)|Wing]] and asks where Deadlock comes from. Deadlock states he needs to get out of here and asks if Wing is from the base. Wing denies this, stating they are slave traders. He offers Deadlock a ship in exchange for helping free the captives. Deadlock simply says he'll need a gun...two guns. Wing says they will steal guns from the guards, and once they are free, Deadlock can take the captives with them in a commandeered ship. Deadlock refuses but Wing says he cannot leave the planet and helping others is the highest calling there is. Deadlock scoffs it off, claiming Wing sounds like an Autobot—weak.

[[File:Drift1-rebuilt.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
Together, Deadlock and Wing defeat the guards and steal their weapons. During the fight, Wing is hit and his cloak is burnt away, revealing him to be Cybertronian. Deadlock accuses him of being an Autobot, but Wing simply says he is neither Autobot or Decepticon. Deadlock presses him as to what he really is, Wing simply says he is alone. Wing states he will free the hostages while Deadlock keeps the guards busy. He asks Deadlock his name, and Deadlock, remembering the past, responds with "Drift".

They dive in, but while Wing goes for the hostages, Deadlock merely goes for a spare ship. He is jumped by a slave trader and his body is crushed. Moments later he offlines.

He boots back up, and finds himself in a strange room, surrounded by several strange Cybertronians, wearing strange armor. Wing appears, telling him he was nearly killed and his body would have been destroyed. A red Cybertronian informs him that they saved his life. Leaping off the table, Deadlock demands to know where he is. He backs out a door, and finds himself in a huge Cybertronian city. Wing welcomes him to the new [[Crystal City]].
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] (10)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (11)
*[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] (12)
*[[Electro]] (13)
*[[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]] (14)
*[[Gobots]] (15)
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Drift (G1)|Deadlock]] (1)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (2)
*[[Skyjack (G2)|Skyjack]] (3)
*[[Roadgrabber]] (4)
*[[Road Pig (G2)|Road Pig]] (5)
*[[Ransack (G2)|Ransack]] (6)
*[[Staxx]] (7)
*[[Jetstorm (G2)|Jetstorm]] (8)
*[[Fearswoop (G1)|Fearswoop]] (9)
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (16)
*[[Smokescreen (G2)|Smokescreen]] (17)
*"[[Not Carnivac]]" (18)
*[[Drench (G1)|Drench]] (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hydradread]] (20)
*[[Snare]] (21)
*[[Windrazor (G2)|Windrazor]] (22)
*[[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] (23)
*[[Turmoil]] (24)
*[[Aquablast]] (25)
*[[Skydive (Predator)|Skydive]] (26)
*[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]] (27)
*[[Talon (G1)|Talon]] (28)
*[[Take-Off]] (29)
*[[Terradive (G2)|Terradive]] (30)
*[[Falcon (G1)|Falcon]] (31)
*[[Charger]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Wing (IDW)|Wing]] (33)
*[[Braid]] (34)
*[[Axe (G1)|Axe]] (35)
}}

==Quotes==
"You '''need''' me, Turmoil." 
"Like I need a '''disease'''."
:—'''Deadlock'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s argument does not convince '''Turmoil'''.

"I'll need a gun...two guns."
:—'''Deadlock''' wants to shoot you and will not run out of ammo in the process.

"Helping another is the highest calling one can aspire to." 
"You sound like an Autobot." 
"What does an Autobot sound like?" 
"Weak."
:—'''Deadlock''' lets '''Wing''' know how he feels about the other team.

==Notes==
*The intro claims Drift feels he is an Autobot through and through... despite Drift telling Turmoil in [[Spotlight: Drift|his titular ''Spotlight'' comic]] that Cybertronians as a whole are all in the wrong place, but the Autobots are just a step in the right direction.
*While it may seem odd that Drift would request two guns despite having arm-mounted blasters, the stasis lock device that disabled his transformation sequence and built-in weapons is still on his left arm.
*There appear to have been some miscommunications during the development of the issue, as four late-G1/G2 characters originally illustrated as dying in the story are actually alive in the IDW universe's "present". This oversight necessitated the recoloring of [[Manta Ray (G2)|Manta Ray]], [[Skram (G2)|Skram]], [[Turbofire]], and the Carnivac-esque Decepticon Deadlock kills (who is yet-unidentified, but confirmed by Milne as having been drawn as someone else,<ref name="notcarnivac">[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=202885#202885 "it's not carnivac, but a bot with the same colors since the bot i wanted to use originally was going to be used somewhere else."]</ref> and intentionally colored in ''Generation 2'' [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'s colors by Perez <ref name="breakdown">[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=202904#202904 "I actually used G2 Breakdown's colors here from his original G2 toy"]</ref>) as generics to maintain continuity.
*[[Denton J. Tipton]] has stated that Milne has no control over which characters live or die, that the guys being used are [[generic]]s, and that this is only an issue because of "the fascination with '[[canon]].'"<ref name="canon">[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=205076#205076 Denton J. Tipton's comments on generic cannon fodder and "canon"]</ref> Considering the scenes have characters dying en masse under Milne's pen and that IDW is selling comics in a shared universe that cost $3.99 each, this is a strange statement.
*Several Predators seen in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' appear in Turmoil's crew, particularly Snare. According to his profile from the LSotW TPB, Snare and the Predators spent the last 2412 meta-cycles (or 2,613 years) in the [[Skomiloch Territories]] for Megatron. If accurate, this means the ''Drift'' series takes place prior to that campaign and so Deadlock's departure from the Decepticons (and, as we would later learn, Metalhawk's depature from the Autobots) occurred over 2,600 years ago.
*On the other hand, [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] remarked that Drift had been rebuilt "recently" as of his Spotlight debut, implying that this mini-series lead almost directly into the one-shot.
*On the ''other'' other hand ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]'' had Drift appear as Deadlock "centuries ago," implying a timeframe of within the last millennia. Confusing.
*Writer Shane McCarthy made his original script for this issue available on his blog.<ref name="script">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120320201100/https://smactalk.com.au/?attachment_id=382 Drift #1 script at Shane McCarthy's blog]</ref> Among other things, it revealed Axe's name.

===Transformers references===
*[[Kremzeek]] cans reappear again.
*Wing's clothing looks similar to Drift's garb in the opening of ''[[Spotlight: Drift]]'', minus Wing's dramatic swirling cape.

===Errors===
*Deadlock somehow shoots notCarnivac in the face while the latter is walking away.
*Deadlock's leg is ''ridiculously'' stumpy when he kicks Turmoil's gun away.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Cover A:''' Drift in his Autobot body against a "rising sun" backdrop with additional cast in the white rays; art by [[Alex Milne]], colors by [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Juxtaposition of Deadlock on the cover's left and Drift on the right; art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by Josh Perez.

<gallery>
File:Transformers Drift Issue 1 Cover A.jpg|I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so!
File:Transformers Drift Issue 1 Cover RI.jpg|Behold, Galva- oops, never mind.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Dragon Age'' #5
*''Dungeons & Dragons'' #0
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] Origins'' #19
*''The Last Unicorn'' #4
*''The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures''
*''The Rocketeer: The Complete Adventures Deluxe Edition''
*''Transformers: Drift''
*''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]: Volume 1: For All Mankind''
*''Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland''

===Reprints===
Other than [[The Transformers: Drift#Collections|reprints of the full series]]
* N/A

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Drift issues]]

Transformer clothing

2022-06-29T09:06:29Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Trenchcoats */

{{suite}}

[[File:MarvelUK-230.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|{{w|Dick Tracy|Beat Tracy}}]]
One way that non-Transformer species seem to have influenced [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] culture is the relatively rare occurrence of [[Transformer]]s wearing clothing.

==Capes==
[[File:BlasterG2.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Optimus and Megatron: Slaves to Fashion]]
From time to time, some high-ranked Cybertronians tend to wear capes. Presumably, they are a symbol of office, as only generals, commanders, and other such leaders have been seen sporting them. Exactly what material these capes are made from is unknown, but one presumes that Earth-style fabrics are likely extremely rare on Cybertron (which could make the capes even ''more'' special, considering).

*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1 Megatron]] wore capes while serving as the leaders of the [[Cybertron Alliance]]. Prime's was purple (the Decepticon color), while Megatron's was red (the Autobot color). Whether this was a symbol of high office or just a desire to look pretty is unknown.
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 Starscream]] wore a cape, large shoulder pads, and a crown at his coronation as Decepticon leader. The crown alone survived [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s blast, only to be crushed under his feet.
*The [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] mostly wore capes (except [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], who wore a Batman-like cowl) in the ''Zone'' story pages.
*The members of the [[Convoy Council]] wear capes, too.
*[[Scavenger (Armada)|''Armada'' Scavenger]] wore a large, body-obscuring cloak when he first arrived on [[Earth]].
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], or at least a computer simulation's version of him, wore a cloak to conceal his identity before a battle.{{storylink|Distribution}}
*[[Great Convoy]] ''is'' a cape. [[:File:ConvoyCouncil1.jpg|Seriously]].
*[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s appearance in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'' included a hooded cloak to cover up the injuries he suffered at [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]'s hand in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''.
*[[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]] dons a cape for his superhero costume [[The Fastest Bot Alive!|when he gets superspeed]].
*[[Thunderhowl (Cyberverse)|Thunderhowl]] wears a knightly metal cape.

==Trenchcoats==
[[File:Micromastercoats s.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You better accept the terms, or...]]
Quite a few characters have been depicted wearing trenchcoats, mostly when involved in detective work or similarly secretive activity.

*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Generation 1 Nightbeat]] is often seen [[:File:MarvelUK-230.jpg|wearing a trenchcoat and fedora]], due to their connection with detective fiction. He pulls it off pretty well, actually.
*The [[Micromaster]] [[Air Strike Patrol]] wore trenchcoats and fedoras while trying to pass as human professional wrestlers. Interestingly enough, these coats somehow obscured large physical protrusions on their bodies (jet intakes, wings, etc.). {{storylink|The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!}}
*''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] wore a trenchcoat and a huge fake head as a disguise when trying to rob the [[Autobot City Bank]]. {{storylink|Quest for Energon, Part 1}}
*[[Crosshairs (AOE)|Crosshairs]]'s kibble unfolds into a western duster/trenchcoat. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] sported his own detective trenchcoat in the intro of his self-written, ahem, Christmas ''classic''. His shoulder intakes were still visible. His [[Buster (IDW)|dog]] had her own matching fedora. {{storylink|The Thirteenth Day of Christmas}}

==Ponchos==
[[File:AFistfulofEnergon-Lockdowninponcho.jpg|thumb|¿Como estás?]]
*The [[Matrix Flame priest]] wears poncho-style robes.
*The [[Jointron]] brothers have been shown wearing ponchos and sombreros, as well as using mariachi-style guitars and maracas.
*[[Lockdown (Animated)|''Transformers Animated'' Lockdown]] wore a "Space Poncho" when he showed up on the remains of the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' in reference to the Man With No Name from the spaghetti western ''A Fistful of Dollars''. {{storylink|A Fistful of Energon}}
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] wore a "poncho" when he met Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], when he still lived on the streets. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}
*[[Wildwheel (Cyberverse)|Wildwheel]] wore one. {{storylink|Wild Wild Wheel}}
{{-}}

==Pretenders==
[[File:Nomates.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|No, really, thanks. I got to go now.]]
*Most of the [[Pretender]] toys have clothing molded onto their Pretender shells. Naturally, it's only pretend clothing, being part of the Transformers' shells (which themselves might be considered a form of clothing).
*In the TV commercial for the Pretenders, the human Pretenders can take off these clothes and reveal the muscle of the outer shells.
*In ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', human Pretenders wear clothes in their everyday lives as normal humans.
*[[Cloudburst]] also wears normal clothing in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics continuity]]. {{storylink|Recipe for Disaster!}}
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', the Pretender [[Alice (ROTF)|Alice]] conceals her lady-bits with clothing. When she transforms into her [[robot mode]], her clothes appear to fold away in the same manner as her simulated skin. She did however show the ability to alter the appearance of her clothing.
{{-}}

==Headwear==
[[File:Timelines-rattrap.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|A cap-like helmet]]
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] wore battle masks during [[gladiatorial combat]]. {{storylink|State Games}}
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] wore a crown during his coronation in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*The [[Acolyte of Unicron|Acolytes of Unicron]] wear masks resembling [[Unicron]]'s face.
*[[Colada]] wears his father's hat in [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|''Beast Wars Neo'' manga]].
*In the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] wore a removable face-mask that resembled the face of his original toy. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}} He was later shown to have integrated a similar mask into his head proper. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] was also shown to wear a removable face-mask that resembled his toy's face. {{storylink|Night of the Combaticons}}
*During the [[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|Dark Ages]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] sported a face-mask resembling his original toy, which was later upgraded into a fully removable helmet that he wore along with detachable armor. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}} In [[2005 IDW continuity]], he would also wear a helmet (based on that of his Classics toy) during the events of ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]''.
*In "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]", [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is seen wearing a removable cap-like helmet.
*[[Starscream (Armada)|''Cybertron'' Starscream]] wore a crown very much like G1 Starscream's after stealing power from Primus to grow to giant size.
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|This didn't happen. This didn't happen. This didn't happen... D-did this happen?]]
[[File:Cyberverse - King of the Dinosaurs - His Majesty's Crown.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|He [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]], he king.]]
*''Animated'' [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] wore a beret while indulging in his artistic tendencies. He was probably trying to be like human artists though.
*''Animated'' Bulkhead also wore a pair of glasses, and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] wore a tutor's cap while the two were discussing Sari's origins. They were trying to substitute as teachers for her in an attempt to cheer her up, telling her that she could still learn subjects while out of school.{{storylink|The Return of the Headmaster}}
*Back in the [[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|dim and distant past]] on Cybertron, it was revealed that [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s "bucket-head" is in fact a helmet, presumably a hangover from his mining days. After his [[Cy-Kill (G1)|first kill]] in the [[Gladiatorial combat|deathmatches]] at the [[Forge]], Megatron removed his helmet to reveal a crest of hair-like panels underneath, while the crowd cheered him on. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}
*Later, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] was seen (in a cameo) at [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]]'s [[:File:Bumper-funeral.jpg|funeral]] having removed his head/helmet as a mark of respect, along with his unnamed [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|albino twin]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}
*[[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel]]'s helmet was smacked off by [[Megatron (Movie)|the guy whom he joined up with]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
*Post-[[Zombie|zombification]], [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] sported an eye-patch. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 2}}
*[[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] wears a helmet-like hat. When running out of ammunition, he resorts to using it as a weapon. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] wears a pair of detachable glasses. {{storylink|The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye}}
*Once again, in his Christmas kid's book, [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] wore a black kung-fu bandana for his climactic fistfight against Jolly Old St. Nick. Later, when he made amends, he wore a Santa hat while giving away toys in Santa's [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|sleigh]]. {{storylink|The Thirteenth Day of Christmas}}
*While preparing to meet his online friend "[[CONS4EVA]]" in person on [[Earth]], [[Crankcase (G1)|Grumpybox]] tried on a helmet like Megatron's, but decided that it was probably "too much". {{storylink|Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!}}
*[[Bulldog (TLK)|Bulldog]] has a head shaped like an officer's cap. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}
*Wildwheel has a cowboy hat, in both the toyline and ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|Cyberverse]]'' cartoon.

==Cosplay==
[[File:1986 Comm Jazz and Thundercracker Party.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Robot dancing!?]]
Sometimes, people on [[Earth]] wear clothing to look like [[Ramjet (G1)|various Transformers]]. Sometimes this is hot, sometimes this is sad.
{{-}}

==Others==
[[File:Windcharger flash.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Hey, cover up! There are children watching!]]
[[File:GrimlockManga.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Me Grimlock say it fun to learn! (Because knowledge is power!)]]
*In an early plan to trap the Decepticons, the Autobots had to run around in lab coats. It was very silly. {{storylink|More than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] made a seemingly metaphorical reference to footwear called [[proton boots]].
*The magic of [[Christmas]] once made [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] [[:File:Christmasprime.jpg|dress up]] in a festive outfit. Obviously, the big guy is a little too open to suggestion. The same holds true for [[:File:GrimlockXmasLettersUK.jpg|Grimlock]], it seems.
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] is a king of fashion, at times wearing [[:File:Biggrim me king.jpg|a crown]], [[:File:Biggrim.jpg|a bandana]], an [[:File:Madman Paradise Grimlock drinks.JPG|apron]], a [[:File:Muk91 robocapers megrimlockmoviestar.jpg|top hat and cane]] and... err...
*In Japan, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] once dressed in garb modeled after the hooded outfits worn by the Ku Klux Klan. While Westerners would find this to be in very, ''very'' poor taste, the Japanese have been known to be somewhat ignorant about the negative cultural impact the Klan represent. Villains with outfits modeled after the Klan have appeared in many Japanese children's shows, including the {{w|Tetsujin 28-go|Japanese version of ''Gigantor''}}. From their perspective, the Klan outfits just "look cool". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 7}}
*The [[Convoy Council]] wear robes. They have their reasons, and they do not concern you.
*The [[structure|exostructures]] of the members of [[Council of Ancients]] resemble robes. They also have their reasons.
*In ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II]]'' manga issue "[[Realize the Forbidden Love!]]", both Maximals and [[Seacon (BW)|Seacon]]s wear suits on [[Bighorn]] and [[Scylla]]'s wedding. Instead of normal wedding suit or dress, [[Bighorn]] and [[Scylla]] wear {{w|Tanabata|Hikoboshi and Orihime}}'s clothes respectively.
*In his Unicron-created dream world, ''Armada'' [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] wore a crimson sash around his shoulders. He was apparently the ruler of all Cybertron in his dream, so it was probably ceremonial.
*The [[Space Mini-Con Team]] and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] have disguised themselves as humans using large, heavy jackets, coats, baseball caps, hats, sunglasses, and other items of clothing to try to blend in with other people in robot mode.
[[File:Heinrad timecop.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|And yet, somehow not as ludicrous as the other Time Cop.]]
*[[Heinrad (BW)|Heinrad]] wears his [[Chronarchitect|Ruler of Time and Space]] agent's uniform. {{Storylink|Return to Zero}}
*[[Six-Speed (Cybertron)|Six-Speed]]'s curiosity about human clothing led him to examine the closets of his [[human]] friends [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] and [[Coby Hansen|Coby]]. However, his attempt to dress like a human basically amounted to putting random articles of clothing on his limbs, looking more ridiculous than clothing-wearing Transformers normally do. Which is kinda amazing.
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|''Transformers Animated'' Bumblebee]] wore a robe before his wrestling match with [[Colossus Rhodes]], likely more to keep with human tradition than actual need. {{storylink|Total Meltdown}}
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] wore a full set of clothes that completely concealed his robot-ness. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}
*[[Scalpel (ROTF)|The doctor]], along with his European [[accent]] wears what appear to be glasses. They seem to be the lenses for his microscope mode. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}
*''[[Kre-O]]'' [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]] wore a big fluffy blue robe and slippers on [[Christmas]] morning. {{storylink|A Gift For Megatron}} Also a robe while training. {{storylink|Megatron's Revenge}}
*[[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] wears numerous bandoliers across his arms and chest. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] was wearing a police uniform in the beginning of [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]]'s... Thundercrackiest (for lack a better word) Christmas children's book. {{storylink|The Thirteenth Day of Christmas}}
*[[Quickswitch]] wore a cloak while waiting for an informant at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]]. {{storylink|Out to Lunch!}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
*SCF '''Starscream''' (2002)

:This highly articulated, non-transforming version of Starscream, part of the Japan-exclusive Super Collection Figures series, comes with removable shoulder pads and cloak. He also has a choice of normal head or a head with a crown.

*''Cybertron'' '''Starscream''' (Supreme, 2005)

:Supreme Starscream, a colossally upscaled version of the ''Cybertron'' line's Voyager-class Starscream toy, comes with a Decepticon "Crown of Leadership" obviously based on the one worn by the original Starscream in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the 1986 movie]].

*''Star Wars Transformers'' '''[[Darth Vader]]/[[Death Star]]''' (2007)

:The sole Supreme-class figure of the ''Star Wars Transformers'' toyline, this gigantic Darth Vader mech includes an actual cloth cape that can attach to the back of the figure in robot mode in order to more closely resemble Vader in the ''Star Wars'' movies.

*''Masterpiece'' '''Grimlock''' (2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-8'''

:''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' Grimlock comes with an intelligence transfer helmet accessory, based upon the device Grimlock used to transfer his super-intelligence into [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] in "[[Grimlock's New Brain]]". He also comes with an apron and serving tray, to simulate the time he served drinks to alien diplomats in "[[Madman's Paradise]]". He was originally going to come with a crown commonly featured in the [[Grimlock (G1)|Marvel Comics]] as well, but that accessory was omitted.

*King '''Grimlock''' (2009)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-8X'''

:King Grimlock is Takara's special edition of ''Masterpiece'' Grimlock decoed to resemble his Marvel Comics appearances. As such, he comes with the crown that was omitted from the regular edition, but none of the other clothing accessories.

*''Masterpiece'' '''Grimlock''' (2010)

:Hasbro's Toys"R"Us exclusive release of ''Masterpiece'' Grimlock came with the same accessories (including the crown) as King Grimlock, but uses a more cartoon inspired deco.

*''Dark of the Moon'' '''Megatron''' (Voyager, 2011)

:The Voyager Class mold of DotM Megatron includes a rubbery cowl and cape to hide his injuries. They become a tarp for his truck mode.

*''Masterpiece'' '''Coronation Starscream''' (2012)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-11'''

:A retool of the original ''Masterpiece'' Starscream, comes with a set of cape, shoulderpads and crown to recreate the coronation scene from the '86 movie (as the name suggests).

*''Masterpiece'' '''Sunstorm''' (2012)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MP-11S'''

:A redeco of the Starscream above, comes with the same coronation set. It's actually the only redeco of that mold keeping it.

*''Combiner Wars'' '''Starscream''' (2015)

:A redeco/retool of the the Leader Class Jetfire figure, this Starscream comes with a crown accessory.

*''Power of the Primes'' '''Starscream''' (2017)

:This Starscream comes with a molded crown on his Combiner head.

*''Collaborative'' '''Draculus''' (2021)

:An extensive retool of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Mindwipe (G1)#Titans Return|Mindwipe]], Draculus includes a soft-goods cape that can be attached to a peg on the back of his cowl.

*''Studio Series 86'' '''Coronation Starscream''' (2022)

:A slight redeco/retool of the ''Earthrise'' Voyager figure. Like the original ''Masterpiece'' figure, Starscream again comes with his crown, cape, and shoulderpads. He also now has a second set of [[Null-ray|null-rays]] to accommodate the latter accessories.

==Merchandise==
*'''Starscream''' (2002)

:Originally a chase figure in Japan, this remold of the regular figure includes a cape, newly molded limbs, and a head with the crown as seen in the movie.

*'''Coronation Starscream''' (Diamond Select, 2008)

:Released by Diamond Select Toys in 2008, Coronation Starscream was an exclusive to on-line retailer Action Figure Xpress. He was sculpted by [[Mark Wong]] of [[Art Asylum]] and limited to 600 pieces. It features Starscream decked out in the royal crown, cape, and big honkin' shoulder pads he wore (albeit briefly) in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
{{-}}

==See also==
*[[Christmas]] - Some Transformers will dress up for the holiday.
*[[Humanization]]

==External links==
*[http://s90690880.onlinehome.us/jhiaxus/oddities/oddities_clothes.htm "Transformers that aren't nude" at Obscure Transformers]

[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Nitro (IDW)

2022-05-19T10:32:15Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the character|the unrelated cartoon episode|The Visitor}}
:''The Visitor is a [[Transformer]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:The_Visitor_-_Last_Bot_Standing_1.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Look at him! He's just a little guy! I hope nothing bad happens to him.]]

The "'''Visitor'''" is a [[Transformer]], and aptly enough also a visitor to the planet of [[Donnokt]], located somewhere at the end of time and space. Little is known about the poor guy, apart from the fact that he's looking for his kin and a new home. From a distance he also sports a rather familiar [[Hot_Rod_(G1)|silhouette]].

==Fiction==
===''Last Bot Standing''===

{{spoiler|Last Bot Standing issue 1|June 8}}
[[File:The_End_of_the_Visitor_-_Last_Bot_Standing_1_copy.jpg|thumb|left|Oh sweet god! Look what they've done to my boy!|upright=1.5]]

In the far future, long after the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] between the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s, the Visitor's space pod crash landed the planet [[Donnokt]]. Leaking a green liquid, the Visitor stumbled out of the pod and made his way across the planet's deserts.

The Visitor eventually made his way to the town of [[Fembrance]], his arrival startling the barely steam-age natives. As he impassively scanned the area, one of the local carts revealed itself to be another Cybertronian, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]].

Shocked to see one of his kin, the Visitor asked Rodimus to identify himself only to be attacked. The Visitor managed to throw off his attacker, though he quickly began begging his kinsman to wake up, asking for his name and thanking him for finding a new home for their kind. Enraged at the words, Rodimus flipped the Visitor, declaring Donnokt was not for them, and began beating the Visitor to death despite his pleas for mercy. After a grim warning that the Visitor could not be here, Rodimus tore the unfortunate Cybertronian's head off, declaring that he had no kin.

After inspecting the leaking remains, Rodimus took his leave, telling the people of Fembrance not to follow him, tossing the Visitor's severed head over his shoulder. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 1|Last Bot Standing #1}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the notes to the character sheet found at the end of [[Last Bot Standing issue 1|''Last Bot Standing'' #1]], writer [[Nick Roche]] made it clear that the Visitor "[had] to have a Rodimus' silhouette".
*Interestingly, the notes also refer to the green liquid leaking from our friendly neighbourhood home-hunter as "bio-fuel".

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Transformers]]

Nitro (IDW)

2022-05-19T10:27:33Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Last Bot Standing */

{{disambig2|the character|the unrelated cartoon episode|The Visitor}}
:''The Visitor is a [[Transformer]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:The_Visitor_-_Last_Bot_Standing_1.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Look at him! He's just a little guy! I hope nothing bad happens to him.]]

The "'''Visitor'''" is a [[Transformer]], and aptly enough also a visitor to the planet of [[Donnokt]], located somewhere at the end of time and space. Little is known about the poor guy, apart from the fact that he's looking for his kin and a new home. From a distance he also sports a rather familiar [[Hot_Rod_(G1)|silhouette]].

==Fiction==
===''Last Bot Standing''===

{{spoiler|Last Bot Standing issue 1|June 8}}
[[File:The_End_of_the_Visitor_-_Last_Bot_Standing_1_copy.jpg|thumb|left|Oh sweet god! Look what they've done to my boy!|upright=1.5]]

In the far future, long after the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] between the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s, the Visitor's space pod crash landed the planet [[Donnokt]]. Leaking a green liquid, the Visitor stumbled out of the pod and made his way across the planet's deserts.

The Visitor eventually made his way to the town of [[Fembrance]], his arrival startling the barely steam-age natives. As he impassively scanned the area, one of the local carts revealed itself to be another Cybertronian, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]].

Shocked to see one of his kin, the Visitor asked Rodimus to identify himself only to be attacked. The Visitor managed to throw off his attacker, though he quickly began begging his kinsman to wake up, asking for his name and thanking him for finding a new home for their kind. Enraged at the words, Rodimus flipped the Visitor, declaring Donnokt was not for them, and began beating the Visitor to death despite his pleas for mercy. After a grim warning that the Visitor could not be here, Rodimus tore the unfortunate Cybertronian's head off, declaring that he had no kin.

After inspecting the leaking remains, Rodimus took his leave, telling the people of Fembrance not to follow him, tossing the Visitor's severed head over his shoulder. {{storylink|Last Bot Standing issue 1|Last Bot Standing #1}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*In the notes to the character sheet found at the end of [[Last Bot Standing issue 1|''Last Bot Standing'' #1]], writer [[Nick Roche]] made it clear that the Visitor "[had] to have a Rodimus' silhouette".

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Transformers]]

Transformation cog (biology)

2022-05-04T23:25:42Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* The Functionist Universe */

[[File:Transformation cog.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Hut hut hike!]]

A '''transformation cog''', also referred to as a '''transforming cog''', '''transition cog''', '''conversion cog''', '''T-cog''', or '''morphcore''', is a component important to a [[Transformer]]'s [[transformation]] and sometimes [[scanning]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
Metroplex's cog was damaged in 2005 during the [[Decepticon]] [[Battle of Autobot City|siege]] of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], which explains why he did not transform to robot mode during the battle. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] built a replacement cog and entrusted its delivery from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Autobot City on [[Earth]] to [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. This proves you can be brilliant but still stupid. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

After numerous setbacks, the cog was delivered just in time. As the city was under siege once again, [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] quickly installed it, allowing Metroplex to fight off Trypticon. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

The cog also makes a nice substitute for a football. Apparently, it can also change its shape to look like flat, toothed wheel every time a [[AKOM|lazy animator]] wishes it.

[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] required Trypticon's cog as part of his scheme to use [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as his new body. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (G1)|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] stole Metroplex's cog, causing the Autobots to retaliate by stealing Trypticon's. Both factions hit upon the idea of using the captured cogs on their respective city warriors, an idea that was only partially successful. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

====Dawn of Future's Past====
While speeding to defend the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]] from [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] thieves, [[Nitrostreak]] was shot in the hood by [[Dinobot (BW)|one of the criminals]], damaging his transformation cog. As he was also flipped on his roof by the blast, he was well and truly incapacitated for the moment. {{storylink|Dawn of Future's Past}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
Together with the [[spark]] and the [[brain module]], the transformation cog (also known as the "morphcore") was part of the "[[Rossum's Trinity]]" principle of Cybertronian biology. Enough damage to one of the three would cause the other two to shut down, killing the Transformer in question. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} By spinning the transformation cog just right and shutting down all safety valves, a Cybertronian could achieve instantaneous transformation, but doing this repeatedly would result in the cog breaking beyond repair. {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}

A sudden impact to the [[neural cluster]] could trigger the transformation cog in what was known as an involuntary mode spasm. {{storylink|Little Victories}} {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

Cybertronian mythology held the belief that, after the [[God War]], [[Mortilus]] had reduced [[Adaptus]] to the first transformation cog, with the deity allowing future generations of Cybertronians to use him as a template for the organ. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}}

[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] broke his legs, internal clock and transformation cog from falling through the [[Mitteous Plateau]]. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

To "reject" Adaptus, the [[Militant Monoform Movement]] surgically removed their transformation cogs. {{Storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} When [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] found his colleague [[Springarm]] dead, his transformation cog was "still warm", allowing Orion to transform the dead body into its alternate mode. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}

[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s transformation cog was shattered during the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], leaving him stuck in gun mode for a whole two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1}}

[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] was forced to make a deal with the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to harvest [[Delphi]]'s patients of their transformation cogs in return for the facility's safety. {{storylink|How Ratchet Got His Hands Back}}

The [[Aequitas]] trials included morphcore harvests by renegade [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}} [[Stalker (G1)|Stalker]] and [[Snare]] took part in torturing prisoners via morphcore stimulation, which caused spasms of form-shifting against the victim's will. {{storylink|The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Snare's personnel evaluation}} As the [[Wrecker]]s got more and more brutal, they sometimes applied [[inhibitor claw]]s to prisoners with such force that they punctured their morphcores. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

When his unit was ambushed by Decepticons, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] was injured and couldn't transform due to a damaged transition cog. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] created an experimental weapon to override a Transformer's primary transformation cog and lock them in their alternate mode. [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] used it on [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] during a battle, [[transformation paralysis|forcing him to remain]] in his cassette deck mode for 25 years. {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

In protest of the Autobot "occupation" of a peaceful Cybertron, a [[NAIL]] transformed repeatedly for weeks until his transformation cog wore out and he died. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}}

Upon his integration of [[Nemesis (BW)|Nemesis]]'s corpse into its body, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] was able to access the [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s transformation cog and gain a robot mode. {{storylink|Stranger Eons}} {{storylink|Road's End}}

=====The Functionist Universe=====
In protest of the [[Functionist Council]]'s tyrannical rule of Cybertron, a [[female protester]] removed her t-cog, set it on fire, and threw it at a [[Functionary]]. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}}

====2019 IDW continuity====
Slice thieves harvested transformation cogs to sell on the galactic black market. {{storylink|Storm Horizon Part 1}}

===Aligned continuity family===
====''The Covenant of Primus''====
The very first Transformation Cog belonged to [[Amalgamous Prime]]. The artifact allowed its holder to take any shape or form its wielder desired. It would eventually become the template for the simplified T-cogs incorporated into the physiologies of all Cybertronians. When the first Cybertronians emerged from the [[Well of All Sparks]], [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] decided not to inform the Cybertronian race about their ability to transform.

When the first [[Quintesson]]s arrived on Cybertron, they brought with them the "gift" of transformation; they secretly reactivated the dormant organ inside Cybertronians but claimed that Quintesson technology was responsible for this ability. Toward the end of the Quintesson reign of Cybertron, [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] and his friend [[Jazz (WFC)|Jazz]] kidnapped the newly born [[Silverbolt (WFC)|Silverbolt]] from the Well; with the help of [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] and [[Cogwheel]] they learned that T-cogs didn't require Quintesson interference to function properly. This revelation led to the beginnings of the rebellion that brought the [[Age of Wrath]] to an end.

After Cybertron's [[Golden Age]], [[Mercury (COP)|Mercury]] and her displaced fleet of [[Neutronia]]n refugees discovered Amalgamous's original Transformation Cog orbiting a black hole. The refugees brought the artifact aboard the ship, but the mysterious energies the Transformation Cog emitted had the unexpected side effect of altering the crew, granting them advanced shapeshifting abilities and the power to combine with one another into an infinite amount of forms. Even so, Mercury and her new [[Mutacon]]s set out to find Amalgamous Prime, hoping that he could undo the change before the Mutacons permanently merged into a single being. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

====''Transformers: War for Cybertron''====
In order to prevent Iacon's destruction at the hands of [[Trypticon (WFC)|the battle station Trypticon]], [[Air Raid (WFC)|Air Raid]] proposed that his team blast Trypticon's conversion cog, forcing him back into robot mode and hopefully ending the chaos. The cog was blasted to bits and Trypticon was unable to maintain his station mode. Unfortunately, this had the slightly troublesome effect of dumping a heavily armed, very angry giant Decepticon onto Cybertron instead. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}

{{Note|In addition, when a player's health is completely depleted in a co-operative or online mode of gameplay, the Transformer being controlled will fall to the ground and begin a countdown to going offline. While the countdown is in process, it can be seen that a notice on the side of the screen reads "TRANS-COG: OFFLINE" and the game does not allow the player to transform during the countdown. This implies that heavy damage to a Transformer can disable their conversion cog.}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
[[File:OperationBumblebee2 Starscream threatens T-cog.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Look at your T-cog, now back to me...]]
T-cogs are bio-mechanisms that enable Transformers to scan [[alternate mode]]s, transform, and operate integrated weapon systems. Transformer organs such as these are beyond [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]'s ability to construct.

Requiring a part for the robot they were building, [[MECH]] ambushed [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] and stole his T-cog. Unfortunately when they attempted to install it into their robot, it failed to work, as it required [[energon]] to function properly. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 1}}

It worked better once they got some energon, but it was badly damaged when Bumblebee attempted to take it back. Despite the damage, Ratchet was able to repair it enough that Bumblebee regained the ability to transform. To make up for their loss, MECH stole [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]'s T-cog instead. {{storylink|Operation Bumblebee, Part 2}}

Now armed with greater knowledge about Cybertronian biology and Starscream's T-cog, MECH was able to create [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] before Optimus defeated it {{storylink|Nemesis Prime (episode)|Nemesis Prime}} and the US military confiscated it. {{storylink|Grill (episode)|Grill}}

Starscream later tried to install a T-cog he took from his [[Starscream clone (Prime)|clone]] aboard the ''[[Harbinger]]'' but was interrupted. {{storylink|Triangulation}} [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] later performed the operation to restore his T-cog to him. {{storylink|Regeneration (Prime)|Regeneration}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
*In Generation 1-related fiction, damage to a transformation cog traps the Transformer in whatever mode they happen to be in (most often this is their alternate mode). In the [[Aligned continuity family]]'s ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War For Cybertron]]'', the destruction of his conversion cog instead forces Trypticon into robot mode.
* "Morphcore" was the term used in [[James Roberts]]' fan-novel ''Eugenesis'' for the piece of anatomy that controlled transformation; unlike a transformation cog, it was depicted as a cluster of nerves connected to the Cybertronian's brain. Between ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' and ''More than Meets the Eye'', Roberts was asked to stop using the word in favour of "transformation cog",<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1028725238111129600 Tweet by James Roberts (@jroberts332), 12 August 2018]</ref> presumably for brand synergy reasons.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Transform cog''' (トランスフォーム・コグ ''toransufōmu kogu''), '''henkei cog''' (変形コグ)
*''French:'' '''Noyau de transformation''' (Europe, "Transformation core", Generation 1 cartoon), '''Rouage de transformation''' (Canada, "Transformation cog", Generation 1 cartoon)
*''Hungarian:'' '''T-mag''' ("T-core", ''Prime'' cartoon)
*''Italian:'' '''Ruota trasformatrice''' ("Transforming wheel", Generation 1)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Transformation paralysis]]
*[[Mode lock]]
*[[Suppressor (device)]]
*[[Transfixatron]]
*[[Transformation Lock Lens]]
*[[Transformation virus]]

[[Category:Beast Wars Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]

Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity

2022-05-04T22:49:24Z

NotaTfFanObv:

{{factions|{{factions/icons|custom=Megatron Origin Symbol.png|cSize=35x35px|cLink=Gladiatorial combat}}|decepticon|autobot}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
[[File:IDWMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron A, Megatron B, Megatron Retailer's Incentive, Megatron Dynamic Forces Exclusive variant, and Megatron (Second Printing).]]
'''Megatron''' waged a battle to destroy the evil forces of the [[Senate]]! Then he ''continued'' to wage a war against the not-so-evil forces of freedom, organic life, and the very idea of an Autobot living. After [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|some life-changing events]], he waged a war against the evil forces of his own past [[Decepticon Justice Division|legacy]]. Currently, however, Megatron's revolution has come full circle, waging a war against the evil forces of the [[Functionist Council]]!

Megatron is a master planner, constantly a step ahead of any opponent and even ahead of what he wants ''now'', preparing for anything he may want in the future. He has the physical might to overpower most foes but it's his mind that has one-upped three Primes and rival Decepticons. But his cold clinical nature is a front he has to struggle to keep up, as he's quick to anger and quicker to use excessive violence as his answer to any problem. Megatron's trying to change but he's spent such a long time revelling in violence, it may have been a lost cause from the start.

:*''First Appearance:'' [[Infiltration issue 4|''Transformers: Infiltration'' #4]]

{{quote|So long as you stand in my way—so long as '''anyone''' stands in my way, I will respond by killing. Murder on an '''industrial''' scale. Because in the final analysis, I would happily wade across a river of corpses, chest-deep in rust and grease and engine oil, just to crush the spark of the last Autobot standing. And I would not do so simply as a means to an end. No. I'd do it, Prime, because it would give me '''pleasure'''.|Megatron to Optimus Prime|"[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]"}}

{{quote|I once told Optimus that I kill for the sake of killing. I wanted to make him hurt me, you see, because when he hurts others, he hurts himself. And the thing is, when those words were in my head I didn't think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I '''did'''. If the world thinks you're a monster, what does it matter? The world is '''wrong'''. But when you start to think of '''yourself''' as a monster...|Megatron on the previous quote|"[[slaughterhouse]]"}}

__TOC__
==Fiction==
===Birth of a tyrant===
[[File:Mtmte17-point one percenter spark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|Not so tough without a body, are ya?]]
'''Megatron of [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]]''' was the first "hybrid" Transformer, a powerful forged superspark in a constructed cold body. His [[spark]] came to life in the middle of a field full of newborn sparks, a so-called "[[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]", on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], the "Seething Moon". The hot spot remained dormant for ages until it was finally fertilized when [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] set foot on the ground in the "present" day. Within an instant, the entire moon lit up, as a billion sparks suddenly flared to life all over its surface. [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] was the first to point out that one of the sparks was glowing green, which [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] recognized as a "superspark"—a vanishingly rare, insanely powerful [[Point One Percenter]]. Despite [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor's]] horrified protestations, Brainstorm immediately began to excavate and harvest the spark, taking it with him for future use. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

[[File:MTMTE37 megatron under construction.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.0|Megatron (Work in progress)]]
Megatron's original body, on the other hand, was one of the many "knock off" Transformers [[reproduction|constructed cold]] during the [[Silver Harvest]], specifically built in the 1st Cycle 012, millions of years in the past, in [[Con Facility 113]] ("Con" being short for "constructed cold"). The spark originally intended for this body was one generated from the [[Matrix of Leadership]] by [[Solomus|Tyrest]], but this spark was destroyed by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], who had travelled back in time alongside several other [[Autobot]]s, originally to ''prevent'' a time-travelling Brainstorm from killing Megatron and thereby unwittingly creating a [[Functionist Universe|dystopian alternate timeline]] in which the [[Functionist Council]] would rule [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. In the process, Brainstorm had also begun to erase data about Megatron, including his batch code. After Rewind had "killed" Megatron in order to prevent the destruction he knew the latter would come to wreak upon the universe, fellow time-travelling Autobot [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who loathed the Functionists, took it upon himself to fix the timeline, taking advantage of a temporary distraction by nabbing the harvested Point One Percenter spark Brainstorm had taken with him back in time and placing it inside Megatron's now sparkless body—and thus Megatron was ''truly'' born. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

Megatron desired to be a medic, {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} but alas, he lived in a time of functionism, where one's [[alternate mode]] denoted one's role in society, and one's role determined one's rights. As such, the true nature of his exceptionally rare spark apparently unknown, Megatron was assigned the task for which he had been built: that of [[energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, toiling in a mine under [[Nova Point]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron symbol creation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|... And thus the "Silica Fracturism" art movement was born.]]
An idealist, intellectual, and poet, Megatron was sickened by the caste-ridden social apartheid of [[Nominus Prime]]'s Cybertron, and so he wrote [[After the Ark: Nominus Prime and the Illusion of Progress|a treatise]] on how pacifist dissent and the exchange of ideas could change things. It was while he was sharing this work with his miner friend [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] over a drink in [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] that the event occurred which would change the course of his life, as Impactor wound up being drawn into a bar brawl with some of the city's upper classes (inadvertently caused by a time-travelling Rung and a [[curly straw]]), and Megatron, who himself had actually ''not'' been involved in the brawl, instead cowering underneath a table, was among those arrested after the fracas. Megatron's writings had been growing in popularity and inspiring some dissent against the current regime, so in order to silence him, the [[Senate]] arranged for a police officer on their payroll, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], to kill him. Before Whirl could finish the job, however, police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]], having discovered Megatron's innocence thanks to the bartender's testimony, arranged for his release. Despite Pax expressing support for the message of his writings, Megatron now found himself filled with rage and hate, disillusioned with his former ideology and realizing the power of applied violence. Angrily hurling the datapad on which he had written his treatise through a public info-screen, Megatron observed the jagged shape of the shattered glass, and later turned it into a [[insignia|symbol]] for his cause. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}}

[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|When considering the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy, one question remains unanswered. Why am I always pictured with phallic-shaped items in awkward positions?]]
Megatron's samizdat writings began to circulate in Cybertron's underground, spawning the "[[Decepticon]]" movement, its name derived from its own slogan, "You are being deceived", warning the common 'bot of the Senate's true nature. Knowing that, at this stage, assassinating Megatron would merely make him a martyr, the Senate instead elected to relocate him off-planet, reassigning him to a mining facility on the world of [[Messatine]] while they tried their own schemes to defuse the growing Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} It was there that Megatron met [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]], an elderly fellow miner who encouraged him to keep writing, and who, in addition to proofreading his works for him, smuggled each new tract back to Cybertron, helping to continue the spread of the Decepticon movement. When Terminus was maimed in a mining accident and had his fuel rations cut off, Megatron kept him alive by sharing his own [[energon]] with the old 'bot. Eventually, Senate agents [[Froid]] and [[Trepan]] were dispatched to Messatine to perform mind-altering [[Shadowplay]] upon Megatron, in order to cut his writings off at the source. Tased into submission and strapped to Trepan's operating table, Megatron was helpless to stop the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] from beginning his vile work. Though the arrival of Froid's rival psychopathologist [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] fortunately forced Trepan to stop before Megatron's personality was altered, the experience left the miner with a lifelong fear of mnemosurgery. Subsequently, a mysterious surge of energy deep within the mine (inadvertently caused by a time-travelling Brainstorm) forced an evacuation of the facility; Megatron raced back to his quarters to carry Terminus to safety, but found his friend was not there. With time running out and no sign of Terminus anywhere, Megatron instead chose to save the stack of datapads containing his unpublished works—a decision that would haunt him. {{storylink|Births, Deaths, and Interventions}}

[[File:MegatronOrigin1 first kill.jpg|thumb|upright=1.38|"You know, sometimes I think I was born with a leak, and any goodness I started with just slowly spilled out of me and now its all gone. And I'll never get it back in me. It's too late."]]
Megatron was relocated to [[Mining Outpost C-12]], and continued to seethe with hate and frustration in his new workplace. His discontent reached a peak when, some time later, [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived to announce that the mine was being automated and the workers would be relocated. When one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, Megatron's fury boiled over and he hurled his pickaxe at Decimus. In turn, he was attacked by the Senator's guard, whom he killed by smashing his head to fragments—the first time he had ever taken a life. A riot erupted around him, but Megatron himself could only sit amongst the chaos, staring at his fuel-stained hands in abject horror, which allowed him to be easily pacified and rounded up with the other miners as the mayhem was quickly suppressed. En route to [[Penal Facility H-3|imprisonment]] back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], however, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard [[Longshot (G1)|their ship]]. Megatron joined in their effort, and together, they overpowered their guards, took control of the ship, and disappeared into the [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]] underground. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}

[[File:MegsOrigin2 Cykill.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Battle of the Awesome Voices!]]
After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench (G1)|Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal and excessive, and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, covertly sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. Their meeting was spied upon by [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] and [[Fastback (G1)|Fastback]], agents from the Senate's forces, who Megatron slew. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} Subsequently, impressed by how he treated his animal-form [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette partners]] as equals (in contradiction to the teachings of his Senate masters), Megatron invited Soundwave back to the gladiator pits and gave him permission to use his mind-reading abilities on him. Within Megatron's mind, Soundwave saw his honest desire for all Cybertronians to be true equals, and was so moved by it that he joined Megatron's cause. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}}

Gradually, Megatron used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents, sending Soundwave to recruit more and more warriors to his cause. Such recruits included [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], who he was presented with while having an arm he lost in a brawl replaced with a new limb that incorporated an [[energon mace]], {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} and the disenfranchised warrior [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who was personally asked by Megatron to fight at his side when he attended a Decepticon rally, and whom Megatron rechristened "Deadlock", {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} and transformed into a capable Decepticon warrior. {{Storylink|Drift issue 3|Drift #3}} A wave of terrorism and sabotage spread across Cybertron at his command: bombings, wrecking factories and fuel plants, shutting down transport links, a mass poisoning to tank a corporation, and a very public kidnapping of Senator Decimus. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}}

Seeking to enhance his army even further, Megatron reached out to [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Senator Shockwave]], offering to supply him the resources he required to carry out his own mysterious experiments in exchange for his using the teachings of his lost mentor [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] to create a [[combiner]] that would serve the Decepticons. Shockwave cautioned that it could take some time, but Megatron was content to wait. {{storylink|Shockwaves}}

[[File:Apexthrone.JPG|upright=1.4|thumb|You should have gone to IKEA.]]
Despite all his efforts, Megatron believed that the Senate was still not taking the Decepticons seriously, so Soundwave formulated a plan for a declaration of intent that could be not denied: lure the Senate to Kaon and murder them. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} In preparation for this scheme, Megatron offered to restore Shockwave's lost hands—a victim of [[empurata]]—believing that doing so might speed his work. {{storylink|Shockwaves}} The following day, in accordance with Soundwave's plan, Megatron and the Decepticons allowed themselves to be arrested by Sentinel Prime's men, after which Soundwave was freed on Ratbat's orders, while Starscream would ensure his own release by pretending to defect. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Together, Soundwave and Starscream exterminated the entire Senate, then liberated Megatron and the rest of their comrades, in the process granting their leader the gift of a [[fusion cannon]] liberated from the Senate forces' armory. Megatron led his army against Sentinel Prime's men, killed Sentinel himself, and took control of Kaon, now ready to turn his insurgency into a full-blown war. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

When Sentinel's head went missing, Megatron (unaware) was blamed for it. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

===Early days of war===
Megatron formally declared war on "[[Declaration Day]]" when he delivered a stirring speech from [[Nova Point|Nova Peak]]. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} The self-described "second order" he ever gave was that under no circumstances was any Decepticon to kill Whirl—Megatron wanted his old tormentor for himself. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} The growing Decepticon forces swiftly spread across six [[Polities of Cybertron|Torus-States]], {{storylink|Parasites}} and to combat them, Cybertron's new leader [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] assembled a new military force, the "[[Autobot]]s", led by Megatron's old acquaintance [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]. Researching his new opposite number, Megatron was intrigued to discover that his now-abandoned treatise had been a source of inspiration for Pax, who had even quoted from it when he confronted the Senate and openly accused them of corruption. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}} Early into the war, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] would admit to Pax that Megatron talked about him sometimes, when he was tired. When Pax asked what was said, Bludgeon told him that it would make "both of us feel ''uncomfortable''". {{storylink|Omega's Conundrum}}

[[File:Autocracy4 backroom meeting.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|Megatron Delightful Destruction Exclusive Variant]]
When Orion Pax came close to Kaon during a mission, Megatron saw it as a chance to speak to him and had his Decepticons bring him in. {{storylink|The Hunt for Soundwave}} Megatron attempted to convince him that Zeta Prime was even worse than he appeared—that he had planned to let Orion die in [[Nyon]] so that he could use his death as pretext to invade the rebel-infested city and drain the citizens of their energon—and proposed they work together against him, but Orion refused to hear him and then escaped. Knowing the doubts he'd placed in his head would only serve to damage the Autobot cause, Megatron let him go. {{storylink|Cause and Effect}}

[[File:Autocracy8 megs and pax together.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Megatron, let's roll." "What you thinking?" "...Pub?"]]
Megatron continued to keep an eye on Orion Pax's activities, spying on his encounter with the Nyon insurgent [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|Ruins}} When Zeta Prime's [[Guardian robot|Omega Destructor]]s suddenly attacked Nyon, Megatron was surprised by how zealously the new Prime fought against the city's rebels, but his real interest still lay on how Orion would handle the crisis. {{storylink|Purge}} Orion turned on Zeta, who in turn attempted to kill him, prompting Megatron to intervene and force the Prime to retreat. Taking Orion back to Kaon, he again offered that they work together against Zeta's corruption, and this time the Autobot officer accepted. {{storylink|Choices}} As their combined forces invaded the [[Citadel]] in Iacon, Megatron and Orion Pax made their way inside and fought Zeta Prime in person. The battle ended with Megatron killing the Prime with a head shot, and with his objective complete, he then betrayed the injured Orion by shooting him in the back. {{storylink|Overthrown}} This moment lived in infamy as the point at which Megatron revealed his true colors, no longer couched in ideology; {{storylink|Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|Dinobot Hunt}} though curiously, an alternate report incorrectly implied he had assassinated Zeta from afar, sniping him with the rifle alternate mode of [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]. {{storylink|Bullets}} {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

[[File:Autocracy12 no you dont megatron.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|I can't be the only one with déjà vu here.]]
With Zeta dead, Megatron conquered Iacon and declared himself ruler of Cybertron. His soldiers patrolled the planet's streets to "keep the peace", mostly by hunting down and capturing any remaining Autobots who opposed him. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} During his rule, Megatron attempted to sway the neutral Hot Rod into joining the Decepticons, but he decided otherwise upon witnessing Megatron ordering the execution of several Autobot prisoners. {{storylink|Rise}} Megatron was shocked to learn that Orion Pax had survived the betrayal and was organizing a rebellion against him under the name "Optimus Prime", and even more shocked that people actually had the courage to listen to him. He wasted no time in striking back against the rebels approaching the Citadel with the full force of his army. {{storylink|Broadcast}} During the battle, Megatron unleashed Zeta Prime's energy-draining [[vamparc ribbon|vamparc annihilator]], but when the gigantic [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] took out the cannon, Megatron fell to the streets and was confronted by Optimus Prime himself. He lost the ensuing [[The Transformers: The Movie|familiar-looking duel]] and was badly wounded after a failed attempt to defeat Prime by holding Hot Rod hostage, forcing him to escape aboard Astrotrain. As he fled, he warned Optimus that he hadn't won, he had only started a war unlike any Cybertron had ever seen. {{storylink|Endgame}}

[[File:Monstrosity3 Megatron and Pentius.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Megatron insists on wearing his Darksiders cosplay when he's walking his pet Quintesson.]]
Before Megatron could recover from his injuries, he was betrayed by [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]], who was gunning for the position of Decepticon leader (with aid from Starscream). As punishment for his failure to hold Iacon, Scorponok banished the wounded Megatron to the hell-world of [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]]. {{storylink|Derelicts}} Further injured in battle with some [[Junkion (species)|cannibalistic natives]], he stubbornly refused to give up and used the trash littering the world to patch himself up, leaving him with a mismatched, monstrous appearance. {{storylink|Wreckage (issue)|Wreckage}} While searching for a way off Junkion, Megatron entered the wreckage of a starship and found a trapped [[Quintesson]] named [[Pentius]], who had mapped the planet and knew of an area known as the [[Pillar of Rust]] where starships may land and take off. Megatron freed the alien to guide him there, while also putting him in chains to serve as his slave. {{storylink|Faces of Darkness}}

[[File:Monstrosity7 megatron takes pentius spark.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|"Thanks for turning me into the psychopath I've been the whole time!"]]
While crossing the [[Acid Sea]] on the way to the Pillar, Megatron was attacked by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] who pulled him into the depths. {{storylink|Rage (IDW)|Rage}} For reasons unknown he was then released, the creatures having allowed him to live. As he emerged, Pentius was waiting with a history lesson, telling him that Junkion was once a prosperous world until its inhabitants drained it of resources, leaving it the broken husk it is today: a fate that may also await Cybertron. Megatron rejected this possibility, declaring that under his rule, Cybertron—and his legacy—would last forever. {{storylink|Fallout (issue)|Fallout}} On arrival at the Pillar of Rust, Megatron was met by the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], who had come to Junkion to finish what Scorponok had started by killing him. He was able to fight off several of his attackers, but [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gar]] was too much for him to handle in his injured state. Egged on and taunted by Pentius, Megatron realized he had one last resource left to use: the Quintesson himself. Telling Pentius that his legacy would live on within him, he tore out the alien's [[spark]] and used it to fuel himself, granting him enough power to defeat Hun-Gar. He spared the Terrorcons in exchange for their loyalty, then returned to Cybertron on their ship to take revenge on Scorponok and take back control of the Decepticons. {{storylink|Prey (issue)|Prey}}

[[File:Monstrosity12 strange turns.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Well, well, well... how the [[Microbots|tables turn]]...]]
Megatron returned to a Cybertron in chaos, as the ancient reptilian [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] had been unleashed by Scorponok and was in the midst of razing Iacon. After reasserting his leadership of the Decepticons by beating Scorponok nearly to death, he had Shockwave restore his body to its original shape and condition, {{storylink|The Illusion of Control}} and set out to investigate the Trypticon situation alone, unwilling to risk his soldiers in the face of the beast's uncontrolled fury. Finding an injured Optimus Prime on the battlefield, Megatron lectured him, but opted to leave him alive so that he could watch as the Decepticon leader defeated the enemy that Prime could not. Megatron was attacked by [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]], but as they grappled, they were swallowed by Trypticon. {{storylink|Annihilation}} Within the giant, the pair set their differences aside to fend off the [[cyber-morphic predator]]s that populated his interior, and together, they destroyed Trypticon's internal power cell, taking him offline. A tense standoff between the Autobots and Decepticons followed as the two warriors emerged from within Trypticon, but both sides agreed to go their separate ways for the time being. Not long after the battle, however, Megatron removed Pentius's spark from within himself and installed it within Trypticon. {{storylink|Belly of the Beast (issue)|Belly of the Beast}}

[[File:Primacy4 megatron imprisoned.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"I just need a feather from Laserbeak and I'll be out of here in no time..."]]
After being fully repaired following his ordeals, Megatron roused Trypticon by exploiting the connection they now shared thanks to both having borne Pentius's spark. Discovering that Trypticon now possessed the consciousness of Pentius, Megatron was immediately suspicious of the Quintesson's potential treachery and was staggered by the visions of undiluted evil he saw in the aliens' past via their spark-link, but Trypticon assured him that he was dedicated to their shared goal of breaking a world. {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} Using Trypticon's city-ship alternate mode, Megatron took to the stars, rounding up the scattered Decepticon army and even recruiting Junkions and Sharkticons. {{storylink|Primacy issue 2|Primacy #2}} Returning to Cybertron in force, Megatron was content to wait and watch from the sidelines while his troops viciously tore into Iacon. Trypticon was defeated in battle by Metroplex, at which point Megatron's folly was revealed: through their link, Pentius mockingly revealed his intention to use Trypticon consume Cybertron once the Autobots and Decepticons had weakened each other. {{storylink|Primacy issue 3|Primacy #3}} Leaving his men with orders to burn Iacon to the ground if he failed in order to spare it such a fate, Megatron set off for Trypticon's fallen body in hopes that he would be able to remove Pentius's spark before the giant revived. Confronted atop Trypticon by Optimus Prime, Megatron tried to goad the Autobot leader into destroying him, believing that Pentius would be destroyed with him thanks to their link. Refusing to accept death as the answer, Optimus instead used the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to purify Megatron, burning Pentius's spark away; Megatron, however, vowed that he would never stop hating Optimus in spite of what he had done for him. Sadly resigned to the fact that the once-noble revolutionary he had admired was now lost, Optimus knocked out the weakened Megatron and took him into custody. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}}
{{-}}

===The spreading conflict===
[[File:MTMTE14 megatron vs overlord.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|"For you, the day Megatron graced your Pit was the most important Day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."]]
Megatron's forces were quick to come to his rescue however, breaking him out under cover of the night. {{storylink|Post}} Early in the continuing conflict, Megatron authored ''[[Towards Peace]]'', a new treatise to replace ''After the Ark'', in which he described continuing to fight the war until the very notion of conflict was literally inconceivable. Then and only then would he finally give up his fusion cannon. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} The earliest edition of the work featured a dedication to Terminus, which Megatron would later remove to reflect the lesson his friendship with Terminus had taught him: not to get attached. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Friendships were a weakness, and Megatron exploited this in the cruelest way possible: by corrupting Optimus Prime's old friend [[Tarn (DJD)|Damus]], turning him into one of the most vicious, dedicated Decepticons of all, a devoted worshiper at the altar of Megatron, purely to hurt Prime. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}}

Megatron oversaw the creation of a class of super-warriors known as the [[Warriors Elite]], selecting only his most powerful troops to undergo the torturous upgrade, including [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], a brilliant sadist and frequent opponent of his from his pit-fighting days who had developed an obsession with Megatron after the Decepticon leader dealt him his first ever defeat. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} At some point, he also created the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] to deal with traitors, and appointed Damus—now code-named "Tarn"—as its leader, {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} though he elected not to send them after Deadlock when he defected, valuing the warrior enough to instead dispatch [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] to bring him in. {{storylink|Drift issue 2|Drift #2}} He would reportedly spend "half the war" searching for a way to remotely access a [[black hole]], in order to use [[antimatter]] for power, but never succeeded. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

[[File:ChaosTheory prime vs megatron montage.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Good times, bad times.]]
Megatron would personally clash with Optimus Prime many times; Optimus grew to respect and fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, while Megatron himself respected Prime's sheer power and his skill as a tactician and as a leader. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} Megatron would later incorrectly recall their battle on [[Sherma Bridge]] during the [[Rorsha Campaign]] as the first time they met. Said battle was certainly momentous—every Autobot and Decepticon stopped fighting to witness their duel, during which Megatron's cannon arm was sliced off by Prime's [[energon-axe]], and he claimed revenge by throwing the Autobot leader off the bridge. As the war spread to other planets, they would meet again and again: during the [[Siege of Massunstrad]], Megatron sealed Prime in an anti-matter chamber; on [[Rada Mor]], Prime reduced Megatron to ashes with sentient explosives; and in the midst of the [[Vorsk Offensive]], Megatron was nearly sliced in half by Prime. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Though he resisted [[Solomus|Tyrest]]'s attempts to find a "Two City-State Solution" to the war, he did agree to abide by the [[Tyrest Accord]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

Megatron took on a new pistol alternate mode for the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], during which he was used by [[Heretech]] to blast [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} During the same skirmish, Megatron took off half of Prime's face with his energon mace, but had a city block dropped on him by Prime in retribution, which shattered his [[transformation cog]] and trapped him in gun mode for two years. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Prime was not the only old face that Megatron would see again during the war: during a battle on an aerial drilling platform over the [[Manganese Mountains]], Megatron came face-to-face with his old friend Impactor, and stood poised to execute him until Impactor gave him a moment's pause by recalling his old fondness for poetry. In this moment, Megatron was knocked from the platform by [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] and sent plummeting to the mountains below. {{storylink|Zero Point}}

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|"We attack the Rice Krispies guys at dawn! Assuming Judd Hirsch delivers the goods."]]
At the war's zenith, Megatron sealed himself in an [[Omniglobe]] to absorb the relentless flood of data coming in from countless fronts. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} With total war going nowhere, he would go on to develop a six-stage [[infiltration protocol]] to be used for conquering targeted planets. The sixth phase called for outright planetary razing, and Megatron selected three of his Warriors Elite for this task: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} Overlord, and [[Black Shadow (G1)|Black Shadow]]. He informed this trio of his decision via teleconference, but Overlord, tired of being used as someone else's weapon, refused. Megatron threatened to hunt Overlord down for his disobedience, {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|Last Stand of the Wreckers #2}} but while the powerful warrior spent the rest of his life preparing for this conflict, Megatron never followed up and left him to stew in his own obsession. {{storylink|Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers #5}}

[[File:Stormbringer1 get up and fight.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|You don't gotta go home Prime but you can't stay here.]]
Deducing that the Autobot/Decepticon war would culminate in an energy crisis that would threatened the stability of Cybertron itself, Shockwave left Cybertron to secretly pursue alternate energy sources. Around 10,000 years ago, when Shockwave did not return, Megatron ordered Bludgeon to investigate his files, {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}} secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}} and probe deeper into whatever it was Shockwave had created. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

Shockwave's prediction soon proved accurate, and Cybertron found itself in the throes of an energy shortage. Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces", or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research; instead, he experimented on himself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}} The process gave him immense power, but drove him insane. He became so dangerous that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}} Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head. Shortly after the last big push by the Decepticons, Cybertron was abandoned by both factions. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #2}}

In the mid-19th century, Starscream reported to Megatron regarding a failed alliance with the [[Dire Wraith]]s and their unfeasibility as allies. Megatron congratulated Starscream... for finding yet another way to disappoint him. {{storylink|Shining Armor issue 5|Shining Armor #5}}

===Breaking protocol===
[[File:Infiltration4 enter megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|left|thumb|Megatron (Second Printing Preview)]]
In the early 21st century, when word reached Megatron that the infiltration unit led by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], stationed on the planet [[Earth]], had broken protocol, he headed for the planet to investigate. Examining the unit's abandoned bunker in [[Nebraska]] for information, he discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ore-13]]—an incredible energy source that (unbeknownst to Megatron) was the end result of Shockwave's experiments—and was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} While studying the bunker's files, he was contacted by [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] with some distressing news: Bludgeon's investigations of Shockwave's files had led him to revive Thunderwing. Megatron ordered the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] to Cybertron, authorizing them to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of their homeworld itself. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 3|Stormbringer #3}} Just as he was handing down this order, Megatron was happened upon by [[Verity Carlo]], a human ally of the Autobot unit active on the planet, {{storylink|Infiltration issue 4|Infiltration #4}} but he utterly ignored her. The bunker was then leveled by an airstrike courtesy of [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], who were merely covering their unit's tracks and unaware of Megatron's presence; when their leader furiously emerged from the wreckage, Skywarp attempted to explain their ignorance, but Megatron simply responded by blasting him out of the sky. Blitzwing favored opening fire rather than attempting explanations, so Megatron beat the stuffing out of him too, then set off for Starscream's new bunker in [[Oregon]]. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 5|Infiltration #5}}

[[File:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Those librarians are getting really strict on late returns.]]

{{quote|You will stand down. If you fight, you ''die''. There is no room anymore for mercy. In the end, you are ''all'' expendable. Choose.|Megatron's ultimatum to Starscream's renegade troops|[[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]}}

[[Orbital jump]]ing to Oregon, Megatron called Starscream out and ordered the team to stand down, disgusted to see such power games being played amongst his troops. His brief, chilling speech was enough to take the fight out of all but Starscream, who, powered-up on Ore-13, took Megatron on himself. Though the new power source made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was taken out by a point-blank fusion cannon blast through his torso. Megatron ordered the Decepticons to ensure that Starscream survived, and then, observing the Autobots who had been watching the battle, announced that it was time to begin phase two. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}

In light of the discovery of Ore-13, Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth and elected to get the infiltration protocol back on track himself, calling a meeting to make Starscream's former troops and making them aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. {{storylink|Escalation issue 1|Escalation #1}} He continued to order his troops on Earth directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} and was even able to revisit his past gun alternate mode, once again able to achieve the [[size changing|mass displacement]] the mode required thanks to the extra energy Ore-13 provided. {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}}

[[File:Megsandspidy.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron/Spiderman #1 Retailer's Incentive]]
With his forces joined by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], a new arrival who Megatron suspected of having ulterior motives, {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} the Decepticon leader initiated phase two of infiltration protocol by destabilizing relations between the European nations of [[Latveria]] and [[Symkaria]] through use of an aggression-inducing [[Psycho-Prism]], stolen from Latverian dictator [[Doctor Doom]]. When the superhero team known as the [[Avengers]] investigated the array the Decepticons' were using to broadcast the prism's signal, Megatron abducted the arachnid-powered [[Spider-Man]] to use as a subject for their [[mirror response mode]], {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part One}} draining the hero's powers and infusing himself and the other Decepticons with them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Two}} He proceeded to forge a brief alliance with Doctor Doom, who helped him defeat and capture the allied Autobot/Avenger team who snuck inside the Decepticons' array, but when Doom's suggestion to threaten the captives in order to force the other heroes to lay down their arms failed, Megatron violently dissolved the partnership. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Three}} Emerging from the confines of the array to take on the Autobots and Avengers himself, Megatron refrained from engaging Prime, foreseeing a more intimate confrontation between the two of them in the near future, and instead turned his attention to destroying [[Iron Man]]'s Transformer-sized armor. The tables soon turned, however, when Doctor Doom freed the captive Autobots and used the Decepticon's mirror response technology to empower them. Defeated by these enhanced Autobots and with the Psycho-Prism destroyed by [[Wolverine (Marvel)|Wolverine]], Megatron used the last of his extra power to teleport the Decepticons out with an [[emergency warp-out]]. He refrained from departing alongside his warriors, intending to slaughter the Avengers for their interference, but when he was immobilized by Spider-Man's webbing, knocked to the ground by [[Luke Cage]], and rattled by a hail of Autobot fire, he finally warped-out with a final taunt to Optimus Prime of the battle yet to come between them. {{storylink|Man and Machine, Part Four}}
[[File:Escalation3-Massdisplacement.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Shock and Awe]]
With phase two of [[infiltration protocol]] properly underway, Megatron recognized that he ''should'' rightly withdraw and install a new unit commander on Earth, but could not resist the chance to try out his new Ore-13 empowered body, selecting the nation of [[Brasnya]], where Decepticon subterfuge was already underway, as his testing ground. {{storylink|Escalation issue 2|Escalation #2}} Allowing the Decepticon's [[facsimile construct]] [[Georgi Koska]] to wield him in pistol mode, Megatron had Koska use him to first sever a [[Russia]]n oil pipeline, and then to fire upon the soldiers who came to investigate, furthering the political and military tensions already brewing in the region. When word came through from Blitzwing that Optimus Prime and the Autobots had arrived, {{storylink|Escalation issue 3|Escalation #3}} Megatron at last engaged Optimus directly, {{storylink|Escalation issue 4|Escalation #4}} and although Prime was able to destroy his fusion cannon, the extra strength afforded Megatron by Ore-13 allowed him to physically beat Prime into submission, punching directly into his chest and crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Escalation issue 5|Escalation #5}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} [[File:Escalation5 prime vs megs.jpg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|''I got me a shovel I'm digging a ditch...'']] The horrified Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. It turned out that Prime's apparent death was a desperate ruse when the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness—the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}}

Furious over the embarrassing defeat, Megatron threw protocol out the window and ordered that Sixshot be summoned to the planet. {{storylink|Escalation issue 6|Escalation #6}} He took out some of his anger on Ramjet, who he discovered had been busy cooking up a plot to overthrow him; without saying a word, he beat the attempted traitor to death before tearing him apart and keeping his head as a trophy. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
[[File:Devastation5 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|''And I'm gonna fight for this four square feet of land Like a mean old son of a bitch'']]
Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, and although the [[Phase Sixer]] questioned his early deployment, he was happy to go along with the abandonment of the phase structure. The other Decepticons, on the other hand, were worried that Megatron was losing his grip—and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1|Devastation #1}} {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1|Maximum Dinobots #1}} Megatron monitored Sixshot's attack on the Autobots' [[Ark-19]], ordering him to pursue the escape pod that broke away from the crashing craft, {{storylink|Devastation issue 2|Devastation #2}} but before he could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron was forced to recall him to deal with a new threat assaulting the Decepticon base—the alien [[Reaper]]s. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4|Devastation #4}} Unfortunately, the Reapers convinced Sixshot to side with them, and when an Ore-13 powered Starscream entered the fray to take Sixshot down, Megatron realized his troops had been conspiring against him. He decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to greater threat posed by the Reapers, {{storylink|Devastation issue 5|Devastation #5}} and entered battle alongside them all, even allowing Starscream to wield him in pistol mode against the aliens. After the invaders were dead, however, he turned on his men, starting with Blitzwing—but was forced to realize that they needed to remain united when it became apparent that their battle with the Reapers had made humanity inescapably aware of their existence {{storylink|Devastation issue 6|Devastation #6}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}
{{-}}

===All Hail Megatron===
[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb|[[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|"I don't think I'd have made a good medic. No patience."]]]]
While the Decepticons were occupied fighting the Reapers, the Autobots had left Earth to deal with the greater threat of an incursion by the [[Dead Universe]]. Exploiting their enemies' absence, Megatron and his men went to ground; when Autobots returned, they could find no trace of the Decepticons, who kept one step ahead of them for months. Secretly abducting [[Hunter O'Nion]], former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner to the Autobot [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]], Megatron and his men returned to Cybertron, where Megatron had [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] conduct experiments that bred a [[Insecticon swarm|swarm]] of monstrous [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. The experiments culminated in the creation of [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who Megatron employed in a series of key tasks in his plan: the Insecticon obtained from Hunter's mind various Autobot secrets and codes, completed Shockwave's long-gestating combiner process, granting the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] the ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Devastator]], and created a working [[space bridge]] {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} based on designs sold to them by Sixshot in exchange for his freedom. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

Returning to Earth, the Decepticons staged a phony schism within their ranks, allowing the Autobots to believe that they had "disappeared" as a result of a power struggle that had split their ranks into two camps, one led by Megatron and one by Starscream. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} Starscream then approached Sunstreaker, whose experience as a Headmaster had left him bitter and jaded, with the proposition that the Autobots join with his forces against Megatron, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 8|All Hail Megatron #8}} but when the Autobots arrived at the designated time and place, they were instead confronted by the united Decepticon army and quickly defeated by Devastator. After personally tearing [[Matrix of Leadership]] from Optimus Prime's chest, Megatron marched the captive Autobots through the space bridge back to Cybertron, where the Insecticon swarm waited for them. Prime, however, was able to damage the bridge, causing it to deposit the Autobots a safe distance from the swarm, but in the process, fried his own circuits and left himself comatose. Though the Autobots had escaped the fate he had intended for them, Megatron had successfully exiled his enemies to their dead homeworld; moreover, using information and codes gained from Sunstreaker and Hunter, he concurrently orchestrated the event that would later be known as [[Surge (event)|The Surge]], as Decepticons stormed Autobot installations all across the galaxy, achieving total victory. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}

[[File:AHM1 decepticons attack.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's urban renewal program was off to a flying start.]]
With galaxy-wide domination accomplished, one year after the Decepticons' battle with the Reapers, Megatron chose Earth to become the new Decepticon homeworld. Together with his men, Megatron stormed [[New York City]], humiliating Starscream with a display of his greater capacity for destruction. When the US Air Force retaliated, Megatron shrugged off their fire and ordered the other Decepticons to engage them; when one damaged jet threw itself toward him in a suicide run, Megatron, outraged at the [[DJ (G1)|pilot]]'s temerity, destroyed it and its occupant with a furious swipe of his hand. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} When US Army forces arrived, Megatron ordered [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] dispatched to deal with them, then sent Devastator to destroy the subway tunnels leading out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} With New York secured, Megatron directed the Constructicons to begin building a new space bridge in the city's heart, and had a candid talk with Starscream, revealing his belief that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]'s attitude and actions marked him as the embodiment of the Decepticon cause, even if he was blind to seeing it himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}} After a series of further attacks on major American cities saw the country firmly crushed under the Decepticons' collective heel, Megatron made a propaganda speech to his men in the ruins of New York. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 4|All Hail Megatron #4}} As night fell upon the city, Megatron withdrew to privately gloat over the Matrix. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 5|All Hail Megatron #5}}

[[File:AHM6MegatronVsIsrael.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|Starscream just told Megatron that ''All Hail Megatron'' is going to go on for another six issues. He's taking it pretty well, all things considered.]]
As the Decepticons began attacking other countries around the globe, Megatron was questioned by Starscream on what the next step in his plan was. A recalcitrant Megatron merely informed him that it was merely time to savor their victory, but Starscream accused him of not ''having'' any plans post-victory, and was merely allowing his men to run wild to distract them from any notion of taking power for themselves. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}} What Starscream did not realize was that Megatron did indeed have a plan: to defeat the Autobots, he had created an army of killers and monsters, but in order to create his perfect rule, that army would have to be destroyed, the dissenting, distasteful elements obliterated before Megatron's peace could dawn. Megatron was not distracting his warriors... he was ''waiting'' to see which of them would question and turn on him. Silently sorrowful to already know that such dissent would begin with Starscream, an otherwise-model Decepticon, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} Megatron withdrew to [[Israel]] for some silent reflection amid wholesale devastation. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM10 megs vs devastator.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Megatron's negotiations regarding the Constructicons' Work Union going unusually SMOOTHLY this time around.]]
Some time later, Megatron surveyed the space bridge Bombshell and the Constructicons had built in New York. He congratulated Bombshell on his work, but revealed that he had always foreseen Bombshell's intellect as a danger—had always known he and his fellow Insecticons would side with Starscream when the time came. His gambit exposed, Starscream made his move and attacked, but the Insecticons proved no match for Megatron's might. The Decepticon leader had failed to anticipate one thing, however: he did not foresee the Constructicons siding with Starscream, and found himself having to fight the mighty Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The in-fighting was halted by a last-ditch attack by the mustered might of what remained of the human resistance, forcing Megatron and Starscream to put their differences aside momentarily and organize a defense. This attack came as no surprise to Megatron, but the same could not be said for the next entrants onto the battlefield: the Autobots had returned.

After assuring Starscream that he would be leader in the future, when his time was done, Megatron confronted Optimus Prime, surprised not so much that his old foe had survived, but that he had bothered to return to Earth. Both leaders had always maintained a policy of acceptable losses through their millennia-long war, so Megatron assumed Prime had come back for selfish reasons, to reclaim the Matrix, but Prime insisted that he had changed, and would no longer allow their cold war to endanger innocent lives on this scale. [[File:AHM12 prime vs megs.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66|Like Homer Simpson putting on his pants, the struggle between Optimus Prime and Megatron remains eternal. [[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|Almost.]]]] Megatron scoffed at the notion, reavling that Prime's supposedly "innocent" humans were planning to [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] New York, killing millions of their own just to get rid of the Decepticons, {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} but Prime retorted that it wasn't ''just'' about the humans, but also about the difference between Autobots and Decepticons. The two came to blows, but Megatron triumphed in short order and commanded the Decepticons to depart, leaving the Autobots to be killed by the humans' nuke... but just before they withdrew, he was shot in the face by human soldier [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]], wielding a powerful weapon reverse-engineered from Cybertronian technology. Injured and disoriented by the blast, Megatron was finished off when Prime smashed his face in with his own fusion cannon. As he wanted to ''take'' leadership rather than just have it fall in his hands, Starscream picked up his damaged leader and ordered the Decepticons to retreat. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

[[File:AllHisEngines-Megatron.jpg|thumb|Pretty sure when you float in a bacta tank you're supposed to be wearing a diaper.]]
The Decepticons departed Earth aboard Astrotrain, where the gravely wounded Megatron was put on life support and tended to by Soundwave and his cassettes. With Megatron's life signs only at ten percent capacity, Starscream attempted to appeal to Soundwave's sense of logic and have him shut down so that leadership could be his, but Soundwave refused. Starscream was soon able to take command, however, when he recovered the Matrix of Leadership and professed to have been chosen by it. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}}

===New body, new powers===
The Decepticons eventually settled on a desolate asteroid, where Megatron was installed in a [[CR chamber|CR tank]]. Retaining some level of awareness of the events occurring around him during his convalescence, he was forced to watch as his army languished in inactivity, their energy slowly ebbing away until they were reduced to cannibalism. {{storylink|All His Engines}} After a year of trying to free his leader from this living death, Soundwave was finally forced to conclude that Megatron's body was beyond repair, and recruited the recently returned Shockwave, whom Starscream had provided with the majority of the Decepticons' resources to create a space bridge, to help build a new body for Megatron's consciousness to inhabit. The operation succeeded and Megatron was reborn in a deadly new body, powered by Ore-13, armed with a devastatingly powerful rail gun, and even equipped with space bridge nodes stolen from Metroplex, which gave him the ability to open space bridge portals on his own. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing15 megatrons new body.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|"Uh, it's like...did anyone ever see the movie ''Tron''?"]]
Back in action, Megatron devised a plan to destabilize the relationship between the humans and Autobots on Earth. Together with Soundwave and Shockwave, he chopped up his old body and used it to create human-scaled replicas of his former gun mode, containing small pieces of his own consciousness. When Starscream caught them in the act, Megatron elected to table his plan for the moment, as he considered it folly to go against Starscream's wishes for the moment since the Seeker was still in possession of the Matrix of Leadership. Megatron had never truly understood what the talisman ''did'', but it served as a threat merely by being an unknown variable. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} Fortunately, for Megatron this variable was soon removed from the equation when Hot Rod, estranged from the Earthbound Autobots, infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base and recovered the Matrix from Starscream. Megatron seized his chance, intercepting the Autobot and blasting him and the Matrix out into the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}}

[[File:SLMegatron stealth bomber mode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Behold... the ''Bomberang!'']]
With Starscream's trump card now gone, Megatron had the Decepticons gathered so he could address them. Distrustful of Shockwave's motives for preparing his new body, wary of Soundwave's constant surveillance, and repulsed by the state of his once fearsome Decepticon war machine, Megatron decided that he needed to unequivocally reestablish dominance over the now Matrix-less Starscream. He intended to beat Starscream near to death as a means of letting them both work out their frustrations with Starscream's inability to lead effectively during Megatron's absence, but Starscream did not want to fight—spiritually broken by his failures, he simply wanted Megatron to kill him. Rather than accept this, Megatron instead goaded Starscream into opening fire upon him. This began a running battle between the two, with Megatron pursuing the fleeing Seeker in his new stealth bomber alternate mode, continuing to bait Starscream every time he appeared willing to give up the fight. Incensed by Starscream's accusation that he did not know what it felt like to see everything he had worked for fall apart, when that was exactly what Starscream's pitiful leadership had done to the empire he had created, Megatron pummeled him to within an inch of his life, then paused to explain why he kept a schemer like Starscream around: as a constant reminder to watch his back. The brutal display galvanized the languid Decepticons, and Megatron was ready to begin his scheme. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

[[File:IDWongoing14 megatron guns.jpg|upright=1.66|left|thumb|Megatron doesn't support the NRA. He IS the NRA.]]
Roughly two years after the Decepticons' defeat on Earth, Megatron used his space bridge powers to dispatch a container full of the guns made from his old body to Earth, where they were found by South American gun-runners and illegally disseminated amongst an increasingly paranoid public seeking ways to protect themselves against Transformers. This allowed Megatron's consciousness to spread across North America, until it was focused enough to contact one particular owner of a Megatron gun: [[Joe Gladki]]. He deceived and manipulated the paranoid human, and eventually convinced him to perform an assassination attempt on [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], the new Autobot leader. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} In their ignorance, the Autobots then mistook Gladki's gun for Megatron himself and held it captive. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}}

[[File:IDWongoing16 megatron vs autobots.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Not the [[Realignments|first time]] he's traded his [[fusion cannon]] for a [[rail gun]].]]
With the Autobots in chaos, Megatron started the next phase of his plan and returned to Earth personally, where he used his new stealth bomber mode to shoot down a plane carrying Optimus Prime and several other Autobots. He then hunted down the remaining Autobots, effortlessly defeating them and their new temporary leader Ultra Magnus with his powerful new body, and killing some of their [[Skywatch]] allies. Magnus tried to draw Megatron's attention from the humans, claiming the Autobots were the ones he really wanted, but Megatron assured him that humanity was his real target. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|Woken Furies}} Taking the defeated Autobots captive, Megatron dumped them in a city and directed three of his mind-controlled human puppets to kill them. Contacting Prime directly, Megatron summoned him to the city's outskirts and revealed his plan: crush Prime's spirit and destroy the Autobots' alliance with humanity by forcing them to choose between fighting the humans or allowing them to kill them. Prime found the hole in Megatron's plan, however, when he realized that Soundwave was maintaining the connection between Megatron and his guns, and shot him in the head. His connection to his pawns severed, Megatron scooped up Soundwave and withdrew. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|Burning Chrome}} Thanks to a tracker Ultra Magnus had slipped on Soundwave, though, Prime was able to follow the Decepticons to their bolthole and called Megatron out for a full and proper confrontation. In actuality, Prime had lured Megatron outside so Skywatch could drop a [[kinetic harpoon]] on him, but even a weapon dropped from orbit barely proved able to put a scratch in Megatron's mighty new exostructure. Megatron proceeded to beat Prime senseless, but then returned him to the Autobots, and to their great shock, surrendered to their custody. After recovering, Optimus demanded to know why he had surrendered, but Megatron merely taunted him by revealing that Spike Witwicky had murdered a Decepticon in cold blood. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} Prime immediately had Prowl begin investigating Spike and Skywatch, and Prowl interrogated the Decepticon leader for information, which he provided after a little verbal sparring. {{storylink|Police Action: Prologue}}

[[File:ChaosTheory1 megatron imprisoned.jpg|upright=1.5|left|thumb|Megatron and Optimus Prime can't agree on a safe word.]]
When Rodimus returned to Earth and warned the Autobots that [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] had taken control of Cybertron, Optimus decided to lead the Autobots in reclaiming their homeworld. In the name of Earth's safety, he elected to bring Megatron and the confiscated guns made from his old body with them. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}} On the way to Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Prime again attempted to discern why Megatron had surrendered, even releasing his old foe from his bonds and having a civil conversation with him about their past together and their dueling ideologies. Optimus tried to reach out to Megatron, offering him the chance to end the war once and for all with a handshake; Megatron appeared to consider it for a moment but ultimately remained silent. With Megatron returned to the confines of the [[variable voltage harness]], the other Autobots pressured Optimus for a decision on his fate: execution or imprisonment. Trying to come to a conclusion, Prime asked Megatron if he regretted any of his actions, but the Decepticon leader remarked that he only regretted not killing ''more'' Autobots. He taunted Prime with the notion that even he was thankful for the war, as it had raised him from a nobody to the greatest Autobot in history, and a furious Prime activated the harness, electrocuting Megatron. The jolt would have killed Megatron if Omega Supreme had not cut the power in time and Megatron, struggling to stay conscious, offered Prime his thanks for saving his life all those years ago in Rodion. Shocked by his actions, Prime realized that Megatron wanted to die and wanted Prime to be the one to kill him. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory #1}} Eventually, Prime decided to let Megatron choose his own fate, and Megatron calmly replied that he chose death. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory #2}}

[[File:Chaos2 armored megatron.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|...Again...?]]
As Omega drew close to Cybertron, Megatron demanded to know who or what was threatening their homeworld, but Optimus Prime refused to provde him with any information. {{storylink| Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} The Autobots subsequently engaged Galvatron's forces in battle, and while they were occupied, Megatron put into motion the ace he had up his sleeve: taking remote control of the numerous "Megatron guns" aboard Omega, Megatron summoned them to him and combined with them into a new armored mode. Breaking free from his restraints, he headed out to confront Galvatron, intent that nobody would take his world from him. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} As he tore through the Sweeps, Megatron also revealed the reason for his surrender: now that he was back on Cybertron, he could open a space bridge that would allow the massed forces of the Decepticons on Earth to return to their home planet as well. Unfortunately, not long after the Decepticons arrived on the battlefield, Galvatron's secret puppet master, the Dead Universe entity known as the [[D-Void]], seized control of their minds and those of the Sweeps, merging them into a gigantic, monstrous avatar. With Prime occupied pursuing Galvatron into Cybertron's depths, Megatron was left to face this "[[Deceptigod]]" alone. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Fighting against the D-Void's attempts to ensnare his own mind and make him part of the collective, Megatron was gravely wounded and even lost an arm to the beast, but succeeded into destroying it, blasting it apart with one massive beam from his weapons. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

===The long game===
Even as the Deceptigod disintegrated back into its component Decepticons, Megatron could see the potential the creature embodied—the D-Void had, in essence, created the perfect combiner by means of utterly obliterating free will. With Cybertron reverting into a primordial wasteland around him—a result of Optimus Prime purifying [[Vector Sigma]] with the Matrix to stop Galvatron and the D-Void—Megatron chose to withdraw to experiment with the possibilities this presented. He informed Shockwave, the sole Decepticon who had not been made part of the Deceptigod, of his plans, and Shockwave in turn revealed them to Soundwave and Bombshell. {{storylink|Shockpoint}} While Megatron hid in the wilderness, his Decepticons were left to live as second-class citizens in the new [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] that the Autobots built; Optimus Prime left Cybertron two weeks after the D-Void's defeat to calm tensions with "NAILs"—other unaffiliated Cybertronians—who had returned to their homeworld, but even as he did so, he mused that Megatron must still be out there somewhere. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:RID11 megatron in wilderness.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|Megatron can't find anyone who wants to join his nudist colony to save his skin.]]
In the months of study and experimentation that followed, Megatron discerned that the combination of Ore-13 and space bridge technology in his body somehow gave him the ability to manipulate the natural energy of Cybertron that the D-Void had used to merge the Decepticons into the Deceptigod. After experiments on [[turbofox]]es created larger, more ferocious beasts, Megatron stepped up trials when the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] seceded from the shaky government Bumblebee, [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] and Starscream were building in Iacon and ventured into the wilderness. The signal Megatron had created from the combination energy first drove the Aerialbots mad, before uniting them in body and mind, spontaneously merging them into the gestalt [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], but this newborn Autobot combiner was considered hopelessly insane by Megatron and left to die in the wilderness. The madness aspect of the signal afforded him the chance to revive some of the principles of the infiltration protocol, however, as he blanketed the wastelands in it, forcing the Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs to stay in Iacon, causing natural conflict among them to snowball, providing a useful cover for his actions. To gain a pawn within Autobot high command, Megatron even provided Bombshell with the energy to use in conjunction with his own mind-controlling [[cerebro-shell]]s, ensnaring the mind of Prowl. With the resources and cover control of Prowl provided, Shockwave, Soundwave and Bombshell were able to use Megatron's findings to perfect the combination process, rebuilding the Constructicons with new modular designs that would allow them to merge into a perfect Devastator. The endgame was for Megatron himself to form the head of the combiner, but before risking his own mind and body, Megatron decided that Prowl would be used first as a test subject. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}}

[[File:RID12 kill him.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|"Your armor. Give it to me now."]]
The appearance of [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] on Cybertron who declared that Starscream was the "Chosen One" threatened Megatron's ability to easily re-take leadership of his Decepticons, forcing him to step up his schedule. Through Prowl, he had his inner circle gathered together in the secret "[[Black Room]]", then boldly strode into Iacon for all to see. {{storylink|The End of the Beginning of the World}} His body shattered and skeletal, he professed to come in peace, but Bumblebee did not accept his surrender and ordered his Autobots to kill him. Indeed, Megatron could possibly have died there and then had Iacon's Decepticons not stepped in, insisting that Megatron's defense of Cybertron during the D-Void's attack marked him a hero and that he be taken into custody instead. {{storylink|City on Fire}} After [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] got through examining him to prove his body concealed no weapons, Starscream approached the imprisoned Megatron and attempted to explain that he was not far away from taking complete power in the government, ensuring a Decepticon victory of a different kind. Megatron merely smiled silently at the notion, terrifying his ex-lieutenant with his grin. Presently, the Decepticons rose up in an angry mob and marched on Autobot high command to insist on Megatron's release; the situation quickly devolved into a riot, during which a squad led by [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] stormed the prison and freed Megatron. {{storylink|The Verge}}

[[File:RID14 new body redux.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.55|New body or not, Megatron may want to think twice about standing [[:File:Devastator-ROTFenemyscrotum.jpg|underneath Devastator's legs.]]]]
Megatron brought Starscream and the captured Bumblebee and Metalhawk to the Black Room, where he explained his plans and had himself transferred into a pre-prepared new body that could combine with the Constructicons' new forms. At his command, the Constructicons and Prowl combined into the new Devastator, who immediately set about razing Iacon. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Even the return of Superion seemed unable to stop the powerful new combiner, until help came from an unexpected quarter—Prowl's secret assassin [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] killed Bombshell, taking out Prowl's controller and causing Devastator to shut down. This was no real impediment to Megatron, however, as the successful function of the new combiner process had been proven, and he set out to take ''his'' place as Devastator's head. Before Megatron could reach the fallen gestalt, though, Devastator awoke, possessed of his own unique, united consciousness for the first time, and resumed tearing into Iacon. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:RID20 megatron in forcefield.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|You know you can't catch a break when you find yourself trapped inside a novelty plasma lamp from Spencer's.]]
Still Megatron remained unfazed, calmly fending off Autobot attacks and waiting for the inevitable moment when the heroes would take Devastator down. When [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] succeeded in doing so by managing to reach Prowl, Devastator separated, and Megatron immediately stepped in, re-initiating the combination with himself in control. Seconds before uniting with the Constructicons, though, his plan was foiled by Bumblebee, Ironhide and Prowl's activation of a secret failsafe: Wheeljack had integrated a forcefield generator into Megatron's spark casing during his examination of him, and when it was triggered, he was completely paralyzed in mid-transformation. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

In the fallout of the battle, Starscream killed Metalhawk, took control of Iacon and banished the Autobots and Decepticons from the city. He took custody of the immobilized Megatron, and silently gloated over the victory he had accomplished by using guile and politics, rather than Megatron's ways of brute force and firepower. {{storylink|Three Monologues}}

===A new approach===
Megatron would not remain incapacitated for long. That night, as the end result of millennia-long secret machinations by Shockwave, an [[Quintessa (IDW)|undead Metrotitan]] appeared on Cybertron and opened a portal to the Dead Universe in the planet's skies. Through the portal, Shockwave made contact with Galvatron and his master, the exiled Cybertron despot [[Nova Prime]], but was unable to bring them through to Cybertron thanks to the unexpected disappearance of the Titan's space bridge system. Intending to use the space bridge within Megatron as a replacement, {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} Shockwave reanimated the deceased Metalhawk with a wave of necrotic energy from the Titan and had him liberate Megatron and bring him to his secret lab in [[Crystal City]]. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

[[File:RID24 i remember you.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Somewhere in the multiverse, [[Override (G1)|Override]] and [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] are smiling.]]
Shockwave hoped that Megatron would comply with his plans willingly, but the Decepticon leader refused and Shockwave forcibly activated the space bridge technology in Megatron's body. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} The opening of the bridge in his chest caused Megatron agony, but his screams were heard by Soundwave, who led the united forces of the exiled Autobots and Decepticons to Shockwave's lab to free his leader. Nova Prime and Galvatron attempted to squeeze their way through the space bridge despite this interference, but Ironhide was able to punch Nova back through into the Dead Universe. Just then, Shockwave's "Necrotitan" came crashing into the subterranean city, and in the chaos, Megatron was freed from the restraints holding him. No sooner had Megatron carried Ironhide to the safe hands of the other Autobots, however, than he was ripped in half from behind by Galvatron, who had successfully emerged through the portal {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}}—a briefer battle, no doubt, than the one Shockwave had foreseen between the pair in a vision at the outset of his scheme. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}}

[[File:MTMTE26 megs and bee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I smell a sitcom!]]
After the battle was over, Galvatron and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] lugged Megatron's bisected remains back into Crystal City, only to find their way barred by the unlikely form of Bumblebee, who demanded they hand Megatron over. Galvatron attacked the Autobot, at which point Megatron revealed that he was fine, as he took down Waspinator and knocked Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Bumblebee lugged Megatron back to Iacon, currently being razed by the Necrotitan, where the Decepticon leader announced to the assembled Autobots, Decepticons and NAILs his plan to withdraw to [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], summon the Decepticon Justice Division and other scattered troops, and strike back. Bumblebee rejected Megatron's notion of retreating, and struck a nerve within him by questioning his entire philosophy: Megatron had ''long'' ago abandoned any notion of fighting for freedom and equality, Bumblebee attested, and merely used the claim to ideology as an excuse for his actions. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Fortunately, fighting back suddenly got a lot easier when Metroplex and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' space-bridged to Cybertron. During the battle between the Titans, Megatron observed Metroplex reaching for the ''Lost Light''; when the ship's crew explained that they had Metroplex's severed thumb aboard, Megatron had Bumblebee carry him to it, whereupon he realized that the thumb contained one of Shockwave's [[Regenesis]] ores. Megatron used his internal space bridge to teleport the thumb back to Metroplex, and the ore provided the giant with the power boost to defeat the Necrotitan. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

[[File:DCFinale megatron the autobot.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|ಠ_ಠ]]
At Bumblebee's order and under protest, [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] repaired Megatron's injuries and reattached his legs, reminding Megatron of his desire in youth to be a medic. His recent string of failures, the success of ''Starscream'', of all 'bots, and Bumblebee's stinging words had turned the Decepticon leader introspective, and he realized he had forgotten something very important that had driven his writings in his early years: winning meant turning people to your way of thinking, not dominating them. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} Subsequently, when Shockwave initiated his millennia-long plan to collapse all reality into a universal black hole, Megatron placed himself and the Decepticons under Bumblebee's command to co-ordinate a counter-strike, and journeyed with his uneasy new "friend" into Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base to confront their shared enemy. There, they found the weakened Galvatron, who Megatron prepared to destroy for past indignities, until Bumblebee talked him down, convincing him that blood did not have to be repaid with blood. At that moment, Shockwave struck, slaying Bumblebee with a blast, and driving Megatron into a rage. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} Empowered by his various ores and the energy of the Dead Universe, Shockwave was a formidable opponent and it was all Megatron could do to hold his own against him until Optimus Prime arrived to join the fight. Prime attempted to reason with Shockwave and remind him of the kindly senator he had once been, but his words had little effect, so Megatron opted for a more object lesson: removing the fallen Bumblebee's insignia, he placed it upon his chest and declared himself an Autobot. The stunned Shockwave lost control of the time machine powering his plot, causing his old pre-[[Shadowplay]] memories to emerge. Horrified at what he had become, he allowed Megatron and Prime to kill him, which caused the time machine to collapse into a singularity. Megatron and Prime made what seemed to be a futile dash for freedom, but were saved from the singularity's pull at the last moment by the timely arrival of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

===Crimes against the Species===
{{quote|I don't want to be acquitted. I want to '''make amends'''|Megatron on his new goal in life|"[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide]]"}}
[[File:DCFinale this is not a trick.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95|Optimus apparently decided a sincere Megatron was a cue for mood lighting.]]
In a private meeting between Optimus Prime and Megatron a short time after Shockwave's defeat, Megatron affirmed that his change of heart was genuine, and Optimus assured him that he could see past his wartime deeds and remember the well-intentioned 'bot he had started out as. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}} The rest of Cybertron, however, demanded a trial; Autobot High Command agreed, realizing that the Decepticon leader's fate had to be decided in public. Before the trial, Megatron was approached by Optimus, [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and Rodimus in an attempt to extract some of the Decepticon's memories as evidence in hopes of expediting the proceedings, but a horrified Megatron refused, considering the sanctity of his mind all he had left. After Optimus departed, Rodimus remained to taunt Megatron with the certainty of his execution; in return, the impassive Decepticon simply asked Rodimus to deliver a [[communicube]] to Optimus, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} containing a request to have the trial moved to the [[Raskol Arena]] on Luna 2, in order, he alleged, to accommodate the huge number of spectators that would inevitably attend. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.95|I agreed to this trial on the condition of meeting Matlock.]]
Megatron's trial lasted five months. At the outset of the proceedings, Megatron pled guilty to "Crimes against the Species", {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} but things changed when Starscream took the stand and gave a testimony that presented Megatron as an incapable leader who was unable to control the Decepticon forces under his command, a powerful brute lacking in the qualities of true leadership who led his followers down an ultimately self-destructive path. His treacherous lieutenant's words struck home, and Megatron stunned the assembled crowd by changing his plea to "not guilty". {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} Just as his defender, Ultra Magnus, was reading a statement declaring this, the trial was dramatically interrupted by a small army of Decepticons led by [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] and [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]], who had escaped from the brig on the ''Lost Light''. The invading force attempted to teleport Megatron away to safety, but he refused to escape and the uprising was quickly quelled. During the recess that followed, Optimus confronted Megatron over his true motives: he had requested that the trial be held on Luna 2 in order to exploit the moon's different legal system in the event that he felt the trial was unjust. Caused by Starscream's speech to realize that, were he to submit to execution now, his legacy would be one only of pain and death, Megatron invoked one of the moon's forgotten laws: an individual who had committed sufficiently heinous crimes could request he be judged by the long-lost [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Megatron requested that he be allowed to join the ''Lost Light'' in their search for the Knights and their homeworld of [[Cyberutopia]], thus ensuring that ''that'' would be his legacy, after which he would submit to whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Optimus agreed on the condition that Megatron read a prepared speech denouncing the Decepticon cause and asking all active Decepticons to stand down. Megatron did so, at great personal pain. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Hurt and angry over this perceived abandonment, Soundwave used Megatron's change of faction as evidence to forge a new allegiance of his own, decamping to Earth and working with the [[Earth Defense Command]] to create a new home for Decepticons there. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}}
[[File:MTMTE30 cocaptains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|O captain, my co-captain.]]
Megatron was assigned co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light'' alongside Rodimus, who immediately hated the idea and everything about it, leading to a particularly antagonistic relationship between the two. Megatron was permitted only to fuel himself with "[[Fool's Energon]]", which left him substantially weakened. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Shockwave's machinations had left his internal organs a tortured Gordian knot of space bridge wormholes from which it was impossible to extract his spark; his outward appearance changed between the end of his trial and his co-captaincy, suggesting that his armor was rebuilt around him, or his entire internal structure was transplanted into a new body. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Megatron would later lament that his body did not graft to his spark like past chassis, which he considered a sign of his waning age. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} Optimus would see Megatron off on his voyage before he himself headed off to Earth, a meeting Prowl found deeply disturbing. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|Hello Cruel World}}

===Towards Peace===
[[File:MTMTE28 megatron head examined.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|"So Megatron, tell me about your mother". "She was hot".]]
The ''Lost Light'' warped back out to the Galactic Rim and set off on the trail of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who they considered their best lead on the location of the Knights. A month into the journey, Megatron agreed to a therapy session with ship's psychoanalyst Rung, during which he espoused his current thinking on personal history, and one's ability to selectively edit or abandon entirely previously-held truths. Following the session, Megatron discovered that the door to his quarters had been graffitied, and was almost immediately attacked by the culprit, Whirl. During the fight—which Whirl deemed "inevitable"—the ex-Wrecker punched Megatron in the stomach, only to find his hand teleported away by the space bridge tangle inside his body. This took the fight out of Whirl, and Megatron offered to forget the incident if the graffiti was removed from his wall. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} Through his internal space bridge, Megatron could sense that Whirl's arm had been teleported into the vicinity of a black hole, and—ever the forward planner, preparing even for the unlikely eventuality that he might change his mind about what he wanted—Megatron was inspired to revive his wartime plan to remotely channel antimatter.{{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

Megatron subsequently oversaw the bringing onboard of a mysterious coffin the ''Lost Light'' found floating in space. A short time later, a drunken dare gone awry resulted in [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] accidentally cracking the coffin open with his forcefield. Megatron reprimanded him by permanently engaging his fuel intake moderation chip, and assigned him the role of Security Director in order to focus his mind. The pair then turned their attention to the opened coffin, which was revealed to contain the body of another Rodimus! {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} A brief analysis suggested that the body was of Rodimus from the future, but before the matter could be settled, the crew of the ''Lost Light'' were forced to abandon the ship as it suddenly began disappearing around them. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}}

[[File:MTMTE32 i came to hate the person id become.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Lolcat is watching you deprecate.]]

Megatron found himself on the [[Rodpod]] with a score of other 'bots, but when ''they'' then began to vanish too, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] accused Megatron of being responsible. A tense standoff ensued, which was brought to a surprising end when [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] was discovered to have been hiding on the pod, having secreted himself on the ''Lost Light'' in order to spy on Megatron for Soundwave. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The weirdness continued as the remaining crew of the Rodpod—Megatron, Ravage, Nightbeat, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], and [[Getaway]]—discovered the wreckage of a second ''Lost Light'', point of origin for the mystery second Rodimus, orbiting the planet [[Ofsted XVII]]. Still believing that the duplicate ship hailed from the future, Skids accused Megatron of being responsible for the devastation, and, realizing that the recent huge changes he had made in his life left him devoid of any surety in his future actions, Megatron allowed himself and Ravage to be imprisoned until the truth could be determined. Locked in a supply closet with Ravage, Megatron had a heart-to-heart with his angry ex-subordinate, justifying his decisions and unable to offer Ravage any consolation. When power returned to the ship, the pair discovered the dead bodies of Ratchet, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] in the closet with them, sporting injuries that allowed Megatron realize the Decepticon Justice Division were responsible for the slaughter. The team prepared to immediately withdraw until an even stranger discovery was made: Autobot archivist [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], who had died months beforehand... still alive, the only survivor of the D.J.D.'s attack! {{storylink|slaughterhouse}}

[[File:MTMTE33 megatron skids right there.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"...But you're not the [[Skyfall (G1)|worst]] [[Zeta Prime (G1)|guy]] [[Star Saber (G1)|to]] [[Getaway|wear]] the badge. So keep trying."]]
Nautica and Nightbeat were able to deduce that the duplicate ''Lost Light'' and its crew, including the second Rodimus, were actually quantum duplicates created in the explosion of the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] during the ship's original launch two years prior. To make matters worse, the [[quantum foam]] leaking from the engines was threatening to destroy Ofsted XVII, but Megatron had no compunctions about getting to safety and leaving the planet to its fate until Skids called him out, forcing him to face up to the fact that choosing to be an Autobot meant reflecting it in one's actions. Megatron used his old mass-displacement ability to shrink his robot form down, enabling him to safely make it through the foam and deactivate the engines, saving Ofsted XVII, "cancelling out" the duplicate ''Lost Light'', and reinstating their own. As they made their way back to the returned ''Lost Light'', Megatron invited Ravage to remain at his side. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

[[File:MTMTE38 send me back.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75|"AND I WANT YOUR LUNCH MONEY TOO NERD!"]]
Back aboard "their" ''Lost Light'', Megatron discovered the DJD had killed Trailcutter. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Though depressed by his death, Megatron was not above removing Trailcutter's forcefield generators from his body in another instance of forward planning. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} Subsequently, the realization that Brainstorm had used his mysterious [[Time case|briefcase]] to travel back in time caused Megatron to have a mini-breakdown over how ''ridiculous'' the whole situation was, but he soon got ahold of himself, and theorized that Brainstorm was attempting to change history by killing Orion Pax. {{storylink|The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|The Custom-Made Now}} Rodimus led a squad back in time in pursuit, which led to Megatron having a cross-time conversation with the young Orion Pax via Rodimus's "[[time phone]]" communicator. Pretending to be his own younger self during the call, Megatron found the young 'bot's optimism for the future a mixed source of both affirmation and tragic amusement. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|All Our Parlous Yesterdays}} After Rodimus's team made several further jumps, Megatron deduced that the dates they were travelling to were not important moments in Pax's life, but Megatron's own. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet}} Realizing that Brainstorm intended to kill ''him'' at the moment of his creation, he flew into a panicked rage, attacking [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] and demanding the scientist send him back in time to save himself, until Ultra Magnus restrained him and the pair talked him down. As events in the past played out, Megatron was visibly shaken to hear that Rewind had been the one to pull the trigger that destroyed the original spark in his body, and that the universe would truly be a better place had he never existed. Although Whirl subsequently set the timeline to rights, Megatron did not join in the celebrations when everyone returned from the past, retiring to his quarters. {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}}

[[File:MTMTE43 the old man.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|"Oh my Primus! WHAT IS THAT?! SOME ONE GET RATC-?!?! ... Oh, wait. Nevermind. False alarm. It's my hand. Almost had me there guys." *tries to look relaxed, and nails it*]]

In silent isolation, Megatron reached out with his mind, trying to make contact with Whirl's arm through his space bridge. If he could teleport the arm ''back'', it would mean he would finally having a working two-way connection to a black hole. After days of trying, however, he still failed to succeed, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} and established another contingency plan by having Ravage recover one of Brainstorm's time-machine briefcases for him before they were all destroyed, thinking he might use it to escape his fate by travelling back in time. Megatron also dedicated some of his spare time to writing poetry, but his works remained largely unappreciated- a single poetry reading at [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]]'s bar, [["Visages"]], was enough to empty the bar of its patrons. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} He, Rodimus, and Magnus answered a call from Optimus Prime inviting the ''Lost Light'' back to Cybertron for first contact with the colony world of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], but they declined. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}}

While the rest of the crew attended a party aboard the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'', Rodimus and Megatron refrained from going. {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} The pair soon received an S.O.S. alerting them to an infestation of emotion-eating [[personality tick]]s on the ship; they headed over to help, and their combined charisma proved strong enough to "overdose" and kill the ticks as soon as they stepped into the room. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} Soon after, when [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s dying mind created a holomatter duplicate of Earth, Megatron took part in the voyage to the artificial planet to help save the metallurgist. The journey required him to project a holomatter avatar for the first time, which led him to note the fragility—but not weakness—of humans when his avatar was cut by broken glass. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:MTMTE44-MegatronLookAtTheFlowers.jpg|upright=2|right|thumb|"I see a great hand reaching out of the stars. The hand is your hand. And I hear sound; the sound of billions of people calling your name." 
"My followers?" 
"Your victims."]]

When it was discovered that Swerve's life-threatening injuries had been caused by a bullet lodged in his body by the Autobot deep-cover spy [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], Megatron and Magnus studied the bullet together, and discovered that it contained a map to [[Necroworld]], base of operations of the supposedly-mythical [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]. Rodimus proceeded to barge into the room to announce that he had unconsciously drawn a complete map to Cyberuptopia on his desk, and Megatron, unsettled to realize that this mean his day of judgement was now actually on the horizon, announced that, before following said map, they would first detour to investigate Necroworld. Megatron privately confided in Ravage that he wished to stave off his day of reckoning as long as possible... but found that such thoughts rudely pushed from his mind when he bore witness to the massive field of flowers the Necrobot had planted in his honor, representing the countless lives he had taken. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} With the weight of his history laid out before him so beautifully and terribly, Megatron realized that the future could not be avoided, and that any attempt to hide in the past was pointless. He buried the time-case Ravage had stolen for him amid the flowers. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

Megatron's fear of mnemosurgery would once again plague him when he awoke to find little Tailgate trying to perform mnemosurgery on him—part of a plot from [[Getaway]] to provoke Megatron into killing the little guy, in order to have Megatron either executed or imprisoned. The panicked Megatron almost fulfilled Getaway's plan for him, until [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] interceded by running Megatron through with his [[Great Sword]]. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} Once Getaway's plot had been foiled, Megatron was patched up and made amends with Cyclonus. {{storylink|Speak, Memory: Part 1}} The whole experience proved to be the last straw; determined to break from his old ways, Megatron renounced all violence and became a pacifist. He chose a poor time to do it, unfortunately, as the halls of the ''Lost Light'' were soon stalked by the serial killer [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]]. Megatron's attempts to talk the murderer into surrendering met with failure, and he had to be saved by Tailgate, whose recent traumatic experiences had induced a mutation in his spark that gave him super strength. {{storylink|Speak, Memory! (Part 2)}} Intrigued, Megatron wondered if ''pain'' was the factor that would give his spark the power to complete his black hole quest. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

When the ''Lost Light'' was preparing to sneak through Mauler-inhabited space, Megatron and Ultra Magnus set about preparing the ship and the crew for the crossing. When a [[Scraplet]]-controlled [[Magnus Armor]] came shambling towards him, Megatron panicked, believing Magnus had come for a hug, before Swerve, Nautica and Whirl arrived to save him. {{storylink|Silent Light}} Not long after, Megatron joined the crew in a brief excursion into the past via "time windows" left over from Brainstorm's time-trip, which they used to honor the fallen crew members of the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} In the days that followed, unable to think of a reason ''not'' to go, Megatron reluctantly accepted Whirl's invitation to "movie night", which turned out to be a screening of a documentary about his defeat of Sentinel Prime. Megatron disliked the whole production, especially the allegation that he had desecrated Senntinel's remains by ordering the theft of his head. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

===Do Not Go Gentle===
[[File:MTMTE50 megatron class dismissed.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|This is why we don't let you stay up all night listening to "''Instruments of Destruction''", Megs.]]
Megatron oversaw the ''Lost Light'''s campaign to liberate [[Miliarium]] from [[Rust Giant]]s, though he refrained from setting foot on the planet itself in order to maintain his vow of non-violence. He was irked to learn that that the crew had withheld the information the inhabitants of the planet were organic, but he softened when he was given the chance to finally use the "[[roll out]]" command. Subsequently, during one of a series of classes Megatron had begun holding on the subject of the Knights of Cybertron, the ''Lost Light'' was attacked by a kind of "psychic weapon" that made multiple crew members experience terrible visions. Megatron heard the sound of every organic he had ever killed screaming, and momentarily driven mad, he lashed out at Minimus Ambus, who had come to his aid, and was horrified a moment later when he realized he'd reflexively forgotten his pacifism. Megatron and Rodimus led a team aboard the Rodpod to track the signal back to its source; it turned out to have actually been bait in a trap luring them back to Necroworld, where they were attacked by the Decepticon Justice Division, out to claim revenge on Megatron for renouncing Decepticonism. The Autobots took refuge in the Necrobot's fortress and re-established contact with the ''Lost Light'', only to learn that Getaway had staged a mutiny and taken control of the ship in their absence, and had alerted the [[Galactic Council]] to their location. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

Searching for weapons to fight the D.J.D., the Autobots found a teleport chamber and a room full of helpless organics in stasis pods. Brainstorm advocated using the chamber to escape, but Megatron—now truly realizing how alike organic and mechanical life was thanks to the trauma of the psychic attack—delivered a stirring speech that convinced everyone to stay to defend the pods. At Ravage's suggestion, Megatron went out to meet with Tarn one-on-one, and offered to surrender to surrender on the condition none of the others would be harmed. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} As the two talked, Megatron expressed regret for "corrupting" who Tarn had been, and even for the fact Brainstorm's attempt to kill him hadn't succeeded. Disgusted to see his hero having "fallen" thus, Tarn began viciously beating Megatron, but Megatron refused to fight back; he even laughed at the irony of how Fool's Energon might have been changing his nature, and he didn't even care. Before Tarn could finish Megatron off, however, Overlord arrived, allied with the Galactic Council in pursuit of his own chance to kill Megatron. Tarn and Overlord fought, giving Megatron a chance to escape. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}}

[[File:RageRage-Megatronappears.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67|You can practically hear "Instruments of Destruction" playing.]]

Though patched up, Megatron still refused to take part in the Autobots' battle with the D.J.D, rejecting the gift of a new fusion cannon Brainstorm had built from the teleport chapter for him, and urging the group to cherish what time they had left rather than waste it in battle. Megatron declared himself too weak and afraid to fight, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} fearful that if he gave into violence, he would lose control and be unable to stop himself from once again becoming the monster he had been in the past. As the others went out to fight, Ratchet attempted to allay Megatron's fears by disclosing that Fool's Energon was only ever a placebo—Megatron had, in fact, been in control of himself all along. This revelation, coupled with the sight of Ravage being torn in half by Tarn out on the battlefield, spurred Megatron to action. Pain was, indeed, the trigger he had sought; in that moment, he successfully managed to draw Whirl's arm back through his space bridge, forging a functioning link with the black hole. Donning his new fusion cannon, he stormed out onto the battlefield and took on the D.J.D. single-handed while the other Autobots took Ravage back to the safety of the fortress. The fire in Megatron's belly seemed short lived, however, when a well-placed shot from Tarn destroyed his cannon, and he dropped to his knees in the middle of the battlefield, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} but this quickly proved to be nothing more than a feint to draw the D.J.D. in, to trap them within a forcefield created by the generators Megatron had taken from Trailbreaker's body. [[File:mtmte 55 antimatter.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|left|"I'll light our [[Darkest hour]] the only way I know how! With more darkness!"]] Dropping his charade, Megatron unleashed the full power of the black hole's antimatter on the D.J.D., slaughtering each and every one of them. Before ending Tarn, he snatched his Decepticon-insignia facemask and slapped it onto his own chest; he would allow the antimatter to destroy him, and he would die as a Decepticon. Fate had a different path planned for Megatron, however; using the time-case Megatron had buried on the planet, which had been recovered by the Necrobot, Rodimus teleported into the forcefield and whisked Megatron away to safety before the antimatter detonated.

Reappearing in the fortress, Megatron was able to be by Ravage's bedside as he died from his injuries, with a final entreaty to Megatron that he "not change back". Megatron flew into a rage and almost turned his cannon on the Autobots before regaining control of himself. Realizing what he had done, Megatron tried to leave, only for [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] to suddenly appear to bar his way—one of the occupants of the pods, who were ''not'' organics, but causalities of conflict rescued from throughout time by the Necrobot using the case. Pulled back from the brink at the last moment, Megatron dropped his cannon and embraced his old friend. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

When [[Scarlett]] and [[Joe Colton (Dire Wraith)|Joe Colton]] discussed the Cybertronian influence on [[Earth]], Megatron's infiltration unit as well as his devastating invasion of Earth were key points. In light of Optimus Prime's recent actions, Colton seemed to have his doubts on whether or not Megatron had truly been the 'evil' one. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}
{{-}}

===A New World===

Terminus' reappearance was down to the Necrobot time-travelling to rescue 'missing in action' robots, and the "organics" in the basement had in fact been those robots in disguise.{{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} Megatron tried to fill in his old friend about the war, much as he doubted his objectivity. This was a disrupted by a minor quake which shook the whole planet. Deciding to finish his story later, Megatron paid his last respects to Ravage before [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] burst free from the ground. The two explained the quake as a [[geobomb]] sent by the [[Galactic Council]] but had seemingly burnt itself out. Megatron joined the group to return to Cybertron and collect a new ship, mainly to see Starscream's face when he revealed he was still alive. When Terminus said that Iacon was beautiful, Megatron began to correct him before he saw a bustling metropolis. Before the crew could process what happened, [[Twelve-of-Twelve]] showed up to arrest them. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}}

[[File:anomie jabbing megs.jpeg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Hey. Put it away before I take it away.]]

Rewind quickly managed to deduce that the crew had been sent into [[Functionist Universe|another universe]], one where Megatron had never come online and the Functionists still ruled. After trading wits with the councillor, Megatron ordered the crew to surrender in the hope of reasoning with the Council. As the crew was marched through Iacon, the rebel [[Anti-Vocationist League]] tried to save them and got their arses kicked by [[Functionary|Functionaries]] in short order. Rodimus talked Megatron into action who, with a weary sigh, casually broke out of his stasis cuffs and directed the battle without even lifting a finger, much to Terminus' pride and amazement. The moment was ruined when [[Six-of-Twelve]] appeared on every TV on Cybertron, telling everyone they would see what the "Useless One", Rung, was actually ''for''. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|Anomie}} The crew was brought to [[Kalis|Adaptica]] where [[Clicker]] explained why the Council had to grant the refugees safe haven before they were greeted by the sympathetic [[Nine-of-Twelve]]. Megatron abstained from the following meeting to meet with those who had removed their optics in protest of the Council using them as spies. Megatron approved. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

Even when [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]] suddenly returned, Megatron continued to watch Six-of-Twelve's broadcast and began fearing for the future when it was announced the Council was going to try and get to [[Vector Sigma]]. Megatron went to collect everyone so as to rescue both Rung and Vector Sigma. Before that discussion could continue, Luna 2 grew new craters and began sucking up people with its [[tractor beam]]s. Megatron quickly demanded details from Nine-of-Twelve (lest they decide he was complicit in this) who quickly offered them. Rodimus however was more interested in the moon's teleporter which Megatron called him out on for being more interested in chasing down the ''[[Lost Light]]'' than saving people. Rodimus in turn accused Megatron of wanting to stay in the Functionist timeline so as to not be judged by the [[Knights of Cybertron]] and laughing that Megatron wanted to do good after killing so many. Minimus Ambus halted their argument and Rodimus agreed to Megatron's plan to rescue Rung but on the condition that they would leave once they'd saved the day. Megatron told Nine-of-Twelve to rally the troops only for the councillor to inform him they had no troops. When he asked about offensive capabilities, Megatron learnt that most of the more powerful weapons hadn't been invented in the current timeline. He made due with putting what few weapons he had in the best positions before ordering Nine-of-Twelve to lead the evacuations. Megatron managed a small smile when he learnt that Ambus didn't share Rodimus' belief that Megatron was running from his trial. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 4: Bad Moon Rising|Bad Moon Rising}}

With Megatron's tactics, the beleaguered defenders were able to distract Luna 2 long enough for the refugees to escape. As Megatron and [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] discussed the conspicuous absence of the native Orion Pax, the tractor beams increased in intensity prompting Terminus to call the two to evacuate. After Roller made his way out, Terminus attempted to convince Megatron to stay in the Functionist Universe, an idea Megatron admitted to entertaining, but ultimately refused to do, citing his need to make amends back home and that his friends aboard the ''Lost Light'' were the conscience he had to answer to. At the point, the statue they were in was sucked up by the tractor beams. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}}

[[File:LostLight6MegatronEnding.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|A brand new autobiography. Same title. Different words.]]

Though the beams began ripping Megatron apart, Terminus managed to free himself and saved his protege by firing at the tractor beam emitters, though accidentally shooting down the commandeered [[Cog (facility)|Cog]] in the process. As the native Rung super-sized himself to attack the moon, Megatron assured [[Clicker]] that Rung's own choices were open defiances of Functionism. At that moment, Rodimus came with the news that they could head home and save this Cybertron. Terminus revealed his intent to stay behind with Megatron requesting a moment to say goodbye to his mentor, his serious demeanour convincing Rodimus to grant it. As Megatron and Terminus said their final words, Terminus got a call and quickly ushered Megatron to a [[matter transporter]] only to find it abandoned. As Megatron ran back out to tell Terminus, Luna 2 teleported away to Megatron's shock and horror. Deciding to make the most of his new situation, went on a "speaking tour", visiting the [[Anti-Vocationist League]]'s scattered cells, all over the planet, uniting them via his rhetoric and his new slogan of "Peace Through Empathy". After speaking at his old stomping ground of [[Nova Point]], Megatron went outside to contemplate the night sky before being interrupted by the chime of his communicator... having been contacted by the native Orion Pax. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}}

===Legacy===
Among [[Agonizer]]'s rare knick-knacks was an unfinished poem by Megatron. {{storylink|An Axe to Break the Ice}} When questioned by Bumblebee on why he insisted on remaining alone in the world, Starscream brought up the many beatings he'd received at Megatron's hand as a life lesson to remain alone and constantly on guard. {{storylink|The Price of You}} Such was Starscream's fear of his former leader that the Seeker seized up with fear when [[Vigilem]] assumed Megatron's form as he was when leading the Decepticons. Using the image of Megatron, Vigilem came within a hair's breath of destroying Starscream's mind, all the while the Seeker being too terrified to fight back. {{storylink|Your First Mistake}} Despite Megatron's defection, [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] still considered him a wise man and quoted his writings to incite a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] rebellion. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}}

When [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] was interviewed by the human news, he remembered Megatron's invasion of Earth. {{storylink|What It's Really Like}} [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] also remembered Megatron making a deal with Sunstreaker that preceded the invasion. {{storylink|The Life of Sideswipe}}

When Earth was properly inducted into the [[Council of Worlds]], [[Scarlett]] remembered the devastation Megatron had brought to Earth and wondered whether or not Earth was out of its weight class against Cybertronians as well as if Earth was truly ready to join the Council. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}} While in jail on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Scarlett confessed to Optimus Prime that she had primarily come to Cybertron to save [[Joe Colton]] from himself, something which Optimus sympathized with, having gone through similar experiences with Megatron. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} When justifying his genocidal campaign to Scarlett, Joe Colton claimed Earth was "one more Megatron" away from complete extinction. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|First Strike #6}}

In [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]]'s [[Starscream: The Movie (film)|biopic]] of Starscream, Megatron was portrayed by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]. Thundercracker admitted he'd taken some creative liberties with Megatron's bodily appearance but felt those changes would help an unfamiliar audience more readily recognize the characters. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

After receiving a life sentence, Starscream defended his reign to Bumblebee by stating that, unlike Megatron, he hadn't plunged Cybertron into four million years of war. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}}

After seemingly dying and being sent to the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] had sent Rodimus into a mild depression, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] rhetorically asked "What Would Megatron Do?", threatening Rodimus's fragile ego enough to rally him into action. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}}

===The Great Return===
[[File:LL21 Megatron Returns.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|"Did'ja miss me?"]]
Megatron subsequently became leader of the AVL, drawing both Orion and [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] into the fold, while also taking time to fulfill his original ambition of becoming a medic. Megatron also found the discarded ''Unitrex-1'' and claimed it as the flagship of the AVL, dubbing it the ''[[Last Light (ship)|Last Light]]''. When the Functionist Council built a set of [[planetary engine]]s onto Cybertron to compensate for Luna 2's loss, the AVL followed them through the [[Warren]], warning many alien populations of the Functionists' genocidal intentions and allowing them to evacuate in time. The Functionists responded to this by engineering Cybertron with a robot mode cast in the likeness of [[Primus]]. Megatron's heroism eventually drew the attention of the Functionists who took great pride in killing his closest allies before eventually believing to have slain the ex-tyrant at [[Perseppalae]]. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|The Return of the King}}

[[File:ReturnOfTheKing MegatronTreatsDrift.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.0|''Instruments of re-construct-iooooon, tools of first aiiiiid!'']]
In truth, both Megatron and the ''Last Light'' had survived and continued to follow the Functionist recon ships. When the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]'s [[God Gun]] opened a portal back into Megatron's native universe, the ''Last Light'' was caught up in the rush, emerging ahead of the enemy fleet. Detecting his friends' spark signatures, Megatron immediately called Rodimus. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}} Though the Autobot initially believed that Megatron was the one staging the invasion, Megatron was quick to correct him, drawing their attention to the planet-sized Primus effigy, before requesting their coordinates for rescue. Once the ''Last Light'' shook off the recon ships, Megatron ordered his friends freed, recovering most of them from the Architect's clutches ([[Scavenger (group)|and a few Decepticons too]]) before he caught them all up on what had transpired since they'd parted ways. He also demonstrated his new skills as a medic by treating the wounded Drift for a [[zero point]] affliction. When the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] proposed blowing up "Primus", Megatron immediately shot down the idea, noting the billions of innocent Cybertronians still trapped on their homeworld. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|The Return of the King}}

After Rodimus had freed himself and reclaimed his ship, the two ships set down to compare notes with everyone transferring over to the ''Lost Light''. Despite the Magnificence's boasts of intelligence, Megatron still refused to blow up "Primus". His devotion to saving the citizenry proved the catalyst for a group brainstorm to come up with a plan to simultaneously open ''twelve'' [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices of Leadership]], one each of the planet's [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]s, to overload Vector Sigma and kill the Functionists merged with the computer. At this, the Magnificence spoke in the unholy voice of the [[Omega Guardian]]s, revealed to have been manipulating events and needing "Primus" to explode, who swore to return and "eat everything". Megatron made an impassioned speech to the aliens, swearing to stop them, and distracting them long enough for [[Nickel]] to simply crush the Magnificence. The distraction however meant that the ''Last Light'' was left unattended when the Functionists finally turned their attention to the last Cybertron, violently dying with the planet. When the ''Lost Light'' took off, Megatron ordered the ship turned around so they could save the universe. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremebering}}

[[File:LL24 Megatron GNNN!.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|left|Megatron is forced to admit that he'll never truly have [[The Touch]].]]
After [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] showed up and slammed [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] into the gargantuan robot's [[neural cluster]] to convert it back into planet mode, Megatron coordinated with [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] to properly ally with the Grand Architect's remaining troops. With Rodimus, Megatron made his way to the [[Nova Point]] hot spot where they were beset upon by legions of [[Functionary|Functionaries]]. To complicate matters, the Matrices refused to open, prompting Megatron to rally Rodimus into giving a final speech to the crew and reaffirm their morality. Though the speech had the desired effect, it left Rodimus open to having his left arm blown off before he could open his own Matrix. Megatron took over and tried to open the talisman himself, but his lingering doubts and guilt meant it refused to open for him. The weakened Rodimus then requested the artifact, managing to open it by substituting his missing limb with his teeth, the energies of all twelve destroying the Functionists and reigniting Luna 1's dormant hot spot. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

[[File:MegatronGoodbye.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|"One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine."]]
As the crew took stock, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] arrived to inspect "New Cybertron" before declaring that, since the [[Knights of Cybertron]] didn't exist, Megatron would once again have to stand trial, this time with the [[Galactic Council]] presiding. Over Rodimus's protests, Megatron agreed to go quietly but was nonetheless allowed to join the ''Lost Light'' for one last "victory lap" cruise. As the crew prepared to quantum jump home, the science team proposed the risky gamble of recreating the malfunctioning launch, thereby quantum duplicating themselves before then shunting the duplicates into a parallel universe to ensure that the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s adventures would never truly end. When the time to jump came, the crew simply wound up back on Cybertron.

As they all settled into ''Swerve's'' for a last drink, Magnus recited his favorite poem, which Megatron revealed to have written under a pseudonym. Adding that it was Impactor's favorite too, Megatron lamented that he'd wasted his life. Not wanting to leave it at that, Magnus gave a toast to all the friendships and bonds they'd forged... before construction cranes killed the moment and began disassembling the ship.

With Ultra Magnus once again acting as his defense orator, Megatron stood trial, Rodimus even falsely testifying that Megatron had been the one to open the duplicate Matrix. As the jury debated between infinite imprisonment and outright execution, Rodimus and Megatron had one last discussion, with Megatron revealing he'd always held onto his [[Rodimus Star]], before Magnus led him away. On their way to the sentencing chamber, Magnus revealed he was going to follow Megatron's advice and destroy the [[Magnus Armor]].

Years later, when Ratchet had passed, Rodimus placed Megatron's withered Rodimus Star on his tomb.

And far away, in some distant corner of the multiverse, the duplicate ''Lost Light'' materialized, ready to set sail for an infinity of new adventures. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
[[File:Theadventureisforever.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|center|'Til all are one]]

===Pax Cybertronia===
In a vision of the future seen by Ironhide and Alpha Trion during the reformatting of Cybertron, fifteen million years hence, Ironhide still believed Megatron to be alive and promised a young Autobot they would defeat him again if he ever returned. {{storylink|Pax Cybertronia (issue)|Pax Cybertronia}} {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}
{{-}}

==''Spotlight: Mirage''==
[[File:SLMirage all in good time.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Somewhere, in an unknown time or place, the self-serving mercenary Mirage dreamed of Megatron and his Decepticons launching a massive attack on the Autobots. But Mirage knew that to only be a dream; in reality, the Autobots were almost eradicated, and Megatron had hired him to hunt down the last of their number. Megatron was outraged by the mercenary's demand for a majority share in all energon mining operations as payment, but it proved to be fuel well spent, as he soon succeeded in locating Optimus Prime and forcing him to surrender. Megatron demanded the prisoners be executed despite Mirage's promise to spare Autobot lives. Seeing Mirage's hesitation, Megatron appealed to his greed. {{storylink|Spotlight: Mirage}}
{{--}}

==Ask Vector Prime==
[[File:AHM 1cvrEXCL.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.85|I think this is a killing joke!]]
In [[Primax 708.10-R Lambda]], Megatron cracked the codes to an Autobot forward listening outpost. He walked in, shot [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], and then laughed and took a photo of what he had done. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/06}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:MegatronOrigin2 Megs hair.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55]]
*In [[Megatron Origin issue 2|''Megatron Origin'' #2]], we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, a helmet and not part of his head (at least in his original body). Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, but it is briefly revisited in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]] when a helmetless Megatron spars with [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]].
[[File:MTMTE Megatron Alt.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
*Apparently, the stealth bomber Megatron design used in IDW for a while was created by artist [[Don Figueroa]]. However, he created the design as part of a story pitch to editor [[Andy Schmidt]]; a pitch the editor rejected. Schmidt proceeded to use the design for this comic, but without compensation or credit to Figueroa; something the artist was highly displeased about.<ref>[http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/don-figueroa-designed-idw-s-stealth-bomber-megatron-but-wasn-t-compensated--t96022s0.php archive of Figueroa's post on the subject at Seibertron forum]</ref>
*Megatron's post-"[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" body was never seen transformed into its alt mode, although [[Alex Milne]] tweeted concept art during the run of ''Lost Light'' that showed Megatron transformed into a heavy tank.<ref>[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/951902998141087744 Alex Milne (@markerguru) on Twitter, 12 January 2018]</ref> As this tank design would have required Megatron's signature Fusion Cannon, which had been discarded prior, it would have been left largely unhelpful anyway. By contrast, [[Nelson Dániel]]'s [[:File:LL3 cvrRI.jpg|retailer incentive cover]] for [[Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|''Lost Light'' #3]] showcases a different tank design using a different cannon.
*[[James Roberts]] clarified on Twitter that any members of the [[Functionist Council]] who survived into the Great War era were assassinated by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] at Megatron's command.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1055107548318220288 Twitter conversation with James Roberts (@jroberts332), 24 October 2018]</ref>
*In [[How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2|''Lost Light'' #25]], it is revealed that Megatron (under a pseudonym) wrote Ultra Magnus's, and Impactor's, favorite poem, "[[Afterlight]]". ''"You flare, you flicker, you fade. And in the end, all your tomorrows become yesterdays."''
*Megatron's serial number, "071-980", is an apparent reference to July 1980, the month in which [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s ''{{w|Shogun Warriors (toys)|Shogun Warriors}}'' #18 was published, in which the name "Megatron" was first used by the company.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Anti-Vocationist League]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Gladiators]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Point One Percenters]]
[[Category:Rulers of Cybertron]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

Thrust (Movie)

2022-05-04T22:43:18Z

NotaTfFanObv: Indulge my perfectionist ways

{{factions|decepticonfilm}}
{{disambig3|Thrust}}
:''Thrust is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[live-action film series]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:BB-Thrust-concept.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|''G1'' Thrust was primarily green and light grey, right?]]
Lieutenant '''Thrust''' is in charge of the lighter long-range Decepticons. Which works out great for him, because it means he can send ''them'' out on dangerous missions. This way he doesn't have to get up close and personal with the [[Autobot]]s himself.

Indeed, Thrust can be a colossal coward. He's as "brave" as they come when it comes to terrorizing unarmed [[human]]s, but once even a decently-armed human force comes into play, let alone fully-armed Autobots, Thrust is off like a shot. He has no intention of hanging around and getting killed.<ref>''Revenge of the Fallen'' Deluxe Class Thrust packaging bio</ref>

==Fiction==
===IDW movie comics===
[[File:Thrustandpalsnefarious5.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=1.65]]
Thrust was among the Transformers captured by the [[Initiative]] and mind-controlled into being one of their soldiers. When the Autobots and [[NEST]] assaulted the Initiative's mobile headquarters, Thrust was released in the Initiative's final battle. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 5|Nefarious #5}}

Thrust battled [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]], [[Dune Runner (ROTF)|Dune Runner]], and [[Knock Out (ROTF)|Knock Out]] until he was eventually subdued by [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]], and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]. {{storylink|Nefarious issue 6|Nefarious #6}}
{{-}}

===Titan movie comics===
Thrust was one of [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]]'s Decepticons and took part in an ambush on Autobot/[[NEST]] forces in [[Russia]] alongside [[Skywarp (Movie)|Skywarp]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.20|Divided Loyalties}} After [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] took down Bludgeon, Thrust was either killed or captured by NEST. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.21|A Short, Sharp Lesson}}

====Letters page====
Thrust and [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] were old colleagues in the [[Seeker (Movie)|Seekers]]. Starscream wanted to reunite with him someday. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 9|#9's Star Screams}}

===Toy bios===
[[File:Thrust rotf.jpg|thumb|150px]]
Knowing that an airborne attacker almost always had an advantage over ground targets, Thrust didn't hesitate to attack when he spotted [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] traveling on his own, as destroying one of the Autobots' most famous warriors would have made for a great victory. Unfortunately for him, Bumblebee had years of experience fighting fliers and knew exactly how to bring them down. {{storylink|#Transformers (2010)|Crash Landing Attack}}
{{-}}

===''Bumblebee'' film===
[[File:BB Thrust and Thundercracker.jpg|thumb|350px|He better not get himself stuck inside a seam.]]
Thrust was among the Seeker hordes under the command of [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]]. Rallying behind [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], Thrust participated in an attack on the Autobots' launch pad in an effort to prevent them from evacuating Cybertron. While they succeeded in this task, all the Autobots save [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] managed to escape before the launchpad tower fell. After Prime was attacked by [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]], Thrust and the other Decepticons closed in to attack the Autobot leader. Despite this, Prime managed to escape the planet. {{storylink|Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee}}
{{--}}

==Games==
====''Revenge of the Fallen'' - The Game (PS2/Wii)====
{{charstubgame}}
As [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] jumped out of a large cargo plane over [[Shanghai]], Thrust (or another lieutenant like him) fought Optimus, only to be blown to pieces. More of them later assaulted [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] in the Decepticon base. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Wii/PS2)|Revenge of the Fallen: The Game (Wii/PS2)}}

==Toys==
===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[File:ROTF-toy Thrust.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I am adorable and I will kill you!]]
*'''Thrust''' (Deluxe Class, [[2009]])

:Part of the seventh wave of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Thrust is a [[retool]] and [[redeco]] of ''Revenge'' [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]] with a new head, transforming into an approximation of an {{w|F-35 Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II/Joint Strike Fighter}}. His right arm features a rotary cannon with a rotating barrel, activated by a gear-wheel embedded in his forearm. His [[Mech Alive]] gimmick is located in his upper arms; turning his forearms makes the machinery inside his biceps turn in time. Thrust does have a waist joint but turning it is impossible because the tail fin (attached to his waist) tabs into his back. Surprisingly, unlike most Deluxe Class jet figures, he actually has rolling landing gear.

:Thrust was initially released with the standard Decepticon symbol tampographed on his wings and fuselage. A running change was made, correcting these with the movie style Decepticon symbol.

:This mold was redecoed and further retooled into ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' [[Air Raid (Movie)#Dark of the Moon|Air Raid]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/Thrust/thrust.htm More information on Thrust at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Transformers'' (2010)===
[[File:TargetCrashLandingAttackBumblebeeThrust.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I am adorable and I will probably be killed!]]
*'''Crash Landing Attack''' (Multi-pack, [[2010]])

:This [[Target]]-exclusive ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' multi-pack contains a low-visibility camouflage [[redeco]] of Thrust and an electric blue/bright yellow redeco of "Movie Preview" ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#CrashLandingAttack|Bumblebee]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/TargetThrust/thrust.htm More information on Crash Landing Attack Thrust at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Studio Series''===
[[File:SS76-Bumblebee-Thrust.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|I am not adorable and it's unknown if I'll kill or be killed!]]
* '''Thrust''' (Voyager Class, [[2021]])
**''Movie'': '''''Bumblebee'''''
**''Hasbro ID number'': '''76'''
**''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SS-73'''
**''TakaraTomy release date'': [[February 26]], [[2022]]
**''Accessories'': Cannon, 2 Null-ray blasters, "Cybertron Falls" backdrop (1st version)

:''[[Studio Series]]'' Thrust is a retool of the third [[Starscream (Movie)/toys#SS72|Starscream]] from the same line, transforming from a robot accurate to his appearance in ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' into a green-and-grey Cybertronian tetrajet in 30 steps. He reuses ''Studio Series'' [[Blitzwing (BB)#Studio Series|Blitzwing]]'s head but has a new chest piece with a conehead cowl surrounding his neck and head.

:He comes with two Null-Ray blasters evocative of his Generation 1 [[Thrust (G1)|namesake]], a cannon, and a cardboard backdrop display depicting a war-torn Cybertron as it appears at the beginning of the film.

:Thrust was first found in early July 2021 at [[Toys"R"Us]] in the [[Philippines]]<ref>[https://news.tfw2005.com/2021/07/01/transformers-studio-series-ss-76-thrust-bumblebee-movie-found-in-phillipines-436569 ''Studio Series'' Thrust found in Philippines Toys"R"Us.]</ref> before the official reveal later in the month.

:This toy can be repurposed as any of the generic green-and-grey conehead Seekers featured in ''Bumblebee''.

:The ''Bumblebee'' Starscream mold was also used to make [[Thundercracker (Movie)#SS89|Thundercracker]], utilizing Thrust's head mold.
{{--}}

==Notes==
* ''Revenge of the Fallen'' Thrust was developed independently of the on-screen character, yet shares the same article for simplicity and because both of them are portrayed as Decepticon jets with [[conehead]]-like aesthetics, much like [[Thrust (G1)|Generation 1 Thrust]].
*During the Cybertron scenes, Thrust's onscreen design is used for numerous [[generic]] [[Seeker (Movie)|Seeker]]s, with one being blasted from afar by Optimus Prime and another being bowled over by Bumblebee/B-127. Trying to distinguish which Seekers appeared in ''Bumblebee'' only continues to get harder with each watch. His ''Studio Series'' toy bio specifically states that the ''real'' Thrust is the green-and-grey coneheaded Seeker who joins Starscream in "blast[ing] the Autobot[s'] launchpad with missile fire to stop their escape from Cybertron".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Thrust''' (スラスト ''Surasuto'')

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Bumblebee Decepticons]]
[[Category:Movie Seekers]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Studio Series Decepticons]]

Land Before Prime (episode)

2022-05-04T10:52:10Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Real-world references */

{{disambig2|the ''Rescue Bots'' episode|the ''Rescue Bots'' book|Land Before Prime (book)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transformers: Rescue Bots]]'' ep 53
|prev=Rise of the Heroes
|next=Big Game
|image=LandBeforePrime Dinoptimus.jpg
|caption="I suppose you're wondering why I've gathered you all here today."
|title="Land Before Prime"
|airdate=[[November 1]], [[2014]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|animation studio=[[DHX Media]] [[Top Draw Animation]]
|writer=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|director=[[Nathan Chew]]
}}
'''After discovering an island of dinosaurs, Optimus must embrace his primal side.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:LandBeforePrime Heatwave vs dino.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Heatwave: robot dental hygienist.]]
Outside the [[Griffin Rock Firehouse Headquarters|Griffin Rock firehouse]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] gives a brief speech as a prelude to a routine inspection of how well the [[Rescue Bot]]s are acclimatizing. As Optimus observes with [[Cody Burns|Cody]], [[Boulder]] and [[Graham Burns|Graham]] move rocks into the shape of a Rescue Bot insignia. [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] and [[Charlie Burns|Chief Burns]] engage in a race with [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] and [[Kade Burns|Kade]], though Heatwave "cheats" by using his boat form to take a short cut through a river. [[Dani Burns|Dani]] and [[Blades (RB)|Blades]] attempt a loop of the stone [[griffin]] atop [[Mount Griffin]], only to encounter a pterodactyl sitting atop the peak. Once the roads to the mountain are closed off, the team contacts [[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]] to take a look at the creature. They speculate that it came up through one of the sinkholes that [[Rise of the Heroes|opened up recently]]. In the meantime, Cody is hunting for an idea for his [[Lad Pioneer]] merit project. Unfortunately his attempt at playing the bugle is a bust, so Heatwave suggests he teach Cody self-defense. Cody's attempt at pushing over barrels is even less successful than his bugling. In the control center, Chief Burns and Optimus take an emergency call from Doc Greene, whose hang glider is being pursued by the pterodactyl. Dani and Blades soon catch the creature in a huge cage and deposit it on the fire station roof, where Doc Greene attaches a tracking device to its leg, and they release it. The pterodactyl heads off over the sea, leading to the team concluding that it originated from [[Wayward Island]].

[[File:LandBeforePrime gameshow.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"You get a dinosaur mode, you get a dinosaur mode, you get a dinosaur mode!"]]
Kade and Doc Greene head out to Wayward Island in Heatwave, taking [[Trex]] along (towed behind in a rubber raft) as a bodyguard. Leaving Heatwave and Kade at the shore, Doc Greene heads inland riding on Trex. He soon stumbles on a clearing containing a handful of real live [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaurs]], and spots a rock-filled sinkhole. As he moves the rocks aside, he accidentally triggers a rockfall, and though Trex manages to nudge him out of the way, the robot dino himself becomes buried. At the mercy of the dinosaurs, Doc Greene calls for help, and Heatwave quickly arrives to lend a hand. Unfortunately the dinosaurs turn out to be too much even for Heatwave, who has to follow Doc Greene back to the beach, leaving Trex trapped. Back at base, Graham and Boulder try to interest Cody in some unsolvable equations courtesy of [[Gremsky Technical Institute|Gremsky Tech.]] but he declines and heads down to the bunker. There, Chase attempts to get Cody involved in a game show he's created called "Police Challenge". When Cody's not enthusiastic about that either, Optimus observes that no one's asked what he wants to do.

[[File:LandBeforePrime tar pit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Don't worry, Toaster. I'm not scared.]]
Heatwave returns with Kade and Doc Greene. As the [[H.B. Luskey|Mayor]] is making public noises about turning the pterodactyl into a tourist attraction, Chief Burns realizes they have to protect the dinosaurs by returning them underground. While Cody and Optimus observe from base, the team heads out to Wayward Island on the ''[[Darby Ava]]''. They locate Trex, but are immediately set on by the unhappy dinosaurs. Blades is damaged when one of them bites his tail rotor, resulting in Heatwave calling a retreat. Unfortunately the four Bots run straight into a tar pit and start sinking. Back at base, Optimus decides it's time for him to lend a hand, and takes Cody along. Driving along the ocean floor, they quickly reach Wayward Island and find the clearing full of dinosaurs. As the dinosaurs seem to object to anything which is not a dinosaur, Optimus scans Trex, taking on a new ''Tyrannosaurus'' [[alternate mode]]. Cody deems this "cool".

[[File:LandBeforePrime baby dinosaurs.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''Come on, let's go and run around, run around'' ''What a beautiful feeling'' ''We finally found our peaceful valley'' ''And everybody's having a good time now!'']]
The rest of the team is startled when dino Optimus arrives at the tar pit, but with his help, the Rescue Bots are extracted from their sticky predicament. Though Heatwave apologizes for failing the mission, Optimus asserts the mission isn't over yet, and they head back to the sinkhole. The dinosaurs are still hostile, but Cody suggests asking them what's bugging them. Optimus gets them to back off long enough for Cody to peer inside the sinkhole, and he spots baby dinosaurs, separated from their parents by the rockfall. Optimus unleashes a sonic blast that clears the rocks, reuniting the dinosaurs with their young. As the happy dinosaurs head back underground, the team starts sealing up the hole. Heatwave takes a moment to offer words of thanks to Optimus, only for the Autobot leader to briefly lose his composure and roar at Heatwave.

Back at base, Cody announces he's decided on a Lad Pioneer project: building a life-size dinosaur model, the head of which an indignant Blades discovers lying on his launch pad.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] (2)
*[[Boulder]] (3)
*[[Blades (RB)|Blades]] (4)
*[[Chase (RB)|Chase]] (5)
|c3=
*[[Charlie Burns]] (6)
*[[Cody Burns]] (7)
*[[Kade Burns]] (8)
*[[Dani Burns]] (9)
*[[Graham Burns]] (10)
*[[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]] (11)
*[[Alper]] (13)
*[[Huxley Prescott]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Trex]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"You say potato, I say solanum tuberosum."
:—'''Doc Greene'''

"Time for the lightning round! Blades, is the lightning ready?''
:—'''Chase''' reaching Japanese levels of game show danger.

"What's our rule about [[television]]?" 
"Even if it's a documentary, it's not always real!"
:—'''Dani''' and '''Blades'''

"Where we're going we won't need boats."
:—'''Optimus''' channeling [[Doc Brown|another Doc]] he knows.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Blades identifies the pterodactyl as the same one that attacked him back in "[[What Rises Above]]".
*The sinkholes in Griffin Rock were caused during "[[Rise of the Heroes]]".
*Optimus briefly exhibits primal behaviour foreshadowing the organic-scanning complications that will be explored further in "[[Big Game]]" and, to a lesser extent, "[[Quarry's Quarry]]".

===Transformers references===
*Optimus Prime obliquely refers to [[Unicron]] when he tells Kade that "[[One Shall Stand|there are more things under this Earth than most humans know]]."

===Real-world references===
*The episode's title references the 1988 animated film ''{{w|The Land Before Time}}''.
*Doc Greene says he's wanted to see a pterodactyl since he was the size of a ''{{w|Compsognathus}}''.
*Chase refers to [[Thanksgiving]] and [[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]].
*Blades makes several references to ''[[Jurassic Park]]'', including having seen a movie about an island of dinosaurs, and the idea that a ''Tyrannosaurus'' can't see you if you're standing still.
*Optimus paraphrases ''[[Back to the Future]]''.
*Blades refers to Optimus as a "dinosaur whisperer", a reference to National Geographic series ''{{w|Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan|Dog Whisperer}}'', and ultimately to the book and film ''{{w|The Horse Whisperer}}''.
*In a deviation from the standard Jurassic Park references, Optimus' line "Cover your ears, Cody Burns" is likely a reference to a similar line given by Aslan in ''{{w|The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe|The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe}}''.

===Animation and technical errors===
*The [[Settlers' Bell]] is missing from the lighthouse in the picture Graham shows off of the docks.

===Trivia===
*Cody rides inside Optimus while the latter is in [[robot mode]], something common in ''Rescue Bots'', but not so much in ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'', where Optimus spends most of his time.
*This episode was later adapted into storybook form as ''[[Land Before Prime (book)|Land Before Prime]]''.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinos en cavale'''" ("Dinos on the loose")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:**The episode was aired after ''[[Odd Bot Out]]''. Along with the following season 3 episode, ''[[Big Game]]'', it was likely placed into season 2 to fill the episode slots left by ''[[The Riders of Midwinter]]'' and ''[[Chief Woodrow]]'', two episodes that hadn't been released anywhere at the time.

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinókaland'''" ("Dino Adventure")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 1|1 December]] [[2014]]
:**The episode was aired after ''[[The Griffin Rock Express]]''. Along with the following season 3 episode, ''[[Big Game]]'', it was likely placed into season 2 to fill the episode slots left by ''[[The Riders of Midwinter]]'' and ''[[Chief Woodrow]]'', two episodes that hadn't been released anywhere at the time.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'isola primitiva'''" ("The primitive island")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 12|12 August]] [[2017]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Terra dos Dinossauros'''" ("Land of the Dinosaurs")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 1|1 June]] [[2016]] (Netflix)

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2015]] — ''Rescue Bots'' — "Dinobots!" ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Rescue Bots episodes]]

Carzap (BT)

2022-04-13T23:50:29Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* 2019 IDW continuity */

{{factions|autobotg2|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Carzap}}
:''Carzap is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Block Town]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]''
[[File:TFSS CarZap art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.34|Carzap forgot to finish [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|spray-painting his hands]].]]

'''Carzap''' (カーザップ ''Kāzappu'') has an unusual outlook on life. Where some people might mourn missed opportunities, he believes that life is cyclical—have patience, and you might just that find another open door presents itself. This philosophy is born of Carzap's circuit racing pastime. Life, like the race track, is a loop.

==Fiction==
===''Wings Universe''===
[[File:Carzappeacesigns-ACommonFoe.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3.|There we go. All done.]]
Carzap was born on [[Earth]] as a "Generation 2" [[Transformer]]. His creation took place in the [[Block Town]] unit of [[Blackrock Enterprises|Blackrock Corporations]]' [[Tsukuba Laboratory]] in [[Japan]], and, as such, Carzap has much affection for his "homeland". It was also in Japan that Carzap became fascinated with car races by watching them at the [[Dia Speedway]]. {{storylink|A Common Foe|Carzap's bio}} During the Machine Wars, Carzap became part of the "Alpha Squad", led by fellow second generation Autobot [[Rapido]]. (Or perhaps the Bravo Squad...there was some debate.) His unit
was sent from Earth to Cybertron as reinforcements as part of a plan by [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]. {{storylink|A Common Foe}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Carzap_Kre-O_Character_Image.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|Oh the irony...oh the irony...]]
Carzap was relieved that a fire had been put out. {{storylink|Dive Into the Fire! The Rescue Operation of Friendship}}

Earth's Most Wanted criminals and their army of [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbirds]] attempted to steal [[Metroplex (Kre-O)|Metroplex]]'s brain on a floppy disk, but their group was repelled by [[G.B. Blackrock]] and Carzap. {{storylink|The Brick List: Earth's Most Wanted}}
{{--}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The religious have a saying, "render unto Carzap". {{storylink|Derailment}}

===2019 IDW continuity===

Carzap was a security guard working for [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] at the [[Forge Pyramid]]. When war came to Cybertron, the Decepticons attacked the Pyramid as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots were visiting. Carzap fought to defend the Pyramid, but its regulation systems were already damaged by quakes before being damaged by laser fire. The Pyramid collapsed under a plasma disaster. Carzap evacuated with Perceptor and the Autobots as the Pyramid was destroyed. {{storylink|War World: Titans}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Carzap.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2]]
Carzap participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were two of him! He was an Epic character that could be recruited during the September Daily Campaign by collecting 20 alpha cores, 20 beta cores, 20 omega cores, and 10 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Block Town''===
[[File:Windbreaker-bt.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Parking Space Set" didn't have the same oomph.]]
*'''Garage Set''' (Block Town, <strike>1996</strike>)
**''ID number'': '''TFBT-5'''
**''Accessories'': Engine block/gun, garage brick set

:The European-original [[Windbreaker#Toys|Windbreaker]] mold was one of several intended to be used in the post-''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)#Japan|G-2]]'' [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Block Town]]'' line. To be [[redeco]]ed in white with red robot parts, Carzap was to come with the Garage Set, a building-block car port that could be rebuilt into a battle station of some form. This set ultimately never came to release. In 2005, a supposed Takara "release" schedule listed the Block Town sets among several other future items coming out. Only the ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Galaxy Force]]'' items on that list saw release, however (and some only as store [[exclusive]]s to boot).

:A picture of the Garage Set's box in the ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]'' guidebook gives the Windbreaker redeco the name "Carzap", which was what Windbreaker's Japanese name was revealed to be on a [[BotCon Japan 2000]]-exclusive poster.
{{canceledtoy}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:TL-toy CarzapTFSS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Blackrock loved Bumblebee so much, he built a new car in Bee's image.]]
*'''Carzap''' (TFSS 3.0, 2015)
**''TFSS3 number'': '''1'''
**''Accessories:'' 2 blasters, gas pump/laser blaster block set

:A [[retool]] of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#T30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Deluxe Class [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#T30Deluxe|Bumblebee]], ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' Carzap sports a new head based on the [[Windbreaker#Toys|Windbreaker mold]], and a deco based on the cancelled ''Block Town'' Carzap toy. He transforms into a muscle car that resembles a fifth generation [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Ford Mustang|Ford Mustang]]. He comes a pair of chromed blasters that can be combined into one, larger weapon, or mounted in halves on each end of his vehicle-mode spoiler via [[5 mm post]].

:In homage to ''Block Town'', Carzap includes a small gas pump ''Kre-O'' building set which can turn into a cannon, and a [[G.B. Blackrock#Toys|G.B. Blackrock]] [[Kreon]].

: He was available only as part of the [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service#Series 3.0 (2015)|Transformers Figure Subscription Service 3.0]].

:This mold was also retooled into ''Generations'' [[Nightbeat (G1)#Generations|Nightbeat]] and [[Goshooter#Generations|Goshooter]].

::*''[http://tfu.info/2015/Autobot/TFSSCarzap/carzap.htm More information on Carzap at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
*''Kre-O'' Carzap in the online manga is made from several existing ''Kre-O'' pieces, in this case he uses the grey or chromed version of the [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Prowl]] helmet (with additional grey details). His appearance in the "Earth's Most Wanted" comic uses a [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Sideswipe]] helmet instead. His color scheme is very different from that of the original Carzap from the [[BotCon Japan 1997|1997 BotCon Japan poster]], though.
*Windbreaker's gang-molded pair [[Skram (G2)#Toys|Skram]] was the only Axelerator not shown as part of the canceled ''[[Block Town]]'' series. Judging from gang-molding, a hypothetical ''Block Town'' "Skram" alongside Carzap would have been a red car with white robot parts.

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Block Town]]
[[Category:Fan Club exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Autobots]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Wings Universe Autobots]]

Countdown (RB)

2022-03-22T10:25:33Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Trivia */

{{disambig3|Countdown}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transformers: Rescue Bots]]'' ep 20
|prev=You've Been Squilshed
|next=The Haunting of Griffin Rock
|image=Countdown Bots squishing bugs.jpg
|title="Countdown"
|airdate=[[July 21]], [[2012]]
|production company=[[Allspark (company)|Hasbro Studios]]
|animation studio=[[Atomic Cartoons]]
|writer=[[Catherine Clinch]]
|director=[[Nathan Chew]]
}}

'''Cody and the Rescue Bots try to solve the vanishing mystery when the residents of Griffin Rock start disappearing.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Countdown Cody cycles through town.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"I saw something like this on TV once. It didn't end well."]]
[[Dither]] is pursued around the archive room by [[Edison]] and [[Aristotle]], who are in turn being chased by [[Frankie Greene|Frankie]] and [[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]]. During the chase, one of the dogs knocks over a drum full of small spheres that turn into bugs. One lands on Doc Greene's nose, and when Frankie comes to find him, he's gone. The bugs quickly depart from the [[Hall of Inspiration]] and start spreading out. Soon cars are crashing, driverless and people are disappearing all over [[Griffin Rock]]. As [[Cody Burns|Cody]] takes a call from [[Sharma|Mr. Sharma]], he sees [[Harrison (RB)|Mr. Harrison]]'s empty helipack fly past. [[Kade Burns|Kade]] and [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] report finding empty campsites while [[Dani Burns|Dani]] reports empty ships at sea. The emergency calls all stop. After [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] stops a runaway truck, he turns around to find that [[Charlie Burns|Chief Burns]] has disappeared too.

[[Image:Countdown Graham examines bug.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"You stare at that bug! ''You stare til you learn!''"]]
Cody cycles through deserted streets to rendezvous with the rest of the team at the location the Chief was last seen. Though Heatwave blames the shrink ray, Cody doesn't think it's likely and a few moments later a man disappears in front of their eyes. When they spot the bugs running around, everyone piles into the bots for safety. Chase manages to catch one of the bugs, so [[Graham Burns|Graham]] suggests returning to the [[Griffin Rock Firehouse Headquarters|fire station]] so he can take a look at it. On the way, Cody gets a call from Frankie who's still in the archive. Blades makes a stop so they can pick her up, but they then have to shake off the swarm by flying through the wind farm. Back at the fire station, Graham pokes at the bug they caught and discovers a link to an experiment in the 50s to open [[unspace|subspace]] wormholes with quantum crystals. Graham explains that the townspeople have all been transported someplace else, but before he can explain the solution he's come up with, the bug lands on him and he disappears.

Graham lands up somewhere pitch black in the middle of his sentence. As he calls out, he's found by the Chief who says half the town is there. Graham and Greene swap notes before Greene shows them the power generator he's found. Chief switches it on and they find they're in a cavern with a half-built encampment. As they speculate as to where they are, Dani arrives and tells them the bugs got into the fire house.

[[Image:Countdown consulting Baranova.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Upstairs, Kade, Cody and Frankie deal with the bugs that got in, while the [[Rescue Bot]]s splatter the bugs that get into the garage. Blades manages to trap one in a jar, and [[Boulder]] discovers it doesn't like when he taps on the glass. Frankie gets the idea to contact [[Anna Baranova|Professor Baranova]]. Baranova says the bugs are [[Tracer (RB)|tracers]], part of the [[Sanctuary Plan]] project to safeguard the island's population in case of a cataclysm. The Sanctuary shelter turned out to be unstable, and the plan was shut down, but the location of the shelter is a mystery. Baranova is teleported by a tracer before they can go get her. Piling into Heatwave, the kids head for the lab to check for information on the Sanctuary Plan.

[[Image:Countdown everyone in the cavern.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cody dares the viewer to pull his finger.]]
Back in the sanctuary, the trapped people have found they don't have any provisions, and quakes are making the cavern unstable, so they prepare to dig themselves out. Heatwave reaches the laboratory, but as Cody, Frankie and Kade get inside, Kade is zapped by a tracer. Frankie comes up with a blueprint for the shelter shortly before a tracer gets her, and Cody can only find that it's located in the biggest cavern under Griffin Rock. He disappears just as he's reporting his findings to Heatwave. The rest of the bots arrive, having found a sonic signal that disables the bugs, and the four bots resolve to search every cave under the island. Chase points out the nearby mountain, which Boulder says also happens to be called Griffin Rock, and Blades remembers seeing a door. The four bots race there and break through the slab blocking the entrance to the cavern, freeing everyone. Frankie makes Cody promise not to mention to anyone she's afraid of the dark.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] (7)
*[[Blades (RB)|Blades]] (9)
*[[Chase (RB)|Chase]] (11)
*[[Boulder]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Frankie Greene]] (2)
*[[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]] (3)
*[[Harrison (RB)|Harrison]] (4)
*[[Cody Burns]] (5)
*[[Kade Burns]] (6)
*[[Dani Burns]] (8)
*[[Charlie Burns]] (10)
*[[Graham Burns]] (13)
*[[Anna Baranova]] (14)
|c4=
*[[Dither]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"You have broken the law and must now submit to the fair but firm hand of justice."
:—'''Chase''' arrests one of the bugs.

'''Blades:''' *groan* 
'''Frankie:''' What was that?! 
'''Cody:''' Engine noise! 
'''Dani:''' Funky rotor!
:—Frankie still doesn't know the bots are sentient.

"We're at war, and the [[Cybertronian Combat Guide]] says we should understand our enemy."
:—'''Blades'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The Greene's dogs previously appeared in "[[Cody on Patrol]]", while Dither was previously seen (but not named) in "[[Deep Trouble (RB)|Deep Trouble]]".
*Heatwave refers to the [[Minimizer|shrink ray]] from "[[Small Blessings]]".
*Professor Baranova was previously introduced in "[[The Griffin Rock Triangle]]".
*The two scientists seen in a photo related to the [[Sanctuary Plan]] reappear in the later episode "[[It's a Bot Time]]".

===Real-world references===
*Homage time again! This week, it's from such varied 'people are disappearing into thin air' sources as ''The Quiet Earth, Vanishing on 7th Street, Where Have All The People Gone?, Night Of The Comet'', and ''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation's'' "Remember Me".

===Trivia===
*As the Rescue Bots begin to head for the cave, Blades shoots upwards off the screen before transforming into helicopter mode. It's unclear if this indicates some sort of robot-mode flight capability or if he can just jump really high. Considering that he's [[The Lost Bell | previously displayed]] significant jumping skills, it's most likely the latter.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Disparitions'''" ("Disappearances")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Visszaszámlálás'''" ("Countdown")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 26|26 February]] [[2013]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Conto alla rovescia'''" ("Countdown")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 20|20 October]] [[2017]]
:*For unknown reasons, the episode was skipped for months, with a rerun of "[[Walk on the Wild Side]]" replacing its place as the 20th episode of Season 1, for unknown reasons. Then, in the middle of October, the episode was suddendly aired for the first time, one week after the airing of the series finale. At least we have the complete series now...

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Contagem Regressiva'''" ("Countdown")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 9|9 May]] [[2013]]

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Rescue Bots'' — "Mystery Rescue" ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Rescue Bots'' — "Bumblebee to the Rescue" ([[Beyond Home Entertainment]]) 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2015 — ''Rescue Bots'' — "Complete Season 1" ([[Beyond Home Entertainment]])

[[Category:Rescue Bots episodes]]

Hidden (Cybertron)

2022-03-04T11:15:07Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|the ''Cybertron'' episode|the IDW comic story|All Hail Megatron issue 16}}

{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=3
|series2=Galaxy Force
|ep2=4
|title="Hidden"
|japanese=地球での暮らし方、教えます
|romaji=Chikyū de no Kurashikata, Oshiemasu
|translation=A Lesson in Living on Earth
|image=Cyb_ep3_you_go_less.jpg
|caption=
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Manabu Ishikawa]]
|director=[[Jun'ichi Watanabe]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[January 29]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[July 2]], 2005 (English)
|continuity=
}}
'''The Autobots learn that being robots in disguise is more complicated than they thought.'''

==Synopsis==

At sea, [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] is riding aboard one of two Autobots who have taken on colorful submarine [[alternate mode]]s. He declares this to be totally awesome, until a ship from the real Navy shows up, and the crew demands that the two Autobots identify themselves. When they don't respond, the Navy prepares to fire on them, and the Autobots dive beneath the waves to escape the danger (much more energetically than a real sub could). The captain of the ship decides to pretend the whole thing never happened.

[[File:Cyb ep3 coby cars.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|I'm lonely...]]

In a suburban parking lot, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] is attempting to teach an assortment of sports car Autobots how to behave like real Earth cars, including parallel parking. Unfortunately, the hot-rodding Autobots' tendency to show off draws a crowd of spectators who begin admiring the cars, and Coby begins extemporizing about how he designed them. A police officer then points out that the cars aren't street legal, so Coby quickly declares that they're not real cars, but actually ''voice-activated remote-controlled'' cars. A quick demonstration of the cars' remarkable abilities (e.g., ''dancing'') befuddles the officer, and Coby escapes in one of the cars.

Deep in the desert, an old man driving a truck stops at a red traffic light. He comments to himself that there's no conceivable need for a light here, and a disembodied voice tells him to not even think about running the light. It then turns green, and the same voice tells him he can go. Well and truly freaked, he speeds away. [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] comes out from behind a rock, and advises the traffic light—actually an [[Signal Lancer|Autobot]] in disguise—that traffic lights don't usually talk.

[[File:Cyb ep3 collapsing the black hole.jpg|thumb|225px| Suddenly, just as the movie started to get good, the screen conked out for the fifth time that evening.]]

Later, back at the Autobots' base, [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] admonishes the kids that they need to pick the Autobots' altmodes a little more carefully, since they don't want to call attention to themselves. The kids begin to squabble among themselves over who screwed up worst, while the exasperated Jetfire leaves to join the other Autobots in the command center, where they are teleconferencing with [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]]. From his position on a remote station, Red Alert is about to initiate an attempt to collapse the universe-devouring [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] in on itself with a [[gravitron grid]], thus ending the threat to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Jetfire gripes about how unhelpful the kids have been, but [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] tells him to give them a chance, and they all turn their attention to Red Alert's efforts. Alas, the power of the black hole is too much for the graviton grid, and Vector Prime again states that the only real solution is to find the Cyber Planet Keys. The Autobots are skeptical, but Red Alert speaks up on Vector Prime's behalf, and the team decides to make the search for the Keys their top priority.

[[File:Cyb ep3 jetfire vs thundercracker.jpg|left|thumb|225px|This is no Blue Angels performance.]]

Jetfire meets with the kids again, and discovers that they're now buckling down and discussing the practical aspects of hiding the Autobots on Earth. His new feeling of reassurance is quickly shunted aside by [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], who informs him that he has just picked up some Air Force transmissions regarding an unidentified bogey. Scattorshot identifies it as [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]], and Jetfire quickly speeds into action with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and Vector Prime to save the two military planes that have tried to engage the Decepticon. Jetfire swoops in to protect the planes, shielding them from 'Cracker's missiles with his body. For a moment, he appears to be destroyed, but then he emerges from the explosion, and instinctively summons his [[Cyber Key]] for the first time. His powered-up attack easily disposes of Thundercracker's next salvo, and Vector Prime opens a [[dimension gate]] to teleport the Air Force planes to the [[Bermuda Triangle]], well beyond Thundercracker's reach. Thundercracker flees, and Jetfire pursues him, clashing in an aerial, vehicle mode duel that Jetfire is winning, until Scattorshot shoots Thundercracker down.

[[File:Cyb ep3 optimus cyber key.jpg|thumb|225px]]

Optimus Prime, meanwhile, is confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and laid out by a swipe of the Decepticon leader's arm. As Optimus and Vector Prime demand the return of the [[Planet Map]], Megatron just stands there looking smug and refuses. Optimus hurls Starscream aside and switches to Super Mode, but as he charges towards Megatron, Starscream slashes him across the back. His [[Burning justice|heart burning]], Optimus summons his own Cyber Key for the first time and knocks Starscream down with a double cannon blast. Megatron still refuses to surrender the map and trades a few punches with Optimus, but when Autobot reinforcements arrive, Megatron declares it's time to leave. He brags about having already located the first Cyber Planet Key, then warps away with Starscream.

One of the Air Force pilots reports in to his [[Mike Franklin|superior officer]] about their strange encounter with giant robots. The officer doesn't seem particularly surprised, and seems to know about Transformers. He tells the pilot that everything about his encounter is classified.

Back at the Autobot base, Coby is setting the refugees up with sensible, inconspicuous altmodes, Bud is providing them with templates for holographic drivers, and Lori is teaching them the traffic laws. Jetfire comments that this may work out after all.

And, deep in space, Megatron stares down at [[Velocitron]], the Speed Planet, location of the first Cyber Planet Key...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*Two unnamed submarine Autobots (1,2)
*Assorted generic sports car Autobots (6)
*[[Signal Lancer]] (9)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (11)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (12)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (13)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (15)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] (16)
*[[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] (17)
*[[Vector Prime]] (18)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] (23)
*[[Six-Speed (Cybertron)|Six-Speed]] (24)
*Assorted refugees (25)

|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (20)
*[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (21)
*[[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Bud Hansen]] (3)
*Navy personnel (4)
*[[Coby Hansen]] (5)
*Parking lot spectators (7)
*Police officer (8)
*[[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] (10)
*Air Force personnel (19)
*[[Mike Franklin]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"But... I never got a chance to ask him where I could ''get'' one of those."
:—The friendly neighborhood '''police officer''', after Coby makes his getaway in one of those supercool cars.

"I'm supposed to do this all day long?" 
"Either that, or go home and get sucked into a black hole." 
"That's a good point."
:—'''Signal Lancer''' and '''Lori''' discuss the upside of being a traffic light.

"That's way better than a square dance for cars in a parking lot!" 
"Ha! Shows what you know! They were ''break''-dancing!"
:—'''Lori''' and '''Coby'''

"Unidentified flying object? Is it an Autobot or a Decepticon? Can you tell who it is?" 
"Just a second... good guy, bad guy, good guy, bad guy... bad guy! It's Thundercracker!"
:—'''Jetfire''' and '''Scattorshot'''

"You're a stone-cold fool, Jetfire." 
"Coming from you, that's a compliment." 
"Tell you what. Here's another little something coming from me!" 
[''Launches missiles.'']
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Jetfire'''

"Is that going to happen ''every'' time we need extra power? Vector Prime?" 
"Perhaps." 
"I hope so! That was amazing!" 
:—'''Optimus Prime,''' '''Vector Prime,''' and '''Jetfire''' discuss the amazing benefits of Cyber Keys. Most notably, '''[[Deus ex Machina|Deus Ex Machina.]]'''

"You're nothing better than a common thief." 
"Soon enough I'll be ruler of the Universe! I care not what vermin like you think of me."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron'''

"It's classified. Top secret. If you tell anyone, the only flying you'll do... is at an amusement park. Got it?" 
"Yes sir. But, what was that thing, anyway?" 
"It's classified. Top secret." 
"Yes sir. I know. But, what was that thing, anyway?" 
"It was nothing at all, pilot, understand?" 
"Yes sir! I do."
:—The '''[[Mike Franklin|mysterious government agent]]''' gives an '''Air Force pilot''' his orders...and us painful ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'' flashbacks.

"I'm going to teach you guys all the traffic laws. We're going to start with traffic lights, okay? So, what do you do when you see this color?" 
[''Green light.''] 
"You go!" 
"And this color?" 
[''Red light.''] 
"You go less!" 
"Very funny. Come on..."
:—'''Lori''' and assorted '''unnamed Autobots'''

==Notes==

===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===

*In ''Cybertron'', the cop who inspects the Autobot cars tells Coby that the drafting fins on the cars make them illegal to drive on the road. In ''Galaxy Force'', on the other hand, he suspects them of being stolen. As Coby denies it, ''Galaxy Force'' also sees him backpedal on his previous claim of designing them, as he states they're new on the market.
*While the Autobots remain unsure of whether to follow Vector Prime's plan in both versions of the show, ''Galaxy Force'' puts a little more emphasis on the fact that the Autobots are not entirely convinced that the Cyber Planet Keys even ''exist''. During Optimus and Megatron's battle towards the end of the episode, Megatron even questions why Prime wants the map back if he doesn't believe in the Keys.
*In a small change, ''Galaxy Force'' has the pilots that engage Thundercracker note that he has not responded to their hails. ''Cybertron'' makes it appear they're shooting at him without attempting contact!

===Pain count===
*"Cyber Key Power!": 2
*"Super mode!": 1

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
*How are those Blurr-like cars moving around upright when their wheels aren't touching the ground? Shouldn't their back ends be throwing up sparks and scraping asphalt?
*At 7:14, Jetfire's yellow cheek-vent is visibly clipping into his dark green collar.
*At 14:14, when Megatron and Starscream appear, Megatron and Vector Prime are both missing their feet. Maybe they left them on the ground.
*At 17:11 and 17:18, Optimus's ear-fins clip into his backpack. Those dramatic poses are nothing but trouble.

===Continuity errors===
*One of the Air Force pilots asks how Thundercracker got behind them, when he's clearly still in front of them.
*Vector Prime says that Jetfire's Cyber Key came without him needing to call it forth, before the key actually arrives.

===Transformers references===

*The Autobot cars under Coby's watch all use the bodyform of [[Blurr (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Blurr]], and one of them has his color scheme. Whether or not this ''is'' Blurr is a loaded question; check out the character's article for an in-depth examination.

===Trivia===
*With the first two episodes of the series having been skipped over when ''Cybertron'' debuted on American television, this episode was the first aired, dropping viewers right into the middle of things with no explanation in what must surely be one of the most fumble-fingered launches of a television program ''ever''.
*Let's face it. The scene in the parking lot is terribly silly on many levels.
*While it's quixotic to expect the physics of the universe-devouring black hole to make much sense, it may be worth pointing out that making a black hole "collapse in on itself" is redundant, and could actually make the problem ''worse''.
*The two Air Force jets are very similar in model to Thundercracker himself, but in a basic gray color scheme. However, the model of fighter jet is of ''[[Russia]]n'' make, while the pilots are American.
*When Optimus charges Megatron, then spins and falls down, it's really unclear why he fell.
[[File:Cyb ep3 blue traffic light.jpg|thumb|"THERE ARE ''GREEN'' LIGHTS!"]]
*Did Megatron come to Earth just to brag about possessing the Map and finding the first Key? Why?
*A blocking issue: At 18:20, part of Optimus's face is hidden by the fire engine light bar on his shoulder. It looks very odd, and a slightly different angle would have solved the problem.
*When Signal Lancer (as he will later be named) switches his light colors, and when Lori teaches the Autobots the rules of the road, the green traffic light is ''blue''. As you will be aware if you watch much anime, however, this is ''not'' actually a mistake. This color conundrum is an odd Japanese cultural tic based on the fact that for a large portion of the language's history, they used the same word, "ao" (青), for both blue and green. Although a separate word meaning green has since been established in the language (''midori'' 緑), "ao" is still widely used to describe both shades of blue and green: the blue sky can be "ao", but so is a green traffic light. As a befuddling consequence of this quirk of language, illustrations of traffic lights, be they in driving manuals or animated cartoons about robots from space, are ''actually colored blue'', despite the fact that the real, tangible physical traffic lights on streets in Japan ''are actually green''. You get all that? Okay, now forget it and go play outside, or something. Life's too short, man.
*Speaking of Signal Lancer, this is his first appearance!
*This episode was packaged in-disc with toys from the line such as [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Longrack (Cybertron)|Longrack]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — A New Beginning ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — A New Beginning (Paramount) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — A New Beginning (Paramount)
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 01 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — A New Beginning (Paramount) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — A New Beginning (Paramount) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — A New Beginning (Paramount) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection (Paramount) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Ironhide Team

2022-02-25T10:37:11Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Lost in translation */

{{disambig2|episode 46 of the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]|[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s assault team from the ''Energon'' cartoon|Team Ironhide}}
{{episode|
|series=Energon
|ep=46
|prev=Decepticon Army
|next=Formidable
|title="Ironhide Team"
|japanese=凄いぞ! チームロードバスター
|romaji=Sugoi zo! Team Roadbuster
|translation=Awesome! Team Roadbuster
|image=E46 titlecard.jpg
|caption=There's no Ironhide in "team".
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Mitsuru Kawasaki]], [[Hideaki Nakano]] (asst. dir.)
|animation studio=[[Actas Inc.|Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[November 19|19 November]] [[2004]] (Japanese) [[February 18]], [[2005]] (Canada) [[May 24]], 2005 (USA)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''The Decepticons struggle with a sabotaged energon grid and a group of mutated Terrorcons, Ironhide learns the trials of leadership, and Optimus Prime tries to walk to a door.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] recaps last episode's ending events: [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] found his family, and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] have uncovered something ominous <s>below</s> in the [[Super Energon Temple|Super Energon chamber]].

[[Brian Jones|Dr. Jones]] makes his way up a ladder to freedom, hoping the [[Decepticon]]s won't catch up with him. A second later, however, Snow Cat and Demolishor come storming past as fast as they can go. Hot on their heels: a horde of beetle [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]].

[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] has [[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] at swordpoint, demanding to know why he should spare him. Six Shot explains that only he can unlock the energon grid. Just then a rumbling interrupts them. Demolishor reports in from amid the horde of supersized Terrorcon beetles. Galvatron realizes they need [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] to stop the monsters, but he's currently engaged in battle with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Six Shot says ''he'' knows a way to get rid of the Autobots; all it'll take is a little [[energon gas]]!

[[File:Energon-Insecticon-Rampage.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|left|Dr. Jones is [[Spider-Man]]?]] Prime, [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega]] and [[Superion Maximus]] are approaching the spaceport. Scorponok briefly engages him, but is recalled by [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], leaving [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus]] and [[Constructicon Maximus|Constructicon]] to deal with the Autobots alone.

In the control center, in exchange for releasing the [[energon grid]], Six Shot wants... an apology from Galvatron. And maybe for him to bow! Starscream voluntarily does this instead, and Six Shot is placated.

Soon the gas floods the battlefield, and the Autobots hasten to get indoors.

Leaving [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] behind, [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] and Kicker make the leap down to the chamber of [[Primus]], where [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] are. Mirage isn't happy to see them; but before he can act, Arcee fires an energon star into Primus, who drives Mirage out. Kicker asks about his dad; Rad says he went to get help, or something.

Somewhere below ground, Dr. Jones rewires a circuit panel to shut down the gas flow from the Super Energon Temple.

Optimus and the others struggle to make it through the gas, but it begins to clear. In the command center, Six Shot is baffled by the shut down. It doesn't take Galvatron long to start bashing him around for this failure, and demand an apology of his own. Galvatron takes his troops and heads to the surface.

[[File:Energon-Starscream-Apology.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Starscream finally acknowledges he's a sub.]] Scorponok finds that the mutated Terrorcons aren't listening to him. As he struggles to control them, [[Team Ironhide]] arrives.

With the energon gas clearing, [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] head to the surface. Elsewhere, the other Autobots have their hands full with the [[combiner]]s. The battle escalates as the two Autobots and Galvatron's troops arrive.

[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] find Dr. Jones, but soon Scorponok arrives with his Terrorcons. Ironhide wants to fall back, but Dr. Jones says that Primus needs any energon they have with them, so they prepare to head that way instead. Ironhide's three troops, however, want to stay and hold off Scorponok. They attack, only to get knocked away with a single tail swipe. Kicker and Arcee arrive, and take Dr. Jones away to safety.

Ironhide bashes away the first two Terrorcons with ease, then observes his team lying damaged. Furious, he challenges Scorponok. After a moment of trash talk, Ironhide strikes a furious blow, penetrating Scorponok's armor and sending raw power into him. He realizes the power is coming from his fallen comrades. He transforms and drives away.

[[File:Energon-Ironhide-Punches-Scorponok.jpg‎|upright=1.3|thumb|left|''This'' is for killing the most annoying characters in the franchise!]] Prime and Omega encounter Galvatron in a corridor. At a disadvantage in the tight quarters, they head topside. Rodimus tells them that they'll soon arrive at the space bridge. Galvatron emerges and swears to destroy Optimus.

Ironhide, Kicker and the [[Omnicon]]s arrive at Primus's chambers, and Kicker's family is reunited at last. Ironhide offers Primus the [[energon]] that his team—his friends—fought hard to bring. At first, there is no response, but then Primus begins to glow more brightly.

On the surface, Galvatron gloats that with all the main Autobots present, he can make a clean sweep. The two sides trade trash talk. Suddenly Prime's chest glows red with the power of a re-awakened Primus; he and Omega can combine again, and do. Optimus Supreme makes like the Tasmanian Devil, sending the Decepticons flying.

With everyone busy, Six Shot uncovers what was done to the energon grid, and decides he can use it to his advantage.

Damaged, Scorponok lies surrounded by the giant Terrorcons. They ignore his order to return to the Energon Temple, and instead fire energon bursts at him, healing his wound. Scorponok is shocked.

In the chamber of Primus, Ironhide weeps for his teammates. Kicker tells him that he's shown that he's got what it takes to be a leader.
{{-}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (10)
*[[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] (11)
*[[Superion Maximus]] (12)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] (16)
*[[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] (18)
*[[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] (24)
*[[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] (25)
*[[Prowl (Energon)|Prowl]] (26)
*[[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] (27)
*[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (28)
*[[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys]] (29–31)
*[[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (32)
*[[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (3)
*[[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] (4)
*[[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]] drones (5)
*[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (6)
*[[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] (7)
*[[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (13)
*[[Constructicon Maximus]] (14)
*[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]] (15)
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Brian Jones]] (2)
*[[Kicker Jones]] (17)
*[[Miranda Jones]] (19)
*[[Sally Jones]] (20)
*[[Rad White]] (23)

|c4=
*[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] (1) (voice only)
*[[Primus]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Look, that light! Primus is expanding the energy of the energon!"
:—'''Dr. Jones''' scoffs at the second law of thermodynamics.

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
* The dub inserts a statement from Dr. Jones that the Terrorcons "seem to have transformed". It's supposed to mean that they've been enlarged by the Super Energon. In ''Super Link'', the plot point isn't explained till Demolishor's report a moment later.
* In the dub, Galvatron readily accepts Six Shot's explanation that only he can unlock the energon grid. In ''Super Link'', Galvatron rages at him instead, saying he won't accept a Decepticon that doesn't follow his orders.
* When Kicker asks Rad where his father is, Rad tells him that "I think he went to get some help." ''No Rad, last time you saw Dr. Jones he was being led off by two Decepticons and he was hoping you would be able to escape!'' In ''Super Link'', he just says something along the lines of "Uh, about that..."
* As Dr. Jones works on his circuit panel, the dub omits a bit where he imitates Kicker telling him "What can you do?" The dub ''doesn't'' omit Dr. Jones' own answer, however, leaving him randomly saying "I can do lots of things, Kicker!"
* The dub also makes it sound like the purpose of his tampering is to signal Optimus Prime. It isn't.
* In the dub, Galvatron simply orders Six Shot to "apologize". Originally, he orders him to apologize to his loyal servant Starscream.
* As usual, the dub team is loath to admit that anyone actually dies, so Scorponok simply says that Ironhide's teammates are "down" (making it very odd when Ironhide just drives off without them.) In ''Super Link'', he repeatedly gloats to Ironhide about their deaths, saying things like "Did you think nobody would die in a war?"
* Also as usual, the dub gets very confused about space bridges and the like. Rodimus tells Optimus that "the space bridge should be appearing any minute now", when what he's supposed to be saying is that Cybertron will soon ''exit'' the space bridge and arrive in Alpha Q's universe.
* The dub omits a running theme of Dr. Jones being out of shape and exhausted from his journey up the ladder (which is why he falls down when the group arrives in Primus's chamber).
* In an odd reversal, the dub ''adds'' dialog for Primus where previously there was none.
* The dub animation is missing the tears falling from Ironhide's optics.
* The dub omits Dr. Jones' explanation that Ironhide was unable to protect his comrades because he was protecting him. This is why Dr. Jones dejectedly looks at the floor. Instead, the dub inserts a strange, peppy line from Dr. Jones about how "Ironhide learned a big lesson today!"
* The dub has Kicker telling Ironhide that he showed that he's got what it takes to be a leader. In ''Super Link'', he tells Ironhide to save his tears until they have achieved the hopes of their future.
* When Scorponok is healed by the upgraded Terrorcons, he cries out, "What have you done to me?!" as though they've done something worse than sealing the gaping wound in his chest. In ''Super Link'', his reaction is awed, rather than horrified.

===Pain count===
* "Uh?": 9
* Stock footage: 2
* It's time to: 1
* We've gotta: 2

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Six Shot is trying to figure out why the Energon grid isn't working, he suddenly stops and look at the screen, ''identical'' to the one he's been looking at. The shot is missing a blinking green overlay showing the affected areas in both English and Japanese versions, though the pulsing sound effect that accompanies it is still there. The shot will be fixed when it reappears in the next episode.
* Terrorcons and Omnicons seem to magically appear and disappear and do about nothing else in the corridor where Scorponok and Ironhide fight.

===Continuity errors===
* "Ironhide Team" is about ''Team Ironhide''. *sigh*
* Snow Cat and Demolishor's dialog before being attacked by the giant Insecticon is different from last episode.
* Bulkhead, Downshift and Prowl disappear for the first half of the episode, and then reappear later when Rodimus shows up and needs someone to [[Powerlinx]] with; apparently they were with Optimus, Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus all along.
* When Ironhide tells Kicker to "Take the Energon and go to Primus," he's clearly shown with an Energon star on his arm. What Kicker actually ''took'' was the Omnicons—which are barely visible in two long shots in this scene due to poor shot composition—without whom the actions and reactions of the characters make no sense at all.

===Real-world references===
* Demolishor and Snow Cat hold TV reporter-style microphones when reporting in to Galvatron.
* Starscream's symbolic apology in Galvatron's place—and Six Shot's acceptance of it—is a reference (of sorts) to the relationships between feudal lords and their retainers specific to Japan. The scene would make perfect sense to a Japanese viewer, recognizing the symbolic gestures and social norms that demanded Six Shot accept a completely insincere apology. The dub (naturally) laid ''no'' groundwork to support this outside of that context, so the scene come off as absolutely ''looney'' if you don't know what's going on—especially Six Shot's immediate acceptance.

===Trivia===
* Demolishor is not voiced by his usual actor in this episode.
* Dr. Jones wears a [[hard hat]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 012 ([[Interchannel]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Energon episodes]]

Ironhide Team

2022-02-25T10:36:23Z

NotaTfFanObv: /* Lost in translation */

{{disambig2|episode 46 of the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]|[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]]'s assault team from the ''Energon'' cartoon|Team Ironhide}}
{{episode|
|series=Energon
|ep=46
|prev=Decepticon Army
|next=Formidable
|title="Ironhide Team"
|japanese=凄いぞ! チームロードバスター
|romaji=Sugoi zo! Team Roadbuster
|translation=Awesome! Team Roadbuster
|image=E46 titlecard.jpg
|caption=There's no Ironhide in "team".
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Tokyo]], [[Nihon Ad Systems|NAS]]
|writer=[[Akira Okeya]]
|director=[[Mitsuru Kawasaki]], [[Hideaki Nakano]] (asst. dir.)
|animation studio=[[Actas Inc.|Actas]], [[Studio A-CAT]] (3D)
|airdate=[[November 19|19 November]] [[2004]] (Japanese) [[February 18]], [[2005]] (Canada) [[May 24]], 2005 (USA)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy]]
}}

'''The Decepticons struggle with a sabotaged energon grid and a group of mutated Terrorcons, Ironhide learns the trials of leadership, and Optimus Prime tries to walk to a door.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] recaps last episode's ending events: [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] found his family, and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] have uncovered something ominous <s>below</s> in the [[Super Energon Temple|Super Energon chamber]].

[[Brian Jones|Dr. Jones]] makes his way up a ladder to freedom, hoping the [[Decepticon]]s won't catch up with him. A second later, however, Snow Cat and Demolishor come storming past as fast as they can go. Hot on their heels: a horde of beetle [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]].

[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] has [[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] at swordpoint, demanding to know why he should spare him. Six Shot explains that only he can unlock the energon grid. Just then a rumbling interrupts them. Demolishor reports in from amid the horde of supersized Terrorcon beetles. Galvatron realizes they need [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] to stop the monsters, but he's currently engaged in battle with [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Six Shot says ''he'' knows a way to get rid of the Autobots; all it'll take is a little [[energon gas]]!

[[File:Energon-Insecticon-Rampage.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|left|Dr. Jones is [[Spider-Man]]?]] Prime, [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega]] and [[Superion Maximus]] are approaching the spaceport. Scorponok briefly engages him, but is recalled by [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], leaving [[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus]] and [[Constructicon Maximus|Constructicon]] to deal with the Autobots alone.

In the control center, in exchange for releasing the [[energon grid]], Six Shot wants... an apology from Galvatron. And maybe for him to bow! Starscream voluntarily does this instead, and Six Shot is placated.

Soon the gas floods the battlefield, and the Autobots hasten to get indoors.

Leaving [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] behind, [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] and Kicker make the leap down to the chamber of [[Primus]], where [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] are. Mirage isn't happy to see them; but before he can act, Arcee fires an energon star into Primus, who drives Mirage out. Kicker asks about his dad; Rad says he went to get help, or something.

Somewhere below ground, Dr. Jones rewires a circuit panel to shut down the gas flow from the Super Energon Temple.

Optimus and the others struggle to make it through the gas, but it begins to clear. In the command center, Six Shot is baffled by the shut down. It doesn't take Galvatron long to start bashing him around for this failure, and demand an apology of his own. Galvatron takes his troops and heads to the surface.

[[File:Energon-Starscream-Apology.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Starscream finally acknowledges he's a sub.]] Scorponok finds that the mutated Terrorcons aren't listening to him. As he struggles to control them, [[Team Ironhide]] arrives.

With the energon gas clearing, [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] and [[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] head to the surface. Elsewhere, the other Autobots have their hands full with the [[combiner]]s. The battle escalates as the two Autobots and Galvatron's troops arrive.

[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] find Dr. Jones, but soon Scorponok arrives with his Terrorcons. Ironhide wants to fall back, but Dr. Jones says that Primus needs any energon they have with them, so they prepare to head that way instead. Ironhide's three troops, however, want to stay and hold off Scorponok. They attack, only to get knocked away with a single tail swipe. Kicker and Arcee arrive, and take Dr. Jones away to safety.

Ironhide bashes away the first two Terrorcons with ease, then observes his team lying damaged. Furious, he challenges Scorponok. After a moment of trash talk, Ironhide strikes a furious blow, penetrating Scorponok's armor and sending raw power into him. He realizes the power is coming from his fallen comrades. He transforms and drives away.

[[File:Energon-Ironhide-Punches-Scorponok.jpg‎|upright=1.3|thumb|left|''This'' is for killing the most annoying characters in the franchise!]] Prime and Omega encounter Galvatron in a corridor. At a disadvantage in the tight quarters, they head topside. Rodimus tells them that they'll soon arrive at the space bridge. Galvatron emerges and swears to destroy Optimus.

Ironhide, Kicker and the [[Omnicon]]s arrive at Primus's chambers, and Kicker's family is reunited at last. Ironhide offers Primus the [[energon]] that his team—his friends—fought hard to bring. At first, there is no response, but then Primus begins to glow more brightly.

On the surface, Galvatron gloats that with all the main Autobots present, he can make a clean sweep. The two sides trade trash talk. Suddenly Prime's chest glows red with the power of a re-awakened Primus; he and Omega can combine again, and do. Optimus Supreme makes like the Tasmanian Devil, sending the Decepticons flying.

With everyone busy, Six Shot uncovers what was done to the energon grid, and decides he can use it to his advantage.

Damaged, Scorponok lies surrounded by the giant Terrorcons. They ignore his order to return to the Energon Temple, and instead fire energon bursts at him, healing his wound. Scorponok is shocked.

In the chamber of Primus, Ironhide weeps for his teammates. Kicker tells him that he's shown that he's got what it takes to be a leader.
{{-}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] (9)
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (10)
*[[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] (11)
*[[Superion Maximus]] (12)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] (16)
*[[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] (18)
*[[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] (24)
*[[Cliffjumper (Energon)|Cliffjumper]] (25)
*[[Prowl (Energon)|Prowl]] (26)
*[[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] (27)
*[[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] (28)
*[[Rhyming Omnicon fanboys]] (29–31)
*[[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] (32)
*[[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] (33)

|c2=
*[[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]] (3)
*[[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] (4)
*[[Insecticon (Energon)|Insecticon]] drones (5)
*[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (6)
*[[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] (7)
*[[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (8)
*[[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] (13)
*[[Constructicon Maximus]] (14)
*[[Bruticus Maximus (Energon)|Bruticus Maximus]] (15)
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] (22)

|c3=
*[[Brian Jones]] (2)
*[[Kicker Jones]] (17)
*[[Miranda Jones]] (19)
*[[Sally Jones]] (20)
*[[Rad White]] (23)

|c4=
*[[Alpha Quintesson|Alpha Q]] (1) (voice only)
*[[Primus]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Look, that light! Primus is expanding the energy of the energon!"
:—'''Dr. Jones''' scoffs at the second law of thermodynamics.

==Notes==
===Lost in translation===
* The dub inserts a statement from Dr. Jones that the Terrorcons "seem to have transformed". It's supposed to mean that they've been enlarged by the Super Energon. In ''Super Link'', the plot point isn't explained till Demolishor's report a moment later.
* In the dub, Galvatron readily accepts Six Shot's explanation that only he can unlock the energon grid. In ''Super Link'', Galvatron rages at him instead, saying he won't accept a Decepticon that doesn't follow his orders.
* When Kicker asks Rad where his father is, Rad tells him that "I think he went to get some help." ''No Rad, last time you saw Dr. Jones he was being led off by two Decepticons and he was hoping you would be able to escape!'' In ''Super Link'', he just says something along the lines of "Uh, about that..."
* As Dr. Jones works on his circuit panel, the dub omits a bit where he imitates Kicker telling him "What can you do?" The dub ''doesn't'' omit Dr. Jones' own answer, however, leaving him randomly saying "I can do lots of things, Kicker!"
* The dub also makes it sound like the purpose of his tampering is to signal Optimus Prime. It isn't.
* In the dub, Galvatron simply orders Six Shot to "apologize". Originally, he orders him to apologize to his loyal servant Starscream.
* As usual, the dub team is loath to admit that anyone actually dies, so Scorponok simply says that Ironhide's teammates are "down" (making it very odd when Ironhide just drives off without them.) In ''Super Link'', he repeatedly gloats to Ironhide about their deaths, saying things like "Did you think nobody would die in a war?"
* Also as usual, the dub gets very confused about space bridges and the like. Rodimus tells Optimus that "the space bridge should be appearing any minute now", when what he's supposed to be saying is that Cybertron will soon ''exit'' the space bridge and arrive in Alpha Q's universe.
* The dub omits a running theme of Dr. Jones being out of shape and exhausted from his journey up the ladder (which is why he falls down when the group arrives in Primus's chamber).
* In an odd reversal, the dub ''adds'' dialog for Primus where previously there was none.
* The dub animation is missing the tears falling from Ironhide's optics.
* The dub omits Dr. Jones' explanation that Ironhide was unable to protect his comrades because he was protecting him. This is why Dr. Jones dejectedly looks at the floor. Instead, the dub inserts a strange, peppy line from Dr. Jones about how "Ironhide learned a big lesson today!"
* The dub has Kicker telling Ironhide that he showed that he's got what it takes to be a leader. In ''Super Link'', he tells Ironhide to save his tears until they have achieved the hopes of their future.
* When Scorponok is healed by the upgraded terrorcons, he cries out, "What have you done to me?!" as though they've done something worse than sealing the gaping wound in his chest. In ''Super Link'', his reaction is awed, rather than horrified.

===Pain count===
* "Uh?": 9
* Stock footage: 2
* It's time to: 1
* We've gotta: 2

===Animation and technical errors===
* When Six Shot is trying to figure out why the Energon grid isn't working, he suddenly stops and look at the screen, ''identical'' to the one he's been looking at. The shot is missing a blinking green overlay showing the affected areas in both English and Japanese versions, though the pulsing sound effect that accompanies it is still there. The shot will be fixed when it reappears in the next episode.
* Terrorcons and Omnicons seem to magically appear and disappear and do about nothing else in the corridor where Scorponok and Ironhide fight.

===Continuity errors===
* "Ironhide Team" is about ''Team Ironhide''. *sigh*
* Snow Cat and Demolishor's dialog before being attacked by the giant Insecticon is different from last episode.
* Bulkhead, Downshift and Prowl disappear for the first half of the episode, and then reappear later when Rodimus shows up and needs someone to [[Powerlinx]] with; apparently they were with Optimus, Omega Supreme and Superion Maximus all along.
* When Ironhide tells Kicker to "Take the Energon and go to Primus," he's clearly shown with an Energon star on his arm. What Kicker actually ''took'' was the Omnicons—which are barely visible in two long shots in this scene due to poor shot composition—without whom the actions and reactions of the characters make no sense at all.

===Real-world references===
* Demolishor and Snow Cat hold TV reporter-style microphones when reporting in to Galvatron.
* Starscream's symbolic apology in Galvatron's place—and Six Shot's acceptance of it—is a reference (of sorts) to the relationships between feudal lords and their retainers specific to Japan. The scene would make perfect sense to a Japanese viewer, recognizing the symbolic gestures and social norms that demanded Six Shot accept a completely insincere apology. The dub (naturally) laid ''no'' groundwork to support this outside of that context, so the scene come off as absolutely ''looney'' if you don't know what's going on—especially Six Shot's immediate acceptance.

===Trivia===
* Demolishor is not voiced by his usual actor in this episode.
* Dr. Jones wears a [[hard hat]].

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformer: Super Link'' — Volume 012 ([[Interchannel]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers: Energon'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Energon episodes]]